- 1 - war [in which] he must find a strength greater than all the Preface events that surround him." My story from Weihsien—and that also of others in the camp, as well as at Lungwha—is a testimony to the presence and power of God through His help and through people. Experiencing this presence and any of the following boyhood memories and experiences M power turned what could have been nothing but tragedy and have been told in little segments over these past forty trauma into triumph. years, but somehow the task of threading the whole story together in response to many requests kept eluding me. David J. Michell My wife Joan, more than anyone else, has been the most pa- March 1988 tient listener and has helped me in working through the feel- Toronto ings and meaning of these experiences. Our four children— Robyn, Heather, Ken, and Judith—have been familiar with most of the adventures from their earliest years. At one FOREWORD time, in fact, I recorded my story incognito, under the title of "The Boy X from China," and Joan would play an episode each night before the children went to bed when I was away Are they really compatible—God's design for the family on missionary travels. and His call to world evangelism? Far from being I am grateful for the Overseas Missionary Fellowship's giv- merely a question for classroom debate, this is a question ing me time for sabbatical study, and to Dr. Timothy M. War- for which potential missionaries and supporting churches ner of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School for allowing me to increasingly demand answers. A Boy's War has some an- write my story as part of my Doctor of Missiology degree swers—not easy answers, but answers. program. Given the breakdown of family life in Western countries— When I came to put pen to paper, I found it hard to get with rampant divorce, single parents, working mothers, ab- started because my emotions were so often near the sur- sentee fathers, etc.—Christians are right to place fresh em- face. phasis on God's plan for the home. Not surprisingly, parents At Christmas time 1985, as I sat enjoying excerpts from preparing for missionary service struggle with guilt about The Messiah at our home church, Spring Garden Baptist in the legitimacy of taking children overseas. Many wrestle Willow-dale (Toronto), Ontario, I was startled to read in the with the hard issues of how they can both serve in their mis- church bulletin that Handel had written the music for The sionary calling and at the same time meet the needs of their Messiah in only twenty-three days. Then and there I said to family. myself, February has twenty-eight days; I'm going to write Missionary societies know that this is an important area. my story. Enabling families to cope overseas, with the inevitable de- Through the long winter days of February 1986 my mind tun- mands and risks that missionary life entails, absorbs consid- neled its way to the places and events of far-off China. A erable time, energy, and expense. The whole matter has, in silent and faithful supporter throughout the months in the fact, become a major inter-mission concern and has spawned whole enterprise was Penny, our golden retriever, who sat at a number of helpful programs and resources in recent years or on my feet under the desk into the early morning hours. to assist families to face cross-cultural living and ministry. I am indebted to many for their help in this venture and And yet there are times in the life of a missionary family want to express my thanks to them all: Many of my Chefoo when things don't go as planned and when circumstances teachers and CIM missionaries shared with me their reminis- seem out of control. Should the risks to our family keep us cences; Norman Cliff, Langdon Gilkey, Rene Rouse, Laurance from moving ahead? Where should we draw the line between Tipton, Gordon Martin, Raymond de Jaegher, and others pro- responsible action for the welfare of the family and obedi- vided invaluable sources through their books or other writ- ence to the claims of the Great Commission? ings. Our Lord warned that true discipleship would not be without Numerous helpful suggestions that have come from D. V. cost, nor obedience to the Great Commission without its Gonder, Krysia Lear, Margaret Bunting, Bill and Vera Tyler, price to the family. We need to keep this perspective. What- Isabel Taylor, and others have been most gladly included. ever the cost, however, I am convinced—both as a parent The skillful and generous editing of Alice Poynor and Fay and as counselor/friend to hundreds of other missionary Goddard has brought the book to its present form, and for families—that God's design and care for the family and His this I am very thankful. call to work evangelism are not incompatible. Without the dedicated and enthusiastic typing of the manu- David Michell's experiences of life as a missionary kid in script in its various stages, this project would never have worst-case scenario bring a sober realism to any discussion come to fruition, and I want sincerely to thank Joy Wilton, or MK issues. They also bring encouragement. For through Marilyn Hodges, and Larry Seguin. the trauma of war, separation from parents, and deprivation My hope is that this story will not lead the reader to the we set God's faithfulness and His ability to meet the deep- conclusion that everything turned out well for everyone who est needs o His children. was interned during World War II. Some, I know, still suffer What is amazing is to see how the author not only sur- from the effects of the separation and the hardships. vived hi: ordeal, but in time he himself served as a mis- The book and film, Empire of the Sun, portrayed powerfully sionary in Japan with all the implications for his own the story of a boy in his attempts "to survive in a world at young family, and today i an active proponent of families - 2 - in missions. Circumstance: which could have made David bit- ter and resentful God used to mold character and to create a bold dependence upon Him. David Michell's story is powerful and moving because it deal with real life and the tough questions life brings. This book i not only entertaining, sometimes horrifying, and always inspi rational—it carries an important practical message for all who face the apparent risks of obedience to Christ. Dr. Daniel W. Bacon U.S. Director OMF International Littleton, Colorado Introduction David Michell, my colleague and one-time Chefoo school- mate and fellow internee in Weihsien, was born in China and did not leave until nearly into his teens. A Boy's War is David's account of his childhood years, beginning with the tumultuous Warlord Era and climaxing in a Japanese concen- tration camp in occupied China during World War II. This is not a chronicle of atrocities, but an expansion of cherished childhood memories. The disruption of boarding school life by internment is seen almost as a three-year cub scout camp. The heroes of David's boyhood live again—Eric Lid- dell, the "Flying Scotsman"; "Pa" Bruce, the Head- master; "Goopy" Martin, the legendary Latin teacher; and Tipton and Hummel, who escaped from the Japanese concentration camp and consequently set up the most ingenious underground communica- tion system. In the absence of his own parents, these heroes filled an important surrogate role. Clearly the quality of the Christian character of most of David's heroes contributed significantly to David's own spiritual development and to his ability to cope with the trauma of separation and wartime China. A Boy's War is also the chronicle of David's early pilgrimage. Amid the excitement and drama of earth -shaking events the reader sees the plan of God traced in the life of a lad. The extension of that is seen in the years David served in Japan and in the impact of his life in Canada today. Dr. James H. Taylor III Consulting Director, Chinese Ministries OMF International Hong Kong - 3 - Chapter 1 A CHARIOT OF FIRE "But at my back I always hear Time's winged chariot hurrying near." —Andrew Marvell, To His Coy Mistress The runners crouched in starting position, tensed for the signal that would spring them down the track. It was late August, 1944. I was eleven, one boy in a whole school of missionaries' children interned under the "He can too! He will, just wait!" I hissed back. Down the track they came. Middle-aged runners, weak- ened by the rigors and poor food of camp life, puffed and panted their way onward in response to our cheers. Then, unbelievably, the runner in rear position surged powerfully forward, arms flailing wildly, head thrown back. Out ahead now, he pushed for the finish line. He did it! One great, wild chorus of cheers nearly drowned out the judge's voice, "Eric Liddell wins the veterans' event!" "I knew he could do it! He always wins!" The Olympic gold medallist, whose 400- meter win had made him a legend twenty years earlier, had won our hearts long before this day as he shared our prison experience. We basked in an aura of Olympic glory as—cheering, chanting, chattering—we surrounded our hero. We wanted to stretch the excitement, squeeze out every drop of enjoyment of this day.