All right, the first real chapter is here. I hope you enjoy it, and please don't forget to review when you're done reading.

Chapter 1: Two Years Later…

Katherine Rivers stepped briskly out of the plane, a hat perched precariously on her bright red curls and a small suitcase in each hand. Her green eyes danced merrily across the landscape as she set down her suitcases to straighten her suit jacket and skirt, which did little to hide her twenty-three year old figure. “This is certainly a beautiful country,” she observed to her two companions, her voice soft and dulcet as she continued to observe the wilds of Ireland.

Her male companion nodded. “Indeed,” he agreed, his voice gentle and mellow, showing clearly the thirty year age difference between him and the young woman with him. “God certainly has created a beautiful world, don’t you think, Sarah?” He turned to the third companion as he spoke, smiling and grasping her hand.

“Yes, James, my dear, it is truly beautiful. And what a lovely place to begin our ministry. It is a bit humid to be sure, but we should grow accustomed to it reasonably soon,” the woman responded, much calmer than Katherine had been. But then again, she too was nearly thirty years older than Katherine. “Sister Kathy, I am so glad you made the choice to accompany us.”

“It was a pleasure, Brother and Sister Kemp. You know very well that I have made it my goal to serve the Lord for all of my life. Joining you in your missionary travels was merely a part of the fulfillment of my promise to Him.” Katherine scanned the landscape again. “But I suppose we had better get inside. Although I’m sure we will grow used to this humidity soon, I must confess that I will need some time to do so,” she laughed, smiling at her companions.

“Of course you are right, Kathy. Let us enter the airport, and from there we can find transportation to our destination,” James answered, maintaining his hold on his wife’s hand as they walked with their friend to the airport.

Sixteen Months Later…

Kathy sat at a desk, her head hanging over the bills that had just come in. Her fingers poked at the buttons of the calculator on the desk, frowning as she again punched in the numbers. As the results finished calculating, she sighed heavily. This was it. Her savings would not last her any longer, and she had already sold many of her possessions to help along the way. There was no denying it now- she would have to return to the United States.

She sat back as tears filled her eyes, afraid of returning to America a failure and sad to leave such a beautiful land. She had planned so carefully for this trip, calculating for months exactly how much money she would need, saving that plus extra. She had taken such precautions to be sure she had enough. And now it had all come to naught. She still had at least eight months before she was scheduled to return to America, but she just couldn’t last that long.

A gentle knock on the door startled her out of her thoughts. “Come in,” she called. Sarah opened the door and walked inside, a gentle smile on her face.

“Dinner is ready,” she softly announced. She knew the last few months had been hard financially for Kathy, who only had about five years of savings to work with instead of the thirty years that she and James had saved up. And now that she saw the forlorn look on Kathy’s face, she knew that the worst had happened: Kathy had completely run out of money. “Is there at least enough for this month’s bills?” she asked.

Kathy sighed. “Barely. I honestly don’t even have enough to get back to America. I’m afraid I may have to take a loan from you both so I can get home.” She rose from her seat and flopped back on her bed. “I’m so sorry, Sarah… I hate imposing on you both, you know that.”

“Kathy, you know you could never impose on us. You are family, as much family to us as if you were related by blood. Perhaps this is God’s way of telling you that He now has another purpose for you. Perhaps He feels you have fulfilled your purpose in this assignment and now needs you elsewhere.” She paused. “Why don’t you find a job? You could work for a few months and earn what you need to at least hang on until James and I are finished, and then we could all travel back together. I’ve received word that there is a father looking for a nanny for his seven children…”

“Seven?!” Kathy exclaimed in surprise.

Sarah laughed aloud. “I thought you liked children, Kathy,” she teased, but then quickly became serious again. “It would be hard. I’ve heard tell that he’s had a difficult time keeping a nanny for them. But something tells me this is exactly what you are meant to do. Don’t discount it because of the difficulties. If you did that, you wouldn’t have made this trip.” She pressed Kathy’s hand and stood, leaving. “Just think about it, Kathy. Don’t give up on God so easily.”

As she watched Sarah step out of the room, Kathy said a short prayer, thanking God for the opportunity and for a friend as true and good as Sarah Kemp. She would apply for the job tomorrow and pray that it was still available. After all, it was the one chance she had to stay in such a beautiful country. If it was God’s will, the job would work out fine. If not, she would return home to do His will in her home country. And as she too left the room to enjoy the fine meal she was certain that Sarah and James had prepared, she put her full trust in God, and left her worries behind her.

Luckily, school is out now (for good until college, which probably won't be for at least a year due to money issues), so I should hopefully have more time to concentrate on my writing, at least until I can get a job. Anyway, please remember to leave a review on your way out.