EPISODE 1

On the outskirts of Oxfordshire, atop a gentle green grassy hill that rises behind the Redemption Missionary Monastery, Rachav Rai lies stretched out beneath the open sky. A young woman in her late twenties, she carries a carefree spirit, an angelic face, a warm heart, and soft cream-coloured hair that stirs gently in the breeze.

Rachav is a novice at the convent and an orphan by birth. Her only blood relative is her elder brother Michael. Since the tender age of four she has been raised within the loving fellowship of the convent under the care of the LORD.

Suddenly she lifts her head.

“Wait!”

What now, Rachav?

“Is that the Assembly Bell?”

It is indeed. The deep yet calming tolls from the Monastery Bell Tower ring out across the hillside, causing even the birds and the wind to pause in re...

Rachav springs to her feet at once. “Oh my, I’m late for the Evening Prayer!”

Without a second’s hesitation she gathers her belongings, though a small notebook slips unnoticed from her bag and tumbles into the grass. She dashes down the hill, slips inside the monastery, quickly dons her veil, and creeps to the very back row among the other sisters, trying to look as though she has been there all along.

An hour of heartfelt prayer passes. As each nun rises to return to her duties, dear Rachav attempts to slip away just as quietly. But before she can reach the door, a stern voice echoes through the stone corridor.

“Rachav!”

She freezes mid-step. Reverend Mother’s voice carries so clearly that three older Reverend Sisters exchange knowing glances.

“It seems Rachav is late for prayer again,” whispers the first.

“Oh, Rachav,” sighs the second.

“Come with me,” Reverend Mother commands, already walking away.

Knowing she is in trouble once more, Rachav wails inwardly 😭 and follows the Reverend Mother to her private study. Behind them, the older sisters begin to sing a long-forgotten hymn called “Mission of the Hermit” in soft, melodic voices.

“A letter has arrived from the Missionary Headquarters,” Reverend Mother announces.

Rachav accepts the envelope, opens it, and reads in silence. Her eyes widen.

“The Missionary orders me to go for an annual ministry?!”

Reverend Mother gives a single nod.

“But Reverend Mother, why twice? I have not even become a nun yet, and…”

“The last time you were sent into the world, it did not go well,” Reverend Mother replies. “Now that you have been cleansed and are more mentally mature, both the Convent and the Missionary Headquarters have decided to send you out once again. This time your purpose is to touch souls and preach about our Lord Jesus, without carrying the same burden of temptation as before.”

“But I am training to be a nun, not a missionary…”

Reverend Mother turns her back. “Rachav, this instruction comes directly from the Missionary Leader; you cannot defy it.” {I can finally live some time without this troublesome girl, hehehe.} “I have already informed the Senior Nun of Dormitory G, and she has prepared your things.”

“But…”

Reverend Mother turns back to face her. “We have placed great hopes in you. Do not fail the Convent.” She takes Rachav’s hand gently and pats it. “Go, and spread the Good News of the Almighty Father.”

{Look at her—so happy I am going to leave.} “I hear you, Reverend Mother.”

Rachav walks slowly along the colonnade after leaving the study.

From a distance the older Reverend Sisters sing in rich contralto voices: “When the lamb returns!…”

Lost in quiet thought, Rachav stops and curtsies gracefully to them. The sisters watch her pass in brief silence, then continue in smooth, harmonious tones:

“We… will… tell.”

The next day, Rachav Rai stands on the open pasture with her suitcase at her side.

{Last time I failed. I was a greenhorn, but this time I embark on this journey with my armour.}

She gazes up at the sky. A tender breeze lifts the brim of her floppy hat. She presses it down with a soft giggle.

In a clear mezzo-soprano voice she sings: “When the lamb returns! I… will tell!!”

A flock of birds sweeps past overhead, wings flashing white against the blue, as if carrying her melody into the distance.

The episode ends on that hopeful note.

---

EPISODE 2  

The train hisses to a stop at a busy London station. Rachav Rai steps onto the platform, suitcase in hand, and glances around with quiet wonder.

“Goodness, the county has changed a lot in just a few years,” she murmurs to herself.

As she prepares to cross the road, an impatient motorcyclist roars straight toward her.

“Clear off, you twig!” the rider yells.

Rachav swiftly takes two steps back, watching the motorcycle speed away. With a bright grin, she raises her hand in the air. “May the LORD bless you, my dear brother!”

Her attention is drawn to a young woman struggling to help her grandmother, who had been startled by the speeding bike.

“Go and get your head sorted, you prat!” the lady shouts after the vanished rider. “Gran, are you alright?”

“Stella, I’ve told you not to be hurling insults at people,” the elderly woman says, struggling to stand.

“It wasn’t an insult, it was a piece of advice,” Stella retorts.

The blare of impatient car horns fills the air. “Please bear with us!” Stella calls out.

As she tries her best to support her grandmother, an extra hand joins hers.

“May I be of some help?” Rachav asks gently.

---

Moments later.

Upon entering her new apartment, Rachav collapses tiredly onto the couch.

“Oof, today was rather taxing. Thank you, Almighty Father, for today,” she says, a yawn escaping her. “I feel so sleepy… Wait!”

Her eyes scan the living room. {I just came in to drop my suitcase at noon and hurried off to the church.}

Rachav rises to her feet and begins to inspect the apartment. She steps into the bedroom. {Hmm, quite pleasant.} She walks over to the wardrobe area. {Although a home can never be complete without…} she thinks, opening the door, {…a proper wardrobe 🤩!}

Tying up her hair and slipping on a dust mask, she prepares to do some housekeeping.

---

An hour before midnight, in the Reverend Mother’s study back in Oxfordshire, the old touch-tone telephone rings. The Reverend Mother answers it.

“I have finally got a break from that fidgety girl. Is it now your turn to trouble me?” she asks, her tone stern. The caller laughs on the other end. “She will be an evangelical disciple for the time being and…” The caller speaks. “Working at a care centre?” The caller speaks again. “When is she to start her main work?” The caller speaks. “Fine, I shall let her know tomorrow.” The caller speaks. “Mr Priest, I am trusting you on this. Do not let any harm come near my Rachav, or else…” The caller speaks again 😅 and immediately cuts the call.

---

The next evening, a team of evangelists preaches in a lively corner of the City of London. They move in small groups of five, and Rachav’s group is assigned to the area of bars and restaurants. As instructed, Rachav, still only a disciple, must observe how the evangelists preach with the fruit of the Holy Spirit clear in both their words and actions. Though they face persecution, they do not give up. A few unbelievers, impressed by their pure manner, seem to give Christianity a second thought.

At one point, a heated argument erupts between a woman from a bar and her boyfriend.

“No, don’t you dare give me that rubbish!” the woman exclaims.

“Clara, I don’t need this right now,” her boyfriend says, trying to walk away, but she blocks his path.

“Oh, now you don’t need me? You cheat on me with my cousin and you have the cheek to tell me that rot? You’re utter scum, man!”

“Lower your voice or else…!”

“Or else what?! You’re lower than a rat.”

“Shut up!” he yells, thoroughly vexed.

The bottle in his hand swings toward the woman. However, to everyone’s surprise, it stops in mid-air. A male evangelist has caught the aggressive boyfriend’s wrist.

“It is a wicked thing for a man to lay his hand on a woman,” the evangelist says calmly. “I would strongly advise you to avoid doing something you will live to regret.”

The boyfriend yanks his arm free in disgust. “Shove off, preacher.” He turns back to Clara. “As for you, if you ever get on my nerves again,” he says, smashing the bottle on the road and pointing at the shards, “you’ll end up like this shattered glass.”

He storms away.

“Are you alright, miss?” the evangelist asks Clara gently.

Clara snaps back to reality. “So what now? You think I can’t look after myself?”

The evangelist stretches a hand toward her. “Oh, that is not the case… It’s just…”

“Get off!” she cries, slapping his hand away with teary eyes. “You’re all the same!” She hurries off into the night.

“She’s been cheated on,” the second evangelist notes. “Trying to encourage her now won’t work.”

The first evangelist sighs. “I know. Moreover… I have this feeling she is very special.”

---

EPISODE 3

Rachav: {My group leader sensed I wasn’t at ease in that environment. The evangelists are so kind… but I shouldn’t have refused their offer to get me a taxi. Now I don’t even know where the taxi rank is. Hm?}

She notices a tall man leaning on his motorbike, lost in thought with a bottle of alcohol in hand.

Rachav: Excuse me, sir — do you know the way to the taxi rank?

The man stares at her in silence.

Rachav: Um… sir, I was asking if you know the way?

He turns his face away without a word.

Rachav: {🤨 He ignored me.} Mister, I—

A cheerful fellow steps in.

Friendly Guy: Oi! Don’t mind my mate, miss.

He slings an arm over the silent man’s shoulder.

Friendly Guy: Just head straight down this road and you’ll find the taxi rank 😊.

Rachav: {Oh yes, I remember now.} (Walking off) May the Most High bless you, dear brothers!

Friendly Guy: {She’s a Christian.} Ah, and you too! (Turning to his friend) You could’ve just pointed the way. If I hadn’t stepped in, we’d never have had a sister now. I do wonder what her name is.

Strange Guy: (Brushing his arm off) Run after her if you want to know.

Friendly Guy: Eish, you’re paranoid. I do hope I meet this “sister” again someday.

---

The next day, Rachav arrives at the Tower House Child Care Centre (THCs). A gentle knock sounds on the manager’s office door.

Centre Manager: Come in.

Rachav steps inside.

Rachav: Good day, madam. I’ve come for the job interview.

Centre Manager: Your name?

Rachav: Rachav Rai.

Centre Manager: {Ah, the one sent by the Convent.} No surname, then?

Rachav: No, madam. But… if I may ask, you’re a sister from the Redemption Missionary Church, aren’t you?

Centre Manager: 😄 I am indeed. Since we know each other, let’s drop the formality. Come, sit.

They speak warmly for a while.

Later, in Child Class 2 — for children aged five to six — the mistress introduces her.

Class 2 Mistress: Right, children, gather round. This is Miss Rachav Rai, and she’ll be one of our room nannies. Say hello to Miss Rachav Rai.

Children: Good day, Miss Rachav Rai!

Rachav: Good Heavens 🤭 . Good day to you, dear lambs. How’s your day been?

Some children whisper among themselves at the word “lambs.”

Boy 1: (To his mate) Does she think we’re sacrifices?

Boy 2: Aren’t we just kids?

Rachav smiles, catching their whispers.

Rachav: Oh, little ones — you want to know why I called you lambs, don’t you?

Girl: Well… yes.

Rachav: (Sitting on a chair) Come closer, children. Let’s have a little talk. The best listeners will earn a star.

The children crowd eagerly around her.

Class 2 Mistress: Hm. She’s won them over on the very first day. Let’s see if she manages the same in the days to come.

---

Two days later, Rachav has survived the chaos of her lively class — a group known to be more energetic than a pride of playful lions.

On Thursday the 25th, she waits at the Main Gate of the Empire Territory. An elderly but sprightly man, the Head Butler, approaches.

Head Butler: Miss Rachav Rai, is it not?

Rachav: (Nods politely)

Head Butler: I must apologise for the behaviour of the gatekeepers earlier.

Rachav: Oh no, please don’t worry 😄. They were only doing their job.

Gatekeeper 1: {Is this woman defending us, only to punish us later?}

Head Butler: Indeed. This way, Miss.

He gestures courteously, leading her inside. As she passes the gatekeepers, Rachav bows her head.

Rachav: May Jehovah bless you, sirs.

Gatekeeper 2: {Whatever. Let’s just show her respect to avoid trouble.}

The gatekeepers bow in return.

Gatekeepers: You too, miss.

Through exchanged glances, they silently pray that the new babysitter of young Master Tiberius won’t repay their earlier rudeness with revenge.

Head Butler: Your agreement papers will be signed by the Master once he returns from his trip. You may begin work tomorrow.

Rachav: Oh, of course. {(Delighted and determined) It’s only babysitting. How hard can it be?}