Diary+Entry+3+(Cecilia+K)


 * Diary Entry #3**



January 19th 1938

Another year has passed. We are now not living in that cottage anymore. Mom told us this morning that we have to move into the city, since we cannot find any food in this cottage. This morning, we packed all of our belongings and clothes. We were very careful because if we ran into any Japanese soldier on our way..then we wouldn’t have any hope. Then we would have been captured and we would be tortured by the Japanese forever. We went out of the house and we started to walk down the hill. It took us a long time to walk down. We went out of the house in the morning, and by the time we arrived it was in the evening. But once we arrived in the city, we didn’t know what to do.. We did not know which way we should go. We just walked forward, having no idea where this road will lead to. We kept on walking until we saw the shadow three men behind us. We were all shocked and worried whether it was those Japanese soldiers. We turned around. But they all looked very strange. The man on the left and right had yellow hair, but the man in the middle had bald hair with glasses. They tried talking to us, but we were so afraid. They calmed us down and told us that they are not here to harm us, but to help and protect us. We were first unsure of whether they were telling the truth that they are going to help us, but for some reason, I felt that I could trust them. I told my sister and Mom that we should trust them, and so we followed them. They led us to this safety zone. We went inside and we met a lot of Chinese. The man that had bald hair with glasses introduced himself and said his name was John Rabe, and that the place we are staying in is safe, safe from the Japanese soldiers. I felt relieved. Now, our family was safe. Now, we didn’t have to worry about the Japanese soldiers attacking us. We did not have to hide. I thank God for letting John Rabe to find us and lead us to this safe place. They gave us shelter and new clothes for us to wear. I feel safe now... There is no way that our family is going to be separated again. Thank you John Rabe... Thank you God..