PERSONAL LETTERS!--No.1
Maria #221
DO 2931
Comp.6/94
Letters to Mama and Her Replies!
Intro from Mama!
Dear Family,
1. Dad and I receive many personal letters from DO and TRF Supporter members alike in which you pour out your hearts about your situation, or about questions you have. To us, each one of these letters is very precious, and your burdens become our burdens; your heartache becomes our heartache. And we pray for you and wonder if there is anything we can do to help you.
2. We're very sorry that we can't answer most of you personally. We would love to. With each of your letters, we would like to sit down and talk with you intimately, putting our arms around you and holding your hand and stroking your hair, and wiping away your tears, and comforting you with His Word. For those of you who are asking questions, we would like to sit with you and counsel and pray together, and get some answers from Him. For you who are simply expressing your love for us, we'd love to thank you face-to-face for your encouragement and prayers, and tell you how much you mean to us. Each of you is special to us! Please believe this. Don't ever doubt it.
3. We appreciate your openness and honesty. We are thankful for your suggestions, for your questions and for your analyses of various situations. You're a vital part of our Family and we are interested in what you have to say.--And we listen to each of you.
4. Dad and I want you to take this as our special thanks to each of you who write us--even though we can only personally answer a few of you. However, you can be assured that we consider and pray over each letter. We'd love to spend more time in communication with you personally by individual letters about your particular questions and problems, but the Lord has shown us that our priority must be on our general letters to all of you, as well as the multitude of other publications that help you in your growth in the Lord and your training for your service to Him.
5. However, there are times when the Lord lays a special burden on our hearts to answer a particular personal letter. In this series of GNs we are going to present a few letters that we have responded to personally so that you may also share in our counsel. We hope that, by sharing these letters and our responses, we can be helping many others who may have had the same question or problem. Our desire is that these few letters will be representative of many and will be a blessing to you, our precious Family.
Love and prayers, Mama
Movies and Books!
From F. (19), 1/94
Dearest Grandpa and Maria,
6. I have worked with JETTs for the last three years, and the video issue comes up almost every week. For example, the movie list contains a list of teen movies and a list of JETT movies. My question is, how do the movies get categorized? I know movies are not the priority in the Family at all and shouldn't necessarily be, but I'm just wondering how they get rated. Are we going by Dad's standard or others' opinions and leadings?
7. My view on books is that we should be sure to have the right balance with the Word and other books, as I've seen a lot of teens very familiar with the Word. I think it comes from people only allowing Word to be read, so they then have a hunger for other things because they can't have it, and also become dissatisfied with the Word, to where it just becomes routine. For example, I grew up in the Family, and when I was young, reading anything that wasn't Word was looked down upon, and I resented that. I think it's good that we have a balance in that.
I really love you and appreciate you.
Love, F.
Mama's Reply to F., 2/94:
Dear F.,
8. Thank you for having the faith to write your letter with questions on books and videos. You brought up some very valid concerns.
9. Grandpa and I do not have anything to do with the rating of the movies. It's such a difficult job, we're glad we don't have to. I can't watch movies any more because of my eyes, and Grandpa doesn't get a chance to watch as many as he used to, so we have to let others take care of this job. Because the number of our pubs personnel is limited, sometimes the responsibility of rating the movies falls on only a few people.
10. The judgment of movies is often very subjective and there are often differing opinions and interpretations. In general, however, I think the folks who have reviewed these movies have done quite well. Of course, sometimes they've missed it. It may be because there have been different groups evaluating different movies and these different ones have slightly different standards. They do the best they can and they sacrifice to work on these lists, hoping they will be what they should be.
11. Since the ratings on the movies are often somewhat controversial, because of the subjectivity that enters into their judgment, we have made the goal in producing these movie lists to save the worldwide Family time in locating decent movies, more than to give perfect, balanced evaluations.--Although the folks working on these try to do their best and I know they put a lot of prayer into the project, and are generally in agreement.
12. On the subject of books, it depends upon what books you are talking about. Each book would have to be judged individually. Moreover, it would probably depend a great deal on the person themselves and what effect the book would have on them. Different books affect people differently; whereas one person might read a book and be weakened by it, another would have no problem.
13. It seems like there is so much Word nowadays that our folks cannot even read it all. I'm quite surprised to think that our young people would have a lot of extra time to read, especially considering that there are thousands of pages of past Letters, and hundreds of pages of new literature being printed each month on many different subjects. I know that other books have their appeal, but the MO Letters have the power to give us the strength for these Endtime battles. There are a lot of other books that are good and interesting and informative, but if they take away from our time in the Word, they can be detrimental to our spiritual--and even our practical--growth.
14. One important thing that I'd like to ask you to do, F.--you and our other YAs--is to make a habit of going to the Word for the answers.--For you personally, as well as for the young people whom you shepherd.--Not only to dig out the answer yourself, but to help them to learn to do the same.
15. The Lord is repeatedly emphasizing the great importance of the Word in our young people's lives. If our shepherds are not a sample of living in the Word, we will see the same weakness in their young people. So I'm counting on you to give your young people the Word. It doesn't have to be boring--you can pray and ask the Lord for exciting new ways to share it. Okay?
16. I love you, F., and am thankful to hear from you. Keep up the good work!
With love and prayers, Mama
(8/97: For more on movies, please see the Charter, "Home Life Rules," point K, and Amendment 29, "Previewing Movies Before Home Viewing." Books are also covered in the Charter under "Home Life Rules," point M.)
* * *
FFing Misconceptions!
From K. (18), 4/94
Dear Mama Maria,
17. Recently I went to the court in England to testify on Pearl's behalf. I was asked some different things about the Family, and the opposition really tried to shock me with things like the Dito book, the dance videos, FFing, etc. I was able to tell them that these things did not shock me, as I understood the concept behind why we did these things.
18. What I am concerned about is the fact that many YAs and teens do not have the right impression of FFing. Whether this is due to the fact that the subject hasn't been directly addressed to the Family teens or whether it is just something that they would rather not understand, I do not know.
19. I was wondering if something could possibly be written to address this subject, directed at the young people in the Family--something that would explain FFing, what it cost in personal terms, and why we stopped.
20. It seems to me from talking to different ones that they think the reason we don't say much about FFing any more and the reason that we stopped was because something was wrong with it. This idea is very wrong, but sadly I feel that this is the concept that many young people in the Family have. Many of our teens and YAs have never read the FF Letters. Others have merely skimmed through them, looking at the pictures and the "interesting" stories. This may have added to the fact that they do not fully understand the sacrifices and the amount of love that it took.
21. Most of us haven't always read all of the lessons that were learned through FFing, so we may have the wrong impression. Also, I think that a lot of young people mistakenly think that the reason we purged a lot of this kind of lit, Volume 4 for example, was primarily because we wanted to hide the fact that we had ever practiced it. The effect that this wrong thinking has had on many young people is that they feel that this (FFing, etc.) is something that they do not think was the right thing to do.
22. I know that doing it was entirely up to the individual. Whether the teens in the Family today feel that they would have gone to such lengths to win a soul is a personal decision. And it's a hypothetical situation, since we no longer FF. But it is nevertheless very important that we understand why it was done and how this was possibly one of the biggest tests of yieldedness and demonstrations of love that anyone could ever make.
I really, really love you!
Much love, K.
Mama's Reply to K., 6/94:
Dear K,
23. I love you. God bless you. Thank you so much for sending us that beautiful letter with your observations of the attitudes that many of our young people have toward FFing. Your views were very well presented and your concerns were those of a good shepherd. I'm proud of you for your discernment, your thoughtful attention and care, and your wanting to do something about it. Several others have also expressed concern about these distorted attitudes, so it seems as though this may be a problem not only in your area, but in other areas as well.
24. An idea which we have in the works is to publish several good FFing testimonies in our pubs. As Grandpa has always said, "There is nothing like a personal testimony to 'sell you on the product' and to convince you of people's sincerity and their cause."
25. Thank you again, dear K., for your letter. And thank you especially for your willingness to be one of God's shining witnesses in the B.I. court case. The Lord gave you a big job to do for Him and you did it well and wholeheartedly. God bless you!
26. Most of all, we thank you for being faithful to the Lord and His Family and fighting battles daily that are part of our life for Jesus. While they are not so easy to take, each battle nevertheless makes us stronger soldiers and more capable of being used greatly by the Lord in the battles to come.
Love, Mama
* * *
Mama's Reply to the Melbourne Teens About System Influences, 5/94:
Dear Melbourne Teens,
27. I love you, and want to say how thankful I am for such wonderful young people who love the Lord and want to please and serve Him with all their hearts, and who are willing to stand up for the truth. You all have been brave soldiers and warriors of the faith, God bless you!
28. We are so thankful for the marvelous victory the Lord has won through the mediation of the Melbourne court case. I know that has been a great encouragement to you, and a real reward for your having endured a very long battle and fought through to victory! This mediation is a tremendous victory for not only you teens and our dear Melbourne Family, but for our whole Family around the world as well; and it would never have been possible without your desperate prayers, your obedience, your fighting spirit, and your faithful, untiring labors of love and faith! Praise the Lord! God bless you!
29. Thanks too for sharing your reactions to the pow-wow you had on System influences, books, music, videos, etc.
30. I am proud of you for your wise, cheerful reactions, and for your being willing to make the sacrifices necessary for your spiritual growth and to be what the Lord wants you to be. I know it is hard to give up or cut down on things that you've gotten used to doing or having, and that you like.
31. It's difficult to sacrifice present pleasures for future spiritual gain. But that's what the Lord loves about Christians who are willing to do so, and why we are special to His heart--because we are willing to forsake our own selfish desires in order to be strong soldiers to fight in His battles for the hearts and minds of folks that desperately need Him, and who need to see a sample of dedication and conviction and spiritual strength in us (Heb.11:25-26).
32. Really, when you think of it, such sacrifices are small compared with the rewards that God is going to give us for making them. "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us!" (Rom.8:18). Jesus said, "He that forsaketh not all that he hath, cannot be My disciple" (Luk.14:33). But He also said, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne" (Rev. 3:21).
33. I know it's a battle, and it's so much simpler to do the things that make us feel good and don't require such a spiritual effort or struggle. It's so much easier and more fun to sit down with some System novel and escape into the world of romance, mystery or adventure.--And once you get hooked, to keep doing it over and over again. I understand that not doing so is a pretty big sacrifice.
34. However, you are the children of the Most High. You are the King's precious anointed ones to whom He has given a special honored commission, and because of this, He is asking a sacrifice of you. He is asking you not to stunt your growth with things of the world which will make you spiritually weak and lazy and lost in the world of fantasy.
35. He is asking you to stay on guard, to be alert, and to be ready to fight at a moment's notice. You are some of the few whom He has chosen. You in the Family are, of all young people, the most privileged and honored, the only ones in the world who have the distinction of being born into His Endtime army. He loves you and cherishes you and nurtures you and watches over you, and wants to be proud of you, and to be able to use you fully as His Endtime ambassadors. He is challenging you to put away childish things and the sins which do so easily beset you, to run the race that is set before you with patience, knowing that your reward will far surpass any sacrifices made here, and will not be long in coming.
36. The Enemy has many ways of lulling us to sleep and of getting us to waste God's precious time with activities that don't count toward eternity. God needs us to be awake and alert, trying every minute to redeem the time, because the days are so evil and time is so short.
37. So I was glad to hear your reactions and to know that you're willing to make these sacrifices for Jesus, and to give Him all your time and attention, so He can make you into the kind of soldiers that He needs on the front lines.
38. The forces of good and of evil are fighting a constant battle to try to affect your decisions, control your thoughts, and influence how you invest your time. The Enemy would like to destabilize you, immobilize you, incapacitate you, and knock out your effectiveness, because he fears you and the power you have through Jesus. He trembles in fear of you when you stay close to the Source!
39. God fights for you because He knows what a formidable force you are against the Enemy and his people, and He needs you desperately in this war. You're some of the few soldiers He has for this battle. You're the ones that He has invested in and nurtured and cared for, and He has brought you to this point that you might fight in this war. So please don't disappoint Him. Please don't let Him down. He needs you and we need you!
40. I love you and am so thankful for each of you, and that we can count on you to do your best for Jesus in this battle!
Much love and prayers, Mama
* * *
Letter from a Male Teacher!
(From a European shepherdess, 2/94:) I thought it would be interesting for you to get the following letter that I received from one of the male teachers here. It expresses the thoughts and battles several other male teachers have shared with me:)
41. (From G.) One thing that's been on my heart off and on for some time is the balance between teaching and childcare. Some years ago I felt called to become a teacher. At the time, it seemed to be almost like a life-saver for me and gave me a new start. Also, the "School Vision" Letters were just coming out and the need was obvious.
42. As the years passed by (five so far), the Lord kept calling me to continue to teach, and any hopes of change or "promotion" (whether conscious or unconscious) seemed further and further away. I have experienced a lot of joy, fun and challenge in teaching, but also negative feelings of being "stuck with a group," doing what often seemed like "inferior" work. I've battled with many comparing trials toward those who are called to shepherd, work on teamworks, attend delegates meetings, etc.
43. But the reason I'm writing you all this is--can we get more mileage out of this situation? Would upcoming senior teens and YA boys want to become like me?--A male teacher that goes to childcare or teachers meetings with mainly women?--Who mainly work under Home Moms, some of whom are excellent teachers, while others know less about the teaching side of childcare? Would YA boys be comfortable in forsaking the seemingly more trusted ministries in the Family to stay home with the kids? I'm wondering if Family education may lose potential upcoming teachers, as YA boys I've talked to have expressed many of these feelings.
44. I feel the mothers will always be miles ahead of us men in childcare for obvious reasons. Therefore, would it be an idea to separate childcare and teaching?--To challenge upcoming male adults that they can become recognized teachers and educators of our younger generation. (Maria: Yes, absolutely. I agree!)
45. Could we more clearly separate teaching from the overall childcare work? Could this in turn provide more positions of recognition and/or influence for Young Adults that feel called to teach but are afraid to be "stuck in a group," and generate more boys in childcare as teachers (not necessarily childcare workers), plus lift the standard of teaching and ministry training?--To challenge some of these smart and capable YAs to become educators of our children? (Maria: Very needed! Yes!)--To help them to realize that education is a field of its own, where they can even hold positions of influence on a leadership level one day?--A ministry with a "future," and not merely a springboard to being "promoted" into pioneering, shepherding or something else?
46. I know teaching is pretty much a profession all its own in the System. It's quite recognized and seems to be equally represented by men and women at all levels. (Maria: Our men are needed in teaching and childcare!) GBY and thank you so much for all you do for us. I really love you!
Much love, G.
Mama's Reply to G., 2/94:
Dear G.,
47. God bless you! I love you, and want to tell you how proud I am of you for sticking to your calling as a teacher. One of your shepherds passed on to me a letter you had recently written. I am very thankful that you have expressed your feelings about the situation with male teachers, which after checking further into it, seems to be quite widespread. Thanks so much for bringing this to our attention. We want to try to change people's perception of childcare and teaching as just being a woman's job. So please pray that the Family will be willing and able to change their attitudes and perceptions in this respect.
48. You sound like a wonderful, concerned teacher. I wish I'd had you for mine! Keep up the good work. You're in the most important job there is!
Love, Mama
* * *
YA Comments on Teen Marriages!
From G. and M., 2/94
Dear Mama Maria,
49. God bless you! We really love you, and pray for you daily. We are YAs and are married, have two children, and have been shepherding YAs and teens. We are responding to the point you made about having the Homes pray and hear from the Lord about whether a teen couple in their Home should get mated, before they are mated.
50. It is true what you shared, that it is a big step to take, and we can sure see how it could be a real help to have the Lord's confirmation in the mouths of two or three witnesses. When we got married it was a big help to have prayed about it and gotten specific word from the Lord, confirming it in our lives.
51. We were wondering, if such a policy was implemented, would it also apply to adults who want to get together? If the policy was only for teens, we wondered whether it might be interpreted by some that teens can't hear from the Lord as well as adults can, if no explanation was given.
52. Another thing is that many of the teens here were quite discouraged by hearing of a lot of YA marriages that didn't work out. In one country recently, the teens had the slogan circulating, "Never Get Married."
53. Another related point, which we must confess has bothered us, is that a lot of Family couples are breaking up nowadays because they are bored with each other. Of course, it does go deeper than that, but in some cases, it isn't too much deeper. It just seems too easy to get separated, to the point it is getting harder to find teens who have married parents. This has also helped add to the cynicism that we have found about marriage amongst many teens. We realize in all this we don't necessarily have a full picture, but these are a few things we've noticed.
54. There is one other thing we weren't too sure it was our place to comment on, about something we read regarding YAs working side by side with adults. It was mentioned that a lot of YAs only have "textbook training," and it might be hard to have them shepherding adults.
55. It seems that a lot of YAs don't just have "textbook training" here. We don't know if maybe the person who said this was generalizing, because the YA group can be quite varied. Maybe the person who made this statement may not have seen many YAs who have already gained some experience.
Much love, G. and M.
Mama's Reply to YA Couple, 4/94:
Dear G. and M.,
56. God bless you. I love you!--And am so thankful for you dedicated young people who are giving your lives in service to the Lord and His Family. Thank you very much for your letter with your good questions on marriage.
57. Thank you for requesting a clarification as to whether only YAs should ask for special prayer as a confirmation to their marriage or whether the adults should do it as well. I think it would be wonderful if all of our folks who are seriously considering getting together would seek the Lord for His confirmation and stamp of approval by having some or all of the members of their Home unite in a time of prayer and hearing from the Lord together. Actually, I was in no way inferring that you YAs cannot hear from the Lord yourselves. However, "in the multitude of counselors there is safety. Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counselors they are established" (Pro.24:6b; 15:22).
58. Certainly in such a serious decision it seems like both parties would welcome all the counsel they can get. In fact, being able to unite in our Homes and hear from the Lord for each other is a very beautiful experience, and a very special privilege to think that we love each other this much, and that the Lord loves us so much that He is willing to speak to us with His precious Words of encouragement and instruction.
59. I'm sorry to hear that there seem to be Family couples who are breaking up because of boredom with each other. It certainly seems we have enough excitement in the Lord's work that even if they decide they're not excited with each other, they should be able to stick together for the sake of the work and their children, and be excited together because of these very important reasons.
60. This is what gives real true excitement--the excitement of the Spirit. It's true that the excitement of the flesh may not last forever, and couples do often tend to get familiar with each other as time goes on. But perhaps the Lord allows that so they won't be totally wrapped up in each other but they'll be more outgoing toward others and toward His work. This is where excitement can be lasting and where the Lord wants our attentions to be placed, and excitement in seeing souls saved and doing His work should never fade or wane.
61. But if a couple is bored with each other, they should discuss it and see where the trouble is. Maybe they aren't excited enough about the Lord's work and working together to see things happen for Him. If a marriage lacks only excitement, I don't think that this alone should be grounds for separation, since with a little work and prayer it should be able to be remedied. However, most of the separations that I've known about were for reasons that were much more serious than just being bored with each other. Perhaps in some cases boredom may seem like the reason people are splitting up, but upon deeper investigation one might find that there are more complicated reasons.
62. Thanks for your reaction to the statement that most of our older adults might be hesitant to receive counsel from those younger than themselves, particularly from the YAs, because they have only had "textbook" training. You suggested that perhaps the person who expressed this opinion did not realize that there are YAs who have had hands-on experience and not just "textbook training." Your assessment of this situation is certainly encouraging, if this is indeed the case. Praise the Lord!
Love, Mama
* * *
Mama's Letter to Mark Elder!
(The following is a letter written to a young man, Mark Elder, who left the Family two years ago at the age of 19.)
To our dear son in the Lord, Mark, July 1994
63. God bless you! I love you! After receiving a copy of the letter that you wrote your loved ones in Peru, relating your long, hard experiences after leaving the Family two years ago, I felt burdened to write you. I am so glad you wanted to write in order to share your testimony in the hopes that it would speak loudly to our other young people.
64. More than anything you've ever done to positively influence your peers, this one letter that you have written could have the greatest effect and will make everything you have suffered worthwhile. Even if you are not presently a good role model within the Family, you can still be an example to our teens from outside the Family as to what not to do. Even though you did not stay within God's highest will, you can still do a very important work for Him in warning and "instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth" (2Tim.2:25).
65. In your letter you say to them, "I could say so much more that would convince you that it is not worth it to do what I did." Will you say it? Will you take up this challenge that God is giving you?--This second bus of opportunity? You missed the first one, but there is still another. I think the Lord has great things for your life, and wants to use you right where you are in greater ways than you have imagined.--By writing your testimony and experiences, by witnessing to your workmates, by sharing the Word, etc.
66. I cried as I read your letter, and I prayed for you, that God would reach down and help you to see how much He--and we, your Family--still love you, our wayward son, our prodigal son. You know, Mark, we've all been prodigals at some time or another. We've all at some time strayed far away from the Father's house, if not in body, at least in spirit, and we've all had to eat husks and find them unsatisfying and then return to our Father, Who, seeing us afar off has run to greet us, with arms outstretched. He has already been looking for us. He is expecting us to learn our lessons and come back. He waits for us in love until we find that nothing else satisfies and we turn toward Him, and then He can reach out and heal us with His wonderful touch.
67. I believe that in your letter you have said in spirit, "I will arise and go to my Father."--But you just didn't realize the love and forgiveness with which the Lord--and we--would greet you, nor the joy that He--and we--would feel at your return. You probably felt like all hope was lost and there was no way of getting back. You felt that you had sinned beyond remedy, and that there was no further place of service for you in His Kingdom.
68. You have probably lived under great condemnation for turning your back on God's work and His Family, on the wonderful calling that you had as a special Endtime soldier in His army, knowing that you had forsaken your birthright for a mess of pottage. You have felt sad remorse over those who were stumbled when you didn't value your place.
69. You have probably cried so many tears over lost opportunities and felt you couldn't get through to God because you had failed Him and turned your back on Him. You felt like you were lost and groping and never able to find the way home. But when you take just that one step for Jesus, He'll take two for you.
70. He's been there all the time, Mark, even when you couldn't feel Him, or couldn't hear Him. He's been there waiting patiently while you learned through bitter experience. He's been a disappointed Father weeping, weeping for you, His son (as has been your dear natural father, who has been heartbroken over you and has never ceased to pray for you), pained that you had to do it this way, but caring for you and guiding your steps down the sharp and stony pathway.
71. He still loves you, Mark, and He has never let you go. You're still attached. You've never been disconnected. You've just been on a long leash getting tangled up, but not detached. However, you couldn't feel the tug of the Master's hand because your line was so long and it had gotten all wound up around rocks and trees and barriers, and you couldn't untangle it. But the Father can and He is waiting on you to call on Him for His help.
72. There's hope, Mark! He knoweth the way that you take, and when He has tried you, you shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10). The way has been hard, but it has been part of His training course for you, and one which He knew you needed to take. But remember what He says?--"The God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you" (1Pet. 5:10).
73. It's a hard road, but if you can take it and bravely face it and learn from it and see what God is doing in your life to strengthen you and humble you and mature you and make you dependent on Him and yielded to His will in your life, it can be a wonderful victory instead of a defeat. If you can see His Romans 8:28 in what has transpired and start seeing the silver lining of the clouds and feeling His love instead of the Devil's condemnation, knowing His forgiveness instead of the Devil's guilt, you can once again find great joy in your salvation, as you rise from remorse and self-pity and look upon the fields so white to harvest, and know that the Lord wants you, who have been given so much, to do your part in the reaping.
74. You've looked around you at the emptiness, the coldness, the fear, the loneliness, the desperation. You have the answers for others. Will you give them? Will you stand up and be counted? Will you put on the whole armor of God and fight His battles? You're still His son, you're still His child, you're still part of His great Family, and you're still part of us. And your mission is to share Jesus with others. Will you do it? Can you comfort others with the comfort wherewith you are comforted?
75. It sounds like you don't have much free time, but there is always something you can do to witness, even if only to those you work with. You can witness right where you are, and maybe start a catacomb ministry! We have catacombers in the U.S. Navy in Japan, and also in the past there was quite an active catacomb Home aboard the 6th Fleet! These Navy catacombers sailed around the Mediterranean and fellowshipped with the Family when they docked in Spain, Italy and Greece. Many of them tithed or helped the Family financially, as well as witnessed up a storm! A number of these catacombers later joined fulltime after they got out of the service and are still in the Family. So the U.S. Navy could prove to be fertile ground for witnessing and winning others to the Lord and as catacombers.
76. Dad and I love you, Mark, and are praying for you.
Love, Mama
77. P.S. Dad read your letter as well, and at the end he wrote: "God bless you! Thank you!--We love you! While there's Life there's Hope!--And Jesus never fails!--He got me out of the Army!--Just as bad!"
Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family