March 16, 1998 Monday Evening

Dear Family,
Are days getting longer because of El Nino? If time flies when you're having fun, what does it do when you are in the family waiting room at the hospital, or at the arrival lounge in the airport, or at the reception desk of the employment office? These are some of the feelings going through my mind while waiting. David said, "I waited patiently for the Lord," Psalm 40:1. Patience is not one of my American virtues. The first five days of the forty-six day vigil was hectic for the five of us that were arrested with the Laos 10, but now life is almost back to normal. If we just had a better pipeline into the events and lives of the Laos 10 in Thatdam jail it would at least calm our fears. Our information sources in Vientiane are limited and they themselves are subject to arrest for being involved. The U.S. Embassy today had no news of either Tommy Allison's acceptance or the future of the Laos 10.

What are the feelings of some of the other freed prisoners? On day 46, let a prominent attorney from Fort Smith, Arkansas who sold his cattle herd and some land to fund a clean water project in Laos explain how he feels. Jerry and Meg watched each other being locked in separate jail cells by the Vientiane police on a pitch black night in January because they wanted to share both physical and spiritual health with the Laotian people. Here is a small portion of what Jerry Canfield wrote to encourage the families of the Laos 10:

Dear brothers and sisters,
I write this letter one month after the arrest on Friday night the 30th of January ......Meg and I send our deepest love and prayerful concern for all of you in Laos - not only do we love you, we sorrow with you for your hurt and we rejoice with you for your witness of faith in Christ Jesus .....My thoughts and words are of self-doubt and guilt because I am free and comfortable while you remain in prison and under watch and without freedom to assemble for worship. We pray that you will be comforted by the fact that the current persecution cannot take away your belief in God and his Son. And we pray that you will be bold in remembering the sacrifice that his Son made for us. We write this letter primarily to let you know that you are not alone. Many around the world are aware of your names and of your sufferings .....They admire you for the witness of your struggle. Hebrews 12:1-4. You have encouraged your brothers every where. Your suffering has brought great honor to the people of Christ around the world and especially in places like Fort Smith where the press has written many articles about your suffering .....Remember our studies from the Revelation. God is on his throne. Even when it appears that evil will win, we know that God and those who are with Him will be victorious ......Your brothers and sisters around the world care for you and pray for you. No matter how long it takes, if it is the will of God, Meg and I will see you again. Jerry & Meg Canfield

These words of a modern Christian prisoner have a unique sense of God's presence with the Laos 10. Another prisoner of Jesus wrote 1900 years ago from a Roman jail cell, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice." Philippians 4:4. Paul put that "again" in there for folks like me that need to be reminded that joy is that special blessing that does not depend on location, situation, or status, but what is in our heart. Forty-six days and counting .....love ......joy .....peace .....patience ......kindness ......

God bless,
Ken & Jean Fox