"First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all..."

"First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all.. and make mention of you in my prayers." The Bible is wonderful, having thoughts and verses to fit every occasion and need.

Also like St. Paul, I send my thanks for your continued care for us, both as to the work of the Lord here and your care for us personally. May the Lord bless and reward you manifoldly and richly, answering all your prayers for your own loved ones.

The barefoot children have come and gone for today, so I may sit down to write, sharing some thoughts of inspiration and report. It is the rainy season, with the streets wet for several hours every day, but the children run around barefoot-- of the poor families-- hot or cold, wet or dry.

One time a brother came in saying his shoes were wet and he would like to dry them out to keep from getting the grip or something. Of course, I said, but then kidded him a bit, Why do you worry about that, while some time ago you used to go barefoot in any weather all the time. "Oh," he said, "everyone knows when you're barefoot you don't catch cold from wet feet, but wet shoes will bring it on every time." So you ladies that get colds all the time, there's the remedy, just go barefoot all the time.

More seriously-- we had a very inspiring message in a meeting the other day. A faithful brother holds jail meetings regularly and some of the rest of us visit to help out occasionally. Some are regular at the hospital meetings and others at the market place in the open air, and I get around to visit each periodically. A brother testified how he had been in that same jail, had been among the most tough and rebellious until they put him in the hard-core division, separate from ordinary prisoners; the food was the worst and the guards treated them the most brutally. Came Holy Week and the regular prisoners had the privilege of having a procession, heavy statues of the Virgin and Jesus were put on a float or platform and carried around on the aching shoulders of the sweating penitents who would atone for sins by suffering.

The incorrigibles were not allowed to go out to participate but then they got permission to borrow the float for their own procession inside, and they went around carrying it, on their KNEES, until there was a trail of blood from their knees on the gravel, and the other regular prisoners were amazed saying,"They really get religion this year." Our man said he felt a euphoric spirit of reform and resolved to Be Good, but he noticed after a few days they were all just exactly like they had been before!

Then when he heard a Gospel sermon it made a difference pointing out that a person needs transformation not a reformation, and that is just what Christ promises to do for all who will come to Him through faith in His redeeming blood. And he accepted. He now has a wonderful testimony, his life as well as his story.

There are several believers now faithful, who give God sincere thanks for letting them have the suffering and hardship of prison until they could see how the devil pays his servants and, so they could react wholeheartedly, turning to the Lord, and now appreciate His great mercy, His blessings, and love.

I trust the Lord is blessing you abundantly, and that you are praising Him happy in the Lord and His love. And we thank you too for your fellowship, prayers and faithful help.

Sincerely,

Brother Orland

Orland Wolfram