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March 2017 Letters

Championship Game and Candles

March 10th

Dear Laura and friends,

Thank you for sharing the forgiveness story and for telling us about the two types of churches. It is nice to know that we are the church of Caperston.

Chihaysu met with his nine remaining followers two days ago. I showed him your recent letter, and he was interested how the people were able to forgive when people were unfairly killed. He then told us that he struggles deeply with his mother’s decision to be buried in the House of the Dead with his father. He has been teaching that the welfare of the soul after death, not the actual burial place of one’s body, is what is important. However, after much thought and prayer, he remembers advising Mattpaul to honor his father and mother. Likewise, he will respect his mother’s wishes and petition Mattpaul’s father, Pav-ed, to consider his mother’s request even though she is a Mountain Woman.

We do have other concerns. Marcus visited the Mountain Village, where he was raised, and reports that the youth are becoming increasingly agitated. They are planning to get together to walk around Lake Gael to Pontos’ residence. As you know they were making posters with drawings and sayings on them, demanding to know what happened to Mattpaul.

When Mattpaul was alive some of the youth doubted his sincerity. But when he died for his faith, they knew every word he stated was true. He did love the Mountain People. In death he has become their hero.

Michaeling is getting some of us together for a prayer meeting soon. I will write back after we meet.

Huchfee

March 21st

Alex and Laura,

We had our prayer meeting last night. Michaeling organized it and invited all twenty-eight students who graduated with Mattpaul to attend. She also invited Marcus. Twenty-two of the twenty-eight graduates came. Chihaysu was also invited.

Michaeling began by sharing her most vivid memory of Mattpaul, the moment when he waved from the boat with Jonas and Levi before the storm. Her second remembrance was of kneeling by the plaque at his grave which read, “Mattpaul . . . God and all those in the mansion of God . . . know how faithful you have been . . . and how you have brought light into our world.” She stated that his faith gave her faith and she believes that he has not died in vain. She introduced Marcus as one of his best friends amongst Chihaysu’s followers.

Marcus began with great energy. “God has called us together to remember one of our friends, who was strong, caring and faithful. Mattpaul believed what Chihaysu is teaching and was brave enough not to compromise. May God fill each of us with similar strength, and with visions of a better and more equal Caperston.”

The youth clapped and Marcus continued, “Mattpaul and I went to a Mountain Village and spoke at a school. The youth questioned Mattpaul’s sincerity and asked, “Where is this God that you speak of? Why does he not come to speak to us himself?” Mattpaul did not know what to say, but later he and I prayed for an answer. We then spoke to Chihaysu who advised, “God does not come himself because he is in the heart of every believer.” Mattpaul used to say, “We believers are God’s light of love in the world.”

At this moment Chihaysu arrived, holding a candle.

Michaeling then spoke and said that we have much to pray for. She gave everyone else a candle and said, “When you pray, light your candle then speak with God. Let us see how bright the prayers to God will make this room.” Fourteen of those present lit candles and prayed.

Marcus then concluded, “God, give us both determination and patience. Change may come slowly, but we believe it will come because it is your will for Caperston.” After he finished, the lit candles were blown out, one at a time. Michaeling’s candle was last. Before she blew it out Chihaysu asked to speak.

He asked the youth present to watch the smoke of the candle as he prayed. He then prayed not for all of us in Caperston but for youth on Earth and, particularly, the youth Alex. Chihaysu was specific asking God to see Alex through some challenging times ahead.

Chihaysu’s prayer was short and, when it was finished, Chihaysu asked what anyone might have seen in the room. Marcus stated that he thought he saw a face appearing in the smoke of the candle. Michaeling and Rachaeling also stated that they saw a face. No one else saw anything including myself.

Michaeling was about to blow her candle out, when Marcus spoke, “Our friend Michaeling was the first youth to be baptized by Chihaysu. She has led the Valley Youth by her gentle but determined ways. Leave your candle burning, Michaeling, as we leave this place.”

She did and we all marveled at how much light came from her one candle. It brightened the room with hope and determination. All left, including Chihaysu. I was the last to leave. After thanking Michaeling for all she had done to bring us together, I took one last look at her candle. Then I began shaking. There it was . . . no, there he was. A face of a youth with curly, dark hair. Michaeling smiled, “So, Huchfee, you also see the face.”

“I do,” I replied. “Who is it?”

“God will let us know, I am sure,” Michaeling assured me.

I stepped outside, where Chihaysu was waiting. Michaeling joined me.

“So, four of you saw the face.”

We both nodded.

“Then you four will make up the group praying, when the time comes. I will contact you through Michaeling”

Our meeting ended and I went home, but my head is spinning. Who is the young man whose face I saw?

Huchfee

March 23rd

Hi all,

Laura has been sharing with you, so it is now my turn. I play for my school in a sport we call basketball. It is a game of shooting a ball into a round metal circle, ten feet above the ground. The circle, which we call a basket, is just a little bit bigger than the ball we are shooting so we have to practice a lot to be able to make these shots.

Our team was in the championship game. With two minutes to play the score was tied. The other team was very tall, and they were hard to stop when it was their turn to shoot. They scored twice and with one minute to play, we were behind by four points as they made two shots. You get two points for a close to the basket shot and three points for a shot much further away.

Being down by two baskets with a minute to play was challenging. We had to score quickly and play good defense to get a second chance to score. At this point in the game I was shooting well, and the coach drew up a play for me. It is called a backdoor cut. I do not have the ball and another player holds it. I run towards him and my defender follows. Then I stop and suddenly run to the basket. My friend Toby had the ball and, when he saw me cut to the basket, he threw a perfect pass to me over my defender’s head. In this way we scored two points in a very short time, and we were losing by just two points.

Then we had to play defense. The rules say that the team with the ball must take a shot at the basket in thirty seconds or the ball goes to the other team. There were thirty-seven seconds to play so we knew that, if we played good defense, we had a chance.

Our opponents held the ball for twenty-five seconds then took a poor shot that missed. We then got the ball with nine seconds to play and our coach called time out. We got together and made a plan. The ball would be passed to me, and I had nine seconds to move the ball up the court on which we played. Our coach decided to go for a long shot, a three point shot to win, rather than a two point shot that was easier but would only tie the game.

I had scored twenty-four points, more than anyone else on the team, and our coach thought the other team would put two players on me. That would mean someone else would be left alone. My friend Toby, who was also part of our youth group, was a good long shooter. I dribbled the ball (bouncing the ball as I ran) and was able to get near the basket even though two players were guarding me. But it took seven seconds. With two seconds to play I saw Toby all alone in back of me. I could have taken an easy shot to tie the game but passed to Toby.

Toby took a long shot with one second to play. It looked good to me. It hit the rim and bounced up in the air. It seemed to be in the air forever. It fell towards the circle and just hit the metal rim, bouncing straight up again up above it. I jumped up and tipped it with my hand into the circle. The ball went through. Everyone cheered. The score was tied. But then the judges of the game got together and decided that my tip was too late. The game was over. Toby and I were heartbroken.

We thank God for Laura. She came down from the stands, where she was sitting watching the game. When she got to both of us, I saw a tear drop down her face. “It almost went in, Toby . . . it almost went in not once but twice. Your shot was a good one,” she assured him. The three of us hugged, not realizing that most everyone was watching. The players on the other team let us hug then shook our hands telling us we played a great game. We did the same.

I don’t know if I will ever play in a championship game again. It still hurts. Then I think of all of you in Caperston and the challenges you are facing. It doesn’t hurt so much when I think of you all.

For now, my heart is in two worlds.

Alex

March 25th

Hi Alex,

Chihaysu called us together to announce his decision for a new follower to replace Mattpaul. Chihaysu stated that he wanted another youth to replace Mattpaul, but none of us was ready to accept the challenge. He knows we are believers and understands that there are risks a youth would take to join the group.

Without a new youth follower, Chihaysu decided to choose a man named Ammed. Ammed is married and his wife, Jewel, agrees with this special task he will take on. They reside in one of the lake houses and are quite wealthy. Both he and Jewel work for the Caperston bank. When Ammed is away with Chihaysu, Jewel will be able to do his work.

Chihaysu asked Ammed to watch over the funds that he and his followers have received as donations. He trusts that Ammed’s work at the bank gives him the experience to keep good records of funds received and expenditures made. Some of the funds were a percentage of earnings made by followers as they worked, when there was free time from Chihaysu’s activities.

We youth do not have much money but Michaeling and I have decided to ask youth to donate one denorite each at our meetings. These will be given to Chihaysu. Since I have one of the better paying jobs amongst youth, I will give two denorites each time we meet.

I told Chihaysu that your group is praying for us, particularly that the anger of the Mountain Youth will subside. Chihaysu asked me to share thankfulness for the prayers on behalf of his ministry

Huchfee