FAMILY UPDATE NEWS #20 -- MAY, 1994. DO
"It is God that avengeth me ... & that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: Thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: Thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, among the heathen, & I will sing praises unto Thy name. He is the tower of salvation for His king: & sheweth mercy to His anointed, unto David, & to his seed for evermore" (2Sa.22:48-51.)
Copyright May, 1994, Home Services, Zurich, Switzerland.
(Required reading for JETTs on up. Selected portions may be shared with children younger than JETTs at the discretion of their teachers, parents or Shepherds.)
Answered Prayer! Victory in Melbourne!
Dear Family,
Once again, the Lord has shown Himself strong to deliver His children! On Friday, April 22nd, the Supreme Court of Victoria ratified a mediation agreement reached between the Family & H&CS (formerly CSV), effectively bringing to an end that two-year court battle!
Dad & Mama suggest that now it's time to rejoice & praise the Lord! Thank You Jesus! If you have not already had a victory celebration, please do so! Make it a time of singing, dancing & praising the Lord for His goodness & mercy.--And have any other fun, inspiring activities, such as some Family entertainment or a good movie, & refreshments!
Remember to tell your friends & contacts about this wonderful victory! You may also want to give them the press release & news reprints. "Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy!" (1Chr.16:8; Psa.107:2.)
Don't Miss the HOPE Mag!
By WS Staff
God bless you! There will be many exciting HOPEs published over the next few months. Please don't miss reading them, or you'll miss lots of important & interesting news, testimonies & counsel!
We want to remind you YAs, teens & JETTs that we often put important & timely counsel for you in the HOPEs, because we are under the impression that you read the HOPEs right away, since that's your own magazine! However, we have received some reports lately that indicated that some young people are not reading all the HOPEs. Please don't neglect this important pub! Thanks!
Also, adults, the HOPEs are very important for you to read as well, so you can stay informed of the latest progress, pushes & counsel, much of which is very good for adults as well as our young people! Praise the Lord! God bless you! We love you!
AUSTRALIA
* THE LORD CONFIRMS HIS WILL REGARDING THE MEDIATION. Following are excerpts of prophecies received by the Melbourne Family the night before they signed the mediation agreement:
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, therefore fear not to step out where I have led & guided thee."
* * *
"Behold, I have set before thee an open door. Walk through in the power of the Spirit & I shall be with thee always. Thou shalt hear a voice saying, this is the way, walk ye in it. Blessed are the peacemakers, who shall be called the children of God. Fear not, My little flock, it is My good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. I have prepared thee for this day that thy children might be a witness unto the World."
* * *
"Behold, I have set before you a great & effectual door. Therefore, look not to the right nor to the left. For My ways are not your ways, neither are My thoughts your thoughts. Ye are in the World but I have chosen you out of the World, therefore the World hateth you. But ye are My children. Ye are the children of My fold, therefore will I keep you.
"I have prepared you for the days that are ahead that ye should be for a sign, for a signal & as prophets unto this last generation. Therefore fear not them who would dare to lay a snare before you, for I will protect you & I will keep you. I have laid this yoke upon you. This is not your yoke. This is My yoke, & I have said that My yoke is easy & My burden is light. Therefore seek not to be loosed, for ye have been called unto this time & ye have been called unto this generation.
"Therefore walk in the door that I have prepared for you & fear not. For I have called you out & I have sent you into the World & I have instructed you that ye should be wise as serpents & yet harmless as doves. Therefore stay close to Me & call upon Me while I may be found & heed My instruction. Seek diligently My face & at every turn I will be with you & every step I will guide your foot, for My Word is a lamp unto your path & a light unto your way. Therefore fear not to walk in."
* * *
"Being confident of this thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phi.1:6).
* * *
I saw a vision of a river flowing down hill & along with it were quotes from the first Daily Might about flowing with the river of God's Will. (See DM1:274.) We must watch out for the rocks & protuberances that stick out, but the Lord's mighty river is just carrying us along. (Someone else also had a vision of a stream & flowing with the current.)
* * *
I got that His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2Co.12:9). Before, we looked at mediation as a weakness, but the Lord's strength can be made perfect in it.
* * *
"Child of My love, fear not the unknown morrow. Dread not the new demand life makes of thee. For what thou knowest not is known to Me."
* * *
"Ye have prayed & sought Me for the victory. Do not look at this as a defeat but as My answer to thy prayers. I have saved thee from the snare of the fowler. I have set thee free. And all that I have promised has come to pass, for I love thee with an everlasting love & I have never forsaken thee."
* * *
I got the story about the stone & the bread. This will actually help to strengthen our kids' faith. (Someone else also got this verse.)
* * *
I got the story of Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego in the fiery furnace. This is a chance for our children to stand up for their convictions & be witnesses.
* MEDIATION PROPHECIES FULFILLED! From the Family in Melbourne: "Praise the Lord for this wonderful victory! It was only the Lord Who brought about this long-awaited answer to prayer! God bless all of our precious Family worldwide for persevering in prayer all these months. Prior to the finalization of the mediation process, we reread the prophecies that a WS Unit received for us in February, just before the first mediation attempt going on at that time failed. It was amazing to see what the Lord had said. Here are a few excerpts that stood out to us." (Ed. note: Comments in brackets by the Australian Family.)
"For all things change. The battle & the goal & the victory is the same, but the battle plans are fluid. In one battle I say this way, in another battle I say go that way. I am the Commander-in-Chief, & it is by My orders that ye do fight or ye do stay your fighting, that ye do attack or that ye do yield. For I know in which direction shall be the greater victory or the greater losses. I will not suffer these weary ones to be tempted above that they are able. I will bring a victory & I will bring a way of escape which in a moment may look to you like a stone, but with time it will be proven to you that it will be hot fresh sweet baked bread. And it shall be proved once again that My ways are not your ways. My thoughts are higher than your thoughts. [For quite a while the mediation looked like a stone, as it seemed to be going nowhere, & it was hard for the Melbourne Family to even want to consider mediating.]
"Lean not to your own understanding, but acknowledge Me & look to Me in all thy ways & I shall direct thy paths & establish thy thoughts. And I Myself shall mediate between thee & thy enemies, & I Myself shall draw the agreement, & I shall be the Author & the Finisher.
"Even if for a moment it should look like a dark tunnel [the first mediation attempt], if ye will walk by faith, ye shall see the light at the end of the tunnel. And if ye shall walk through by faith, trusting Me, in the end ye will look back & know that it has been by My leading & My guidance with My blessing. For it is in My hand to give & it is in My power to resolve & to bring about a victory & to bring about a settlement that will glorify Me & that will be shame to thy enemies if ye will but trust Me. [We certainly know it has just been the Lord!]
"And ye will be able to take your little ones under the safety & protection & provision of the shadow of My wings & feed them of the living waters of My Word, & there shall no evil befall thee & none of thy little ones shall suffer. For I have each one of them in the palm of My hand & I encamp them round about with My Angels. I will not allow them to be polluted nor contaminated nor harmed by any contact that they may have with the World, if they will stand strong in the power of My Word & My Spirit & if ye will lead & guide them & protect them & nurture them through it." [Such a beautiful conditional promise!]
* * *
"For yet a little while & the wicked shall not be. Yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place & it shall not be. For now the enemy spreads himself like a green bay tree, in his pride & in his strength [the picture of John Patterson, the malevolent head of H&CS, whose middle name is actually Pride!]. But, lo, the axe is laid to the root of the tree & it shall be brought low, & these that did persecute you, that have caused you this trouble, shall be brought low & they shall be humiliated." [It must be very humiliating for them to finally agree to the same terms which were presented to them a year-&-a-half ago!]
* * *
When the first prophecy mentioned the tunnel, I got a picture of a tunnel. But you couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel because it wasn't a straight tunnel, it had a zig & then a zag to it. So it is like you had to go down this dark tunnel [the first mediation], not knowing where you were going except that you were going forward. And when you got to what seemed like the end, it was really a turn. [Many times we thought of this vision, & it gave us faith to hold on even though we couldn't see the end.] And then you went to the end of that turn & you looked down & there was the rest of the tunnel & you could see the light at the end [the final settlement]. There is a light of the end of the tunnel, but it's not always a straight tunnel.
* * *
I received the verse, "Agree with thine adversary quickly, whilst thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, & the judge deliver thee to the officer, & thou be cast into prison"--Mat.5:25. [The Melbourne legal team also got this verse when praying for the Lord's leading in the final mediation.] And also, "When a man's ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him"--Pro.16:7.
* * *
This came to me as we were praying. Quite a few months ago, quite awhile before the Argentine situation was resolved, I was praying about all these court cases, the Argentina, London & Melbourne cases, & the Lord gave me a vision. I saw all three court cases in a flash, all three situations. I saw Argentina as fighting our way through to victory. I saw London as weathering a storm. We get battered around, but we will weather the storm. And I saw Melbourne as a rock dropping to the bottom of the sea. It would just suddenly be nothing. It seems like that is what happened in Argentina, we kind of fought our way through. In England we are in a storm, but Lord willing we'll weather it. So mediation might just be Melbourne dropping. [What's happening today is a real fulfilment of this vision! Praise the Lord!] -- end of excerpts of prophecies.
----------------
Additional comments from Australian Family: "It was very encouraging to read over these prophecies & see how much we could apply them. It struck us how very important these living words of the Lord are to us in any given battle or situation. We wanted to thank dear Mama for always having the faith to ask different ones to pray for situations & hear from the Lord, as those prophecies can be so directly applied & claimed. It also gives us more faith to want to look to the Lord more for His Word in all of the decisions & battles we face."
* HELP FROM HEAVEN! The final terms of the mediation were almost identical to those suggested by our Australian QC 18 months ago! He passed on to be with the Lord only a couple of months later. At the time, the Lord gave some very encouraging prophecies about this man, who had fought for us even when very ill with cancer & in pain, & firmly believed in the righteousness of our cause. Although he never formally prayed with us to get saved, he received a great deal of witness from both our children & adults, & loved the Family. Upon hearing of his Homegoing, Dad said, "Maybe that's what the Lord had to do, the only way he could ever learn. Thank the Lord, the Family did all they did to witness to him & help him with their letters & cards & prayers. He received us, so I'm sure the Lord will receive him!"
Following are a few excerpts from the prophecies the Lord gave for this man: "Rejoice with this man, for he hath entered into an eternal reward. For he that receiveth you receiveth Me. Thou hast an advocate with the Father, for he is with Me. Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground & die, it abideth alone, but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. For he hath planted himself into the Work. He hath received the words & testimonies into his heart. He shall aid & help those that fight for thee! Now he is My advocate, fighting for you in spirit. He is thy Heavenly representative to help fight the forces of evil that would seek to destroy you.
"I have taken him from the few, that he might be a blessing unto the many. For now he can help in many places, whereas before he could only help in one. I worked My Work in his life, I brought him low that he might be brought to Me. Now that he is Home, rejoice with Me, for this son who once was lost is now found, & is Home forever!"
* MEDIATION ON OUR TERMS: The terms of the final mediation are:
1. The Department of Health & Community Services is to have no further form of supervision or contact with the children.
2. Children may continue to attend "home schools".
3. The children's educational progress will be assessed by the Education Dept. using the same criteria as applied to other home schoolers.
4. Outside activities for the children, including horse riding, sports & music lessons, will be organized by local councils & paid for by H&CS. These activities will be for three hours each week & continue for 15 months.
5. A panel of eminent members of the local community whom the Family suggested will visit the four Melbourne Homes once a month.
6. At the end of 15 months, these conditions will be dropped & the case will be permanently closed.
* VICTORY PROCLAIMED FAR & WIDE! The Family's victory was announced on most of the nationwide evening news broadcasts the day the mediation agreement was signed, & the Family has since done lots of interviews for radio, newspapers & television. Virtually all of the press has been favourable.
Initial media coverage focused on these points: 1) the millions of dollars of taxpayers' money which H&CS squandered pursuing a case for which they had no evidence; 2) the fact that the terms of the final mediation were virtually identical to those suggested by the Family 18 months ago; & 3) the fact that the settlement came about just as lawyers for the Family were about to ask the Children's Court to permanently stop the case on the grounds that H&CS had abused legal processes & brought the case for improper purposes. Also brought to light was the fact that H&CS depended on testimonies of ex-members & "cult-busters" that proved to be suspect. (Ed. note: For more details, be sure to read the press release & various news reprints on this subject.)
SOUTH AMERICA
* FAMILY HIGHLIGHTED AT CHILDREN'S RIGHTS CONFERENCE. Five Family members were guest speakers at Argentina's first "National Conference on Children's Rights". They were able to give their accounts of the abuses Family members suffered at the hands of the authorities, both during the initial raids & the subsequent months they spent in prisons & institutions. This was the high point of the two-day conference. Family members were also able to give information packets to all the other speakers & participants, many of whom are activists for children's rights both nationally & abroad.
* HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE DEFENDS FAMILY. There was also a public debate in Buenos Aires entitled, "The Phenomenon of the Proliferation of Sects," sponsored by some of our worst enemies. A lawyer who helped initiate the impeachment process against Marquevich was there to defend the Family. Realizing that the deck would be stacked against her, she took a contingent of 27 of her friends to back her up. She was well-versed on the subject & did very well in defending our right to believe as we wish. God bless her!
* FAMILY MEETS BEST-SELLING AUTHOR: The Family in Argentina attended a huge book fair from March 25 through April 11. Among the people they talked with was a Brazilian author who currently has four books on Brazil's 10 best-sellers list. This man shared a prison cell with Tiago (of Tabita) & Miguel Volunteer, when they were jailed for their faith in 1974. At the time, he was scared to death that the military government was going to kill him, & prayed with Tiago & Miguel to receive Jesus. He said it was their prayers & fellowship that helped pull him through. He was also witnessed to by Faithy about a year later. In his books, he makes favourable mentions of the Family & his encounters with us in the '70s.
* LOVE NEVER FAILS! The once antagonistic director of the women's jail where our women were incarcerated has arranged for the Family to do a visitation follow-up program. The prisoners miss the Family & were asking for them to visit!
* SOCIOLOGIST SAYS THE FAMILY IS "THE BEST." An Argentine sociologist "lived-in" for a few days while doing a study on the Family. She fell in love with the Home & had a hard time leaving. She was surprised how "normal" we are, & was especially impressed by our very outgoing & sociable children. But her major discovery, she said, was that we are "the most Christian of the Christians!"
EUROPE
* SWEDISH SOCIOLOGIST VISITS. A sociologist of religion at a prominent university, who is also employed by the Swedish state church, visited a Home in Sweden. In spite of her need to remain objective, she was visibly impressed & seemed to fall in love with everyone she met there.
* CONFERENCE FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: The Family attended an "International Conference for Religious Freedom" held in Bucharest on April 5th & 6th. The team met several sympathetic & influential people from prominent organizations that defend religious liberty. Some of them had met the Family elsewhere! Family members also gave out Statement packages to many foreign experts, as well as to Romanian officials. A YA representative spoke in an open forum on policies regarding religion in the media.
NORTH AMERICA
* RELIGIOUS RIGHTS ADVOCATE VISITS. In a Midwestern U.S. city, a university professor & Family friend sponsored the speech of a religious rights advocate at the university where he teaches. The advocate discussed the different ways the U.S. government is acting against New Religious Movements & religious freedom in general. A Family spokesman also spoke during the discussion period which followed. One man from the audience asked, "Why didn't the Branch Davidians become more public & fight for their rights more, like The Family is doing?" pointing to us! So it was a good testimony for the approximately 200 attendees.
Later that evening, the guest speaker, our friend & his wife, & two other professors from the university visited the local Home.
* FAMILY MEETS WITH RELIGION EDITOR. The Family in the States reports that they met recently with the religion editor for a major American weekly news magazine. They had an inspiring half hour meeting with this editor, who was friendly & interested in our work.
* TEENS SING AT COMMUNITY MEETING. Family teens in the Midwest U.S. sang at a community meeting where four schools were represented. The sponsor of the meeting, a law enforcement official, said that since meeting us he & his officers have never been the same. They are very thankful to have us in the community.
Part of the time was spent in committee meetings, & the Family's representatives attended the Youth & Family committee. The guest speaker, a television newscaster, spoke on the topic of crime prevention. Our teens contributed much to the discussion, answering the man's questions & bringing out important points which he expounded upon. The teens also met the pastor of a church which is active in the city's crime prevention program, who invited them to sing at his church.
* PUERTO RICO TV PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS FAMILY. One Puerto Rican TV station does a local travelogue, each week visiting a different town to show special attractions of the respective communities. Our town has been selected for an upcoming feature, & the mayor has invited us to be filmed as one of the highlights of the town! Our kids will perform, & we'll summarize our activities in the community.
* WORDS OF LIFE BRING HOPE TO THE MOUNTAINS OF CHIAPAS. From the Family in Mexico: "We took a road trip to the beaches of Oaxaca for Easter witnessing. Personal witnessing was tremendous, as there were hippies from all over the World. One teen met an ex-Family member who is a Mayan Indian from the mountains of Chiapas (where the Zapatista rebels have their headquarters). He & his mate & three children pass out tracts. All of them are quite sweet.
"He was in the Family in '74, but lost contact during the persecution that took place in Mexico City that year. He explained that he has since been inspired to reach his own people in the mountains, since he speaks their language & knows how they live.
They have a commune up in the mountains, where they read from the Basic Book & the few MO Letters they still have.
"They also reproduce & distribute some of our GP pubs & tracts, & win disciples. Presently they have 15 or 20 people living with them in their commune. They seem very sincere about getting out the Word & witnessing, & asked if they could be put on a mailing list for GP pubs. It's amazing to see the impact we have had on the world! His Word never returns void!"
ASIA
* REACHING OUT TO EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS. As reported in Prayer List #18, the Family sent several teams to a Muslim area of Asia to assist relief efforts following a major earthquake. (See PL 18:43.) Here are further details:
One team provisioned round-trip air tickets to the earthquake area, as well as hundreds of kilos of overweight baggage needed to take all the goods that they had provisioned for the victims. Those on the receiving end were thrilled!
The Family also had sweet fellowship with the local Muslims. The quake occurred during Ramadan--the Islamic holy month when Muslims observe a fast from sunrise to sunset--& the Family was invited by some of their new friends to their end-of-the-day breaking of the fast. This was a great honour, as Muslims usually only invite their closest friends & families to this special meal.
A television crew filmed the Family working alongside the Red Cross at the disaster relief site, & the program was aired nationwide.
* VISIT WITH THE KARENS: The mayor of a town on the Thai-Burmese border, where a Karen refugee camp is located, invited a Family singing team to perform during a local festival.
They did shows on two nights, reaching over 1,000 people including Burmese, Karens & Thai Hill Tribe folk. They also visited a Karen refugee camp, where over 100 teenagers & young adults were gathered for a Bible seminar. They spent time with the Karen children, teens & adults for special classes. The mayor's wife & children all received the Lord, & the mayor told them, "The doors of my province & my personal family are open to the Family. You have my full support!"
ANSWERED PRAYER
* RUPTURED EARDRUM HEALED: Teen Phil in the U.S. testifies: "I was diagnosed as having burst one of my eardrums & told that I would never get my hearing back in that ear. At our Sunday fellowship I asked for prayer & the Lord did it! Now I have started hearing from that ear again! Thank You Jesus!"
* AUTISTIC BOY HEALED. From Renee (of Tim), Thailand: "For the past five months, we have been ministering to a doctor at the hospital where I go to for checkups. (Ed. note: Renee has been undergoing treatment for a cancer, & is now recovering very well, thanks to the Family's prayers. See PL 18:49.) Some time ago the doctor confided in us that he has an autistic son. At the time he was quite broken about this, & it was at that point that he got saved. We prayed for his son too, specifically that his son would learn to speak. One month later, on one of our visits, he told us that his son had started making sounds, but it was just incoherent babbling, not words. We prayed for his son again, & when we returned a month later, he told us that his son was improving dramatically & had started to say some words. On our last visit he told us that his son was totally healed from being autistic & even attends a normal school now! Previously he had been told that there was no way for a child to be healed from this."
PRAYER REQUESTS
After hearing reports about several Family members in South America who suffer from eye problems, Mama commented:
"This is a desperate situation when someone is losing their sight & they can no longer read the Word. Having eye problems is one of the worst afflictions for most Family members because they can't read the Word. If they're children, they can't even learn to read. If they're adults, even though they know how to read, they can't take in the Word that they need, so it's almost a matter of spiritual life or death. I recall hearing of one Family boy with a handicapped eye, who was unable to read the Word very much, & that weakened him spiritually.
"I'm just so thankful that the Lord has provided me with people who can take the time to read reports & messages to me. But others with eye problems don't have this help, & my heart goes out to them. I think these are things that the Lord is going to have to heal.
"I don't think He is willing that these people who have eye problems that are going to cause the stunting of their spiritual growth should continue to be afflicted. I can't be so certain about some of the other illnesses; maybe the Lord is letting those go on for awhile in order to do something in their life. But in the case of these eye problems, I just don't think it is the Lord's Will that our people have them, or at least that they have them very long, & I think the Family needs to pray desperately for them to be healed. One exception that I know of in the Family is JETT Stevie, who has been completely blind from birth & who the Lord has given a beautiful spirit & a special gift, & made his affliction a special blessing to him & to others. We're sure he is going to have a great ministry in the days to come."
CRITICAL & LIFE-&-DEATH SITUATIONS: (For age 14 & over.)
1. Thai Abe underwent two operations to remove a malignant brain tumour. (See PL 18:64.) During the first operation, the doctors were unable to remove all of the tumour, & complications set in. Abe has not fully regained consciousness following the second operation, & is now in critical condition. Please pray that the Lord has His perfect way in this situation, & also that He strengthens & encourages Abe's wife & JETT son during this trying time.
DAD & MAMA:
2. For the health, safety & security of Dad, Mama, & their staff.
WORLDWIDE:
3. Those suffering from serious eye problems to be quickly & completely healed.
4. For new avenues of supply so that our Homes will have more time to devote to the training of our young people, & to pioneer witnessing projects.
5. IVM projects. From the IVM staff: "Thanks so much, dear Family, for your continued prayer for the many IVM projects in the works! Here are some long-term specific prayer requests, for shows in the works, which we desperately need your prayers for! Thank you for joining with us in spirit!"
>> "Family Fun": Our goal this year is to get the remainder of the 12-tape series on its way out to the Family! Shows 5-6 have now been sent to the Duping Centers, Shows 7-8 have been sent for approval, & spots have already been filmed & edited for the next several tapes. Please pray for quality filming & editing, & against any attacks of the Enemy whatsoever on this very important project for the Family!
>> "Fantastic Friends": Out of the 8 songs planned for "Fantastic Friends" #2, 4 have already been filmed & edited! The rest are being worked on now; please keep them in your prayers! We've also begun planning for "Fantastic Friends" #3, so please pray for the visual scripting & preparation for filming in the near future, as well as the finalising of all the songs for Show #3.
>> "Treasure Attic": "Treasure Attic" 5-6 have now been sent for final approval, & you should be receiving them in the next couple of months! PTL! You'll also be excited to know that "Treasure Attic" 7-8 are now also being planned for production! Please keep these in your prayers, as we'd like to get them out this year!
>> Endtime Video: The Lord has supplied lots of top-quality news footage to put together a "signs of the times" Endtime video, entitled "Countdown to Armageddon"! This has been rough edited, & we'd like to have it out to the Field this year. Please keep it in your prayers--it's going to be a hot witnessing tool!
>> Statement Project Videos: There are lots of Statement Project videos in the works! Please keep them in your prayers! We are now editing a program on our Family Education, & in the works are other topics such as Persecution, Socialisation & an Overview of our Family Worldwide!
>> Family Outreach Video #2: We are now final editing a second "Outreach" Video, with new witnessing footage from all over the World! Please pray that this can be completed & sent your way within the next couple of months!
COURT CASES:
6. Pearl's case:
>> For our expert witnesses, whose testimonies will be crucial to the case.
>> For the QC who is preparing our written arguments, our other lawyers & legal team; that his schedule will be free of other obligations so he will be able to attend to our case.
>> That the judge will be satisfied that Sammy should be allowed to remain with his mommy in the Family.
>> For ample funds to pay for the best possible legal representation & the expenses of expert witnesses.
7. Melbourne:
>> For further positive media coverage, & for this to continue to win public favour.
>> For miraculous supply so the Family will be free to capitalize on this golden opportunity to witness & win new friends.
>> That the children's socialization activities get off to a good start.
8. French court case: That the judge investigating the criminal case will close the case altogether.
9. Barcelona case: For the appeal which the prosecutor has filed with the Supreme Court in Madrid to be rejected; for our lawyers' wisdom in countering this appeal.
10. Lawsuits in Argentina against those who falsified evidence, & Baamonde & others who slandered us in the media: that the cases made by our lawyers will be successful, & that the court will award damages to the Family.
SOUTH AMERICA:
11. Continued prayer for complete recovery of those injured in the Colombia traffic accident.
12. For an official investigation in one country to come to a speedy conclusion, & that it will result in better understanding between the government & our Family there.
13. Home schooling in Brazil: that the final wording of new legislation currently before the Brazilian parliament will be such that it will not adversely affect the home schooling programs of our Brazilian Family.
14. Those leaving Argentina: that there will be no last-minute snags. Also continue to pray for good housing & stable conditions in the countries they are moving to.
15. Closing of Argentine Homes: that the Argentine government, not the Family, will be held liable for damages & unpaid rents on former Family properties, which occurred during the months that the Family was incarcerated & the houses were under police control.
16. A dear friend & supporter whom others are trying to discredit: that the Lord will vindicate & protect him, & use this situation to draw our friend closer to Himself.
17. A very close 70-year-old friend who has been kidnapped by terrorists: that she will be released safely.
18. For an upcoming international conference in Brazil where the Family will be a topic: that our friends will be able to give a good representation of the Family to the conference attendees. That the Home in that city will be able to capitalize on the opportunities to "let their light so shine."
NORTH AMERICA:
19. For the widespread distribution of a very favourable book on the Family, written by top experts in the field, which is soon going to press.
PACIFIC:
20. Sweetie: Healing from arthritis in her elbows & hands which makes it difficult for her to type, & distracts her during other work & activities.
21. Paula (Faithy), who is currently writing about her life with Dad: that she will be strengthened & inspired in this project, & that the Lord will bring the necessary details to her remembrance.
Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family