Mama's Diamond Eyes

Prologue

June 16, 1972, the shot rang through the darkness of the house; startled 6 year old Nicolas sat up in his bed, listening if he could hear more noises. He knew instantly he was not dreaming, something bad just happened. He small ears was listening carefully if the was more noises coming from down stairs but all he heard was the shuffling of feet, and a few harsh whispers.

Carefully he slipped his fleecy pyjama clad legs from underneath the bedcovers, trying to find his slippers in the darkness of the room. The moon was dark tonight, he thought to himself. Finding his slippers, he crossed the room to where his brother was still sleeping. “How am I going to get you out of there little man, without you waking up, and let everybody know where we are?” he whispered softly into the room, trying to think what he could do.

Then he remembered the hideaway Mama showed him awhile ago in case there should be any trouble, in the bottom of their play trunk. Papa made it high enough, and cushioned enough that they could both fit in there, and nobody would be able to hear them. He could not understand why Papa did that, but he was sure glad now that his Papa was that clever.

He opened the trunk from behind; this would hide them even more Mama said because you won’t be able to see it from the back that easily. Slowly he lifted 3 year old Patrick from his bunk, trying not to wake him and slipped him into the hideaway, taking his blanket with him that they could stay warm. Little Patrick moaned softly, and Nicolas tried to quite him as he has seen Mama doing before.

When he closed the trunk behind them he heard four more shots rung through the house, and an awful cry that he was sure came from Mama. All he could do now was to pray like Papa told him that they would be safe and not found, and that Papa and Mama were safe to.

Tears of fear slowly made way down his still baby fat cheeks, trying not to be scared, but brave for his little brother, who cuddled up next to him, unaware of the nightmare they are having on this nightmare dark night.

All they could do now was wait, but what where they waiting for. Mama said that if it ever happened that they were to hide in there, they were not allowed to come out unless she or Papa came to fetch them. But what if they couldn’t, if it was Mama that cried, there must be something terrible wrong.

Worry sets into his little mind, making him think all kind of things, horrible things, and then he remembered back when the monsters came into his room at night, before Patrick was borne, Papa told him to think about the things that he liked, and that was nice to do. He started thinking about the fishing trip with Papa that afternoon, and eventually fell asleep with Patrick.

He didn’t know how long they slept, but when Patrick started waking him up to go wee-wee, he knew he had to make a plan. This small space was not big enough for both of them and Patrick’s wee-wee. Slowly he slid away the cover at the back and listened. There were a lot of voices, angry ones, sad ones, and everybody was calling their names. Nicolas shifted a little from behind the trunk so that he could see better what was going on.

A guy in uniform was taking pictures of their bedroom, must be a cop, he thought, so they should be ok to come out of the hiding place now. “Mr Cop”, Nicolas called to the officer, who looked surprised to see the young man; “Is it ok if we come out now? My brother needs to wee-wee, and there is not enough space in here for that to.”

The officer gave a relieved smile, and helped both of them out. “You guys need to walk with me, this house is not a pretty picture at the moment, or let me rather call someone to come and help me first.” The officer placed them both on Patrick’s bed and told them, with a stern voice and serious eyes, to stay there. “You must hurry Mister, please?”, little Patrick called urgently after him, with big round eyes. Papa gave him a hiding the last time when he wet his bed and he wasn’t looking forward to another.

When Nicolas turned towards the window, and saw that the sun was out already, and was gleaming through the curtains. Surely Mama must have come and look for them for breakfast by now. This was a bad morning he realised; he just did not know why he thought so yet.

Two more officers came into the room, yanked the boys to their hips, and put them in position that neither of them could look sideways, trying to protect them from the scene waiting outside the door. Nicolas was a little taller than Patrick and the officer could not manage to cover his view completely. What he saw was gruesome, blood everywhere. Against the walls down the passage to their room, Mama and Papa’s bedroom door had holes in, and there was blood all over their bedroom. His small mind refused to register what happened last night, but he knew Papa and Mama had gone to Jesus, and all he had left was Patrick.

When they came outside the officers took them to one of the police vehicles where a young lady was waiting for them. She had hair like an angle in the sun, and her eyes was blue like the sky after they had a big rain storm. When they reached her, she sat down on the grass holding both of them on her lap. Giving them the warmest hug Nicolas could ever remember in his life. “Hi guys, I am Miss Nelson from child well fare, and will be taking care of you two for a short while. Is there anything I can get you guys?” With big eyes filled with tears Patrick looked up at her, as politely as a three year old could, “I really, really need to wee-wee, Miss Melsom!”

The tall officer that took Nicolas from their room, brought them some Mac Donald breakfast, and Nicolas felt sad, because Papa and Mama could not share it with them, they always said there was not enough money to by such luxuries.

Throughout the morning papers where completed, and the children who had no other family was taken to a care home until all could be finalised. The officers came around and asked a zillion questions; Nicolas thought they were stupid, because why could the adults not understand what he told them all zillion times. He don’t know what happened or why.

Both boys were absorbed into the foster care program, unfortunately they were not so lucky to be placed together and the brothers lost touch with each other, their parents murder still a mystery that could not be explained for many years. The Maiser murder case was filed away unsolved, in a dusty storage room, somewhere down town, with others, as there were no leads to follow up in, and the case was considered close.

Patrick was taken into a kind and loving household from the beginning, he was a quite child, with no problem adjusting to the new family. He was the youngest of three adopted boys, and was a stable child. Due to the fact that he did not see any of the scenes after the murder of his parents he did not have the nightmares Nicolas had to cope with.

 After a few years the memory of Nicolas, subsided from Patrick, as if he never existed, and he was never spoken about in the household where he was staying. Patrick Maiser became Patrick Robinson, with no other relatives than the ones he grew up with since after June 16, 1972.

Nicolas on the other hand went from one foster home to the other, never being able to adjust, always looking to find his brother. He turned into a total rebel that would cause as much trouble as possible everywhere he went; the only person that was able to settle him down was Miss Nelson, in his eyes still an angel, even after ten years.

Chapter One

“Nicolas Maiser, what am I to do with you! Why do you have to be so difficult, you are reaching an age where you would be totally accountable for all your actions, and still you act as if you don’t care at all?” Rebecca Nelson pulled her hand through her blond hair, thinking of the morning when she picked up Nicolas and his brother Patrick. He was brought in by his foster parents, after she battled to get hold of the. He, once again got involved in a street fight that was stopped just in time, before it got ugly. They dropped him of, with all his little belonging, refusing to have him in their care for one more moment.

He got more and more impossible to handle, more disrespectful by the day, and dishonesty was his biggest trait. They did not consider him a good example to the other boys. His clothes was creased and dirty, and for himself, it seems as if he had not seen a shower for days on end. 

Nicolas sighed, and gave her the look she got so used to, “You know all I want is find my bro Miss Nelson, nothing else, I will not stop looking for him until we are back together again. He will always be the only family I have. I have let him down that night; I will not allow the system to do it again.” He shrugged his shoulders as if that was the one and only option, nothing else mattered more to him anymore.

“I have told you before Nicolas, it is not always in our hands, we don’t know what path the Lord has planned for us, but I know He always let it work out for the good at the end of the day. Remember it is His will to be done not ours.” She gave him a look from underneath her lashes, knowing what is come next.

“Ag, there is no such thing as God, you always carry on about God, it is only blah-blah-blah in my ears, I don’t see Him, I don’t know Him. Why could you not stop bringing Him up in every conversation we have? Where was he the night my parent got killed for nothing? Not holding their hands like you told me, no they were bleeding like raccoons all over the house, trying to get away from those hideous guys that thought my Papa took their money. Don’t tell me about God, for you are more than welcome to believe in His whatever, I have no sliding interest in that at all.”

“How did he know his father owed these people money?” Rebecca thought to herself. The fact that it was a possibility was never mentioned in front of the kids. Where did get that kind of information, or did he cook it up in the back of his mind, as a solution for himself why his parents were killed? How much she searched her mind for the answer, it remained without answer.

He look at her that told her that was the end of the discussion, but in her mind and heart she got the words from Matthew 19:17 And we see the Father acting through Christ to heal the sick, to comfort the downcast and to teach those whom He calls to keep the Ten Commandments as a way of life . She can’t blame Nicolas for how he is feeling, but she sure knows that if they want to get him somewhere in life, other than the county jail, she need to react quickly. He needed the right guidance and without further though or hesitation, she needed to come up with a solution. She raked her mind for any possible foster families that would be suitable, but none of those he has not stayed with before would do.

 She was no allowed to give him any information of his brother, and could only tell him that he was taken good care of. Where she sat looking at Nicolas across the table, she could see the devils in his eyes for what he might do next. It was time to take serious measures, but she was not sure that Nicolas would be able to adjust to them.

She had tried most of the foster parents available in the valley, but no one was able to settle this boy down. He had so much hatred in people that it would only take miracles to bring peace inside this little man. Though not so little anymore; at sixteen he was standing 6 feet tall in his number 12 shoes, and if she recalls photos of the family that was not blood smeared he is quite a resemblance of his dad, though he had the fine features of his mom in his handsome face. His blond hair was untidy, and the fringe hung over his for head as if he had not attended to it for days. According to his school records he was rather intelligent, without even having the need to work hard to reach quite exceptional grades, if he ever bothered to show up for the exam paper.

She had basically two options left; to get him into an institute for juveniles or Luke Redford. The latter to her was only option left, but it was hardly the one that either of Luke or Nicolas would be happy with. Therefore in order to get the arrangements in place with Luke Redford, she needed time to discuss the case with him first. Luke did not like his privacy invaded, and she could hardly picture Nicolas on a farm outside the Valley.

There was no were where she could send Nicolas for the evening, knowing that he would slip out and just get another fight on the roll somewhere down town. He simply had to go home with her this evening. She knew Luke well, and if she explained to him the complete scenario he would surely be willing to help, for he knew she would not ask, unless she really had no alternative options.

Luke and Rebecca spend time since they were in high school, he used to be engaged to her best friend Veronica, but after a long suffering of leukaemia, she passed away, and Luke was broken. He lost all trust in God, and turned away from anything that sounded life faith or religion, until God made miracles happened in his life. If there is anybody that would be able to understand what Nicolas is going through it would be Luke. She trusted him to be able to save this young man from becoming a disaster on to legs about to happen.

Luke Redford took to the world after Veronica passed away, got mixed up with the wrong crowds and was locked up in county jail for 15 years after attempt to rob a convenient store. He was a known drug dealer at the time, and was second in charge of the biggest gang in the Valley. He used to drive fast, but stolen cars, and had a new one every week.

After making a deal with the DA he was excused for several of his offences, as this deal included one of the biggest drug lords to be found and taken of the streets. He was released eight years after imprisonment on good behaviour. He withdrew from everybody, staying on small farm about 20km outside the Valley which he bought when he was released. He hardly ever came into town anymore, unless it was an emergency or if he needed to collect supplies that he ordered before hand, and as far as Rebecca knew she was the only one whom knew how to contact him. He had no friends or family, not even acquaintances in the area. People tried to avoid him at all times, as he allowed no one to come close to him at all.

“Come on Nicolas, lets head home and get something to eat on the way”, she walked past him and ruffled his already messy hair a little more, wishing that he was still the little boy when they first met, then she could grab him in her arms and give him a tight hug to sooth away his pain. But, she knew better now, Nicolas does not allow any physical contact, not even from her.

Nicolas picked up his backpack, gave her a questionable look, “You said I am not allowed to stay by you miss Nelson, how come tonight?”. Rebecca needed only a moment to think about it, and the said “Tonight I am in need of some serious conversation with someone that know more about life than me, and I think you are just the one to do so” She knew him well enough to know that this will break a tiny peak of the iceberg for her to get through to him.

 “You can pick supper, what would you like?” Rebecca expected something greasy and very unpleasant to the stomach, but instead Nicolas surprised her completely with his answer. “Would you mind if we get some salad stuff and fix it up at home? I would love a big glass of milk with that and small crackers to go with the salad.” Looking at him as if was completely out of his mind she shrugged and headed for the closest fruit and vegetable market they could still find open this late in the afternoon.

When they got home, Nicolas offloaded the parcels into the kitchen, and asked where the restroom was. When he walked into the kitchen Rebecca noticed that he tried to wash up as good as possible, without taking a shower. Rebecca started getting the salad together, “There is your milk”, she said to Nicolas as he walked in. “Thanks, smart place you got yourself here Miss Rebecca. Can I help you get the salad finish, I do know how to work a knife, you know, so I can chop some of the stuff for you” Rebecca handed him the cutting board, a bowl and some of the ingredients while she started with the salad dressing, wishing she could wipe the smirk of his face.

“Nicolas, tell me about your last foster parents? Why did you not get along with them? They seemed a very nice couple that was more than willing to take you in.” Rebecca addressed the question, not looking at him directly, but at his reflection in the glass pane of the kitchen cupboard, she knew he would close down his expression when she looked at him directly. She noticed the pain shift through his eyes, for only a moment, and how he pulled his emotions back into place. “they were ok, I think, I just did not like them.” With this comment he saw the matter closed. “Where would I find the plates Miss Nelson then I can set the nook so long”, Rebecca directed him to cupboard and when he bent down she saw the big, black bruise that covered his lower back.

“Nicolas, where did that come from?” Nicolas stood upright straight away covering his back with his sweater, “What Mama?” “The bruise on your back that you just covered up” Nicolas could not look her in the eye, just murmured some soft excuse that she could not quite make out, but sounded like something about getting hurt at school. She knew this was not true, because it was the school that informed her that Nicolas was not at school for more than a week, and that they could not get hold of either him or his foster parents.

Then only she realised what he called her, she sat him down on the chair and lifted his sweater slowly, the sight horrified her. The bruise stood out like a pointing figure to her. She needed to get him to a doctor straight away. Why did she not think about something like this! How come none of the other foster children staying with this foster family never complained that they were abuse? Was this the reason that Nicolas could not get along with the family?

When she touched it lightly with her hand he twitched away from her touch. “You wait right here Mister, let me get something for that, then I am taking you to the hospital.” Nicolas swung around the look in his eyes filled with fear, “No Miss Nelson, no hospital please, he will find me there, and then he would kill me!” Surprised Rebecca looked at him, “Who is going to find you there son?” Nicolas breathed hard now, grasping for air, it looked as if he was about to faint.

“The man that killed my parents miss Nelson, which is why I could not stay long in one place, he found me every time. Hurting me, abusing me, which is why I was so concerned about Patrick” Tears was flowing over his cheeks, he gave it up, now he had to move again. He spilled the beans to Miss Rebecca, the only one trying to protect, and now he placed her in danger by doing exactly what he was trying to avoid the whole time. Blurt out his biggest secret ever.

Rebecca pressed him against her chest and let him cry for a while, trying to think what to do next. The murder case was never solved, as they did not have enough leads, the police said, still this horror of a man was terrorising this kid from a young age, but why? She had to thing quick, and made the decision right there and then that Luke would not be phoned, but visited, and one thing was sure, it was not going to wait until the morning.

As soon as dinner was done and the dishes out of the way; Rebecca sat Nicolas down for a talk, “Nicolas, you need to trust me, there is nothing I can do, unless you give me more information. Would you be able to identify this man that is abusing you like this?” Nicolas slowly shook his head to tell her that he won’t, when he looked up, his eyes was blank as there was no life in them. “I never saw his face, but I would be able to identify him in a moment, by his look, his voice, his grip, I will never forget that” He paused a moment, taking a deep breath, and then continued.

 “He found me one night in the park, playing with my mates. He called me over on my name, which I found strange at first, because I did not know him. I was about seven, and afterwards thought that he might have overheard one of my friends. But then I realised that he knew my surname as well, because he said ‘Nicolas Maiser, is that you’, and none of the boys whom I was friends with in the park knew that. I replied yes, and he said I should come and sit with him, as he was an old friend of Papa. I could not see his face, as his hat was pulled down low.” Nicolas looked up from the table which he was staring at; his brows knotted together, thinking about what he was to tell her next.

“I wanted to refuse to go to him, and I was scared, but I missed them so badly, that any connection with Papa and Mama was welcome at that stage. Maybe he could tell me stories about them, or had some pictures. You know Miss Rebecca, I don’t have one picture of us, when we were still a family.” The expression in his eyes was sad.

“He was quite pleasant in the beginning as I can recall, but then after a few visits he started being a little more demanding. He gave me small tasks to do like delivering packages, which I found out was drugs when I got older; and pick pocketing people, he taught me how. I had to take stuff from the foster families houses, and the scary part was that he knew exactly what they had and where it was kept. When I said to him I am not interested to doing this anymore, he threatened me that the same would happen to me that happened to Papa. He said Mama was not supposed to be hurt, but she also did not listen, and got in the way. He said I was to pay back the money that Papa owned him. After the pick pocketing he started selling of my body to strange men. I refused to go the last time, and this is how the bruise got here, I just could not stand it any longer. I was so afraid that the same thing would happen to the foster people, I made it unbearable for them to be willing to keep me.”

While telling his story, there was absolutely no emotion in his voice, the only emotion reflecting in his eyes was fear, for now Rebecca, the one person who was standing up the whole time was also aware of the matter, and that put her life into danger as well.

Rebecca closed her eyes slowly, trying to blink back the tears that formed in the corners of her eyes. How could she have been so blind? “Nicolas, don’t worry the hand of the Lord is not short, and his ear is not death, He did not forsake you, and He will protect Patrick as well”

Nicolas gave a chuckle, as if she was from some other planet. “God, really Miss Nelson, God, there is nobody like God. If there was a so called God as you are claiming, why did all these things happen to us, why as my parents murdered? How could He, hah, have allowed that I became a sex slave to my father’s murderer. Why did Mama have to suffer, and Patrick needed to be deprived from his older brother’s existence, I doubt if he even knew he has an older brother!” He was deeply upset now. “ I told you that before and I am saying it again, I could not care for your religion or faith or whatever you want to call it. Stop pushing it down my throat.” anger came from his complete body; he splattered the words towards Rebecca that made her pull back from him slightly. “Nicolas, I am so sorry for all the heartache that you have gone through. I wish I could take it all back, but I can’t, I cannot change the past, but we can work on the future together.” Her voice was soft and gentle, trying to give him some reassurance that they will make it better, and that it work even better than that if they did it as a team.

Nicolas stared passed her through the window, looking at the darkening sky, thinking that this is how his soul is feeling, dark with no light coming through. How can Miss Nelson sit there and talk about God, really, does she, a grownup not understand the reality of this world, there is NO GOD. The cloud of depression pushed down on him even more; making his shoulders to shrink towards the ground, and giving his tall body a slump that seemed like it would never be restored.

Chapter Two

Rebecca sat for a moment, Nicolas’s backpack was still in her car, she just needed a few things, and a call to the office, and then they could be on their way to Luke. His help is needed in more than one way, and whether he liked it or not, he is going to help her. After making the required arrangements she called for Nicolas to meet her at the car. “Where you taking me Miss Nelson?” was the first words he spoke after the conversation in the kitchen, about 2 miles from Rebecca’s house.

“We are visiting a very good friend of mine Nicolas; I am going to leave you with him for a short period of time. You will be safe at Luke, I promise. He is kind hearted, and a bit of a loner, but he will protect anything or anybody I ask him to.” Giving him a sideway look, Rebecca could see the glint in Nicolas’s eye, and waited for the question to come, “An old lover of yours then? Let me guess you broke up with him, broke his heart, and he never stopped loving you. Will do anything to get you back I suppose” Rebecca only smiled, because there was a huge surprise waiting on Nicolas if that was he thoughts; Yes, Luke would protect anything she gave him to protect, because he knew that she would never ask unless it was extremely important to her.

The words from Jeremiah 29:11 ”For I know the thought that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and hope”  came into her mind, and she prayed from her heart that this could be established in Nicolas. He needed to believe, he needed to find his way to his Saviour, but she knew for a fact that she would not be able to do this by herself. She would have him in his prayers al the time, but only Luke would know how to get through to him.

It was after 9 when she pulled her car into Luke’s driveway. Quietly she sat for a moment observing, even in the dark how far he has come since the day he bought this piece of land. There use to be no house, no electricity, and no running water, when Luke bought the ground it was only a clear piece of land. He said he need to make it his own, and that would be the only way to do so, but putting in his own sweat and hard work. Now she could see the cottage even got extended from the last time she came to visit, and that the garden was going to be splendid in the summer time. Trees was growing all over, mostly Jasmine, Veronica’s favourite of all times.

The door opened and the big posture of Luke filled the doorway. His Labrador, Rues stood beside him, waiting for his master’s order to attach. Strange calling his dog Rues, meaning regret, but that was all that was left of the old Luke since he was released, regret about the past and all that he has done, but he was a deeply devoted Christian now, and Rues was just a small reminder of the past to keep him on His ways.

“Who goes there?” Luke voice came over the distance from the door to Rebecca’s vehicle, with a smile she opened the door, and replied “A stranger in need of your kind help master Luke”. This was their way of greeting; Rues knew her voice and Luke could hold on to him no longer. The big dog came towards her, and leaped her almost over in excitement, his tongue licking her wherever he could reach. Overwhelmed by the welcoming party Nicolas got out from the car slowly, eyeing Rues all the way.  Dog and child summarising each other; Nicolas lift his hand slowly to Reus’s nose to give it a tickle and Rues starting waggling his tail in a welcome gesture.

“Hi Rebecca” Luke greeted softly, “What brings you out here this time of night?” looking at Nicolas curiously. “Hi Luke, we need a little hiding place for my friend here, but can we go inside and discuss it? I think Nicolas is rather exhausted after all he has been through the last couple of days.” Luke helped her offloading their few belongings that came with on the trip and they went inside.

A pot of hot chocolate was on the stove, and when Rebecca came into the kitchen, Luke suggested to her to pour for all of them. After having his cup of hot chocolate, Nicolas yawned, and Luke showed him a room where he could overnight. Putting the fact very clearly to Rebecca, but she just smiled, tucked Nicolas into bed, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She had grown to love this child so much, and she cared very deeply that he should be save from now on.

After tucking Nicolas in Rebecca walking into the open plan lounge, dining area. Luke was sitting at the dining room table clearly waiting for her to tell him what is going on. He never beat around the bush, straight as an arrow, and he expected others to be the same way towards him. His life taught him many things, but one thing above all other was absolute honesty.

Rebecca sat down, pulling her hand through her hair, as she had done so many times before in this day of all crazy events. “I need your help my friend, we have a lost and total out of control boy on our hands. He been through so much, and I know you are the one that would be able to help him” Shortly she told him Nicolas’s life story adding on the part that Nicolas only revealed to her that evening. Luke listens attentively, and as she spoke he grew all more aware of the fact that Rebecca is right.

He would be able to help this boy, but the question was inside him, if he was willing to give up his privacy to do so. He hardly ever had contact with the outside world anymore, only a quick conversation with Rebecca once in a while, or when she popped around to see how he was doing. Now she brought this teenager to his doorstep to help him. He surely had enough experience from life, but this is not his calling.

When Rebecca got up to make them more hot chocolate, he closed his eyes, and the one thing came up in his mind that father Paul told him while he was in jail. I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles (2 Corinthians 1.3-4) “Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God”

Father, please give me the spiritual guidance to fulfil this task You have brought onto my path Lord, for I know without You I will not be able to accomplish this. You brought people into my life Lord that saved me, that showed me that You are a God of love and hope and mercy, after I have rejected You completely. Please help me to help this boy as You helped me. I thank You Lord for saving me, and trust in You and You alone Lord for the strength to see me through this. Amen.

When Rebecca returned she could see the difference in Luke’s whole attitude. He was calm and glowing with a peace that could only be from God Himself, she knew he would not resist the chance to help Nicolas, and that he would really protect him with all he could. “Thank you Luke, I really care for this boy, and appreciate your help”, Luke gave her a shy smile, “It is not my will Rebecca, it’s God’s will, I am but merely the subject in His hands” Luke picked up the empty cups, and took them through to the kitchen. They both understood and knew this was not going to be a easy path, but they were both more than willing to take it.

After bidding each other goodnight, Rebecca peeped into Nicolas’s room finding him fast asleep, calm; like she have not seen him for a very long time. Dear Lord, grace him with Your presence and security. Let You angels protect him by day and night. Amen. She covered him up with the blanket and went off to bed.

Chapter 3

When Nicolas woke the next morning, he was not quite sure where he was, then he heard the whispering voices outside in the dining area, for a moment he was back in their hiding place 10 years ago, but then he realised that he was save and got up to find Miss Rebecca. In the daylight Luke looked even bigger than when they arrived the previous evening. “Good morning Miss Rebecca, Mister?” He looked confused for a moment, as he was not sure what to call Luke. “Luke, son, only Luke; I am not your uncle, I am your friend, come and have some breakfast before Rebecca needs to get back to town. We spoke last night, and decided it is best if you stay around here for a while. You can help me in the yard, and other small tasks that need to be done. You will be safe here, I promise”

For Nicolas this was not a promise he took lightly, he heard too many of those before, but he knew Miss Rebecca trust this man, so he was willing to give it a try. After breakfast Miss Rebecca left and Luke invited Nicolas to have some coffee on the porch, they could discuss the tasks Nicolas was responsible for, and see what else he was capable of doing around the house.

With everything settled after coffee Luke took Nicolas for a walk around the yard showing him where all the tools are, and everything else he might need. He gave him small tasks, but he knew that he could use all these to manifest the Lord in the child as time grew along. The first thing he needed to do was tend to the lambs.

After all the morning tasks was completed Luke called Nicolas in for lunch, they were having some salad on the porch. Luke looked at Nicolas and decided to dive right in, following the pattern father Paul did with him, and he was as stubborn as a mule back in the days. “Nicolas, what do you think is your purpose in life?” Luke asked. Nicolas gave him a puzzled look, not knowing what to answer him. “What do you mean …hmm…Luke?” “If you thought about it, who are you, what is your purpose being on earth?” Luke thought to himself that he was pushing away now, but Nicolas’s eyes looked intrigued by the question. He swallowed his salad, thought it about it a little, and then “My purpose sir, is to get back at the people that took my family away, they need to suffer like we did. They must feel the pain we felt, and that I am still feeling every day. They need to pay for that sir, I mean Luke”

For a moment Luke was completely stunned by the answer, but then also he understood how a young man of Nicolas’s age can be so negative with life. The deck of cards that was dealt to him during his short life span was for sure not a full house, and that meant he lost more than winning, but he needs to understand that there was a solution, just as he, Luke had to learn many moons ago.

Luke looked at Nicolas, studying his face expressions, that reminded him so much of himself. With a sigh Luke stood up, and walked over to where Nicolas was sitting, hunching down in front of him, Luke placed his hands on Nicolas’s knees to make sure he had his full attention. “Nicolas, many of us go through life unfulfilled, unfocused, searching − a blank canvas waiting for a picture of purpose to be painted on us, waiting for something to happen to us to make us focused on something bigger in life.” Looking at Nicolas to see if there was any reaction, he could see the flicker of interest in the young man’s eyes, and decided to push through. He was filled with hope that he would get through to Nicolas, it would not be by his own persuasion, but by God’s, because he knew that even though it is impossible for mad, nothing is impossible for God.

“Once upon a time it was said that there was a God-shaped blank in all of us, and we look for many things to fill this: friends, fashion, false faith, fornication and the façade of drug-induced fantasies, but follow me, to the edge of an abyss where deep down inside we all know something’s missing. See, from the moment God spoke time into existence and shaped us with His own hands in His own image, His plan was for man and Him to be one, Creator and creation communing together in beautiful harmony. Sounds perfect, right?” Nicolas rolled his eyes to the ceiling. “Why can’t you people understand I am not interested in your so called God? But for interest sake, so what happened in this perfect harmony picture you just sketched to me?” There was a definite sign of irritation in Nicolas’s voice, but Luke thought this is what I want, interest, even if it was irritation, therefore he simply answered, “Sin, my dear boy, sin came into this beautiful harmony”

Nicolas looked at Luke with some strange fascination, and his eyes carried the question. Luke got hope piled up inside him and carried on with the conversation. “Sin opened a void, driving us away from our Friend, separating us from Him, and for many centuries since, we as human beings have attempted to bridge this ever widening gap with philosophies and religion, wealth and so-called moral decisions, but the divisions became more instilled” Luke breathed deeply before carrying on, “that God-shaped hole in our heart still unfilled and mankind seemed doomed, until: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord, and ye shall find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” Oh, but this wasn’t no ordinary baby. See, He grew into a boy, then a man, then a preacher, leading a multitude of people with radical and really off-the-wall teachings like, “Love your enemies.” “Bless those that curse you.” “Turn the other cheek.”

Nicolas looked at Luke as if he was completely out of his mind; there was no way that this was a normal mental person sitting in front of him. How could it be, talking about something with such passion that could not possible exists, if this God did exist where was He when he prayed to him that nightmare dark night.

“With all due respect Luke, I think you lost all your marbles. If there was really a God, why did he not listen to my prayer that night Papa and Mama was murdered?” The harshness of his tone reflected all the grudge he held against God, grudge that was build up over the past 10 years. Luke flinched a little, feeling sad inside for this poor child sitting in front of him. “God, I really need Your help here”, he murmured softly to himself.

But, Luke carried on telling his story to Nicolas, hoping that inside him there was still a child left willing to listen to stories, because he needs this child’s brain to reflect some interest, which he would at least think about what he was told. “Nicolas, He’s the greatest teacher that ever was. But this was no ordinary preacher. See, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, so for our sins, He had to pay the price, as God has planned long before. The people that did not believe in Him put nails in His hands. He was betrayed and denied, just like so many still do today, they hung Him high and stretched Him wide on a cross for you and I and over 2,000 years ago.” Luke took a deep breath, and stood up for a moment, letting Nicolas absorbed what he was just told.

“Would you like some coffee or juice perhaps?” Luke needed a break, just for a moment, as he was overwhelmed by emotions flooding through him, remembering how he felt when he heard this the first time. “Coffee would be nice thanks” Nicolas answered, absent minded.

While Luke was gone, Nicolas thought about what he was told, though it sounded totally ridicules he remembered Mama telling him the same story, or something similar years ago. She had a book with all the pictures in as well. He and Patrick used to sit on her lap at night listening to all the stories she read from this thick red book. She would not have lied to him; maybe he should just listen for a matter of remembering the smell of Mama’s blond hair while she was reading to them.

When Luke returned with the coffee, Nicolas looked at him and asked him to carry on with the story, because that is what it was to him, only a stupid stretched out story that adults told from one generation to the next. Luke gave him a curious look, but did not ask any questions, he was but to happy that there was some interest from Nicolas to listen further.

“The people pushed a spike through His side to ensure that He was dead. The Son of God, our Lamb slain before the world began, died one of the most agonizing physical deaths that any person could suffer. He had no tomb of His own so they buried Him in the tomb of a friend, and for three days, His mother cried. And for three days, His disciples ran. But thanks be to the Most High, that’s not how the story ends because three glorious days later, Jesus rose from the dead again. Pretty amazing won’t you say Nicolas?” Luke looked at Nicolas again, more intently than before, and notices the glimmer of tears in the corners of his eyes.

Touching his knee, he carried on; “Oh, but this just wasn’t any ordinary sacrifice because He became the way, the truth and the life, and we now have a way through the Father through Him. Through the cross, we’re now able to get across that great divide caused by sin, separating us from Him, and He’s calling us, but we’ve got to come. See, the choice is still ours, but He has provided all the love. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son,” and if we only believe that Jesus Christ paid this price …”

Nicolas thrust away the hand on his knee, getting up and walks towards the porch steps, Luke called after him, “Remember Nicolas Jesus Christ said, “You shall know the truth.” There will be no more separation, no more fear of death, and no more holes in our heart. We can now have eternal life. You see, God gave man a choice. You either accept it or reject it.” Nicolas only looked back once, and disappeared between the trees at the end of the lawn.

With a silent prayer for acceptance Luke let him go, knowing that the seed was planted inside his little stubborn head, and that God would guide him from this way forward. “Thanks Lord for letting me have this chance,” Luke prayed, “if it is Your will Lord, please let him see what the truth are and surrender himself to You dear Father. You know how little I wanted to hear about You or even from You, but still You had me in Your hand all the way, I praise You lord”

A whisper came to Luke “Call me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you don’t know” Jer. 33:3

Chapter 4

As Rebecca returned to her office she called the family that adopted Patrick. The news that Nicolas gave her, troubled her mind, and she was worried about the now 13 year old Patrick. Mrs Robinson kept Rebecca up to date with how Patrick was progressing, and the last photo she received, the resemblance between Nicolas and Patrick was remarkable. The phone rang a few times, and went to voice mail. Rebecca left a brief message for the Robinson family to please give her an urgent call back.

Then she phoned Captain Thomson who was the investigating officer at the time of the murder case. They made an appointment at two to have lunch together, and discuss this matter that aroused after so many years. It is so sad that Nicolas felt he could not trust anybody, and then they could have stopped it years ago, and solved the murder case; getting a cold hearted monster of the street abusing small children.

Rebecca took out the file from her desk drawer where she kept all the problem children locked away, and paged through it again, like she have done so many times before. There has to be a way that they could assemble some details on this man from the foster families where Nicolas have stayed before, more details of how he behaved, and when it started happening, she simply needed to dig. The file was thick, and with the new details she got from Nicolas, it was no longer a troubled difficult boy’s file on her desk, it was a hero, which was even at his young age trying to protect everybody that took care of him.

But between herself and 20 odd other families they where to blind to see what was happening and kept on feeding him to the wolf, not once looking out for his well being. They fought they did, but in the end it was a reality that they did not do so, and that this poor child had to take the beating once again for adults mistakes and ignorance. She went through the lists and lists of complaints. Looking at them now, realising that was a calling for help, so loud, nobody was suppose to miss it, but it fell onto ears that would not listen, and was not willing to hear.

He harassed the animals, broken windows on purpose, took stuff from the houses he was staying in, pick pocketing from the wallets, silverware going missing, CD’s and DVD’s going missing, jewellery that went astray, petty thefts at local convenient stores. No charges were filed against him, all the damages was paid for the petty thefts, but the lost goods could never been disclosed that it was Nicolas that took the goods. In a variety of instances there were new babysitters or new help in the house, therefore it could have been them as well taking the stuff, but once it started happening the foster parents had no more interest in the new boy in the house, and he had to go. Arguments usually flared up and made Nicolas aggressive towards the families, driving the last nail of no longer being welcome through the coffin.

She read through every piece of paper that was in the file, more intently than before. Nicolas told her the man contacted him at the age of 7, which was about a year after their parents’ murder. For the first year after he was taken into the first foster house, there was no problems. He adapted well, and the family was very fond of him, until they got home the one afternoon and the cat was hanging by its tail from the tree. None of the boys in the house took credit for this deed, but one of the neighbours saw Nicolas doing it, and the foster mom was concerned. About 2 weeks later she found four hamsters drowned in the toilet, and that was it. Nicolas was to find a new place to stay. Why did they not took it further then, Rebecca asked herself.

The list goes on and on, with every piece of material, Rebecca feels as if she could pull the hair from her head. He was a troubled boy, yes, and everybody, even the psychologist, said it was due to the memories of the past. Nicolas did a good job in hiding what was really the problem.

Just before one her phone rang “Rebecca Nelson speaking”, “Hi Rebecca, it is Mrs Robinson; you left a message earlier that we should give you an urgent call, anything the matter?” Mrs Robinson had a soft flowing voice, and Rebecca always felt the calmness from this woman, even over the phone. “Thanks for calling back Mrs Robinson. Yes, as a matter of fact we do have a slight problem. This should not affect Patrick as yet, but I need you to please be on the lookout. Patrick elder brother revealed some information to me last night that is quite startling, and we need to make sure that Patrick is still safe.”

Rebecca gave Mrs Robinson a quick review of the details Nicolas has given her the night before; there were a few moments of complete silence on the line. “Are you still there Mrs Robinson?” Rebecca asked, a soft sniff came from the other side, “Yes, Rebecca, I am. I was afraid all the time that something like this could happen. What if he found our little Patrick, and his poor brother? It is such a shame that something like this was to happen to him, I always prayed that he would get a good house as well, and now these details, it is rather disturbing, isn’t it? Thus far I could not pick up any changes in Patrick’s reactions or behaviour, but we will make sure that he is alright, without him noticing that we are looking out for him. He doesn’t like to be covered in cotton, if you know what I mean” Rebecca gave a small smile, thinking back at the last time she saw little Patrick, he surely had his own way of doing things, and was most definitely not a mama’s boy.

“One more thing Mrs Robinson, do you think you could consider that Nicolas and Patrick could see each other? Maybe that could give Nicolas some peace at heart that Patrick was safe, and that he had no need to worry about Patrick, or be concerned that he was not looked after?” Rebecca tried to sound as convincing as possible, remembering the previous conversations they had with regards to the matter.

Mrs Robinson did not answer straight away, thinking about it for a moment. “Rebecca, with all due respect, I would rather not have the boys have contact with each other. After all you told me about Nicolas it might bring problems into our household, which we have not yet experienced up to now. I would rather not have a big brother influence on Patrick at this age. I do hope you understand where I am coming from.” Rebecca was disappointed with the answer, but Mrs Robinson was Patrick’s legal guardian, and they did have the final say in the matter, and with this conversation the matter was closed.

“Thanks Mrs Robinson, and please do not hesitate to give me or Captain Thomson a call at any time; if you feel something should be brought to our attention.” She rang off after a few goodbye wishes, and placed the receiver back in its cradle.

Just before two she took her coat, and headed towards the coffee shop she was suppose to meet up with Captain Thomson. Maybe more alert than before she noticed that tall gentleman across the road, with his hat pulled low to cover most part of his face. The man was tall and scary looking, but she thought she was only imagining things after a restless night, and all the things she read this morning. She did not take another look at the man and carried on walking the two blocks to the coffee shop.

Captain Thomson greeted her when she came in, already having his coffee and a club sandwich. After ordering what she thought would go down on her upset stomach they settled down in their conversation. Drinking some of her coffee first, and having small chat with Captain Thomson, Rebecca pulled her guts together to tell him what Nicolas told her the day before. Captain Thomson listened intently to her, and nodded from time to time, to indicate that he was still listening.

“This is sure enough reason to dust this old file again Rebecca, I assure you I will request the file to be send to me straight away when I get back to the office. I will fine comb everything again to see if I have missed any possible details, no matter how small.

It was a terrible scene they walked into on the night of June 16, 1972. He remembered as if it was yesterday. They received a call from the neighbour at about 2 in the morning, reporting the shots that were heard. He was on duty, and their patrol car was the closest to the scene. There were many such reports but none of them was prepared for what waited for them that night.

When they arrived at the scene, the front door was slightly ajar, he pushed it open a little further, but it got jammed against the right foot of a man lying on the floor. He pushed through with his partner right behind him; the man was lying on his side, his other leg totally out of proportion, as if it was broken in several places. Blood was oozing from a wound in his chest, his eyes dead, pupils completely diluted and dull, the blood trail came from the bedroom, the man must have crawled to where he was lying, and shot at close range. The mobile home phone was on the floor about a meter from where the man was lying. Bruises of a recent beating were on the side of his face and his fingers were ruthlessly broken. Another wound was bleeding on the carpet from the leg he was lying on. He did not die long before they got to the scene

Blood covered the walls as the blood trail to the bedroom further into the house, nausea crept through his stomach, and you could smell death in the house. The walls were covered with photos, happy family photos, now covered with blood. There was three holes in the main bedroom door, across the bead was the body of a slight build blond woman, he recognised her from the photos, the mother. She was obviously raped, and terrible abuse before she was shot at close range right between the eyes, the expression of her face still reflect the fear she felt before she passed away. Her hands were tied behind her back that she could not fight back, and another shot wound was noted in her should, must have came from one of the shots that was fired through the door, as the blood stains was all over the carpet.

The amount of blood was astounding on this scene, the terrible brutality of the people who was responsible for this reflected everywhere. The house was ramshackle, and the boys were missing, until much later when they came out of their hiding place, Nicolas the brave little caretaker. They were sure the boys were kidnapped that night when they heard from the neighbour that they were in the house as well. Calling and calling their name almost confirmed the initial thought, until little Nicolas looked around that play trunk corner, his sleepy but fear filled eyes was the most adorable sight that day. He never left Patrick for one moment, protecting him with every fibre in his small body.

The people responsible for this murder were very clinical, not an ounce of evidence could be found to identify them. Nothing in the Maiser’s personal affairs contain no details that could assist with the investigation, and the file was closed in 1975 as unsolved.

He simply had to get the courage together to go through the gruesome details again. He almost knew every detail in the file off by heart, but just maybe there was something he missed, not that he could imagine how it was possible, but it was not completely impossible either.

It always bothered him how much of the scene he was able to hide from Nicolas when he carried him outside that morning. His little heart throbbed against his small ribcage every now so often, drawing in his breath deeply when he saw something else.

 Chapter 5

It was only after dark that Nicolas came back to the house. Luke got worried but he knew the child could not go anywhere. Just after he left the house that afternoon walking into the trees, Luke had switched on the electric fencing, and the gate could only be opened by remote. He gave Rebecca a remote the day the gate was installed, joking that it was for in case he got ran over by the bull. There was no way of the grounds; he made sure, as he wanted no way into the grounds for snoopers from the outside.

A quick memory run through his head how it was in the first months after he was released, the press, the jokers, the nosy people from town, he just could not stand it, and even before the house was finish the electric fencing was up. There were so many stories where the finance came from, drug money, bribes, if you can give it a name and it was illegal, then that was the source.

No one knew about the money he inherited from Veronica when she passed away. She had no family except for him and Rebecca, and they were also her only beneficiaries. The amount that paid out was much more than any of them expected, none of them knew from her inheritance when her own parents passed away a few years before her in a tragic plane accident. She was always such a sweet, plane, down to earth Jane. Nobody, not even him and Rebecca was aware of the fact that she was quite wealthy, and he did not use a dime of that money before he went to jail, as he believed he was not worth a dime that came from her, after he turned his back on God.  At his request, Rebecca never mentioned it to anybody, and he knew for a fact she never would.

Emerging from the dark, Nicolas looked at Luke with a puzzled look, “You never knew my mom did you?” Luke could not quite understand where the question came from, “No son, why you asking?” Nicolas had a very childlike look in his eyes, almost innocent “If you never knew her, did you have the same red book as we had when we were small? How come you and she know the same story so well?” Luke smiled, knowing that God was working miracles in this boy’s life, this was only the beginning.

“Can I ask you a question son?” Luke wasn’t sure if Nicolas was ready for more information, but he was filled with details that he wished so much to share with this boy in front of him. Nicolas looked unsure when he looked up at Luke, not sure what to expect next from this big rough looking man, still there was something in his eyes that Nicolas wanted so much, something that reminded him of his Papa’s eyes, and that made his Mama’s eyes shine like diamonds. He did not have a word for it yet, but he was sure in his heart that if he stuck to Luke he would find out soon enough.

“Sure sir, Luke, you can ask all you want. I can still decide whether I want to answer it or not, can’t I?” Luke breathed deep and put the question on the table, “Are you a sinner, Nicolas?” the question shook Nicolas almost off balance, but he stood his ground “No sir I am not, I don’t believe in your God remember, therefore I cannot be a sinner in your books or His.”

Luke just shook his head slowly from side to side. Denial is one of the biggest opponents in this child, but he would not stop until there was understanding. “Nicolas, have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen anything? Have you ever been angry at someone unjustly?” Nicolas kept his eyes on the carpet in front of his feet, not looking up at Luke, as he knew the truth would be right there in his eyes, for Luke to see.

“If you have lied, you are a liar, if you have stolen, you are a thief, and you have broken the law of God. This is the words written in that big red book your Mama also had son. That book gives us the standards of righteousness, and if you have broken any of God’s commandments, you are falling short of God’s standards. When we die, we will face Him on the day of Judgement and he will deliver proper judgement to all people, He must be righteous and holy. I have a red book, a Bible that I would like to give to you, just like the one your Mama had, it just doesn’t have pictures like the one she had, for you are grown up now.” Luke looked at Nicolas, still staring at the carpet. “Was this child even listening to what I have said to him Lord?”

Luke stood up walked over to the bookshelf and took the Bible that father Paul gave to him while in prison. He walked over to Nicolas, touched his shoulder to draw his attention, and placed the Bible into his big, but childlike hands. “Nicolas, if you don’t like this teaching, please return this back to me, and turn away completely from Jesus for this is the message of God. Son, Jesus came to die for sinners and to save them from the wrath to come. Jesus is the one you need, son, you need Him alone. It is only by God’s love and grace found in Jesus and His sacrifice that we can be delivered from the righteous wrath of God, when we have broken His law. Jesus saves us from God’s righteous judgement.”

Nicolas looked at the Bible with curiosity, no one before did the effort to even think about it to give him a Bible, now he can see that Luke is not only trusting him with a Bible, but one of his treasures. This book has been read not only once or twice, it was used, like a properly used map, when you are travelling all over, and needed direction.

In the front of the Bible there was a crooked scribble handwriting, sign off as father Paul. Nicolas thought of reading it, and then he put the Bible down beside him on the table and looked at Luke. “You are really trying to convince me that there are a God, aren’t you? Thanks for the Bible I will read it when I have time. Now I am off to bed, I will see you in the morning” His attitude vey no care, but when he walked into his room, a looked back at the table, where the Bible stared back at him.

He stood up and left the room, Luke realised they have not yet even ate as yet, but when he called to Nicolas, there was no answer. It is a sad thought that a big boy that age would go to bed without even eating anything, Luke thought to himself, realising that this must be something that Nicolas was used to. He, himself was no longer in the mood for the mac-and-cheese he made, grabbed a slice of toast and went to bed himself, after doing his Bible study that was as apart of him as breathing.

When Nicolas heard there was no more noise coming from inside the house, he slipped through his bedroom door to fetch the Bible from the table where he left it. He had to admit to himself, that Luke had tickled his curiosity, and the dream he had while he fell asleep under the apple tree, intensified this curiosity even more.

Slowly opening the front page of the Bible, he switched on the lamp next to the bed. The inscription read as follow:

Dear Luke, take this as your map to the world wherever God might lead you, when the time come you will know who to pass this map onto. The Lord will always be your guidance. Remember always what I have told you, and share that with all those desperately in need of the hope that Jesus provided for all of us.

In your hand you are not holding the word of God, but also His Gospel, the historical event where Jesus died for sinners on the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4).  His death was a sacrifice that turns away the wrath of God (1 Patrick 2:2).  This is the only way to be saved from God's righteous judgment upon those who have sinned by breaking his Law.

Jesus is the one who died for the sins of the world (1 Patrick 2:2).  He is the only way to God the Father (Patrick 14;6). He alone reveals God (Matt. 11:27).  He has all authority in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18).  It is only through Him that you can be saved from God's wrath (Eph. 2:3).  He can forgive you of your sin (Luke 5:20; Matt. 9:-1-8).  He can remove the guilt that is upon your soul.  Jesus can set you free from the bondage of sin that blinds your eyes, weakens your soul, and brings you to despair.  He can do this because He bore sin in His body on the cross (1 Peter. 2:24) so that those who trust in Him would be saved.

If you are not a Christian, and want to be delivered from the righteous judgment of God, then come to the One who died for the sins of the world.  Come to the One who died for sinners (Matt. 11:28).  Believe and trust in Jesus. Receive Jesus, who is God in flesh (Patrick 1:1,14), who died and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4) as your Lord and Saviour. Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins (Patrick 14:14; Matt. 9:1-8).  Receive Christ (Patrick 1:12) and the sacrifice He made on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24). Turn from your sins (Acts 3:19).  Only He can wash you clean from your sins and only Jesus can deliver you from the future judgment of a holy and infinite God.  Pray to Jesus.  Seek Him.  Ask Him to save you.  Put your trust in him. 

 Never forget where to put your trust Luke, and never look back on the road you walked before, the Lord has forgiven You and washed your sins away the day you have accepted Him as your Salvation. The Bible  is as big as LIFE: "The Book of Life." It answers to every situation. The promises are life-size, it all adds up to this: we must learn to make the bible our prayer book!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you; by the love of God my friend I greet you, father Paul.

Nicolas read this a few times, making sure he understood completely what he had read. This was powerful words he thought softly. Paging through the book, observing all the verses that was highlighted in different colours.

A loose leaflet fell from the Bible, the sides slightly torn and damaged, the colour of the once white page turned yellow with age. It was folded as if it was kept in a shirt pocket most of the time. When Nicolas unfolded the leaflet a photo fell out of it of a young skinny tiny girl, with almost now hair. The photo was taken in a hospital, as Nicolas could see all the equipment around the bed, alongside the girl was two people, on the one side Luke, and the other Miss Rebecca. At first he thought it was the glaze on the photo, but when he looked closely, he saw the same light in this girls eyes, as he saw in Luke’, Mama’s and Miss Rebecca’s eyes, and he knew it was peace. On the back of the photo it was written, Veronica, the day before she went to Jesus.

Nicolas glanced at the leaflet, trying to figure out precisely that was written on it, as the wording have faded over time, but once he could establish the verses written on the leaflet, he looked them up in the Bible, it was highlighted in a blue pencil.

Powerful Prayers you can pray every day to change your life!

 There is absolutely nothing more powerful than praying Scripture back to the Father!

Daily Prayers – personalized from prayers in New Testament

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Col 4:2
 Glorious Father, I ask that you give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that I may know You better.  I pray that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened in order that I may know the hope to which You have called me, that I may know the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints, and that I may know Your incomparably great power for me who believes. (Eph 1:17-19)

Dear Lord, I pray that out of Your glorious riches You may strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith.  And I pray that I, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Your holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of You.  (Eph 3:16-19)

 Heavenly Father, I ask that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. (Eph 6:19)

 Lord God, I pray that my love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that I may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of You. (Phil 1:9-11)

 Dear Lord, I continually ask You to fill me with the knowledge of Your will through all the wisdom and understanding that Your Spirit gives, so that I may live a life worthy of you and please You in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of You, being strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might so that I may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to You, who has qualified me to share in the inheritance of your holy people in the kingdom of light.  Thank you for rescuing me from the dominion of darkness and bringing me into the kingdom of Your Son. (Col 1:9-13)

 Dear God, open a door for my message, so that I may proclaim the mystery of Christ.  I pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. (Col 4:3-4)

“This is enough for one day,” he murmured to himself, “I am losing my mind like these loonies around me” He put the Bible back on the night stand, and turned over to sleep. He had the same dream as that afternoon.

Luke heard Nicolas going back to the dining area, and prayed the whole time, while he heard Nicolas paging through the Bible. Dear Lord, please reconcile him to you. You had mercy on me Lord; please have the mercy on him to. It was very late when the house grew totally quite, and only the soft whisper of the Lord’s presence remained touching the soul that needed Him most.

Chapter 6

Nicolas woke the next morning, his stomach rumbling with hunger when he smelled the bacon and eggs frying in the kitchen. He peeped through the door, kicking himself because he did not put the Bible back on the table again last night. Now, Luke would know he took it!

“Good morning, Nicolas, did you sleep well?” Luke seemed in a good, but quite mood this morning, as if he was thinking about something very deeply. “Morning Luke that surely does smell good, can I make some coffee, or would you like some juice with it?” Luke was surprised that Nicolas felt home enough to offer. The previous few days he would not help himself to anything, or even offer some help when a meal was prepared.

“Coffee would be nice thanks; cups are above the kettle, all the other stuff you will find around the kettle and milk in the fridge.” Luke looked around to see if Nicolas got everything, the slum in his young shoulders look less this morning, but there was still no real emotion in his eyes.

“Feel like going into town today with me, I need to pick up some supplies I have ordered, and stop by Rebecca’s office. There is something I would like to discuss with both of you, and it would be more convenient for her if we went there.” Nicolas just shrugged his shoulders, and considered it an answer to the question.

“I want to tell you a story Nicolas, the story of myself. No, don’t worry, I won’t push more gospel down your throat this morning, breakfast is enough today.” Luke never really told his story to anyone before, only Rebecca knew it all, because she is the most persistent person that he has ever met in his life.  She never lost track of him after Veronica has passed away, always kept contact, and always tried to bring him back on tract, if it was not for all her prayers, and father Paul, he would have ended up in a ditch somewhere, with a knife in his heart alongside a road that almost never used, to be found years later.

Luke looked at him curiously, is this man really going to tell him another soppy story? But he said nothing and when Luke spoke he listened up, because it shed some light on the photo in the Bible.

“I was your age when I met Veronica and Rebecca, they were best of friends. I fell in love with Veronica, but from the word go, I knew if I wanted to be Veronica’s boyfriend, we had Rebecca as our watchdog. The three of us became like the three musketeers, we did absolutely everything together. Rebecca was dedicated to get her studies done, as she was the only daughter of her single mom, who had no financial support from any family members. In her final year of high school her mother passed away and Veronica’s parents took her in to complete her studies.

They both went to university to study psychology. Veronica’s parent died in a terrible plane crash in their second year, and the two girls was on their own with no family members left. We became a family. I was very much in love with Veronica, and asked her to marry me. We got engaged, but shortly after the engagement she became sick, and was diagnosed with Leukaemia. It was a hard battle; Rebecca gave up her studies, and spent most of the time looking after Veronica. None of the treatments they tried worked, and after a year and a half of battling against the sickness Veronica passed away.”

Luke rubbed over his hand, the emotions was still high in him when he thought about that time. “We were devastated, we prayed the whole time, believing that God would save her, and miraculously cure her from the sickness. Only, it was not God’s will for it to happen.” He sighed, remembering written all over him. A tear slowly made his way down Luke cheek and Nicolas looked at it in amazement, this big, rough looking man is really crying!

“Veronica was a dedicated Christian, even from her sickbed she was spreading God’s word to all whom wanted to listen, and even to those who showed no interest. The love she spread through that thin body of hers was amazing. Nobody was unimportant to her; she called and spoke to everybody, touching them with peace that only God can provide you.” A soft glow was on Luke face, when he thought about Veronica. Then in an instant sadness spread over him, and Nicolas could feel the emotion in the room.

“Veronica passed away in the mid afternoon of a sunny spring day, her favourite time of the year. She use to love nature, and before she passed away, she asked the hospital personnel to push her bed that she could see the gardens through her hospital window, nothing was too much trouble for them when it came to Veronica, and they were more than willing to do anything for her.” Luke sighed hard, and Nicolas could feel the hurt coming from him, pulling emotions from himself that he had securely placed out of his mind for many years. “She was sleeping, and just never woke up again; Jesus came and fetched her with a soft touch, needing her more as an angel as we did. She already gave everything she had before she passed away.”

“I did not see it that way; I was upset, and lost touch with the world. I could not overcome my sadness, and anger towards God for taking her away from me. I turned my back completely on God. It was not long after her death that I joined up with one of the biggest gangs in the area. Because I felt absolutely nothing towards anybody, I rained on fear, and soon after joining the gang in was ranked second in charge. I sold drugs to kids as young as eight years of age, making sure I could cause as much damage as possible to God’s creation.” Luke sighed heavily, as if the burden was pushing him down in his chair. He has totally forgotten about the breakfast in front of him. Thinking back to those horrible days and deeds he did back then.

Nicolas could not believe the man sitting with him was the man that he just described. “It was until one afternoon we decided that the owner of one of the convenient stores needed to be taught a lesson, as he did not allow any drug dealings in the area where his store was situated, and I did not like being told where I was allowed to conduct my business and where not, this was my territory. Me and two other members of the gang stormed the store, fully armed, but I think he was prepared for us, because the moment we came in he already pulled the first warning shot. There were shots fired all over, the other two members got killed in the line of fire and got hit in my left arm.” With these words he pulled up the sleeve of his shirt covering his arm, showing a real bad scar as evidence to his words.

The police was on the scene within moments. The owner got hit as well, but there was no real evidence that it was me that hit him, that charge was not brought onto my book, but my chances looked pretty dim at the stage when I was arrested. There were so many charges against me that the Bible you started reading last night, is thin compared to what my police file looked like.” Luke gave Nicolas a look that said I am ashamed of what I did, but then I found hope.

“You see Nicolas, it doesn’t matter how thick the file against you, there is always hope that our Lord provides us with. Most of His disciples were locked up as well, for spreading His word. I just did not realise it at that stage.” Luke looked as if he needed some air, he was pale, and a light sweat was covering his brow. “Eat up, let’s get on the road, I will finish my story later.”

With that Luke pushed his chair backwards and got up, his hands trembling slightly. He never wanted to speak about this again, but he knew he had to if he wanted Nicolas to open up towards him. This was the only way he could gain the child’s confidence to ensure him that he did understood a little of what he was going through.

Chapter 7

Rebecca was waiting for Luke and Nicolas in her office. He called her before they left, to let her know they were on their way. She picked up her cup of tea from the table and wondered to the window, looking down at the park across the road.

Once again she noticed the man standing under the tree with his hat pulled down, it made her think about what Nicolas told her when he met his parent’s killer the first time. Why was the man luring in the park with the children were playing. She made a mental note to speak to Captain Thomson about him.

As she was about to turn away she saw the man approaching a boy almost eight years old, from the distance she was watching. The boy looked scared, and went with the man reluctantly towards one of the park benches. Basically forcing the boy to sit down, the man settled next to him, taking something out of his pocket. She could not quite see what it was, and was studying the scene closely when she heard the office door open.

All chattering the two men entered that she was waiting for. Well, Nicolas not quite a man as yet, but most definitely an attractive young man, now that he cleaned up quite decently. As they entered she motioned them towards where she was standing at the window. Curious to see what she was looking both came closer, but as Nicolas stood next to her, he went dead pale. “That is the slime bag I told you about Miss Rebecca” The tone of his voice so aggressive he could have been a full grown man standing next to her, about to charge the guy himself.

His hands opened and closed forming fists and if Luke did not hold his arm back that fist would have gone through the window, shattering the glass pane in front of them. “Luke, get Nicolas something to calm him down please, I am calling Captain Thomson immediately”

When Captain Thomson answered the call Rebecca explained to him quickly what was happening in the park, and that Nicolas had identified the man as the one that was using him all these years. They closed the conversation of with Captain Thomson saying that he is on his way. They are not bringing in the police straight away, but they are going to put the man under surveillance for a time to follow his actions. He will be coming over to take Nicolas’s statement in the mean time. She felt as if she could shake him awake from a sleepwalk, the slime bag was just across the road, confiding in other small little boys, and he wants to take a statement!

Nicolas and Luke came back to the office, both clearly in a calmer state as when they left it. Rebecca was still standing in front of the window, and when she looked at Nicolas the brims of his eyes were quite red from recently shed tears. Something she had rarely seen before on Nicolas. Luke just gave her a quite smile when he noticed what she was looking at, and squeezed Nicolas’s shoulder slightly to ensure him that he wasn’t going anywhere.

“Can I offer you guys a cup of coffee while we are waiting for Captain Thomson?” Rebecca asked as friendly as possible, her voice trembling with emotion; and her hands shaking ever so lightly. “Thank you madam, we will greatly appreciate it,” Luke smiled at her trying to relay the message to her that everything will be just fine.

Once they settled down with their coffee, Luke scraped his throat indicating that he had important business he was about to discuss, not just with Rebecca, but with Nicolas as well. “As I mentioned this morning to both of you, I have something serious I want to discuss with both of you. I thought this over ever since Nicolas and you stopped at my porch. Not only have I thought about it, but it was a serious prayer topic for me the whole time. Don’t role your eyes at me mister, I am dead serious here. I would like to propose.” Both Rebecca and Nicolas looked confused, what was Luke going on about.

“Don’t look so anxious guys, I am not proposing to Rebecca, I am proposing to you Nicolas, if Rebecca can work things out, would you like to come and stay with me all the time. I would like to be your foster parent if the system will allow me to be, and if you like it enough, I want to adopt you as my own son.” Nicolas almost fell out of the chair he was sitting in, this could not be true, all he did so far was giving this man a hard time, and now he wants to adopt him. He was sure now this was a true loony! “Sure sir, but I do hope you have a comb for the hair that you are about to grow on your teeth” Luke just ruffled the once messy hair now well looked after and Nicolas just smiled at him.

Rebecca was flabbergasted, never had Luke shown any interest in being a foster parent. She basically dumped Nicolas onto his shoulders as she had no other way out, and now this. A tap on the door closed the conversation for the moment, and Captain Thomson entered the office.

Nicolas immediately recognised him from the night of his parent murder; he was the gentleman that tried to protect him from not seeing the scene in the house. The attraction between them was a spark, and not before long Captain Thomson had Nicolas at ease to tell him everything. Nicolas gave permission that both Rebecca and Luke could stay during the statement, and the details that he shared that afternoon were even more hair rising than the details Rebecca got from him before.

The man in the park was not only a murderer, he was a child molester, a rapist, drug dealer, and Nicolas witnessed all of these. Captain Thomson now understood why the man was in the park across the road from Rebecca’s office. He was waiting for Nicolas to come see her, as he would be able to place him on so many crime scenes that nobody else have been able to do before. That was also the reason he was across the road from Rebecca’s office, he knew Nicolas would come to her, and he was waiting for him. The fact that Nicolas was a witness to most of his crimes, and of what he told Enriqu was in terrible danger and for that matter Rebecca as well.

Nicolas statement was enough; this man needs to be taken off the street. Within minutes the details were send through to his office and the law was ready to step in. the biggest worry now, until they had the man arrested was the safety of both Rebecca as well as Nicolas. Luke thought about it for only a moment where Rebecca was concerned, and ordered her to get her overnight case from her bottom drawer where he knew she always kept it for emergency cases.

Captain Thomson brought Luke’s vehicle around to the back of the office, and Luke left with both of them safely in his custody. He knew they were safe on the farm; no one will get to them without him knowing it first. Before they drove off, Nicolas turned to Captain Thomson, “Captain, Sir, I never had a chance to thank you for the way you did try to make things easier that morning, I appreciate all you have done for me Sir”. He stretched out a hand to Captain Thomson, but the man pulled him close and gave him a bear hug. Without Nicolas knowing it, this boy just gave Captain Thomson some peace in his own heart as well.

Chapter 8

Back at the house, he let them inside, getting juice from the fridge without even asking if they would like some. They all sat at the dining room table. Luke looked at Nicolas to see if the child was doing ok, more of his emotions were visible in his body language the last couple of days than before. He looked a little more relaxed than before, as if a load has been taken from his shoulders. The burden he had to carry on his own for so long was now in the hands of the law.

“You know Nicolas, when they took me into custody that day of the robbery, they said to me I only had one phone call, the only number I could remember after all that time on the streets, was Rebecca’s. I phoned her, and asked her only one thing. I said to her, my friend I need your prayers, and then I hung up. She did not even knew where I was until a few days later, when the police contacted her to confirm some details I have given them”

“So why would God answer her prayers? The biggest reason: she had a relationship with God. She wanted to follow God. And she actually listened to what He said. In her mind, God had the right to direct her in life, and she welcomed Him doing just that! When she prayed for things, it was a natural part of her relationship with God. She felt very comfortable coming to God with her needs, her concerns, and whatever issues were current in her life. Furthermore, she was convinced, from what she read in the Bible, that God wanted her to rely on him like that. She pretty much exhibited what this statement from the Bible says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer..." I knew if someone would pray for the right reasons it would be her.”

Rebecca looked surprised when she listened to the subject of conversation; Nicolas was totally intrigued to here more. He realised Luke kept to his word, to carry on with the conversation when they returned, and he did not even had to remind him!

“I promise you the first few days were living hell in that cell. They tortured me for information in every way possible. Eventually I gave in, and made a deal with the DA. I gave up one of the biggest drug lord known in the country, with details where and when his next shipment will go down. To put it mildly, that saved my but slightly.” Luke even blushed at this stage of the story. “I really am not proud of what I have done son, but if it did not happen I would not have been able to relate to you today, and then I might not have been able to let you see that my God is the only way in life.”

“I was lucky enough to meet father Paul in prison, he was the minister that took care of the spiritual side of the inmates. At first I could not see any reason why I was to listen to him, but after Rebecca came to visit me she gave me reason why I should. Remember the leaflet you found in the Bible and the photo inside. She got special permission to give that to me. The leaflet was Veronica’s that she has kept inside her Bible all the time while she was alive, Rebecca just gave me the photo to remember the way she used to share her love with everybody.” Luke gave Rebecca a smile, which reflected gratitude, and squeezed her hand softly from across the table.

“When you go to bed tonight, take the bible, and look for all the verses that it highlighted with yellow, the colour of the sun, they are numbered, write them down on the writing pad I placed next to your bed this morning, and you will find the most lovely love letter anyone could ever write to you.”

Nicolas was curious to see what he would find, and just after their evening meal he went of to bed. Looking through the Bible, Nicolas wrote down all the verses and then put them into order. Each verse had a inscription next to it, when he read the complete letter he was astounded with the fact that Luke was right, this was the most beautiful love letter he ever received from anybody.

You may not know me, but I know everything about you (Psalm 139.1)

“O lord, You have searched me, and known me”

I know when you sit down and when you rise up (Psalm 139.2)

“You know my sitting down and my rising up;”

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered (Matthew 10.29-31)

” Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Fathers will, but the very hairs of your head are all numbered; Do not fear therefore, you are of more value than sparrows”

You were made in my image (Genesis 1.27)

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him: male and female He created them”

I knew you even before you were conceived (Jeremiah 1.4-5)

“Then the word of the Lord came to me saying: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to nations”

I knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139.13)

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb”

I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me (Patrick 8.41-44)

“you do the deeds of your father” then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father – God” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand for the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it”

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love (1 Patrick 4.16)

“and we have known and believed in the love that God has for us, and he who abides in the love abides in God, and God in Him”

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you (1 Patrick 3.1)

“Behold what manner of love the Father has shown for us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him”

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could (Matthew 7.11)

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give goods things to those who ask Him”

For I am the perfect father (Matthew 5.48)

“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect”

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand (Luke 1.17)

“Every good gift end every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights with who there are no variation or shadow of turning”
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs (Matthew 6.31-33)

“Therefore do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ for after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly father knows you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all things shall be added to you”

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope (Jeremiah 29.11)

”For I know the thought that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and hope”

Because I love you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31.3)

“The Lord appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love.’ Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you”

I will never stop doing good to you (Jeremiah 32.40)

“And I will make an everlasting covenant with them,  that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me”

I want to show you great and marvellous things (Jeremiah 33.3)

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know”

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine (Ephesians 3.20)

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we asked or think, according to the power that works in us.”
For I am your greatest encourager (2 Thessalonians 2.16-17)

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace”

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles (2 Corinthians 1.3-4)

“Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God”

When you are broken-hearted, I am close to you (Psalm 34.18)

“Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His Mercy”

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes (Revelation 21.3-4)

“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying. “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus (Patrick 17.23)

“”I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that know that You have sent me, and have loved them as You have loved Me”

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed (Patrick 17.26)

“And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You love Me may be in them, and I am in them.”

He is the exact representation of my being (Hebrews 1.3)

“who being the brightness of His glory and the express of His person, and the upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high”

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you (Romans 8.31)

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins, Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled (2 Corinthians 5.18-19)

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you (1 Patrick 4.10)

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and send His Son to be the propitiation of our sins”
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me (1 Patrick 2.23)

“Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also”

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again (Romans 8.38-39)

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present and things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing , shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”

My question is “Will you be my child?” (Patrick 1.12-13)

“But as many has received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believed in His name; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God”

I am waiting for you (Luke 15.11-32)

11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring[a] out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”

Tears sprung to his eyes when he read through it again, how could he have not seen this before? Why could nobody be so kind to him before to share this secret with him? Now, at the age of sixteen after all his been through, he was not alone at all, but in protection all the time; he had some questions that’s for sure, but he knew what he was going to ask Luke first thing in the morning. He also realised that his prayer was answered that horrible night, him and Patrick was protected all the time, or else they would have been dead as well.

Remembering the prayer they used to say when they were kids, he silently whispered the words in his mind, and went into a peaceful sleep. For the first time since he met that dark man in the park he was able to sleep without any dreams chasing him in the dark. Instead he dreamt the peaceful dream he had the day he came to Luke.

Luke and Rebecca sat talking for a while longer. “I am serious Rebecca, if Nicolas would allow me, and it is his wishes, I would love to adopt him, and look after him for the rest of his life, as long as I can. I have the finances; you know that to ensure that he gets a good education without any worry. I fell in love with the child, he reminds me so much of someone I know too well” he smiled at her, and she chuckled back, “Me too, I think he is precisely like you, stubborn, yet very delicate piece of work, thanks for taking us in”

Chapter 9

The sun has not even said good morning to the next day when Nicolas was already up, waiting for Luke to appear from his bedroom. He boiled the kettle three times before Luke showed a very sleepy face through his bedroom door. “Morning Luke, did you sleep well? I have boiled the kettle; you will have coffee in two shakes. Would you like some toast with that? I haven’t slept so like this in years. Come on man, wake up I need to ask you something, and you won’t know the answers looking so sleepy still”

Luke was overwhelmed with this wake up call, this was more words than Nicolas have spoken to him since he came here at one time. He shook his head, making sure he was not dreaming.

“Good morning to you to young man, how could I be of your assistance?” Luke tried to sound as formal as he could be this time of the morning, but his voice was still thick from sleep, and he just gave a grin to make up for it.

“Luke, who is God? What is He like?” Nicolas wanted to know. “But before you answer that, were you serious about what you said yesterday in Miss Rebecca’s office? If you were, I would love to.” Now Luke was more stunned than when he walked through his bedroom door. “Wow mate, one big thing at time. Which one would you like to have answered first?”

Nicolas looked at him, as if he could not make up his mind, “Can I stay with you sir?” Luke smiled fondly at the young man, “Yes Sir, let’s see what miss Rebecca can arrange for us, now for your other questions, I think we need big mugs of coffee.” Nicolas rushed of to make more coffee, and came back to the table. Returning to the table Nicolas placed the mugs in front of Luke, gave Luke an unsure look and then wrapped his arms around Luke’ shoulders and gave him something that resembled a hug. “Thanks for believing in me Luke!” Luke had no words, and only squeezed Nicolas’s arm for reassurance.

Luke thought about the question and how to answer it the best way. “I can give you six personality traits of God, and will try to explain it best I can, ok?” Nicolas nodded his head, showing more interest than what Luke ever anticipated. “God is knowable. He created the universe if all of its magnitude and creative details, things that we can see, therefore He is able to be known to us. We are able to get to personally know Him, intimately. In Jeremiah 9:23& 24 He says "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord.”

Luke took a sip of his coffee. “He is approachable, he invites us to talk to Him and tell Him all our concerns. It is His nature to be loving and accepting when we go to Him. "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." (Psalms 145:18)” Further He is creative. Everything we make is put together with something that someone thought about before we did, God has the capacity of speaking something into existence, His power is something He wants us to know and rely on. "Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit." (Psalms 147:5)
"...where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalms 121:1,2)” Luke looked at Nicolas to see if he is still following.

“Do you understand what I am trying to explain Nicolas; you must stop me if you are not sure about anything, promise?” Nicolas nodded eagerly, showing with his hand that Luke should carry on. Luke smiled at Nicolas, and then carried on with his explanation. “He is forgiving, being humans we tend to do thing our way and not according to His way, He knows all about it. He does not overlook what we do wrong, and are prepared to judge accordingly, but He forgives us, the moment we start a relationship with Him. Jesus the Son of God, paid for our sins, as I told you before, He was crucified for our sins, and rose from the dead, this is the forgiveness he offer us. "We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done... We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us." (Romans 3:22,25), I need more coffee son?”

Rebecca came from her room looking onto the scene in the kitchen. Luke and Nicolas both beaming with excitement and she knew she lost out on something this morning. “Good morning, may I join you guys, you look like cats that got hold of some good cream!” The guys gave her a brought smile, and then she saw the change in Nicolas, he had self confidence he never had before, and his eyes sparkled like diamonds.

“Please, come join the conversation. Nicolas, please would you get some coffee for Miss Rebecca as well?” The mugs came down on the table quicker than any of them anticipated. “Please carry on Luke, I want to know more”, Nicolas was so delightful; there was no way anyone would be able to not comply too his request.

“God is totally honest, son, He clearly tells us about Himself. Everything He says about Himself is totally true; there is absolute accuracy in everything He says. We can count on every promise He makes to us, He means it, and we can totally rely on His word. He is not human; therefore He has no need to lie to us. "The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalms 119:130,105) “God is not man, that He should lie, Nor son of man, that He should repent. Has He said and will not do? Or has He spoken, and will not make it good (Number 23:19) . His last trait is that He is completely capable. God’s wisdom has now limits, He understands everything, and He needs no software updates. We don’t need to persuade Him to do the right thing, as He is quite capable of doing it Himself. He does not have the undercutting deceiving nature of mankind. He does right at all time. "No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame..." (Psalms 25:3)”

Nicolas sat for a while, absorbing all the information that was given through to him in such a short time. He thought about the dream had previously, and decided that is was time to share this with Luke and Miss Rebecca.

“I want to share something with you guys. When I just came here, after me and Luke chatted on the porch, I walked up to where the big apple tree is, and I sat down to think, I must have fallen asleep, and had the weirdest dream.” Nicolas paused for a moment, as if to make sure he remembers all the details. “There was this man, he had all this white clothes on, and he took my hand. We started walking, but it felt more like floating. He took me across the world, showing me all these huge mountains, sunsets, oceans, we even went under water and looked at all the fishes and other animals, he said to me “This is My creation, just like you are”, then he showed me people that was sad, and crying, and I asked Him Why are there so much sadness, and why did You create death if this is all Your creations? He looked at me with so much love in His eyes, and He answered me I did not create it my son, sin was brought into this world by one man, and death will pass on to all men, for all have sin” I was confused because I did not quite understand what sin was, and He said to me that sin was the transgression of sin. Big words for a 16 year old huh?” Nicolas gave a shy smile to both of them, he was not sure at the time when he had the dream what it was about, though he had a good idea after the talk he and Luke had.

“He sat down on the grass with me, and explained to me His Law. All I expect son is that you will no other gods before me, and not make any idol for yourself. Don’t misuse my Name, and keep the Sabbath holy. Honour your mother and father, even when they are dead, and all the people in your life that is placed there too look after you, like they would have. Don’t commit any murders, not in life and not in your mind. Take this word from my scripture and remember it “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes…” 1 Corinthians 6.9 and “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death” Revelation 21.8

“I realised that I had broken God’s Law many times and would be condemned to Hell on the day of Judgement. Not only had God seen my every sin, but my own conscience condemned me. When I asked God what I should do, he said, “I didn’t send My son to condemn…” And every time I had this dream, this is where it ended. There were no answers to my questions thereafter.”

Nicolas looked up at Luke, “Remember that leaflet, I have read through it so many a times, but still I could not find all the answers. The love letter, gave me hope, but still not all the answers, please could you help me a little? I did not want to ask before, I was so rude to both of you, and still all you did was believe in me. You took care of me, and most of all, I could feel that you love me.”

Luke had to pick the tear from his eye quickly, and then decided to let it run, this was the moment he was waiting for. Nicolas wanting to know the Lord! “Son, God loves you so much, that He made provision for your forgiveness, like he done that to all who would accept Him and have a relationship with Him. Jesus suffered and died for each one of us. God has sent His only begotten Son to be a substitute for our sins. Even when we broke the law, Jesus paid our fine completely. After Jesus was crucified, and died, He rose from the death and Son through that He defeated death.” Luke breathed deeply, looking at Rebecca, tears running down the sides of her face, she just nodded, and he continued.

“We have to die on earth, it is the only way to our Lord, after our death on earth, and we know that we have eternal life with God, just like your parents’ has right now. We need to wake up in life, and realise that He cannot make the choice on our behalf, but that we need to make it. We could carry on behaving as if God doesn’t care about sin and we would end up in Hell, or we could repent and place our trust in Jesus, to become our Lord and Saviour, and thereby receive God’s biggest gift; Everlasting life with Him in heaven. The choice son, is ours to make, nobody can do that for us. So, you must believe.  You must trust Christ.  You must receive Him (Patrick 1:12).  You can ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins.  It is okay to pray to him and confess your sins, trust in him, and be saved.”

Chapter 10

Nicolas thought deeply, surely it was not that easy. Life taught him several lessons, and one was that nothing came without consequences, so what’s the catch here? How can you just ask forgive me, and all is fine and forgotten. There have to be more to it than just that. Deep in thought he got up, made more coffee, and got some biscuits from the cabinet above the fridge. His hair looked ruffled as pulled his fingers through it, but the slump in his shoulders was gone, he was walking as tall as he was, nothing pushing down on him anymore. There was a sparkle in his eyes when he looked at Luke and Rebecca, deciding how to ask the next question.

“What’s wrong buddy, you look confuse?” Rebecca asked him, he look to her again like that little boy she hugged the night of the murder of his parents, so small and yet so adult. If it wasn’t for his quick thinking that night, he might not have sat across the table from her today.

“Miss Rebecca all is fine in what you guys told me, but I don’t get it, where is the catch? What is the “cost” involved in making this choice as you put it Luke. Life showed me more than once that nothing comes without a price being paid towards it. You don’t just get it, you need to do something in return, and none of the prices I have paid before was good ones. I even paid the price for my father’s dept up to recently. So come on guys, let me in on the secret behind all this?”

Before Luke could answer, Rebecca placed her hand on Nicolas’s and said to him, “You are right love, there is a ‘cost’ involved as you put it. When you read Luke 14, Jesus tells us that we need to take up our cross and follow him. You have to understand that being a Christian does not mean simply having a feeling, being nice to people, or reading your Bible. It means living for Christ and doing what is right even if it is inconvenient or troublesome. Jesus does not want people who merely desire to be comforted and coddled. He requires that we turn from our sins, that we trust in Him, that we live for Him.”

Luke nodded in agreement, confirming Rebecca’s word he added to it, “If you are not willing to do this, then "giving Jesus a try" won't do you any good. In fact, it can harm you by giving you a false sense of assurance that you're a Christian, but when your problems are solved, you turn away from Christ. Picking up your cross does not mean that life is always easy. It means that sometimes it can be difficult.  It means that you don't lie to your boss, your spouse, or your friends. It means you work hard and faithfully.   It means that you are honest, responsible, respectful, and that you seek to know what God wants you to do with on your life.  It means you live for God, not yourself - even if it costs you.” 

Rebecca listened to Luke’s word, and gave him a quite smile, “Being a disciple of Christ is not always easy.  But it is always good and it is always worth the effort.  Isn’t it Luke?” Nicolas looked at the two of them and realised that over the years a special bond had formed between these two friends, they were not just easy companions in everyday life, but they shared the love of Jesus between them as well. He admired the fact, and never felt so strong of being a part of something so special.

“Ok, you two, so how do I do this, show me, teach me, I don’t want to try the Jesus thing, I want to do it. I want to know that He is my Lord, my, what you call it?  Saviour” Nicolas looked like a child wanting to open his first Christmas gift, and come to think of it, it was, Christ was given to him to on Christmas day, over 2000 years ago.

“Go fetch your Bible,” Luke told Nicolas “and bring it back to the table” they waited for Nicolas to fetch the Bible, while they both shared a silent prayer that God will guide them through this. Rebecca knew Luke would like to do this, like father Paul did it for him just before he was released from prison, and gave extra thanks to the Lord for having this special man with her on this journey for bringing a child to His feet to meet Him for the first time and accept Him for his Salvation.

“God loves you and wants you to know Him so He can fill you with peace and give you real life -- forever.” Luke said to Nicolas “page to Romans 5:1, and read it out load for us”. Nicolas’s fingers tumbled through the pages, back and forth, and when Rebecca wanted to help, Luke placed his hand over hers to stop her from doing so. After a few minutes he found the verse and read it very slowly, as if it was a total sacred message he was delivering to the listeners. “Because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God” “Now read Patrick 3:16” Luke told Nicolas. God loved the people of this world so much that He gave His only son, so that everyone who has faith in Him will have eternal life and never die.

 “Jesus said: "I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest" (Patrick 10:10). Since God planned for us to have peace and real life right now, why are so many people hurting or angry inside? God created us in His own image so we can know Him personally and have a joy-filled life. He did not make us as robots to automatically love and obey Him, but gave us a will and a freedom of choice. Since the beginning of time, we have chosen to disobey God and go our own wilful way. We still make this choice today. This results in separation from God and ends in misery and heartache”

Luke looked at Nicolas, wanting to know if they could carry on. Nicolas gestured with his hand to Luke to keep it moving, Luke smiled and said, “Let’s hear Romans 3:23”, Nicolas got the place quicker this time, as he had an idea where to find Romans now. “All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's holiness.” ”Just page over to chapter 6, and read verse 23 for us please Nicolas” “Sure thing Sir, The result of unforgiving sin is death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord”

Luke cleared his throat where emotion was building up, before he carried on. “The Bible says that disobeying God results in being separated from Him. Our attempts can never unite us with God. Through the ages, people have tried many ways to bridge this gap and reach God - without success. The Bible says: Adam sinned, and that sin brought death into the world. Now everyone has sinned, and so everyone must die (Romans 5:12). You may think you are on the right road and still end up dead (Proverbs 14:12). There is only one way to reach God.”

“Do you know the answer to this as yet Nicolas?” Nicolas nodded slowly, but said “I have an idea Sir, but please carry on; I would like to hear it from you Sir?” Luke understood, and scraped his throat again, the moment was so big inside him. “Jesus Christ is the only answer to this problem. He is the only One who can bring us back to God. He died on the Cross and rose from the grave, paying the penalty for our sin and bridging the gap between God and people. Please read 1 Timothy 2:5 for us, it is to be found in the new testament Nicolas” Slowly the boy paged through the Bible and got to the verse, “There is only one God, and Christ Jesus is the only one who can bring us to God. Wow, this is huge!” Nicolas exclaimed. Luke held up his hand and said, “Now 1 Peter 3:18, please mister?”

With a small chuckle Nicolas carried forth his search for the verse, and when he found it he read it quietly at first, and then looked up with tears in his eye. “Please son, read it that we can hear it as well?” Luke put his hand on the knee of the young man beside him, to encourage him to carry on. With a tear soaked voice Nicolas read the verse, “Christ died once for our sins. An innocent person died for those who are guilty. Christ did this to bring you to God.  He was willing to die for me sir, and He did not even do anything wrong!”

Luke took the Bible from Nicolas’s shaking hands, and paged to Romans 5:8 “But God showed how much He loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful. You see son, God has provided the only way -- we must make the choice. We must trust Jesus Christ to forgive our sins and determine to obey Him for the rest of our lives. That way we can know God and find peace again. In Romans 10:9&10 Jesus says to us, so you will be saved, if you honestly say, Jesus is Lord, and if you believe with all your heart that God raised Him from death. God will accept you and save you, if you truly believe this.”

Tears was streaming down the young man’s face, know that even after all he did, and what he have gone through Jesus would still accept him, the sinner from this world.

Luke held him tight for a moment, not even noticing Rebecca sniffing away her tears. “Is there any good reason why you cannot turn your life over to Jesus Christ right now, son? You only need to take three little steps to do this. You need to admit to Him that you are a sinner, and need forgiveness. You need to believe that Jesus did die on the cross and rose from the grave, and then through prayer, confess that Jesus is the only way to God, and commit to live for Him for the rest of your life. Are you ready to take the next step son?”

“Remember this; Jesus is the only One who can bring us back to God. The Bible says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Nicolas did not answer Luke but pulled him down next to him to the floor, kneeling. Then he looked at Luke and said “Please tell me what to pray sir?” Luke took his hand, “Repeat after me son. Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and rose from the grave to give me life. I know You are the only way to God. So now I want to quit disobeying You and start living for You. Please forgive me, change my life and show me how to know You. In Jesus' name. Amen.” Leaving intervals between the words; giving Nicolas the time to repeat them after him. The boy’s voice came along with his, both so touched with emotion that they could hardly breathe at the end of the prayer.

They sat like that for a long time, just holding onto each other, Luke whispering prayers of thanksgiving and praise all the time, experiencing the mercy and the grace of God so sincere once again in his life.

Chapter 11

When they got up Nicolas went to wash his face, and looking in the mirror he found something new, his eyes, they were soft, and filled with an emotion he had never seen there before. He could feel the peace inside himself, and the love that warmed him from inside. His eyes had the same look as Mama’s Diamond eyes. While in the restroom he heard the phone rang, and Miss Rebecca’s voice.

“Afternoon Mrs Robinson, how are you this afternoon?” miss Rebecca listened to the person on the other end, and turned as pale as a sheet. “O dear, where have you taken him?” Once again the person said something at the other end, and Miss Rebecca replied “We will be there in about a hour, please take good care of him. We will see you soon. If there are any changes, please let me as soon as it would be possible for you. And Mrs Robinson, thank you for letting me know, and allowing Nicolas to come” With that she ended the call, and motioned Nicolas to come sit next to her.

“Nicolas, that was Patrick’s foster mom, they have adopted him several years ago, that is the reason you would not have been able to find him if you were making enquiries on your surname. He had an accident in the park, nothing to serious, but he had been taken to the General Hospital. We spoke a few days ago, and I mentioned to her, that you would like to see Patrick again. At first she was reluctant, because she was afraid that you would bring separation between them as a family. When Patrick got hurt in the park she realised that it could have been something serious, and then you would have lost him as well. She asked if you would like to come visit your baby brother in hospital. He might not remember you, but you guys could always be friends, and you could always look out for him like big brothers do.”

Nicolas could not believe what he just heard, this is impossible, after all his worries, now he can see his baby brother again. Well, his not a baby anymore, but he was sure still his.

“Miss Rebecca, please excuse me if this sound rude towards you, but I would like to discuss this matter with my new advisor if you don’t mind, first.” Before she could even give the remark another thought, Nicolas turned his back on her facing Luke. “Now Sir, what would you suggest how we should go about to handle this situation as a family?”

Luke tried to look as serious as possible, rubbing his brow with his finger first, “Well Sir, I would suggest that you get your bud in the car that we could get moving, but that would sound a little harsh won’t it, especially in the company of this young lady. Therefore Sir, I would suggest that you would move slowly through the house and make sure all doors and windows are shut, get the car keys and meet us at the means of transport that would be able to deliver you to the hospital where you could find your little bro’”

Nicolas jumped over the coffee table ran from window to window, locked the doors, grabbed the keys and stormed through the front door towards the car, leaving the adults stunned and laughing like teenagers. On the way to the hospital, Nicolas was very quite; absentminded. It was nine years since he saw Patrick the last time. How would he look, what would he be like growing up with another family, but he knew that Jesus had protected Little Patrick, just like he had protected himself, Nicolas Maiser.

Entering the hospital, Nicolas slipped his hand into Luke’. Let the people think what they want, since this morning, he had a dad that would like out for him from now on.

The boy in the hospital bed looked familiar, and yet not. Mrs Robinson came to the door to meet them, and then she gave Nicolas a big hug. Patrick looked onto this picture curiously, as he did not know who this boy was, but when Nicolas came closer, the light of recognition came into Patrick’s eye. “Ricky is that really you?” he was so astounded that it was all he could say. He stretched his little arm that was not in cask out to Nicolas to hug him. “Howdy Patrickny Boy, shoot man, look how you have grown! You’re looking good my man!” Patrick gave a shy giggle, and then pulled Nicolas closer again. “I missed you buddy!”

The conversation continued a little while longer, and after visiting hours, arrangements were set for the boys to see each other more often, a relationship was reunited and two small lost brothers found each other again after years of searching.

As if the day was not bright enough as yet, Captain Thomson phoned during that afternoon, confirming that the dark man was locked up, and

Prologue

June 16, 1972, the shot rang through the darkness of the house; startled 6 year old Nicolas sat up in his bed, listening if he could hear more noises. He knew instantly he was not dreaming, something bad just happened. He small ears was listening carefully if the was more noises coming from down stairs but all he heard was the shuffling of feet, and a few harsh whispers.

Carefully he slipped his fleecy pyjama clad legs from underneath the bedcovers, trying to find his slippers in the darkness of the room. The moon was dark tonight, he thought to himself. Finding his slippers, he crossed the room to where his brother was still sleeping. “How am I going to get you out of there little man, without you waking up, and let everybody know where we are?” he whispered softly into the room, trying to think what he could do.

Then he remembered the hideaway Mama showed him awhile ago in case there should be any trouble, in the bottom of their play trunk. Papa made it high enough, and cushioned enough that they could both fit in there, and nobody would be able to hear them. He could not understand why Papa did that, but he was sure glad now that his Papa was that clever.

He opened the trunk from behind; this would hide them even more Mama said because you won’t be able to see it from the back that easily. Slowly he lifted 3 year old Patrick from his bunk, trying not to wake him and slipped him into the hideaway, taking his blanket with him that they could stay warm. Little Patrick moaned softly, and Nicolas tried to quite him as he has seen Mama doing before.

When he closed the trunk behind them he heard four more shots rung through the house, and an awful cry that he was sure came from Mama. All he could do now was to pray like Papa told him that they would be safe and not found, and that Papa and Mama were safe to.

Tears of fear slowly made way down his still baby fat cheeks, trying not to be scared, but brave for his little brother, who cuddled up next to him, unaware of the nightmare they are having on this nightmare dark night.

All they could do now was wait, but what where they waiting for. Mama said that if it ever happened that they were to hide in there, they were not allowed to come out unless she or Papa came to fetch them. But what if they couldn’t, if it was Mama that cried, there must be something terrible wrong.

Worry sets into his little mind, making him think all kind of things, horrible things, and then he remembered back when the monsters came into his room at night, before Patrick was borne, Papa told him to think about the things that he liked, and that was nice to do. He started thinking about the fishing trip with Papa that afternoon, and eventually fell asleep with Patrick.

He didn’t know how long they slept, but when Patrick started waking him up to go wee-wee, he knew he had to make a plan. This small space was not big enough for both of them and Patrick’s wee-wee. Slowly he slid away the cover at the back and listened. There were a lot of voices, angry ones, sad ones, and everybody was calling their names. Nicolas shifted a little from behind the trunk so that he could see better what was going on.

A guy in uniform was taking pictures of their bedroom, must be a cop, he thought, so they should be ok to come out of the hiding place now. “Mr Cop”, Nicolas called to the officer, who looked surprised to see the young man; “Is it ok if we come out now? My brother needs to wee-wee, and there is not enough space in here for that to.”

The officer gave a relieved smile, and helped both of them out. “You guys need to walk with me, this house is not a pretty picture at the moment, or let me rather call someone to come and help me first.” The officer placed them both on Patrick’s bed and told them, with a stern voice and serious eyes, to stay there. “You must hurry Mister, please?”, little Patrick called urgently after him, with big round eyes. Papa gave him a hiding the last time when he wet his bed and he wasn’t looking forward to another.

When Nicolas turned towards the window, and saw that the sun was out already, and was gleaming through the curtains. Surely Mama must have come and look for them for breakfast by now. This was a bad morning he realised; he just did not know why he thought so yet.

Two more officers came into the room, yanked the boys to their hips, and put them in position that neither of them could look sideways, trying to protect them from the scene waiting outside the door. Nicolas was a little taller than Patrick and the officer could not manage to cover his view completely. What he saw was gruesome, blood everywhere. Against the walls down the passage to their room, Mama and Papa’s bedroom door had holes in, and there was blood all over their bedroom. His small mind refused to register what happened last night, but he knew Papa and Mama had gone to Jesus, and all he had left was Patrick.

When they came outside the officers took them to one of the police vehicles where a young lady was waiting for them. She had hair like an angle in the sun, and her eyes was blue like the sky after they had a big rain storm. When they reached her, she sat down on the grass holding both of them on her lap. Giving them the warmest hug Nicolas could ever remember in his life. “Hi guys, I am Miss Nelson from child well fare, and will be taking care of you two for a short while. Is there anything I can get you guys?” With big eyes filled with tears Patrick looked up at her, as politely as a three year old could, “I really, really need to wee-wee, Miss Melsom!”

The tall officer that took Nicolas from their room, brought them some Mac Donald breakfast, and Nicolas felt sad, because Papa and Mama could not share it with them, they always said there was not enough money to by such luxuries.

Throughout the morning papers where completed, and the children who had no other family was taken to a care home until all could be finalised. The officers came around and asked a zillion questions; Nicolas thought they were stupid, because why could the adults not understand what he told them all zillion times. He don’t know what happened or why.

Both boys were absorbed into the foster care program, unfortunately they were not so lucky to be placed together and the brothers lost touch with each other, their parents murder still a mystery that could not be explained for many years. The Maiser murder case was filed away unsolved, in a dusty storage room, somewhere down town, with others, as there were no leads to follow up in, and the case was considered close.

Patrick was taken into a kind and loving household from the beginning, he was a quite child, with no problem adjusting to the new family. He was the youngest of three adopted boys, and was a stable child. Due to the fact that he did not see any of the scenes after the murder of his parents he did not have the nightmares Nicolas had to cope with.

 After a few years the memory of Nicolas, subsided from Patrick, as if he never existed, and he was never spoken about in the household where he was staying. Patrick Maiser became Patrick Robinson, with no other relatives than the ones he grew up with since after June 16, 1972.

Nicolas on the other hand went from one foster home to the other, never being able to adjust, always looking to find his brother. He turned into a total rebel that would cause as much trouble as possible everywhere he went; the only person that was able to settle him down was Miss Nelson, in his eyes still an angel, even after ten years.

Chapter One

“Nicolas Maiser, what am I to do with you! Why do you have to be so difficult, you are reaching an age where you would be totally accountable for all your actions, and still you act as if you don’t care at all?” Rebecca Nelson pulled her hand through her blond hair, thinking of the morning when she picked up Nicolas and his brother Patrick. He was brought in by his foster parents, after she battled to get hold of the. He, once again got involved in a street fight that was stopped just in time, before it got ugly. They dropped him of, with all his little belonging, refusing to have him in their care for one more moment.

He got more and more impossible to handle, more disrespectful by the day, and dishonesty was his biggest trait. They did not consider him a good example to the other boys. His clothes was creased and dirty, and for himself, it seems as if he had not seen a shower for days on end. 

Nicolas sighed, and gave her the look she got so used to, “You know all I want is find my bro Miss Nelson, nothing else, I will not stop looking for him until we are back together again. He will always be the only family I have. I have let him down that night; I will not allow the system to do it again.” He shrugged his shoulders as if that was the one and only option, nothing else mattered more to him anymore.

“I have told you before Nicolas, it is not always in our hands, we don’t know what path the Lord has planned for us, but I know He always let it work out for the good at the end of the day. Remember it is His will to be done not ours.” She gave him a look from underneath her lashes, knowing what is come next.

“Ag, there is no such thing as God, you always carry on about God, it is only blah-blah-blah in my ears, I don’t see Him, I don’t know Him. Why could you not stop bringing Him up in every conversation we have? Where was he the night my parent got killed for nothing? Not holding their hands like you told me, no they were bleeding like raccoons all over the house, trying to get away from those hideous guys that thought my Papa took their money. Don’t tell me about God, for you are more than welcome to believe in His whatever, I have no sliding interest in that at all.”

“How did he know his father owed these people money?” Rebecca thought to herself. The fact that it was a possibility was never mentioned in front of the kids. Where did get that kind of information, or did he cook it up in the back of his mind, as a solution for himself why his parents were killed? How much she searched her mind for the answer, it remained without answer.

He look at her that told her that was the end of the discussion, but in her mind and heart she got the words from Matthew 19:17 And we see the Father acting through Christ to heal the sick, to comfort the downcast and to teach those whom He calls to keep the Ten Commandments as a way of life . She can’t blame Nicolas for how he is feeling, but she sure knows that if they want to get him somewhere in life, other than the county jail, she need to react quickly. He needed the right guidance and without further though or hesitation, she needed to come up with a solution. She raked her mind for any possible foster families that would be suitable, but none of those he has not stayed with before would do.

 She was no allowed to give him any information of his brother, and could only tell him that he was taken good care of. Where she sat looking at Nicolas across the table, she could see the devils in his eyes for what he might do next. It was time to take serious measures, but she was not sure that Nicolas would be able to adjust to them.

She had tried most of the foster parents available in the valley, but no one was able to settle this boy down. He had so much hatred in people that it would only take miracles to bring peace inside this little man. Though not so little anymore; at sixteen he was standing 6 feet tall in his number 12 shoes, and if she recalls photos of the family that was not blood smeared he is quite a resemblance of his dad, though he had the fine features of his mom in his handsome face. His blond hair was untidy, and the fringe hung over his for head as if he had not attended to it for days. According to his school records he was rather intelligent, without even having the need to work hard to reach quite exceptional grades, if he ever bothered to show up for the exam paper.

She had basically two options left; to get him into an institute for juveniles or Luke Redford. The latter to her was only option left, but it was hardly the one that either of Luke or Nicolas would be happy with. Therefore in order to get the arrangements in place with Luke Redford, she needed time to discuss the case with him first. Luke did not like his privacy invaded, and she could hardly picture Nicolas on a farm outside the Valley.

There was no were where she could send Nicolas for the evening, knowing that he would slip out and just get another fight on the roll somewhere down town. He simply had to go home with her this evening. She knew Luke well, and if she explained to him the complete scenario he would surely be willing to help, for he knew she would not ask, unless she really had no alternative options.

Luke and Rebecca spend time since they were in high school, he used to be engaged to her best friend Veronica, but after a long suffering of leukaemia, she passed away, and Luke was broken. He lost all trust in God, and turned away from anything that sounded life faith or religion, until God made miracles happened in his life. If there is anybody that would be able to understand what Nicolas is going through it would be Luke. She trusted him to be able to save this young man from becoming a disaster on to legs about to happen.

Luke Redford took to the world after Veronica passed away, got mixed up with the wrong crowds and was locked up in county jail for 15 years after attempt to rob a convenient store. He was a known drug dealer at the time, and was second in charge of the biggest gang in the Valley. He used to drive fast, but stolen cars, and had a new one every week.

After making a deal with the DA he was excused for several of his offences, as this deal included one of the biggest drug lords to be found and taken of the streets. He was released eight years after imprisonment on good behaviour. He withdrew from everybody, staying on small farm about 20km outside the Valley which he bought when he was released. He hardly ever came into town anymore, unless it was an emergency or if he needed to collect supplies that he ordered before hand, and as far as Rebecca knew she was the only one whom knew how to contact him. He had no friends or family, not even acquaintances in the area. People tried to avoid him at all times, as he allowed no one to come close to him at all.

“Come on Nicolas, lets head home and get something to eat on the way”, she walked past him and ruffled his already messy hair a little more, wishing that he was still the little boy when they first met, then she could grab him in her arms and give him a tight hug to sooth away his pain. But, she knew better now, Nicolas does not allow any physical contact, not even from her.

Nicolas picked up his backpack, gave her a questionable look, “You said I am not allowed to stay by you miss Nelson, how come tonight?”. Rebecca needed only a moment to think about it, and the said “Tonight I am in need of some serious conversation with someone that know more about life than me, and I think you are just the one to do so” She knew him well enough to know that this will break a tiny peak of the iceberg for her to get through to him.

 “You can pick supper, what would you like?” Rebecca expected something greasy and very unpleasant to the stomach, but instead Nicolas surprised her completely with his answer. “Would you mind if we get some salad stuff and fix it up at home? I would love a big glass of milk with that and small crackers to go with the salad.” Looking at him as if was completely out of his mind she shrugged and headed for the closest fruit and vegetable market they could still find open this late in the afternoon.

When they got home, Nicolas offloaded the parcels into the kitchen, and asked where the restroom was. When he walked into the kitchen Rebecca noticed that he tried to wash up as good as possible, without taking a shower. Rebecca started getting the salad together, “There is your milk”, she said to Nicolas as he walked in. “Thanks, smart place you got yourself here Miss Rebecca. Can I help you get the salad finish, I do know how to work a knife, you know, so I can chop some of the stuff for you” Rebecca handed him the cutting board, a bowl and some of the ingredients while she started with the salad dressing, wishing she could wipe the smirk of his face.

“Nicolas, tell me about your last foster parents? Why did you not get along with them? They seemed a very nice couple that was more than willing to take you in.” Rebecca addressed the question, not looking at him directly, but at his reflection in the glass pane of the kitchen cupboard, she knew he would close down his expression when she looked at him directly. She noticed the pain shift through his eyes, for only a moment, and how he pulled his emotions back into place. “they were ok, I think, I just did not like them.” With this comment he saw the matter closed. “Where would I find the plates Miss Nelson then I can set the nook so long”, Rebecca directed him to cupboard and when he bent down she saw the big, black bruise that covered his lower back.

“Nicolas, where did that come from?” Nicolas stood upright straight away covering his back with his sweater, “What Mama?” “The bruise on your back that you just covered up” Nicolas could not look her in the eye, just murmured some soft excuse that she could not quite make out, but sounded like something about getting hurt at school. She knew this was not true, because it was the school that informed her that Nicolas was not at school for more than a week, and that they could not get hold of either him or his foster parents.

Then only she realised what he called her, she sat him down on the chair and lifted his sweater slowly, the sight horrified her. The bruise stood out like a pointing figure to her. She needed to get him to a doctor straight away. Why did she not think about something like this! How come none of the other foster children staying with this foster family never complained that they were abuse? Was this the reason that Nicolas could not get along with the family?

When she touched it lightly with her hand he twitched away from her touch. “You wait right here Mister, let me get something for that, then I am taking you to the hospital.” Nicolas swung around the look in his eyes filled with fear, “No Miss Nelson, no hospital please, he will find me there, and then he would kill me!” Surprised Rebecca looked at him, “Who is going to find you there son?” Nicolas breathed hard now, grasping for air, it looked as if he was about to faint.

“The man that killed my parents miss Nelson, which is why I could not stay long in one place, he found me every time. Hurting me, abusing me, which is why I was so concerned about Patrick” Tears was flowing over his cheeks, he gave it up, now he had to move again. He spilled the beans to Miss Rebecca, the only one trying to protect, and now he placed her in danger by doing exactly what he was trying to avoid the whole time. Blurt out his biggest secret ever.

Rebecca pressed him against her chest and let him cry for a while, trying to think what to do next. The murder case was never solved, as they did not have enough leads, the police said, still this horror of a man was terrorising this kid from a young age, but why? She had to thing quick, and made the decision right there and then that Luke would not be phoned, but visited, and one thing was sure, it was not going to wait until the morning.

As soon as dinner was done and the dishes out of the way; Rebecca sat Nicolas down for a talk, “Nicolas, you need to trust me, there is nothing I can do, unless you give me more information. Would you be able to identify this man that is abusing you like this?” Nicolas slowly shook his head to tell her that he won’t, when he looked up, his eyes was blank as there was no life in them. “I never saw his face, but I would be able to identify him in a moment, by his look, his voice, his grip, I will never forget that” He paused a moment, taking a deep breath, and then continued.

 “He found me one night in the park, playing with my mates. He called me over on my name, which I found strange at first, because I did not know him. I was about seven, and afterwards thought that he might have overheard one of my friends. But then I realised that he knew my surname as well, because he said ‘Nicolas Maiser, is that you’, and none of the boys whom I was friends with in the park knew that. I replied yes, and he said I should come and sit with him, as he was an old friend of Papa. I could not see his face, as his hat was pulled down low.” Nicolas looked up from the table which he was staring at; his brows knotted together, thinking about what he was to tell her next.

“I wanted to refuse to go to him, and I was scared, but I missed them so badly, that any connection with Papa and Mama was welcome at that stage. Maybe he could tell me stories about them, or had some pictures. You know Miss Rebecca, I don’t have one picture of us, when we were still a family.” The expression in his eyes was sad.

“He was quite pleasant in the beginning as I can recall, but then after a few visits he started being a little more demanding. He gave me small tasks to do like delivering packages, which I found out was drugs when I got older; and pick pocketing people, he taught me how. I had to take stuff from the foster families houses, and the scary part was that he knew exactly what they had and where it was kept. When I said to him I am not interested to doing this anymore, he threatened me that the same would happen to me that happened to Papa. He said Mama was not supposed to be hurt, but she also did not listen, and got in the way. He said I was to pay back the money that Papa owned him. After the pick pocketing he started selling of my body to strange men. I refused to go the last time, and this is how the bruise got here, I just could not stand it any longer. I was so afraid that the same thing would happen to the foster people, I made it unbearable for them to be willing to keep me.”

While telling his story, there was absolutely no emotion in his voice, the only emotion reflecting in his eyes was fear, for now Rebecca, the one person who was standing up the whole time was also aware of the matter, and that put her life into danger as well.

Rebecca closed her eyes slowly, trying to blink back the tears that formed in the corners of her eyes. How could she have been so blind? “Nicolas, don’t worry the hand of the Lord is not short, and his ear is not death, He did not forsake you, and He will protect Patrick as well”

Nicolas gave a chuckle, as if she was from some other planet. “God, really Miss Nelson, God, there is nobody like God. If there was a so called God as you are claiming, why did all these things happen to us, why as my parents murdered? How could He, hah, have allowed that I became a sex slave to my father’s murderer. Why did Mama have to suffer, and Patrick needed to be deprived from his older brother’s existence, I doubt if he even knew he has an older brother!” He was deeply upset now. “ I told you that before and I am saying it again, I could not care for your religion or faith or whatever you want to call it. Stop pushing it down my throat.” anger came from his complete body; he splattered the words towards Rebecca that made her pull back from him slightly. “Nicolas, I am so sorry for all the heartache that you have gone through. I wish I could take it all back, but I can’t, I cannot change the past, but we can work on the future together.” Her voice was soft and gentle, trying to give him some reassurance that they will make it better, and that it work even better than that if they did it as a team.

Nicolas stared passed her through the window, looking at the darkening sky, thinking that this is how his soul is feeling, dark with no light coming through. How can Miss Nelson sit there and talk about God, really, does she, a grownup not understand the reality of this world, there is NO GOD. The cloud of depression pushed down on him even more; making his shoulders to shrink towards the ground, and giving his tall body a slump that seemed like it would never be restored.

Chapter Two

Rebecca sat for a moment, Nicolas’s backpack was still in her car, she just needed a few things, and a call to the office, and then they could be on their way to Luke. His help is needed in more than one way, and whether he liked it or not, he is going to help her. After making the required arrangements she called for Nicolas to meet her at the car. “Where you taking me Miss Nelson?” was the first words he spoke after the conversation in the kitchen, about 2 miles from Rebecca’s house.

“We are visiting a very good friend of mine Nicolas; I am going to leave you with him for a short period of time. You will be safe at Luke, I promise. He is kind hearted, and a bit of a loner, but he will protect anything or anybody I ask him to.” Giving him a sideway look, Rebecca could see the glint in Nicolas’s eye, and waited for the question to come, “An old lover of yours then? Let me guess you broke up with him, broke his heart, and he never stopped loving you. Will do anything to get you back I suppose” Rebecca only smiled, because there was a huge surprise waiting on Nicolas if that was he thoughts; Yes, Luke would protect anything she gave him to protect, because he knew that she would never ask unless it was extremely important to her.

The words from Jeremiah 29:11 ”For I know the thought that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and hope”  came into her mind, and she prayed from her heart that this could be established in Nicolas. He needed to believe, he needed to find his way to his Saviour, but she knew for a fact that she would not be able to do this by herself. She would have him in his prayers al the time, but only Luke would know how to get through to him.

It was after 9 when she pulled her car into Luke’s driveway. Quietly she sat for a moment observing, even in the dark how far he has come since the day he bought this piece of land. There use to be no house, no electricity, and no running water, when Luke bought the ground it was only a clear piece of land. He said he need to make it his own, and that would be the only way to do so, but putting in his own sweat and hard work. Now she could see the cottage even got extended from the last time she came to visit, and that the garden was going to be splendid in the summer time. Trees was growing all over, mostly Jasmine, Veronica’s favourite of all times.

The door opened and the big posture of Luke filled the doorway. His Labrador, Rues stood beside him, waiting for his master’s order to attach. Strange calling his dog Rues, meaning regret, but that was all that was left of the old Luke since he was released, regret about the past and all that he has done, but he was a deeply devoted Christian now, and Rues was just a small reminder of the past to keep him on His ways.

“Who goes there?” Luke voice came over the distance from the door to Rebecca’s vehicle, with a smile she opened the door, and replied “A stranger in need of your kind help master Luke”. This was their way of greeting; Rues knew her voice and Luke could hold on to him no longer. The big dog came towards her, and leaped her almost over in excitement, his tongue licking her wherever he could reach. Overwhelmed by the welcoming party Nicolas got out from the car slowly, eyeing Rues all the way.  Dog and child summarising each other; Nicolas lift his hand slowly to Reus’s nose to give it a tickle and Rues starting waggling his tail in a welcome gesture.

“Hi Rebecca” Luke greeted softly, “What brings you out here this time of night?” looking at Nicolas curiously. “Hi Luke, we need a little hiding place for my friend here, but can we go inside and discuss it? I think Nicolas is rather exhausted after all he has been through the last couple of days.” Luke helped her offloading their few belongings that came with on the trip and they went inside.

A pot of hot chocolate was on the stove, and when Rebecca came into the kitchen, Luke suggested to her to pour for all of them. After having his cup of hot chocolate, Nicolas yawned, and Luke showed him a room where he could overnight. Putting the fact very clearly to Rebecca, but she just smiled, tucked Nicolas into bed, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She had grown to love this child so much, and she cared very deeply that he should be save from now on.

After tucking Nicolas in Rebecca walking into the open plan lounge, dining area. Luke was sitting at the dining room table clearly waiting for her to tell him what is going on. He never beat around the bush, straight as an arrow, and he expected others to be the same way towards him. His life taught him many things, but one thing above all other was absolute honesty.

Rebecca sat down, pulling her hand through her hair, as she had done so many times before in this day of all crazy events. “I need your help my friend, we have a lost and total out of control boy on our hands. He been through so much, and I know you are the one that would be able to help him” Shortly she told him Nicolas’s life story adding on the part that Nicolas only revealed to her that evening. Luke listens attentively, and as she spoke he grew all more aware of the fact that Rebecca is right.

He would be able to help this boy, but the question was inside him, if he was willing to give up his privacy to do so. He hardly ever had contact with the outside world anymore, only a quick conversation with Rebecca once in a while, or when she popped around to see how he was doing. Now she brought this teenager to his doorstep to help him. He surely had enough experience from life, but this is not his calling.

When Rebecca got up to make them more hot chocolate, he closed his eyes, and the one thing came up in his mind that father Paul told him while he was in jail. I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles (2 Corinthians 1.3-4) “Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God”

Father, please give me the spiritual guidance to fulfil this task You have brought onto my path Lord, for I know without You I will not be able to accomplish this. You brought people into my life Lord that saved me, that showed me that You are a God of love and hope and mercy, after I have rejected You completely. Please help me to help this boy as You helped me. I thank You Lord for saving me, and trust in You and You alone Lord for the strength to see me through this. Amen.

When Rebecca returned she could see the difference in Luke’s whole attitude. He was calm and glowing with a peace that could only be from God Himself, she knew he would not resist the chance to help Nicolas, and that he would really protect him with all he could. “Thank you Luke, I really care for this boy, and appreciate your help”, Luke gave her a shy smile, “It is not my will Rebecca, it’s God’s will, I am but merely the subject in His hands” Luke picked up the empty cups, and took them through to the kitchen. They both understood and knew this was not going to be a easy path, but they were both more than willing to take it.

After bidding each other goodnight, Rebecca peeped into Nicolas’s room finding him fast asleep, calm; like she have not seen him for a very long time. Dear Lord, grace him with Your presence and security. Let You angels protect him by day and night. Amen. She covered him up with the blanket and went off to bed.

Chapter 3

When Nicolas woke the next morning, he was not quite sure where he was, then he heard the whispering voices outside in the dining area, for a moment he was back in their hiding place 10 years ago, but then he realised that he was save and got up to find Miss Rebecca. In the daylight Luke looked even bigger than when they arrived the previous evening. “Good morning Miss Rebecca, Mister?” He looked confused for a moment, as he was not sure what to call Luke. “Luke, son, only Luke; I am not your uncle, I am your friend, come and have some breakfast before Rebecca needs to get back to town. We spoke last night, and decided it is best if you stay around here for a while. You can help me in the yard, and other small tasks that need to be done. You will be safe here, I promise”

For Nicolas this was not a promise he took lightly, he heard too many of those before, but he knew Miss Rebecca trust this man, so he was willing to give it a try. After breakfast Miss Rebecca left and Luke invited Nicolas to have some coffee on the porch, they could discuss the tasks Nicolas was responsible for, and see what else he was capable of doing around the house.

With everything settled after coffee Luke took Nicolas for a walk around the yard showing him where all the tools are, and everything else he might need. He gave him small tasks, but he knew that he could use all these to manifest the Lord in the child as time grew along. The first thing he needed to do was tend to the lambs.

After all the morning tasks was completed Luke called Nicolas in for lunch, they were having some salad on the porch. Luke looked at Nicolas and decided to dive right in, following the pattern father Paul did with him, and he was as stubborn as a mule back in the days. “Nicolas, what do you think is your purpose in life?” Luke asked. Nicolas gave him a puzzled look, not knowing what to answer him. “What do you mean …hmm…Luke?” “If you thought about it, who are you, what is your purpose being on earth?” Luke thought to himself that he was pushing away now, but Nicolas’s eyes looked intrigued by the question. He swallowed his salad, thought it about it a little, and then “My purpose sir, is to get back at the people that took my family away, they need to suffer like we did. They must feel the pain we felt, and that I am still feeling every day. They need to pay for that sir, I mean Luke”

For a moment Luke was completely stunned by the answer, but then also he understood how a young man of Nicolas’s age can be so negative with life. The deck of cards that was dealt to him during his short life span was for sure not a full house, and that meant he lost more than winning, but he needs to understand that there was a solution, just as he, Luke had to learn many moons ago.

Luke looked at Nicolas, studying his face expressions, that reminded him so much of himself. With a sigh Luke stood up, and walked over to where Nicolas was sitting, hunching down in front of him, Luke placed his hands on Nicolas’s knees to make sure he had his full attention. “Nicolas, many of us go through life unfulfilled, unfocused, searching − a blank canvas waiting for a picture of purpose to be painted on us, waiting for something to happen to us to make us focused on something bigger in life.” Looking at Nicolas to see if there was any reaction, he could see the flicker of interest in the young man’s eyes, and decided to push through. He was filled with hope that he would get through to Nicolas, it would not be by his own persuasion, but by God’s, because he knew that even though it is impossible for mad, nothing is impossible for God.

“Once upon a time it was said that there was a God-shaped blank in all of us, and we look for many things to fill this: friends, fashion, false faith, fornication and the façade of drug-induced fantasies, but follow me, to the edge of an abyss where deep down inside we all know something’s missing. See, from the moment God spoke time into existence and shaped us with His own hands in His own image, His plan was for man and Him to be one, Creator and creation communing together in beautiful harmony. Sounds perfect, right?” Nicolas rolled his eyes to the ceiling. “Why can’t you people understand I am not interested in your so called God? But for interest sake, so what happened in this perfect harmony picture you just sketched to me?” There was a definite sign of irritation in Nicolas’s voice, but Luke thought this is what I want, interest, even if it was irritation, therefore he simply answered, “Sin, my dear boy, sin came into this beautiful harmony”

Nicolas looked at Luke with some strange fascination, and his eyes carried the question. Luke got hope piled up inside him and carried on with the conversation. “Sin opened a void, driving us away from our Friend, separating us from Him, and for many centuries since, we as human beings have attempted to bridge this ever widening gap with philosophies and religion, wealth and so-called moral decisions, but the divisions became more instilled” Luke breathed deeply before carrying on, “that God-shaped hole in our heart still unfilled and mankind seemed doomed, until: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord, and ye shall find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” Oh, but this wasn’t no ordinary baby. See, He grew into a boy, then a man, then a preacher, leading a multitude of people with radical and really off-the-wall teachings like, “Love your enemies.” “Bless those that curse you.” “Turn the other cheek.”

Nicolas looked at Luke as if he was completely out of his mind; there was no way that this was a normal mental person sitting in front of him. How could it be, talking about something with such passion that could not possible exists, if this God did exist where was He when he prayed to him that nightmare dark night.

“With all due respect Luke, I think you lost all your marbles. If there was really a God, why did he not listen to my prayer that night Papa and Mama was murdered?” The harshness of his tone reflected all the grudge he held against God, grudge that was build up over the past 10 years. Luke flinched a little, feeling sad inside for this poor child sitting in front of him. “God, I really need Your help here”, he murmured softly to himself.

But, Luke carried on telling his story to Nicolas, hoping that inside him there was still a child left willing to listen to stories, because he needs this child’s brain to reflect some interest, which he would at least think about what he was told. “Nicolas, He’s the greatest teacher that ever was. But this was no ordinary preacher. See, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, so for our sins, He had to pay the price, as God has planned long before. The people that did not believe in Him put nails in His hands. He was betrayed and denied, just like so many still do today, they hung Him high and stretched Him wide on a cross for you and I and over 2,000 years ago.” Luke took a deep breath, and stood up for a moment, letting Nicolas absorbed what he was just told.

“Would you like some coffee or juice perhaps?” Luke needed a break, just for a moment, as he was overwhelmed by emotions flooding through him, remembering how he felt when he heard this the first time. “Coffee would be nice thanks” Nicolas answered, absent minded.

While Luke was gone, Nicolas thought about what he was told, though it sounded totally ridicules he remembered Mama telling him the same story, or something similar years ago. She had a book with all the pictures in as well. He and Patrick used to sit on her lap at night listening to all the stories she read from this thick red book. She would not have lied to him; maybe he should just listen for a matter of remembering the smell of Mama’s blond hair while she was reading to them.

When Luke returned with the coffee, Nicolas looked at him and asked him to carry on with the story, because that is what it was to him, only a stupid stretched out story that adults told from one generation to the next. Luke gave him a curious look, but did not ask any questions, he was but to happy that there was some interest from Nicolas to listen further.

“The people pushed a spike through His side to ensure that He was dead. The Son of God, our Lamb slain before the world began, died one of the most agonizing physical deaths that any person could suffer. He had no tomb of His own so they buried Him in the tomb of a friend, and for three days, His mother cried. And for three days, His disciples ran. But thanks be to the Most High, that’s not how the story ends because three glorious days later, Jesus rose from the dead again. Pretty amazing won’t you say Nicolas?” Luke looked at Nicolas again, more intently than before, and notices the glimmer of tears in the corners of his eyes.

Touching his knee, he carried on; “Oh, but this just wasn’t any ordinary sacrifice because He became the way, the truth and the life, and we now have a way through the Father through Him. Through the cross, we’re now able to get across that great divide caused by sin, separating us from Him, and He’s calling us, but we’ve got to come. See, the choice is still ours, but He has provided all the love. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son,” and if we only believe that Jesus Christ paid this price …”

Nicolas thrust away the hand on his knee, getting up and walks towards the porch steps, Luke called after him, “Remember Nicolas Jesus Christ said, “You shall know the truth.” There will be no more separation, no more fear of death, and no more holes in our heart. We can now have eternal life. You see, God gave man a choice. You either accept it or reject it.” Nicolas only looked back once, and disappeared between the trees at the end of the lawn.

With a silent prayer for acceptance Luke let him go, knowing that the seed was planted inside his little stubborn head, and that God would guide him from this way forward. “Thanks Lord for letting me have this chance,” Luke prayed, “if it is Your will Lord, please let him see what the truth are and surrender himself to You dear Father. You know how little I wanted to hear about You or even from You, but still You had me in Your hand all the way, I praise You lord”

A whisper came to Luke “Call me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you don’t know” Jer. 33:3

Chapter 4

As Rebecca returned to her office she called the family that adopted Patrick. The news that Nicolas gave her, troubled her mind, and she was worried about the now 13 year old Patrick. Mrs Robinson kept Rebecca up to date with how Patrick was progressing, and the last photo she received, the resemblance between Nicolas and Patrick was remarkable. The phone rang a few times, and went to voice mail. Rebecca left a brief message for the Robinson family to please give her an urgent call back.

Then she phoned Captain Thomson who was the investigating officer at the time of the murder case. They made an appointment at two to have lunch together, and discuss this matter that aroused after so many years. It is so sad that Nicolas felt he could not trust anybody, and then they could have stopped it years ago, and solved the murder case; getting a cold hearted monster of the street abusing small children.

Rebecca took out the file from her desk drawer where she kept all the problem children locked away, and paged through it again, like she have done so many times before. There has to be a way that they could assemble some details on this man from the foster families where Nicolas have stayed before, more details of how he behaved, and when it started happening, she simply needed to dig. The file was thick, and with the new details she got from Nicolas, it was no longer a troubled difficult boy’s file on her desk, it was a hero, which was even at his young age trying to protect everybody that took care of him.

But between herself and 20 odd other families they where to blind to see what was happening and kept on feeding him to the wolf, not once looking out for his well being. They fought they did, but in the end it was a reality that they did not do so, and that this poor child had to take the beating once again for adults mistakes and ignorance. She went through the lists and lists of complaints. Looking at them now, realising that was a calling for help, so loud, nobody was suppose to miss it, but it fell onto ears that would not listen, and was not willing to hear.

He harassed the animals, broken windows on purpose, took stuff from the houses he was staying in, pick pocketing from the wallets, silverware going missing, CD’s and DVD’s going missing, jewellery that went astray, petty thefts at local convenient stores. No charges were filed against him, all the damages was paid for the petty thefts, but the lost goods could never been disclosed that it was Nicolas that took the goods. In a variety of instances there were new babysitters or new help in the house, therefore it could have been them as well taking the stuff, but once it started happening the foster parents had no more interest in the new boy in the house, and he had to go. Arguments usually flared up and made Nicolas aggressive towards the families, driving the last nail of no longer being welcome through the coffin.

She read through every piece of paper that was in the file, more intently than before. Nicolas told her the man contacted him at the age of 7, which was about a year after their parents’ murder. For the first year after he was taken into the first foster house, there was no problems. He adapted well, and the family was very fond of him, until they got home the one afternoon and the cat was hanging by its tail from the tree. None of the boys in the house took credit for this deed, but one of the neighbours saw Nicolas doing it, and the foster mom was concerned. About 2 weeks later she found four hamsters drowned in the toilet, and that was it. Nicolas was to find a new place to stay. Why did they not took it further then, Rebecca asked herself.

The list goes on and on, with every piece of material, Rebecca feels as if she could pull the hair from her head. He was a troubled boy, yes, and everybody, even the psychologist, said it was due to the memories of the past. Nicolas did a good job in hiding what was really the problem.

Just before one her phone rang “Rebecca Nelson speaking”, “Hi Rebecca, it is Mrs Robinson; you left a message earlier that we should give you an urgent call, anything the matter?” Mrs Robinson had a soft flowing voice, and Rebecca always felt the calmness from this woman, even over the phone. “Thanks for calling back Mrs Robinson. Yes, as a matter of fact we do have a slight problem. This should not affect Patrick as yet, but I need you to please be on the lookout. Patrick elder brother revealed some information to me last night that is quite startling, and we need to make sure that Patrick is still safe.”

Rebecca gave Mrs Robinson a quick review of the details Nicolas has given her the night before; there were a few moments of complete silence on the line. “Are you still there Mrs Robinson?” Rebecca asked, a soft sniff came from the other side, “Yes, Rebecca, I am. I was afraid all the time that something like this could happen. What if he found our little Patrick, and his poor brother? It is such a shame that something like this was to happen to him, I always prayed that he would get a good house as well, and now these details, it is rather disturbing, isn’t it? Thus far I could not pick up any changes in Patrick’s reactions or behaviour, but we will make sure that he is alright, without him noticing that we are looking out for him. He doesn’t like to be covered in cotton, if you know what I mean” Rebecca gave a small smile, thinking back at the last time she saw little Patrick, he surely had his own way of doing things, and was most definitely not a mama’s boy.

“One more thing Mrs Robinson, do you think you could consider that Nicolas and Patrick could see each other? Maybe that could give Nicolas some peace at heart that Patrick was safe, and that he had no need to worry about Patrick, or be concerned that he was not looked after?” Rebecca tried to sound as convincing as possible, remembering the previous conversations they had with regards to the matter.

Mrs Robinson did not answer straight away, thinking about it for a moment. “Rebecca, with all due respect, I would rather not have the boys have contact with each other. After all you told me about Nicolas it might bring problems into our household, which we have not yet experienced up to now. I would rather not have a big brother influence on Patrick at this age. I do hope you understand where I am coming from.” Rebecca was disappointed with the answer, but Mrs Robinson was Patrick’s legal guardian, and they did have the final say in the matter, and with this conversation the matter was closed.

“Thanks Mrs Robinson, and please do not hesitate to give me or Captain Thomson a call at any time; if you feel something should be brought to our attention.” She rang off after a few goodbye wishes, and placed the receiver back in its cradle.

Just before two she took her coat, and headed towards the coffee shop she was suppose to meet up with Captain Thomson. Maybe more alert than before she noticed that tall gentleman across the road, with his hat pulled low to cover most part of his face. The man was tall and scary looking, but she thought she was only imagining things after a restless night, and all the things she read this morning. She did not take another look at the man and carried on walking the two blocks to the coffee shop.

Captain Thomson greeted her when she came in, already having his coffee and a club sandwich. After ordering what she thought would go down on her upset stomach they settled down in their conversation. Drinking some of her coffee first, and having small chat with Captain Thomson, Rebecca pulled her guts together to tell him what Nicolas told her the day before. Captain Thomson listened intently to her, and nodded from time to time, to indicate that he was still listening.

“This is sure enough reason to dust this old file again Rebecca, I assure you I will request the file to be send to me straight away when I get back to the office. I will fine comb everything again to see if I have missed any possible details, no matter how small.

It was a terrible scene they walked into on the night of June 16, 1972. He remembered as if it was yesterday. They received a call from the neighbour at about 2 in the morning, reporting the shots that were heard. He was on duty, and their patrol car was the closest to the scene. There were many such reports but none of them was prepared for what waited for them that night.

When they arrived at the scene, the front door was slightly ajar, he pushed it open a little further, but it got jammed against the right foot of a man lying on the floor. He pushed through with his partner right behind him; the man was lying on his side, his other leg totally out of proportion, as if it was broken in several places. Blood was oozing from a wound in his chest, his eyes dead, pupils completely diluted and dull, the blood trail came from the bedroom, the man must have crawled to where he was lying, and shot at close range. The mobile home phone was on the floor about a meter from where the man was lying. Bruises of a recent beating were on the side of his face and his fingers were ruthlessly broken. Another wound was bleeding on the carpet from the leg he was lying on. He did not die long before they got to the scene

Blood covered the walls as the blood trail to the bedroom further into the house, nausea crept through his stomach, and you could smell death in the house. The walls were covered with photos, happy family photos, now covered with blood. There was three holes in the main bedroom door, across the bead was the body of a slight build blond woman, he recognised her from the photos, the mother. She was obviously raped, and terrible abuse before she was shot at close range right between the eyes, the expression of her face still reflect the fear she felt before she passed away. Her hands were tied behind her back that she could not fight back, and another shot wound was noted in her should, must have came from one of the shots that was fired through the door, as the blood stains was all over the carpet.

The amount of blood was astounding on this scene, the terrible brutality of the people who was responsible for this reflected everywhere. The house was ramshackle, and the boys were missing, until much later when they came out of their hiding place, Nicolas the brave little caretaker. They were sure the boys were kidnapped that night when they heard from the neighbour that they were in the house as well. Calling and calling their name almost confirmed the initial thought, until little Nicolas looked around that play trunk corner, his sleepy but fear filled eyes was the most adorable sight that day. He never left Patrick for one moment, protecting him with every fibre in his small body.

The people responsible for this murder were very clinical, not an ounce of evidence could be found to identify them. Nothing in the Maiser’s personal affairs contain no details that could assist with the investigation, and the file was closed in 1975 as unsolved.

He simply had to get the courage together to go through the gruesome details again. He almost knew every detail in the file off by heart, but just maybe there was something he missed, not that he could imagine how it was possible, but it was not completely impossible either.

It always bothered him how much of the scene he was able to hide from Nicolas when he carried him outside that morning. His little heart throbbed against his small ribcage every now so often, drawing in his breath deeply when he saw something else.

 Chapter 5

It was only after dark that Nicolas came back to the house. Luke got worried but he knew the child could not go anywhere. Just after he left the house that afternoon walking into the trees, Luke had switched on the electric fencing, and the gate could only be opened by remote. He gave Rebecca a remote the day the gate was installed, joking that it was for in case he got ran over by the bull. There was no way of the grounds; he made sure, as he wanted no way into the grounds for snoopers from the outside.

A quick memory run through his head how it was in the first months after he was released, the press, the jokers, the nosy people from town, he just could not stand it, and even before the house was finish the electric fencing was up. There were so many stories where the finance came from, drug money, bribes, if you can give it a name and it was illegal, then that was the source.

No one knew about the money he inherited from Veronica when she passed away. She had no family except for him and Rebecca, and they were also her only beneficiaries. The amount that paid out was much more than any of them expected, none of them knew from her inheritance when her own parents passed away a few years before her in a tragic plane accident. She was always such a sweet, plane, down to earth Jane. Nobody, not even him and Rebecca was aware of the fact that she was quite wealthy, and he did not use a dime of that money before he went to jail, as he believed he was not worth a dime that came from her, after he turned his back on God.  At his request, Rebecca never mentioned it to anybody, and he knew for a fact she never would.

Emerging from the dark, Nicolas looked at Luke with a puzzled look, “You never knew my mom did you?” Luke could not quite understand where the question came from, “No son, why you asking?” Nicolas had a very childlike look in his eyes, almost innocent “If you never knew her, did you have the same red book as we had when we were small? How come you and she know the same story so well?” Luke smiled, knowing that God was working miracles in this boy’s life, this was only the beginning.

“Can I ask you a question son?” Luke wasn’t sure if Nicolas was ready for more information, but he was filled with details that he wished so much to share with this boy in front of him. Nicolas looked unsure when he looked up at Luke, not sure what to expect next from this big rough looking man, still there was something in his eyes that Nicolas wanted so much, something that reminded him of his Papa’s eyes, and that made his Mama’s eyes shine like diamonds. He did not have a word for it yet, but he was sure in his heart that if he stuck to Luke he would find out soon enough.

“Sure sir, Luke, you can ask all you want. I can still decide whether I want to answer it or not, can’t I?” Luke breathed deep and put the question on the table, “Are you a sinner, Nicolas?” the question shook Nicolas almost off balance, but he stood his ground “No sir I am not, I don’t believe in your God remember, therefore I cannot be a sinner in your books or His.”

Luke just shook his head slowly from side to side. Denial is one of the biggest opponents in this child, but he would not stop until there was understanding. “Nicolas, have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen anything? Have you ever been angry at someone unjustly?” Nicolas kept his eyes on the carpet in front of his feet, not looking up at Luke, as he knew the truth would be right there in his eyes, for Luke to see.

“If you have lied, you are a liar, if you have stolen, you are a thief, and you have broken the law of God. This is the words written in that big red book your Mama also had son. That book gives us the standards of righteousness, and if you have broken any of God’s commandments, you are falling short of God’s standards. When we die, we will face Him on the day of Judgement and he will deliver proper judgement to all people, He must be righteous and holy. I have a red book, a Bible that I would like to give to you, just like the one your Mama had, it just doesn’t have pictures like the one she had, for you are grown up now.” Luke looked at Nicolas, still staring at the carpet. “Was this child even listening to what I have said to him Lord?”

Luke stood up walked over to the bookshelf and took the Bible that father Paul gave to him while in prison. He walked over to Nicolas, touched his shoulder to draw his attention, and placed the Bible into his big, but childlike hands. “Nicolas, if you don’t like this teaching, please return this back to me, and turn away completely from Jesus for this is the message of God. Son, Jesus came to die for sinners and to save them from the wrath to come. Jesus is the one you need, son, you need Him alone. It is only by God’s love and grace found in Jesus and His sacrifice that we can be delivered from the righteous wrath of God, when we have broken His law. Jesus saves us from God’s righteous judgement.”

Nicolas looked at the Bible with curiosity, no one before did the effort to even think about it to give him a Bible, now he can see that Luke is not only trusting him with a Bible, but one of his treasures. This book has been read not only once or twice, it was used, like a properly used map, when you are travelling all over, and needed direction.

In the front of the Bible there was a crooked scribble handwriting, sign off as father Paul. Nicolas thought of reading it, and then he put the Bible down beside him on the table and looked at Luke. “You are really trying to convince me that there are a God, aren’t you? Thanks for the Bible I will read it when I have time. Now I am off to bed, I will see you in the morning” His attitude vey no care, but when he walked into his room, a looked back at the table, where the Bible stared back at him.

He stood up and left the room, Luke realised they have not yet even ate as yet, but when he called to Nicolas, there was no answer. It is a sad thought that a big boy that age would go to bed without even eating anything, Luke thought to himself, realising that this must be something that Nicolas was used to. He, himself was no longer in the mood for the mac-and-cheese he made, grabbed a slice of toast and went to bed himself, after doing his Bible study that was as apart of him as breathing.

When Nicolas heard there was no more noise coming from inside the house, he slipped through his bedroom door to fetch the Bible from the table where he left it. He had to admit to himself, that Luke had tickled his curiosity, and the dream he had while he fell asleep under the apple tree, intensified this curiosity even more.

Slowly opening the front page of the Bible, he switched on the lamp next to the bed. The inscription read as follow:

Dear Luke, take this as your map to the world wherever God might lead you, when the time come you will know who to pass this map onto. The Lord will always be your guidance. Remember always what I have told you, and share that with all those desperately in need of the hope that Jesus provided for all of us.

In your hand you are not holding the word of God, but also His Gospel, the historical event where Jesus died for sinners on the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4).  His death was a sacrifice that turns away the wrath of God (1 Patrick 2:2).  This is the only way to be saved from God's righteous judgment upon those who have sinned by breaking his Law.

Jesus is the one who died for the sins of the world (1 Patrick 2:2).  He is the only way to God the Father (Patrick 14;6). He alone reveals God (Matt. 11:27).  He has all authority in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18).  It is only through Him that you can be saved from God's wrath (Eph. 2:3).  He can forgive you of your sin (Luke 5:20; Matt. 9:-1-8).  He can remove the guilt that is upon your soul.  Jesus can set you free from the bondage of sin that blinds your eyes, weakens your soul, and brings you to despair.  He can do this because He bore sin in His body on the cross (1 Peter. 2:24) so that those who trust in Him would be saved.

If you are not a Christian, and want to be delivered from the righteous judgment of God, then come to the One who died for the sins of the world.  Come to the One who died for sinners (Matt. 11:28).  Believe and trust in Jesus. Receive Jesus, who is God in flesh (Patrick 1:1,14), who died and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4) as your Lord and Saviour. Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins (Patrick 14:14; Matt. 9:1-8).  Receive Christ (Patrick 1:12) and the sacrifice He made on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24). Turn from your sins (Acts 3:19).  Only He can wash you clean from your sins and only Jesus can deliver you from the future judgment of a holy and infinite God.  Pray to Jesus.  Seek Him.  Ask Him to save you.  Put your trust in him. 

 Never forget where to put your trust Luke, and never look back on the road you walked before, the Lord has forgiven You and washed your sins away the day you have accepted Him as your Salvation. The Bible  is as big as LIFE: "The Book of Life." It answers to every situation. The promises are life-size, it all adds up to this: we must learn to make the bible our prayer book!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you; by the love of God my friend I greet you, father Paul.

Nicolas read this a few times, making sure he understood completely what he had read. This was powerful words he thought softly. Paging through the book, observing all the verses that was highlighted in different colours.

A loose leaflet fell from the Bible, the sides slightly torn and damaged, the colour of the once white page turned yellow with age. It was folded as if it was kept in a shirt pocket most of the time. When Nicolas unfolded the leaflet a photo fell out of it of a young skinny tiny girl, with almost now hair. The photo was taken in a hospital, as Nicolas could see all the equipment around the bed, alongside the girl was two people, on the one side Luke, and the other Miss Rebecca. At first he thought it was the glaze on the photo, but when he looked closely, he saw the same light in this girls eyes, as he saw in Luke’, Mama’s and Miss Rebecca’s eyes, and he knew it was peace. On the back of the photo it was written, Veronica, the day before she went to Jesus.

Nicolas glanced at the leaflet, trying to figure out precisely that was written on it, as the wording have faded over time, but once he could establish the verses written on the leaflet, he looked them up in the Bible, it was highlighted in a blue pencil.

Powerful Prayers you can pray every day to change your life!

 There is absolutely nothing more powerful than praying Scripture back to the Father!

Daily Prayers – personalized from prayers in New Testament

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Col 4:2
 Glorious Father, I ask that you give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that I may know You better.  I pray that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened in order that I may know the hope to which You have called me, that I may know the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints, and that I may know Your incomparably great power for me who believes. (Eph 1:17-19)

Dear Lord, I pray that out of Your glorious riches You may strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith.  And I pray that I, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Your holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of You.  (Eph 3:16-19)

 Heavenly Father, I ask that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. (Eph 6:19)

 Lord God, I pray that my love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that I may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of You. (Phil 1:9-11)

 Dear Lord, I continually ask You to fill me with the knowledge of Your will through all the wisdom and understanding that Your Spirit gives, so that I may live a life worthy of you and please You in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of You, being strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might so that I may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to You, who has qualified me to share in the inheritance of your holy people in the kingdom of light.  Thank you for rescuing me from the dominion of darkness and bringing me into the kingdom of Your Son. (Col 1:9-13)

 Dear God, open a door for my message, so that I may proclaim the mystery of Christ.  I pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. (Col 4:3-4)

“This is enough for one day,” he murmured to himself, “I am losing my mind like these loonies around me” He put the Bible back on the night stand, and turned over to sleep. He had the same dream as that afternoon.

Luke heard Nicolas going back to the dining area, and prayed the whole time, while he heard Nicolas paging through the Bible. Dear Lord, please reconcile him to you. You had mercy on me Lord; please have the mercy on him to. It was very late when the house grew totally quite, and only the soft whisper of the Lord’s presence remained touching the soul that needed Him most.

Chapter 6

Nicolas woke the next morning, his stomach rumbling with hunger when he smelled the bacon and eggs frying in the kitchen. He peeped through the door, kicking himself because he did not put the Bible back on the table again last night. Now, Luke would know he took it!

“Good morning, Nicolas, did you sleep well?” Luke seemed in a good, but quite mood this morning, as if he was thinking about something very deeply. “Morning Luke that surely does smell good, can I make some coffee, or would you like some juice with it?” Luke was surprised that Nicolas felt home enough to offer. The previous few days he would not help himself to anything, or even offer some help when a meal was prepared.

“Coffee would be nice thanks; cups are above the kettle, all the other stuff you will find around the kettle and milk in the fridge.” Luke looked around to see if Nicolas got everything, the slum in his young shoulders look less this morning, but there was still no real emotion in his eyes.

“Feel like going into town today with me, I need to pick up some supplies I have ordered, and stop by Rebecca’s office. There is something I would like to discuss with both of you, and it would be more convenient for her if we went there.” Nicolas just shrugged his shoulders, and considered it an answer to the question.

“I want to tell you a story Nicolas, the story of myself. No, don’t worry, I won’t push more gospel down your throat this morning, breakfast is enough today.” Luke never really told his story to anyone before, only Rebecca knew it all, because she is the most persistent person that he has ever met in his life.  She never lost track of him after Veronica has passed away, always kept contact, and always tried to bring him back on tract, if it was not for all her prayers, and father Paul, he would have ended up in a ditch somewhere, with a knife in his heart alongside a road that almost never used, to be found years later.

Luke looked at him curiously, is this man really going to tell him another soppy story? But he said nothing and when Luke spoke he listened up, because it shed some light on the photo in the Bible.

“I was your age when I met Veronica and Rebecca, they were best of friends. I fell in love with Veronica, but from the word go, I knew if I wanted to be Veronica’s boyfriend, we had Rebecca as our watchdog. The three of us became like the three musketeers, we did absolutely everything together. Rebecca was dedicated to get her studies done, as she was the only daughter of her single mom, who had no financial support from any family members. In her final year of high school her mother passed away and Veronica’s parents took her in to complete her studies.

They both went to university to study psychology. Veronica’s parent died in a terrible plane crash in their second year, and the two girls was on their own with no family members left. We became a family. I was very much in love with Veronica, and asked her to marry me. We got engaged, but shortly after the engagement she became sick, and was diagnosed with Leukaemia. It was a hard battle; Rebecca gave up her studies, and spent most of the time looking after Veronica. None of the treatments they tried worked, and after a year and a half of battling against the sickness Veronica passed away.”

Luke rubbed over his hand, the emotions was still high in him when he thought about that time. “We were devastated, we prayed the whole time, believing that God would save her, and miraculously cure her from the sickness. Only, it was not God’s will for it to happen.” He sighed, remembering written all over him. A tear slowly made his way down Luke cheek and Nicolas looked at it in amazement, this big, rough looking man is really crying!

“Veronica was a dedicated Christian, even from her sickbed she was spreading God’s word to all whom wanted to listen, and even to those who showed no interest. The love she spread through that thin body of hers was amazing. Nobody was unimportant to her; she called and spoke to everybody, touching them with peace that only God can provide you.” A soft glow was on Luke face, when he thought about Veronica. Then in an instant sadness spread over him, and Nicolas could feel the emotion in the room.

“Veronica passed away in the mid afternoon of a sunny spring day, her favourite time of the year. She use to love nature, and before she passed away, she asked the hospital personnel to push her bed that she could see the gardens through her hospital window, nothing was too much trouble for them when it came to Veronica, and they were more than willing to do anything for her.” Luke sighed hard, and Nicolas could feel the hurt coming from him, pulling emotions from himself that he had securely placed out of his mind for many years. “She was sleeping, and just never woke up again; Jesus came and fetched her with a soft touch, needing her more as an angel as we did. She already gave everything she had before she passed away.”

“I did not see it that way; I was upset, and lost touch with the world. I could not overcome my sadness, and anger towards God for taking her away from me. I turned my back completely on God. It was not long after her death that I joined up with one of the biggest gangs in the area. Because I felt absolutely nothing towards anybody, I rained on fear, and soon after joining the gang in was ranked second in charge. I sold drugs to kids as young as eight years of age, making sure I could cause as much damage as possible to God’s creation.” Luke sighed heavily, as if the burden was pushing him down in his chair. He has totally forgotten about the breakfast in front of him. Thinking back to those horrible days and deeds he did back then.

Nicolas could not believe the man sitting with him was the man that he just described. “It was until one afternoon we decided that the owner of one of the convenient stores needed to be taught a lesson, as he did not allow any drug dealings in the area where his store was situated, and I did not like being told where I was allowed to conduct my business and where not, this was my territory. Me and two other members of the gang stormed the store, fully armed, but I think he was prepared for us, because the moment we came in he already pulled the first warning shot. There were shots fired all over, the other two members got killed in the line of fire and got hit in my left arm.” With these words he pulled up the sleeve of his shirt covering his arm, showing a real bad scar as evidence to his words.

The police was on the scene within moments. The owner got hit as well, but there was no real evidence that it was me that hit him, that charge was not brought onto my book, but my chances looked pretty dim at the stage when I was arrested. There were so many charges against me that the Bible you started reading last night, is thin compared to what my police file looked like.” Luke gave Nicolas a look that said I am ashamed of what I did, but then I found hope.

“You see Nicolas, it doesn’t matter how thick the file against you, there is always hope that our Lord provides us with. Most of His disciples were locked up as well, for spreading His word. I just did not realise it at that stage.” Luke looked as if he needed some air, he was pale, and a light sweat was covering his brow. “Eat up, let’s get on the road, I will finish my story later.”

With that Luke pushed his chair backwards and got up, his hands trembling slightly. He never wanted to speak about this again, but he knew he had to if he wanted Nicolas to open up towards him. This was the only way he could gain the child’s confidence to ensure him that he did understood a little of what he was going through.

Chapter 7

Rebecca was waiting for Luke and Nicolas in her office. He called her before they left, to let her know they were on their way. She picked up her cup of tea from the table and wondered to the window, looking down at the park across the road.

Once again she noticed the man standing under the tree with his hat pulled down, it made her think about what Nicolas told her when he met his parent’s killer the first time. Why was the man luring in the park with the children were playing. She made a mental note to speak to Captain Thomson about him.

As she was about to turn away she saw the man approaching a boy almost eight years old, from the distance she was watching. The boy looked scared, and went with the man reluctantly towards one of the park benches. Basically forcing the boy to sit down, the man settled next to him, taking something out of his pocket. She could not quite see what it was, and was studying the scene closely when she heard the office door open.

All chattering the two men entered that she was waiting for. Well, Nicolas not quite a man as yet, but most definitely an attractive young man, now that he cleaned up quite decently. As they entered she motioned them towards where she was standing at the window. Curious to see what she was looking both came closer, but as Nicolas stood next to her, he went dead pale. “That is the slime bag I told you about Miss Rebecca” The tone of his voice so aggressive he could have been a full grown man standing next to her, about to charge the guy himself.

His hands opened and closed forming fists and if Luke did not hold his arm back that fist would have gone through the window, shattering the glass pane in front of them. “Luke, get Nicolas something to calm him down please, I am calling Captain Thomson immediately”

When Captain Thomson answered the call Rebecca explained to him quickly what was happening in the park, and that Nicolas had identified the man as the one that was using him all these years. They closed the conversation of with Captain Thomson saying that he is on his way. They are not bringing in the police straight away, but they are going to put the man under surveillance for a time to follow his actions. He will be coming over to take Nicolas’s statement in the mean time. She felt as if she could shake him awake from a sleepwalk, the slime bag was just across the road, confiding in other small little boys, and he wants to take a statement!

Nicolas and Luke came back to the office, both clearly in a calmer state as when they left it. Rebecca was still standing in front of the window, and when she looked at Nicolas the brims of his eyes were quite red from recently shed tears. Something she had rarely seen before on Nicolas. Luke just gave her a quite smile when he noticed what she was looking at, and squeezed Nicolas’s shoulder slightly to ensure him that he wasn’t going anywhere.

“Can I offer you guys a cup of coffee while we are waiting for Captain Thomson?” Rebecca asked as friendly as possible, her voice trembling with emotion; and her hands shaking ever so lightly. “Thank you madam, we will greatly appreciate it,” Luke smiled at her trying to relay the message to her that everything will be just fine.

Once they settled down with their coffee, Luke scraped his throat indicating that he had important business he was about to discuss, not just with Rebecca, but with Nicolas as well. “As I mentioned this morning to both of you, I have something serious I want to discuss with both of you. I thought this over ever since Nicolas and you stopped at my porch. Not only have I thought about it, but it was a serious prayer topic for me the whole time. Don’t role your eyes at me mister, I am dead serious here. I would like to propose.” Both Rebecca and Nicolas looked confused, what was Luke going on about.

“Don’t look so anxious guys, I am not proposing to Rebecca, I am proposing to you Nicolas, if Rebecca can work things out, would you like to come and stay with me all the time. I would like to be your foster parent if the system will allow me to be, and if you like it enough, I want to adopt you as my own son.” Nicolas almost fell out of the chair he was sitting in, this could not be true, all he did so far was giving this man a hard time, and now he wants to adopt him. He was sure now this was a true loony! “Sure sir, but I do hope you have a comb for the hair that you are about to grow on your teeth” Luke just ruffled the once messy hair now well looked after and Nicolas just smiled at him.

Rebecca was flabbergasted, never had Luke shown any interest in being a foster parent. She basically dumped Nicolas onto his shoulders as she had no other way out, and now this. A tap on the door closed the conversation for the moment, and Captain Thomson entered the office.

Nicolas immediately recognised him from the night of his parent murder; he was the gentleman that tried to protect him from not seeing the scene in the house. The attraction between them was a spark, and not before long Captain Thomson had Nicolas at ease to tell him everything. Nicolas gave permission that both Rebecca and Luke could stay during the statement, and the details that he shared that afternoon were even more hair rising than the details Rebecca got from him before.

The man in the park was not only a murderer, he was a child molester, a rapist, drug dealer, and Nicolas witnessed all of these. Captain Thomson now understood why the man was in the park across the road from Rebecca’s office. He was waiting for Nicolas to come see her, as he would be able to place him on so many crime scenes that nobody else have been able to do before. That was also the reason he was across the road from Rebecca’s office, he knew Nicolas would come to her, and he was waiting for him. The fact that Nicolas was a witness to most of his crimes, and of what he told Enriqu was in terrible danger and for that matter Rebecca as well.

Nicolas statement was enough; this man needs to be taken off the street. Within minutes the details were send through to his office and the law was ready to step in. the biggest worry now, until they had the man arrested was the safety of both Rebecca as well as Nicolas. Luke thought about it for only a moment where Rebecca was concerned, and ordered her to get her overnight case from her bottom drawer where he knew she always kept it for emergency cases.

Captain Thomson brought Luke’s vehicle around to the back of the office, and Luke left with both of them safely in his custody. He knew they were safe on the farm; no one will get to them without him knowing it first. Before they drove off, Nicolas turned to Captain Thomson, “Captain, Sir, I never had a chance to thank you for the way you did try to make things easier that morning, I appreciate all you have done for me Sir”. He stretched out a hand to Captain Thomson, but the man pulled him close and gave him a bear hug. Without Nicolas knowing it, this boy just gave Captain Thomson some peace in his own heart as well.

Chapter 8

Back at the house, he let them inside, getting juice from the fridge without even asking if they would like some. They all sat at the dining room table. Luke looked at Nicolas to see if the child was doing ok, more of his emotions were visible in his body language the last couple of days than before. He looked a little more relaxed than before, as if a load has been taken from his shoulders. The burden he had to carry on his own for so long was now in the hands of the law.

“You know Nicolas, when they took me into custody that day of the robbery, they said to me I only had one phone call, the only number I could remember after all that time on the streets, was Rebecca’s. I phoned her, and asked her only one thing. I said to her, my friend I need your prayers, and then I hung up. She did not even knew where I was until a few days later, when the police contacted her to confirm some details I have given them”

“So why would God answer her prayers? The biggest reason: she had a relationship with God. She wanted to follow God. And she actually listened to what He said. In her mind, God had the right to direct her in life, and she welcomed Him doing just that! When she prayed for things, it was a natural part of her relationship with God. She felt very comfortable coming to God with her needs, her concerns, and whatever issues were current in her life. Furthermore, she was convinced, from what she read in the Bible, that God wanted her to rely on him like that. She pretty much exhibited what this statement from the Bible says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer..." I knew if someone would pray for the right reasons it would be her.”

Rebecca looked surprised when she listened to the subject of conversation; Nicolas was totally intrigued to here more. He realised Luke kept to his word, to carry on with the conversation when they returned, and he did not even had to remind him!

“I promise you the first few days were living hell in that cell. They tortured me for information in every way possible. Eventually I gave in, and made a deal with the DA. I gave up one of the biggest drug lord known in the country, with details where and when his next shipment will go down. To put it mildly, that saved my but slightly.” Luke even blushed at this stage of the story. “I really am not proud of what I have done son, but if it did not happen I would not have been able to relate to you today, and then I might not have been able to let you see that my God is the only way in life.”

“I was lucky enough to meet father Paul in prison, he was the minister that took care of the spiritual side of the inmates. At first I could not see any reason why I was to listen to him, but after Rebecca came to visit me she gave me reason why I should. Remember the leaflet you found in the Bible and the photo inside. She got special permission to give that to me. The leaflet was Veronica’s that she has kept inside her Bible all the time while she was alive, Rebecca just gave me the photo to remember the way she used to share her love with everybody.” Luke gave Rebecca a smile, which reflected gratitude, and squeezed her hand softly from across the table.

“When you go to bed tonight, take the bible, and look for all the verses that it highlighted with yellow, the colour of the sun, they are numbered, write them down on the writing pad I placed next to your bed this morning, and you will find the most lovely love letter anyone could ever write to you.”

Nicolas was curious to see what he would find, and just after their evening meal he went of to bed. Looking through the Bible, Nicolas wrote down all the verses and then put them into order. Each verse had a inscription next to it, when he read the complete letter he was astounded with the fact that Luke was right, this was the most beautiful love letter he ever received from anybody.

You may not know me, but I know everything about you (Psalm 139.1)

“O lord, You have searched me, and known me”

I know when you sit down and when you rise up (Psalm 139.2)

“You know my sitting down and my rising up;”

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered (Matthew 10.29-31)

” Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Fathers will, but the very hairs of your head are all numbered; Do not fear therefore, you are of more value than sparrows”

You were made in my image (Genesis 1.27)

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him: male and female He created them”

I knew you even before you were conceived (Jeremiah 1.4-5)

“Then the word of the Lord came to me saying: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to nations”

I knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139.13)

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb”

I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me (Patrick 8.41-44)

“you do the deeds of your father” then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father – God” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand for the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it”

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love (1 Patrick 4.16)

“and we have known and believed in the love that God has for us, and he who abides in the love abides in God, and God in Him”

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you (1 Patrick 3.1)

“Behold what manner of love the Father has shown for us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him”

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could (Matthew 7.11)

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give goods things to those who ask Him”

For I am the perfect father (Matthew 5.48)

“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect”

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand (Luke 1.17)

“Every good gift end every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights with who there are no variation or shadow of turning”
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs (Matthew 6.31-33)

“Therefore do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ for after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly father knows you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all things shall be added to you”

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope (Jeremiah 29.11)

”For I know the thought that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and hope”

Because I love you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31.3)

“The Lord appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love.’ Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you”

I will never stop doing good to you (Jeremiah 32.40)

“And I will make an everlasting covenant with them,  that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me”

I want to show you great and marvellous things (Jeremiah 33.3)

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know”

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine (Ephesians 3.20)

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we asked or think, according to the power that works in us.”
For I am your greatest encourager (2 Thessalonians 2.16-17)

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace”

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles (2 Corinthians 1.3-4)

“Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God”

When you are broken-hearted, I am close to you (Psalm 34.18)

“Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His Mercy”

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes (Revelation 21.3-4)

“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying. “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus (Patrick 17.23)

“”I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that know that You have sent me, and have loved them as You have loved Me”

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed (Patrick 17.26)

“And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You love Me may be in them, and I am in them.”

He is the exact representation of my being (Hebrews 1.3)

“who being the brightness of His glory and the express of His person, and the upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high”

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you (Romans 8.31)

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins, Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled (2 Corinthians 5.18-19)

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you (1 Patrick 4.10)

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and send His Son to be the propitiation of our sins”
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me (1 Patrick 2.23)

“Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also”

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again (Romans 8.38-39)

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present and things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing , shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”

My question is “Will you be my child?” (Patrick 1.12-13)

“But as many has received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believed in His name; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God”

I am waiting for you (Luke 15.11-32)

11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring[a] out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”

Tears sprung to his eyes when he read through it again, how could he have not seen this before? Why could nobody be so kind to him before to share this secret with him? Now, at the age of sixteen after all his been through, he was not alone at all, but in protection all the time; he had some questions that’s for sure, but he knew what he was going to ask Luke first thing in the morning. He also realised that his prayer was answered that horrible night, him and Patrick was protected all the time, or else they would have been dead as well.

Remembering the prayer they used to say when they were kids, he silently whispered the words in his mind, and went into a peaceful sleep. For the first time since he met that dark man in the park he was able to sleep without any dreams chasing him in the dark. Instead he dreamt the peaceful dream he had the day he came to Luke.

Luke and Rebecca sat talking for a while longer. “I am serious Rebecca, if Nicolas would allow me, and it is his wishes, I would love to adopt him, and look after him for the rest of his life, as long as I can. I have the finances; you know that to ensure that he gets a good education without any worry. I fell in love with the child, he reminds me so much of someone I know too well” he smiled at her, and she chuckled back, “Me too, I think he is precisely like you, stubborn, yet very delicate piece of work, thanks for taking us in”

Chapter 9

The sun has not even said good morning to the next day when Nicolas was already up, waiting for Luke to appear from his bedroom. He boiled the kettle three times before Luke showed a very sleepy face through his bedroom door. “Morning Luke, did you sleep well? I have boiled the kettle; you will have coffee in two shakes. Would you like some toast with that? I haven’t slept so like this in years. Come on man, wake up I need to ask you something, and you won’t know the answers looking so sleepy still”

Luke was overwhelmed with this wake up call, this was more words than Nicolas have spoken to him since he came here at one time. He shook his head, making sure he was not dreaming.

“Good morning to you to young man, how could I be of your assistance?” Luke tried to sound as formal as he could be this time of the morning, but his voice was still thick from sleep, and he just gave a grin to make up for it.

“Luke, who is God? What is He like?” Nicolas wanted to know. “But before you answer that, were you serious about what you said yesterday in Miss Rebecca’s office? If you were, I would love to.” Now Luke was more stunned than when he walked through his bedroom door. “Wow mate, one big thing at time. Which one would you like to have answered first?”

Nicolas looked at him, as if he could not make up his mind, “Can I stay with you sir?” Luke smiled fondly at the young man, “Yes Sir, let’s see what miss Rebecca can arrange for us, now for your other questions, I think we need big mugs of coffee.” Nicolas rushed of to make more coffee, and came back to the table. Returning to the table Nicolas placed the mugs in front of Luke, gave Luke an unsure look and then wrapped his arms around Luke’ shoulders and gave him something that resembled a hug. “Thanks for believing in me Luke!” Luke had no words, and only squeezed Nicolas’s arm for reassurance.

Luke thought about the question and how to answer it the best way. “I can give you six personality traits of God, and will try to explain it best I can, ok?” Nicolas nodded his head, showing more interest than what Luke ever anticipated. “God is knowable. He created the universe if all of its magnitude and creative details, things that we can see, therefore He is able to be known to us. We are able to get to personally know Him, intimately. In Jeremiah 9:23& 24 He says "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord.”

Luke took a sip of his coffee. “He is approachable, he invites us to talk to Him and tell Him all our concerns. It is His nature to be loving and accepting when we go to Him. "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." (Psalms 145:18)” Further He is creative. Everything we make is put together with something that someone thought about before we did, God has the capacity of speaking something into existence, His power is something He wants us to know and rely on. "Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit." (Psalms 147:5)
"...where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalms 121:1,2)” Luke looked at Nicolas to see if he is still following.

“Do you understand what I am trying to explain Nicolas; you must stop me if you are not sure about anything, promise?” Nicolas nodded eagerly, showing with his hand that Luke should carry on. Luke smiled at Nicolas, and then carried on with his explanation. “He is forgiving, being humans we tend to do thing our way and not according to His way, He knows all about it. He does not overlook what we do wrong, and are prepared to judge accordingly, but He forgives us, the moment we start a relationship with Him. Jesus the Son of God, paid for our sins, as I told you before, He was crucified for our sins, and rose from the dead, this is the forgiveness he offer us. "We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done... We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us." (Romans 3:22,25), I need more coffee son?”

Rebecca came from her room looking onto the scene in the kitchen. Luke and Nicolas both beaming with excitement and she knew she lost out on something this morning. “Good morning, may I join you guys, you look like cats that got hold of some good cream!” The guys gave her a brought smile, and then she saw the change in Nicolas, he had self confidence he never had before, and his eyes sparkled like diamonds.

“Please, come join the conversation. Nicolas, please would you get some coffee for Miss Rebecca as well?” The mugs came down on the table quicker than any of them anticipated. “Please carry on Luke, I want to know more”, Nicolas was so delightful; there was no way anyone would be able to not comply too his request.

“God is totally honest, son, He clearly tells us about Himself. Everything He says about Himself is totally true; there is absolute accuracy in everything He says. We can count on every promise He makes to us, He means it, and we can totally rely on His word. He is not human; therefore He has no need to lie to us. "The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalms 119:130,105) “God is not man, that He should lie, Nor son of man, that He should repent. Has He said and will not do? Or has He spoken, and will not make it good (Number 23:19) . His last trait is that He is completely capable. God’s wisdom has now limits, He understands everything, and He needs no software updates. We don’t need to persuade Him to do the right thing, as He is quite capable of doing it Himself. He does not have the undercutting deceiving nature of mankind. He does right at all time. "No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame..." (Psalms 25:3)”

Nicolas sat for a while, absorbing all the information that was given through to him in such a short time. He thought about the dream had previously, and decided that is was time to share this with Luke and Miss Rebecca.

“I want to share something with you guys. When I just came here, after me and Luke chatted on the porch, I walked up to where the big apple tree is, and I sat down to think, I must have fallen asleep, and had the weirdest dream.” Nicolas paused for a moment, as if to make sure he remembers all the details. “There was this man, he had all this white clothes on, and he took my hand. We started walking, but it felt more like floating. He took me across the world, showing me all these huge mountains, sunsets, oceans, we even went under water and looked at all the fishes and other animals, he said to me “This is My creation, just like you are”, then he showed me people that was sad, and crying, and I asked Him Why are there so much sadness, and why did You create death if this is all Your creations? He looked at me with so much love in His eyes, and He answered me I did not create it my son, sin was brought into this world by one man, and death will pass on to all men, for all have sin” I was confused because I did not quite understand what sin was, and He said to me that sin was the transgression of sin. Big words for a 16 year old huh?” Nicolas gave a shy smile to both of them, he was not sure at the time when he had the dream what it was about, though he had a good idea after the talk he and Luke had.

“He sat down on the grass with me, and explained to me His Law. All I expect son is that you will no other gods before me, and not make any idol for yourself. Don’t misuse my Name, and keep the Sabbath holy. Honour your mother and father, even when they are dead, and all the people in your life that is placed there too look after you, like they would have. Don’t commit any murders, not in life and not in your mind. Take this word from my scripture and remember it “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes…” 1 Corinthians 6.9 and “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death” Revelation 21.8

“I realised that I had broken God’s Law many times and would be condemned to Hell on the day of Judgement. Not only had God seen my every sin, but my own conscience condemned me. When I asked God what I should do, he said, “I didn’t send My son to condemn…” And every time I had this dream, this is where it ended. There were no answers to my questions thereafter.”

Nicolas looked up at Luke, “Remember that leaflet, I have read through it so many a times, but still I could not find all the answers. The love letter, gave me hope, but still not all the answers, please could you help me a little? I did not want to ask before, I was so rude to both of you, and still all you did was believe in me. You took care of me, and most of all, I could feel that you love me.”

Luke had to pick the tear from his eye quickly, and then decided to let it run, this was the moment he was waiting for. Nicolas wanting to know the Lord! “Son, God loves you so much, that He made provision for your forgiveness, like he done that to all who would accept Him and have a relationship with Him. Jesus suffered and died for each one of us. God has sent His only begotten Son to be a substitute for our sins. Even when we broke the law, Jesus paid our fine completely. After Jesus was crucified, and died, He rose from the death and Son through that He defeated death.” Luke breathed deeply, looking at Rebecca, tears running down the sides of her face, she just nodded, and he continued.

“We have to die on earth, it is the only way to our Lord, after our death on earth, and we know that we have eternal life with God, just like your parents’ has right now. We need to wake up in life, and realise that He cannot make the choice on our behalf, but that we need to make it. We could carry on behaving as if God doesn’t care about sin and we would end up in Hell, or we could repent and place our trust in Jesus, to become our Lord and Saviour, and thereby receive God’s biggest gift; Everlasting life with Him in heaven. The choice son, is ours to make, nobody can do that for us. So, you must believe.  You must trust Christ.  You must receive Him (Patrick 1:12).  You can ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins.  It is okay to pray to him and confess your sins, trust in him, and be saved.”

Chapter 10

Nicolas thought deeply, surely it was not that easy. Life taught him several lessons, and one was that nothing came without consequences, so what’s the catch here? How can you just ask forgive me, and all is fine and forgotten. There have to be more to it than just that. Deep in thought he got up, made more coffee, and got some biscuits from the cabinet above the fridge. His hair looked ruffled as pulled his fingers through it, but the slump in his shoulders was gone, he was walking as tall as he was, nothing pushing down on him anymore. There was a sparkle in his eyes when he looked at Luke and Rebecca, deciding how to ask the next question.

“What’s wrong buddy, you look confuse?” Rebecca asked him, he look to her again like that little boy she hugged the night of the murder of his parents, so small and yet so adult. If it wasn’t for his quick thinking that night, he might not have sat across the table from her today.

“Miss Rebecca all is fine in what you guys told me, but I don’t get it, where is the catch? What is the “cost” involved in making this choice as you put it Luke. Life showed me more than once that nothing comes without a price being paid towards it. You don’t just get it, you need to do something in return, and none of the prices I have paid before was good ones. I even paid the price for my father’s dept up to recently. So come on guys, let me in on the secret behind all this?”

Before Luke could answer, Rebecca placed her hand on Nicolas’s and said to him, “You are right love, there is a ‘cost’ involved as you put it. When you read Luke 14, Jesus tells us that we need to take up our cross and follow him. You have to understand that being a Christian does not mean simply having a feeling, being nice to people, or reading your Bible. It means living for Christ and doing what is right even if it is inconvenient or troublesome. Jesus does not want people who merely desire to be comforted and coddled. He requires that we turn from our sins, that we trust in Him, that we live for Him.”

Luke nodded in agreement, confirming Rebecca’s word he added to it, “If you are not willing to do this, then "giving Jesus a try" won't do you any good. In fact, it can harm you by giving you a false sense of assurance that you're a Christian, but when your problems are solved, you turn away from Christ. Picking up your cross does not mean that life is always easy. It means that sometimes it can be difficult.  It means that you don't lie to your boss, your spouse, or your friends. It means you work hard and faithfully.   It means that you are honest, responsible, respectful, and that you seek to know what God wants you to do with on your life.  It means you live for God, not yourself - even if it costs you.” 

Rebecca listened to Luke’s word, and gave him a quite smile, “Being a disciple of Christ is not always easy.  But it is always good and it is always worth the effort.  Isn’t it Luke?” Nicolas looked at the two of them and realised that over the years a special bond had formed between these two friends, they were not just easy companions in everyday life, but they shared the love of Jesus between them as well. He admired the fact, and never felt so strong of being a part of something so special.

“Ok, you two, so how do I do this, show me, teach me, I don’t want to try the Jesus thing, I want to do it. I want to know that He is my Lord, my, what you call it?  Saviour” Nicolas looked like a child wanting to open his first Christmas gift, and come to think of it, it was, Christ was given to him to on Christmas day, over 2000 years ago.

“Go fetch your Bible,” Luke told Nicolas “and bring it back to the table” they waited for Nicolas to fetch the Bible, while they both shared a silent prayer that God will guide them through this. Rebecca knew Luke would like to do this, like father Paul did it for him just before he was released from prison, and gave extra thanks to the Lord for having this special man with her on this journey for bringing a child to His feet to meet Him for the first time and accept Him for his Salvation.

“God loves you and wants you to know Him so He can fill you with peace and give you real life -- forever.” Luke said to Nicolas “page to Romans 5:1, and read it out load for us”. Nicolas’s fingers tumbled through the pages, back and forth, and when Rebecca wanted to help, Luke placed his hand over hers to stop her from doing so. After a few minutes he found the verse and read it very slowly, as if it was a total sacred message he was delivering to the listeners. “Because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God” “Now read Patrick 3:16” Luke told Nicolas. God loved the people of this world so much that He gave His only son, so that everyone who has faith in Him will have eternal life and never die.

 “Jesus said: "I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest" (Patrick 10:10). Since God planned for us to have peace and real life right now, why are so many people hurting or angry inside? God created us in His own image so we can know Him personally and have a joy-filled life. He did not make us as robots to automatically love and obey Him, but gave us a will and a freedom of choice. Since the beginning of time, we have chosen to disobey God and go our own wilful way. We still make this choice today. This results in separation from God and ends in misery and heartache”

Luke looked at Nicolas, wanting to know if they could carry on. Nicolas gestured with his hand to Luke to keep it moving, Luke smiled and said, “Let’s hear Romans 3:23”, Nicolas got the place quicker this time, as he had an idea where to find Romans now. “All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's holiness.” ”Just page over to chapter 6, and read verse 23 for us please Nicolas” “Sure thing Sir, The result of unforgiving sin is death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord”

Luke cleared his throat where emotion was building up, before he carried on. “The Bible says that disobeying God results in being separated from Him. Our attempts can never unite us with God. Through the ages, people have tried many ways to bridge this gap and reach God - without success. The Bible says: Adam sinned, and that sin brought death into the world. Now everyone has sinned, and so everyone must die (Romans 5:12). You may think you are on the right road and still end up dead (Proverbs 14:12). There is only one way to reach God.”

“Do you know the answer to this as yet Nicolas?” Nicolas nodded slowly, but said “I have an idea Sir, but please carry on; I would like to hear it from you Sir?” Luke understood, and scraped his throat again, the moment was so big inside him. “Jesus Christ is the only answer to this problem. He is the only One who can bring us back to God. He died on the Cross and rose from the grave, paying the penalty for our sin and bridging the gap between God and people. Please read 1 Timothy 2:5 for us, it is to be found in the new testament Nicolas” Slowly the boy paged through the Bible and got to the verse, “There is only one God, and Christ Jesus is the only one who can bring us to God. Wow, this is huge!” Nicolas exclaimed. Luke held up his hand and said, “Now 1 Peter 3:18, please mister?”

With a small chuckle Nicolas carried forth his search for the verse, and when he found it he read it quietly at first, and then looked up with tears in his eye. “Please son, read it that we can hear it as well?” Luke put his hand on the knee of the young man beside him, to encourage him to carry on. With a tear soaked voice Nicolas read the verse, “Christ died once for our sins. An innocent person died for those who are guilty. Christ did this to bring you to God.  He was willing to die for me sir, and He did not even do anything wrong!”

Luke took the Bible from Nicolas’s shaking hands, and paged to Romans 5:8 “But God showed how much He loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful. You see son, God has provided the only way -- we must make the choice. We must trust Jesus Christ to forgive our sins and determine to obey Him for the rest of our lives. That way we can know God and find peace again. In Romans 10:9&10 Jesus says to us, so you will be saved, if you honestly say, Jesus is Lord, and if you believe with all your heart that God raised Him from death. God will accept you and save you, if you truly believe this.”

Tears was streaming down the young man’s face, know that even after all he did, and what he have gone through Jesus would still accept him, the sinner from this world.

Luke held him tight for a moment, not even noticing Rebecca sniffing away her tears. “Is there any good reason why you cannot turn your life over to Jesus Christ right now, son? You only need to take three little steps to do this. You need to admit to Him that you are a sinner, and need forgiveness. You need to believe that Jesus did die on the cross and rose from the grave, and then through prayer, confess that Jesus is the only way to God, and commit to live for Him for the rest of your life. Are you ready to take the next step son?”

“Remember this; Jesus is the only One who can bring us back to God. The Bible says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Nicolas did not answer Luke but pulled him down next to him to the floor, kneeling. Then he looked at Luke and said “Please tell me what to pray sir?” Luke took his hand, “Repeat after me son. Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and rose from the grave to give me life. I know You are the only way to God. So now I want to quit disobeying You and start living for You. Please forgive me, change my life and show me how to know You. In Jesus' name. Amen.” Leaving intervals between the words; giving Nicolas the time to repeat them after him. The boy’s voice came along with his, both so touched with emotion that they could hardly breathe at the end of the prayer.

They sat like that for a long time, just holding onto each other, Luke whispering prayers of thanksgiving and praise all the time, experiencing the mercy and the grace of God so sincere once again in his life.

Chapter 11

When they got up Nicolas went to wash his face, and looking in the mirror he found something new, his eyes, they were soft, and filled with an emotion he had never seen there before. He could feel the peace inside himself, and the love that warmed him from inside. His eyes had the same look as Mama’s Diamond eyes. While in the restroom he heard the phone rang, and Miss Rebecca’s voice.

“Afternoon Mrs Robinson, how are you this afternoon?” miss Rebecca listened to the person on the other end, and turned as pale as a sheet. “O dear, where have you taken him?” Once again the person said something at the other end, and Miss Rebecca replied “We will be there in about a hour, please take good care of him. We will see you soon. If there are any changes, please let me as soon as it would be possible for you. And Mrs Robinson, thank you for letting me know, and allowing Nicolas to come” With that she ended the call, and motioned Nicolas to come sit next to her.

“Nicolas, that was Patrick’s foster mom, they have adopted him several years ago, that is the reason you would not have been able to find him if you were making enquiries on your surname. He had an accident in the park, nothing to serious, but he had been taken to the General Hospital. We spoke a few days ago, and I mentioned to her, that you would like to see Patrick again. At first she was reluctant, because she was afraid that you would bring separation between them as a family. When Patrick got hurt in the park she realised that it could have been something serious, and then you would have lost him as well. She asked if you would like to come visit your baby brother in hospital. He might not remember you, but you guys could always be friends, and you could always look out for him like big brothers do.”

Nicolas could not believe what he just heard, this is impossible, after all his worries, now he can see his baby brother again. Well, his not a baby anymore, but he was sure still his.

“Miss Rebecca, please excuse me if this sound rude towards you, but I would like to discuss this matter with my new advisor if you don’t mind, first.” Before she could even give the remark another thought, Nicolas turned his back on her facing Luke. “Now Sir, what would you suggest how we should go about to handle this situation as a family?”

Luke tried to look as serious as possible, rubbing his brow with his finger first, “Well Sir, I would suggest that you get your bud in the car that we could get moving, but that would sound a little harsh won’t it, especially in the company of this young lady. Therefore Sir, I would suggest that you would move slowly through the house and make sure all doors and windows are shut, get the car keys and meet us at the means of transport that would be able to deliver you to the hospital where you could find your little bro’”

Nicolas jumped over the coffee table ran from window to window, locked the doors, grabbed the keys and stormed through the front door towards the car, leaving the adults stunned and laughing like teenagers. On the way to the hospital, Nicolas was very quite; absentminded. It was nine years since he saw Patrick the last time. How would he look, what would he be like growing up with another family, but he knew that Jesus had protected Little Patrick, just like he had protected himself, Nicolas Maiser.

Entering the hospital, Nicolas slipped his hand into Luke’. Let the people think what they want, since this morning, he had a dad that would like out for him from now on.

The boy in the hospital bed looked familiar, and yet not. Mrs Robinson came to the door to meet them, and then she gave Nicolas a big hug. Patrick looked onto this picture curiously, as he did not know who this boy was, but when Nicolas came closer, the light of recognition came into Patrick’s eye. “Ricky is that really you?” he was so astounded that it was all he could say. He stretched his little arm that was not in cask out to Nicolas to hug him. “Howdy Patrickny Boy, shoot man, look how you have grown! You’re looking good my man!” Patrick gave a shy giggle, and then pulled Nicolas closer again. “I missed you buddy!”

The conversation continued a little while longer, and after visiting hours, arrangements were set for the boys to see each other more often, a relationship was reunited and two small lost brothers found each other again after years of searching.

As if the day was not bright enough as yet, Captain Thomson phoned during that afternoon, confirming that the dark man was locked up, and would be trailed for several charges against him. He would be sure out of the picture for a long time. To clear up things with Nicolas he mentioned to Rebecca that Nicolas’s father did not owed this man any money, the night of the murder, he hit the wrong house, and two completely innocent people was gunned down. This cleared the memoires Nicolas had from his Papa, and he was sure glad, but he was just as happy with his new father and even happier about his Father in heaven that he had met that morning. He knew there was so much more that he had to learn about his new faith, but he knew this far was pretty awesome, and if the rest is anything like this, he would not care one moment to learn more.

would be trailed for several charges against him. He would be sure out of the picture for a long time. To clear up things with Nicolas he mentioned to Rebecca that Nicolas’s father did not owed this man any money, the night of the murder, he hit the wrong house, and two completely innocent people was gunned down. This cleared the memoires Nicolas had from his Papa, and he was sure glad, but he was just as happy with his new father and even happier about his Father in heaven that he had met that morning. He knew there was so much more that he had to learn about his new faith, but he knew this far was pretty awesome, and if the rest is anything like this, he would not care one moment to learn more.

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