Look at this letter I received this week:

<< 26 GUARDS >> >> Here's a message that will bring you chills. Have >> you ever felt the urge to pray for someone and >> then just put it on a list and said, "I'll pray for them >> later?" Or has anyone ever called you and said, >> "I need you to pray for me, I have this need."? >> >> Read the following story that was sent to me and may >> it change the way that you may think about prayer and >> also the way you pray. >> >> You will be blessed by this. >> >> A missionary on furlough told this true story while >> visiting his home church in Michigan..... >> "While serving at a small field hospital in Africa, >> every two weeks I traveled by bicycle through >> the jungle to a nearby city for supplies. >> >> This was a journey of two days and required camping >> overnight at the halfway point. >> On one of these journeys, I arrived in the city >> where I planned to collect money from a bank, >> purchase medicine and supplies, and then begin my >> two-day journey back to the field hospital. >> >> Upon arrival in the city, I observed two men fighting, >> one of whom had been seriously injured. I treated >> him for his injuries and at the same time talked to him >> about the Lord. I then traveled two days, camping >> overnight, and arrived home without incident. >> >> Two weeks later I repeated my journey. Upon arriving >> in the city, I was approached by the young man I had >> treated. He told me that he had known I carried money >> and medicines. He said, 'Some friends and I followed >> you into the jungle, knowing you would camp overnight. >> We planned to kill you and take your money and drugs. >> But just as we were about to move into your camp, we >> saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards. At >> this, I laughed and said that I was certainly all alone in >> that jungle campsite. The young man pressed the point, >> however, and said, 'No sir, I was not the only person to >> see the guards. My five friends also saw them, and we >> all counted them. It was because of those guards that >> we were afraid and left you alone. >> >> "At this point in the sermon, one of the men in the >> congregation jumped to his feet and interrupted >> the missionary and asked if he could tell him the >> exact day this happened. >> >> The missionary told the congregation the date, >> and the man who interrupted told him this story: >> >> "On the night of your incident in Africa, it was >> morning here and I was preparing to go play golf. >> I was about to putt when I felt the urge to pray for >> you. In fact, the urging of the Lord was so strong, >> I called men in this church to meet with me here in >> the sanctuary to pray for you. Would all of those >> men who met with me on that day stand up?" The >> men who had met together to pray that day stood >> up. The missionary wasn't concerned with who they >> were, he was too busy counting how many men >> he saw. There were 26. >> >> This story is an incredible example of how the >> Spirit of the Lord moves in mysterious ways. If >> you ever hear such prodding, go along with it. >> Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates >> of hell. >> >> I encourage you to forward this to as many people >> as you know. If we all take it to heart, we can turn >> this world toward God once again. As the above true >> story clearly illustrates, "with God all things are >> possible" and more importantly, how God hears and >> answers the prayers of the faithful. >> >> After you read this, please pass it on and give God >> thanks for the beautiful gift of your faith, for the >> powerful gift of prayer, and for the many miracles >> He works, & will work in your own daily life! >>

My brother-in-law, who is leaving this week for Medjugorie got it and relayed to me. He is a wonderful young man, selfless and beloved by many. My wife's brother Jose Rodriguez, of San Diego, Calif.

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), October 21, 2000

Answers

Nice story. Ive heard several variations of it.

By the way, you can get rid of those >> signs very easily.

If youre in Word just click on Edit and then Replace. Under Find What put the > sign. Where it says Replace With just leave it blank. Then hit replace all. All of the >s will disappear.

Youre welcome.

-- and then (say@a.prayer), October 22, 2000.

Thanks!

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), October 23, 2000.

Wow... all those little boxes where the quotation marks & apostraphes should be! And here I was trying to be helpful as well as clever. Duh.

Looks like Microsoft Word & Mircrosoft Internet Explorer combined is a marriage made in Heck.

-- better (say@another.prayer), October 23, 2000.

Dear Say, The amusing part is, I simply cut and pasted the message just as it came to my in-box. It's not my work, it's Jose's. Anyway-- I did wonder if it was one of the ''urban legends'' that go around. What does it matter? If it isn't 100% true, it should be. Some folks may believe Our Lord curing ten lepers at one time is a form of legend. I believe it's a fact. So there!

-- eugene c.chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), October 24, 2000.