Kampong (The Village)

I think I should tell you about the brave people in the kampong behind our house. It is true, I believe, that my family and I would certainly be dead if not for their courage. There is a very rough trail through the jungle of jack fruit trees, banana trees, and those star fruit trees.

We follow this trail behind the huts, through the forest, to church. All the people in the kampong live in little huts made from bamboo poles and bamboo mats are used for walls. The people are very poor. But like I said they are very brave and kind to us. I pray they will make it through this war alive.

They let us hide behind their huts. The Japanese soldiers never find us and the villagers never tell them that we are there. Maybe the jungle looks too scary for the soldiers. In any case our hike through the forest is always a safe one even though I can still hear the bombs falling in the distant.

I thank the Lord Jesus for all the nice people that make our lives quite livable. Soon I will tell you of a few individuals who risk their lives to save ours. For now, it is safer that I don't talk about them yet.