History | Jan/Feb 2015

story
DANGEROUS TIMES, PART 2
Written by Katherine M.
Thirteen-year-old Priscilla is a Christian Jew living during
the time of Nero. She and her family have just escaped from
prison, where they were forced to reside because they had
been attending church. Priscilla and her family are now
wandering Europe, searching for a safe place to settle.
Priscilla’s family traveled to her grandparents’ house
as soon as they were released. Her parents
explained the situation quickly. Her grandparents
agreed that they must get far away. They stayed the
night there, and in the morning they left. Her
grandparents were sad that they couldn’t come with
Priscilla’s family, but they knew that they were much
too old to attempt the journey on such short notice.
However, they gave Priscilla’s parents a large
amount of money and three horses—one for Priscilla
and her parents. James and John were still so little
that they needed to share with their parents, so
James rode with Father and John rode with Mother.
The first week, they traveled quickly, sometimes not
even stopping to eat or sleep.
Once they reached the Alps, they slowed down. It
took a long time to wind their way through the
treacherous mountains.
“Father, where are we going?” Priscilla asked
suddenly one day. She had been wondering for a
while, but had been too scared to ask.
“I’m not quite sure,” he replied. “Probably Philippi.
It’s a Roman colony, a big city, and it has a
flourishing church.”
“What’s a colony, Father?” asked James.
“It’s a town with special privileges. Being born there
makes you a Roman citizen. They can pretty much
do what they want without interference from Nero.
However, we might also go to Ephesus. I have heard
that the Apostle Paul is there.”
“Really!” exclaimed Priscilla excitedly. “I remember
Our next issue—an issue about science—is
scheduled to come out on March 3, 2015.
Writers, the deadline to submit your work is
February 24, 2015. Please visit
www.southkakalakigirl.com/jobs and email
Amanda with your job choice.
Laugh out loud at the cute things that five-year-old
Benjamin and four-year-old Amelia say!
Benjamin was talking about hair one day.
“When you were a baby, did mom have to cut your hair
so it wouldn’t drag on the floor?” He asked Amanda. I
guess he thinks she’s always had long hair!
Amelia was rifling through her shirt drawer.
"Now, where are my un-sleeveless shirts?" She
asked.
him. We went to hear him speak when he was under
house arrest and that was when we got saved
(except for James and John, of course). How long ago
was that?”
“Three years,” her mother replied. James was only
three and John was barely one year old.”
“Is that why I don’t remember it, Mother?” asked
James.
“Yes dear. You were much too young. But we’re
glad, because both you and James have gotten saved
since then.”
They traveled on for a while, and then Priscilla
asked, “Which city is closer, Father?”
“Philippi,” he replied.
“I think we should stay there. Riding all day makes
me saddle-sore. And besides, if we went to Ephesus,
the Apostle Paul might have already left. So let’s stay
there,” Priscilla remarked all in one breath.
“I’m thankful for your opinion, Priscilla, unasked
though it may be,” Father replied, laughing.
“However, that is up to your mother and me.”
Eventually, they decided to go to Philippi. There
would be relative safety there. Philippi was a
bustling seaport town with many people.
One afternoon, several weeks after they had left
Rome, they arrived in Philippi. Priscilla’s father
asked around and found a man who had met Paul
several years ago. His name was Jason.
He told them, “I will take you to our jailor’s house. He
has an amazing conversion testimony from when
Paul was here. He and I will help you find a job and a
place to live. Until then, you can stay with him.”
To read the rest of the story, visit
www.southkakalakigirl.com/pricillas-story.
Check out the following chapter, “Wedding Day,” in
our next SKG issue.