The Trust Chronicles is a blog hop and collaborative project between five historical romance authors. Our desire is to bring you lasting hope through these letters, grounded in trust in our Lord that, and written from the fictional viewpoints of each book’s heroine. We’re so glad to have you join the event. Each day this week, a new Trust Chronicles post will go live, complete with a letter and a new giveaway for that blog post.
To read more about the project and enter to win the one-of-a-kind, Trust Chronicles antique keepsake box, containing each heroine's letter, hand-inscribed by the author, and a special keepsake to accompany each letter, please visit the Trust Chronicles website.
Today's entry in the Trust Chronicles comes from Lt. Georgie Taylor, US Army Nurse Corps, written on August 19, 1943 from Termini Airfield, Termini Imerese, Sicily, where she serves as a flight nurse for wounded Allied soldiers. Georgie is the heroine of my novel, On Distant Shores, coming from Revell, August 1, 2013, book two in the Wings of the Nightingale series. The first book, With Every Letter, came out in September 2012.
Georgie's letter is handwritten on V-Mail stationery. Victory Mail was written on pre-printed forms that were photographed and reproduced onto
microfilm. The rolls of microfilm were transported overseas, where the letters
were printed again at one-quarter size and mailed to their destination. This saved valuable shipping space - but made for shorter letters!
Unwavering Trust - Georgie's Letter
Termini Airfield, Sicily
August 19, 1943
Dear
Daddy and Mama,
By now
you know the Allies have conquered Sicily. The 802nd Medical Air
Evacuation Transport Squadron has been busy evacuating the sick and wounded to Army
hospitals in North Africa.
 |
Lt. Katye Swope of the 802nd Medical Air Evacuation Transport Squadron,
evacuating patients from Sicily to North Africa, July 1943 |
Although
my work as a flight nurse is important and fulfilling, I long for home. I sent
a package with gifts for you. Please add the tea towel to my hope chest. For
the appliqués, I used fabrics from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Sicily. The
little bird will always remind me of my dear friends Rose and Mellie, my fellow
“nightingales,” bringing mercy on wing.
You
know me well enough to know the real reason I’m sewing—to settle my nerves. This
job requires me to make fast decisions, and I’m not good at that.
 |
Pharmacy of the 8th Evacuation Hospital, Teano, Italy, March 1944
In On Distant Shores, Tech. Sgt. John "Hutch" Hutchinson serves as a
pharmacist at the US 93rd Evacuation Hospital in Sicily and Italy. |
A
pharmacist I know here owns a telescope and enjoys stargazing. I asked him why
people trust in the stars instead of the God who made them. Hutch says people
want quick answers, and God doesn’t give them to us—on purpose. He wants us to
lean on Him and trust Him.
He
raised a question I’m still chewing on: “Who are my stars?”
As the
baby of the family, I’ve always turned to my loving parents and sisters for
advice. But have I made you my stars? Do I turn to you when I should turn to
the Lord?
The
Book of Proverbs says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not
unto thine own understanding.” Well, I’ve never had a problem leaning on my own
understanding because I don’t trust it. But what I do isn’t any better. I lean
wholly on others.
 |
| Holding unit for air evacuation, Termini Airfield, Sicily |
Hutch
shared a verse I’ve always known but never really applied to my life, James
1:5-6. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men
liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in
faith, nothing wavering.”
That’s
what I want! I want to be unwavering. I want the wisdom to make decisions. And
God has promised—promised!—to give it. I’ve always longed for safety, but what
I truly need is strength to stand in an unsafe world.
Nevertheless,
my heart yearns for our lovely Virginia farm. Please give my Hammie and all the
other horses a kiss and an apple from me. Hugs and kisses to you and all my
family and friends. Apples are optional.
All
my love,
Georgie
Georgie's Prize Bundle
- A signed copy of On Distant Shores when it releases August 1, 2013.
- An embroidered tea towel, like Georgie made to settle her nerves.
- A "Mediterranean Sea"-scented candle to commemorate Georgie's time in the Mediterranean.
To enter to
win Georgie's prize bundle, please leave a
comment below, including your email address in the following format:
sarah[at]sarahsundin[dot]com. Since Georgie longs for home, if you'd like, share about something that says "home" to you. No Purchase necessary. Void
where prohibited. Must be 18 or older and a resident of the U.S. or Canada to
enter. By entering, entrant agrees to these terms and releases giveaway sponsor
from any and all liability.
To enter to win the Trust Chronicles Keepsake Box, please visit the Trust Chronicles website.
We invite you to join us each weekday this week as we hop through cyberspace and history, gleaning hope from each heroine’s journey. To visit each post on or after its date, click on the author name in blue.
Monday, May 13th: Regina Jennings (Heroine: Molly Lovelace, Love in the Balance)
Tuesday, May 14th: Joanne Bischof (Heroine: Cassie Allan, Though My Heart is Torn)
Wednesday, May 15th: Amanda Dykes (Heroine: Bonnie McDonnell, Among the Pines)
Thursday, May 16th: Karen Barnett (Heroine: Laurie Burke, Mistaken)
Friday, May 17th: Sarah Sundin (Heroine: Georgie Taylor, On Distant Shores)
All drawings will close Sunday, May 19, 2013 at midnight, and the winners will be notified by e-mail and announced Monday May 20, 2013 on the participating blogs and on the Trust Chronicles website.
Labels: Amanda Dykes, giveaway, Joanne Bischof, Karen Barnett, On Distant Shores, Regina Jennings, Trust Chronicles
