Take Me Home

Take Me Home Hearts of the Children Vol. 4 by Dean Hughes

Hans is still being stalked by the Stasi. His old college roommate Rainer shows up at his door. Rainer says that he never ratted Hans out, but now he wants Hans' help getting out of the country. Hans turns him away. His life is improving little by little and he fears the government will come down on him for having any contact with Rainer.

Gene is in the jungles of Vietnam. It is a complete nightmare. He is shot in the leg during one recognisance mission. He is not injured enough to be sent home. Most of his team is injured or killed so when he returns to duty he is made a sergeant. Eventually just as his days of duty are counting down he is gut shot by the Viet Cong. He has surgery and returns to the States. He must undergo many more surgeries and has a colostomy bag until his final surgery when his intestines are reconnected. He has a hard time with anger and flash backs. He cannot connect with Emily and Danny.

Kathy joins the Peace Corp. and goes to the Philippines. She is depressed to find out that Filipino's are a layed back people and she feels like she has no hope of changing the families in her barrio. She tells everyone including the mayor and principal of the school she teaches at, what to do. It isn't until she begins going to church that she understands the only way she will see change is to love the people. She begins to regain her testimony and becomes the branch choir director.

Diane has Jenny, her baby. Greg is still mean and cutting. He beats Diane up. She leaves with Jenny but returns after Greg and their bishop convince her to try again. Diane finds an inappropriate letter from the female student in Greg's class. She brings it to Greg's attention. He freaks out. Eventually Greg hits Diane again and she leaves for good. She flies home to Utah and begins divorce proceedings. She lives with her parents. Greg doesn't pay child support. Greg's parent's come to visit Jenny. The do not know why Diane has filed for divorce. She tells them. Then she decides to try to improve her life and returns to college. She gets good grades. Greg tries to woo her back.

I really enjoyed this volume of Hearts of the Children. It was good to see Diane stand up for herself and protect her daughter. She realizes that there is more to life than looking cute. I'm glad that she didn't fall for Greg's manipulation for very long. I am finally beginning to like Kathy. She is starting to realize that anger and violence isn't the way to change. She regains her testimony and starts to love those around her instead of judging everyone. Gene just saddens me. It was an eye opener to find out what kind of hell the soldiers were going through in Vietnam only to come home and have their own country turn on them. Hans is finally beginning to see some light in his life and realize that he stayed in East Germany because that is what God wanted him to do. He becomes a leader in the church.

Rating 4.5
Rating PG for violence