Free The Calling by Deborah A Hodge Page B

wondering why God had brought Matthew into her life. He was very nice and very handsome : blonde hair, blue eyes, and a tanned face with rugged features that greatly enhanced his winning smile. He was tall and well built. His was the kind of handsome man that women find very attractive, and more importantly, he was a godly, plainspoken man. He was open, honest, sincere, and up-beat. She could tell that he really was an eternal optimist. She also could tell they were going to be good friends.
    The possibility of romance on the mission field was not something that she had consciously considered. Most mission agencies frowned on dating while on the mission field. That was fine with her. She knew there would be no romance for David and her, but she’d never considered the possibility that God would allow someone else to cross her path. Friendship with Matthew would be fine, but she did not want anything more.
     

Ten
     
    Finally it was the day for Cate to assume her duties at the mission school. She greeted her students; they came with bright, shiny faces, eager for the adventure of learning. One thing she liked about kindergarteners and the early grades was that learning mesmerized the students. Their minds were sponges eager to soak up knowledge, and they were anxious to please their parents and teacher.
    Her life finally seemed to make sense. The students were a constant source of joy and surprise, and teaching them was what God had created her to do. Teaching had always been a source of delight, but now it was a source of meaning and fulfillment. God was blessing her abundantly.
    Over the several weeks since her coming to Ecuador, she and Matthew had become good friends and, as he had hoped, they were more. Cate had not wanted, nor had she expected to feel anything other than friendship for Matthew. However, proximity conspired against her.
    She loved talking with Matthew. He challenged her both professionally and spiritually, encouraging her in everything she did. He was her biggest cheerleader and she found herself responding to his sincere feelings. However, along with closeness to Matthew came a distance between David and her. They were still very good friends, but she realized that David was intentionally withdrawing from her. She knew that he and Matthew talked often, and was sure that Matthew had confided to David how he felt about her. Knowing David, Cate understood why he was withdrawing. She was still Sarah’s caregiver and regularly stayed at David’s home with Sarah while he was away on mission business. David was always cordial when he came home, and was genuinely glad to see her, but there was an intentional distance. She and David never talked about personal matters anymore, not important ones anyway. That part of him David had withdrawn, and Cate reciprocated.
    That particular part of her life, she didn’t like, but she understood that kind of closeness was reserved for people who had a future together. She was sure that she and David had no future together. After she began seeing Matthew, Kim made a play for David and he responded. Consequently, two months after her arrival, David and Kim were ‘a couple’ and Matthew and Cate were ‘a couple’. In fact, Cate helped the David and Kim relationship along.
    Kim had approached Cate. “Do you think enough time has passed since Jenny’s death for David to be interested in someone else?”
    “I guess,” Cate’s answer was cautious.
    “I know that the IMB policies prohibit dating on the mission field, but that’s not what I’m interested in. I’m interested in getting to know David better, first as friends and then, well, maybe more. Do you think I would have a chance with him?”
    “As good a chance as anyone else,”
    “Do you really think so?”
    “Kim, you’re a great girl. David would have to be crazy not to see that.”
    “I don’t know. He was crazy to have passed you up.”
    “David and I… We’re just friends.”
    “I didn’t