She had what might be considered the most inconspicuous of beginnings. Born to a Dutch watchmaker in Haarlem, Holland, the first 45 years of her life might be called uneventful. She never married, and both she and her elder sister lived with her parents until the War came to their doorstep. Corrie Ten Boom did not set out to be a hero.

On the second night living in our new house, Nick and I noticed a small amount of water leaking from our toilet. Filled with the fresh vigor of newly purchasing our home, we were determined to fix the problem ourselves. Nick removed one of the water lines, but in the process a seal burst, and within a few seconds water was flooding the bathroom and out into the hallway.