"Amen"

Dear Janette,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. I hear California is having good weather; perhaps you could send some of that sunshine over to us? Any break from all this rain would be nice.

The twins are getting so big these day, and they're constantly full of energy! It's a wonder Mark and I are able to keep up with them. They're always talking about your last visit, and they do miss you. If you ever happen to be in the area, don't forget to stop by so they can see you again!

And you know how much I hate to be a gossip, but I can't resist indulging for a little bit here. There have been rumors that the visits Mrs. Mason has been paying to Mr. Solomon ever since her husband left on his business trip haven't been entirely innocent. At first I put no stock in such slander, but then I saw the two of them walking down the street together, their relationship was obvious. It's scandalous, them acting like that in public! And with Mr. Mason only having been gone for a week! Hopefully the new pastor will be able to talk some decency into them!

Oh, what have I done, I completely forgot to tell you about the new pastor! We both know that Pastor Parker isn't getting any younger, and he's been looking at retirement for a long time. A new pastor has been brought into the church to take over now that Parker is stepping down. At first I wasn't sure about this Pastor Michael, what with him being a city boy and all, but as soon as I heard him give the sermon I lost all doubts. The town won't be the same without Parker, but Michael's as good a replacement as we could ever have hoped for.

Your friend,
Rachael

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Dear Janette,

Father Michael has been an absolute godsend for this town. The whole place seems infused with the Spirit, and church attendance is higher than it has ever been before. Oh, you should hear him speak! Every service, I feel his words lifting my soul up, and when he describes the coming Kingdom of Heaven, it's as if I'm seeing its glory with my own eyes! “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of The Archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God”

Of course there are still the bad apples. I had hoped that Father Michael would be able to show Mrs. Mason and Mr. Solomon the error of their ways, but they have ignored his message of salvation. Why, just last Sunday, when the rest of the town was going to church, the two of them went fishing at the lake! Yes, “fishing,” that's what they called it. Those two are absolutely shameless! Time and time again I have tried talking sense into them, but all they do is laugh me off!

In the past I may have ignored such blatant disregard for our Lord, but Father Michael has taught us the risks of such passivity. By tolerating sinners in our company, we put our own souls at risk, and may lose our chance to achieve the Kingdom of Heaven! After witnessing part of its glory through the words of Father Michael, none of us want to let that slip through our fingers due to the actions of a few.

Oh, but what am I saying! Surely you're interested in more than just church talk. School will be starting for the twins' soon. 2nd grade already! Time really does fly. And I'm glad to hear that you've found a new job. I was so worried after your last letter, but now things are finally looking up for you! And I don't want to hear any talk from you about repaying me for the money I sent you. That was a gift, not a loan. After all, hasn't our Lord commanded us to be generous with one another?

Your friend,
Rachael

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Dear Janette,

The pictures you sent were wonderful! California really is such a beautiful place. If Mark wasn't so busy with his job and me raising the twins, we'd come visit you in a heartbeat!

But enough of my daydreams. I bring good news! We have solved our problem with Mrs. Mason and Mr. Solomon. All of us had hoped that we could convert them through the power of prayer, but their hearts were turned to stone. But even in the face of such adversity, Father Michael showed us the way to salvation. If the sinners could not be brought down the path of redemption, then we had no choice but to get rid of the sinners, lest they corrupt our salvation.

None voiced dissent to the plan, for we had all been filled with the Holy Spirit, and could hear its call for righteous judgment. The two were found in sinful company inside Mr. Solomon's house, and brought out before the church. Each of us took up a stone, and cast it at the sinners.

The Devil tried to stop us by sending a sheriff to interrupt the punishment. But Father Michael stopped him, and with the power of the Lord filling his voice, cast out the evil possessing the sheriff and sent him on his way. And now that the infection of sin has been cut away from us, and at last we can work on preparing ourselves for the Kingdom of God.

We're still getting wet weather here. I know I should be grateful, since they say it's good for crops, but I wish I didn't have to clean up so much mud from the floors every day. At least it keeps me busy, now that the twins are in school all day.

Your fellow daughter of God,
Rachael

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Dear Janette,

I still haven't heard from you since my last letter. I pray that you're alright. If you've run into any trouble, don't be afraid to let me know.

Things have been busy here! We thought we'd solved all our sinner problems, only for more to emerge. Liars, cheaters, adultery, blasphemy, thieves, we've discovered every sin imaginable lurking in our town. Father Michael warns us that we must be ever vigilant for those who stray from the path of the Lord, and we have been. If we want to achieve the salvation Father Michael promises us, we must punish all those who seek to sabotage our journey.

Mark is worried by all the sinners we have been forced to send to Hell, and I share his feelings. To think that such evil could exist in our town? Every day there are more names on Father Michael's list, more punishments that we must give. It hurts me to do this to people I had thought were my friends, but I do this for all of our sakes'. A single sinner in a community of holy men, and the whole community is corrupted, says Father Michael.

Of course the forces of evil seek to thwart us at every stage. Some men from the government came by the town and threatened to arrest us all. They said they had received word that the people of our town had murdered people. Murdered! We have done no such thing! All we have done has been the righteous punishment of God! As he had with the sheriff, Father Michael spoke with them, and through the power of the Lord turned them away. But it has reminded us to be always on guard for those who treacherously try to steal the Kingdom away from us.

Your fellow daughter of God,
Rachael

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Dear Janette,

They say that the Lord seeks to test our faith through adversity, and if that is so, then this is the greatest test I have ever faced. I write this to you with a grieving heart, but also with the knowledge that I have done what is right.

I woke up last night to find Mark and the twins gone, and a letter on the kitchen table. It was from Mark, saying he had taken our children and left. His faith had wavered, and in that moment of weakness he had let the voice of the Devil whisper lies into his ear, telling him that we were not the followers of God, but an insane cult, and that our righteous judgment was murder. The Devil convinced him that he had to protect our children by taking them far away. I know he only meant the best for our children, but could he not see that he was not saving them, but ensuring their eternal damnation?

I rushed to Father Michael to tell him what had happened, and the Father assured me that everything would be alright. The twins were under the protection of an Angel, and they would be returned to us. And sure enough, Father Michael spoke truthfully. Mark was stopped by the sheriff as he was driving away from town, and brought back to face the judgment of the Lord.

As I cast my stones, I told myself that it was for the sake of our children. I know that Mark understood that. For their sake I had to remove all obstacles on the path to salvation. I know Mark understood that. I know he did. Even in his weakness of faith, all he wished for was their well being. If only he had not allowed the Devil inside his heart, he too could join us as we ascended to the Kingdom of God.

Your fellow daughter of God,
Rachael

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Dear Janette,

Rejoice, for I bring good news! The time for us to cast aside our sinful earthly bodies and allow our spirits to ascend has come! Out of a town once filled with so many, now only twelve of us remain. We are the last few, the ones who have kept our faith through all the trials and tribulations, not once straying from the path Father Michael laid out for us!

I once thought that Father Michael was a messenger from God, but I never imagined how true that would be! He has shown to us his true self, and he is a being of beauty and perfection, who has graced this Earth for a short time to show us the way to Heaven.

The gallows are being constructed in front of the church, and all of us are dressed in our finest. Tears of happiness come to my eyes when I look at the twins and realize that soon they will be leaving this cruel world behind, and spend eternity in the glory of Heaven.

Father Michael is outside now, standing by the gallows, his true appearance shining like the brightest star in the sky. When he speaks, it is with a voice that shakes the ground itself. He tells us that the time has come for us to Embrace the Archangel, and become one with Him.

But do not feel sad, dear Janette! We shall not be parted long. For the Archangel will one day come to visit you as well. One day, all the people of the Earth will learn to embrace him, and we shall be brought together in His presence.

Until that wonderful day arrives, your friend,
Rachael