Side by Side | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Side by Side | Previous Challenge Entry
By Laura Pattillo
02/25/09
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The Paris train station was crowded as Liz prepared to board the train with the rest of her crew. She and her crew were making sure that their cameras, microphones, and laptops were in working order. For Liz, this was her first trip overseas in two years. When she was offered the chance to film a documentary about missionaries traveling through the wildernesses of Eastern Europe, she jumped at the chance. She had been feeling down and out since the death of her father. This trip was just the thing she needed to recoup her spirits.
What she had not counted on was meeting Tyler. Tyler was the head missionary on this trip. It was his idea to film the documentary for his church’s missions work. He wasn’t handsome by any means, but it was his way with the children in most of the villages that had touched Liz’s heart. She had even found herself helping the cause by helping the nurses and doctors hand out food and medical supplies. She was starting to find herself drawn to the young missionary.
“Can I help you load your equipment?” a deep voice said breaking Liz’s thoughts. “You have helped us. Maybe it is my turn to help you?”
“Sure,” replied Liz. “I would appreciate the help Mr. Lyles.”
“Would you mind if I set with you on the train? You seem like you could use the company.”
“Sure. The others already have projects that they will be working on during the trip to the next stop.”
Tyler and Liz boarded the train and found an empty compartment. They sat down, and Tyler ordered the two of them some hot tea. They would be together for the next couple hours as they traveled to Serbia. Her heart was already racing. She took quiet deep breaths to calm herself.
“So how is your work going?” asked Tyler. “Would you like to see it?” replied Liz. “Sure I would like to see it.” Liz got out her laptop. She pulled up the files of film footage that had been downloaded to her computer. She pulled out her mouse and attached it to her computer. She did not like the mousepad that was in the middle of the computer. “Here is the last piece of footage that we edited before we left Paris. It is still raw, but it should be almost perfect before we get back to the states.” Tyler watched intently.
“Why did you make this trip?” he stared at Liz as he asked the question. Liz blinked her eyes. “I came to film your mission trip.” Tyler continued to stare. She knew he knew that there was another reason. Liz could feel the tension building between them. Finally she broke down into quiet sobbing.
“I came to get away from everything. I thought that maybe by coming to Europe I could forget the my father had died. I left my mother in a nursing home because I couldn’t deal with her dementia. I even left my home church two years ago because I can’t forgive God for taking my father away from me.”
Tyler moved from his seat across from Liz to beside her. He placed his arms around her and let her cry on his shoulder. “I was in the same boat as you were about five years ago when my mother died. My father still lives alone in their old house, but he has managed to continue living without my mother. I didn’t go to church for about five months. Then, a friend of mine from church came to me and brought me on my first mission trip to Europe.”
“Did you ever forgive God?”
“Yes I did. While I was here I was able to find the peace that I needed to in order to forgive God. If you don’t mind, I’ll help you find the same peace.”
Liz shook her head yes and realized that the two of them were walking step by step side by side on this venture.

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