Cherie Geng is trying to free her husband, a pastor, who was among dozens of church members detained by Chinese police. At the same time, she must rebuild her life in exile. On the 308th day after Chinese police took her husband, Cherie Geng was making dumplings in Thailand, where she fled with her 6-year-old son after his arrest in October.

She now handles all household duties alone, having learned to drive and navigate life in a foreign country while searching for authentic ingredients and English resources. Her husband, Gao Yingjia, was second-in-command at one of China's largest underground churches. The Chinese government's crackdown on Zion Church represents its biggest roundup of Christians in nearly a decade.

While President Trump secured the release of lead pastor Ezra Jin, eight members remain detained, including Gao Yingjia, who faces potential sentencing of more than 10 years. Cherie sleeps with a golf club by her bed and avoids publishing her location for safety, as her husband's trial has been postponed without explanation.