Cut for time was this story: Towards the end of the Second World War, in one of the Stalag Luft POW camps in Germany, a group of captured American soldiers covertly built a crystal wireless radio.  Throughout the spring they heard regular updates on the progress of the advancing allied forces from the west and the soviet forces from the east.  They knew that the war was in its final stages, with the two sides racing towards Berlin.  On April 30th they heard the news that Hitler had committed suicide, and on May 7th they received news of the unconditional surrender of all German forces.  However, the German officials in charge of the camp did not receive word because their communication and supply lines had been cut-off.  So for several days the POWs continued to be under the lock and guard of these German soldiers, who unaware the war had ended.  Nevertheless, the guards were perplexed as they watched their prisoners: “For three days the prisoners were hardly recognisable. They sang, waved at guards, laughed at the German shepherd dogs, and shared jokes over meals. On the fourth day they awoke to find that all the Germans had fled, leaving the gates unlocked. The time of waiting had come to an end” (Philip Yancey).  While the prisoners circumstances had not yet changed, the news that victory had been won and liberation was coming, transformed how they waited - from gloom to joy.