He also referred to Galatians : , which list the nine fruits of the Spirit. I know you know this, Captain Steele, but as my messages to you also go into my personal journal, let me list them here: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, humility, and self control. I don't know about you, but many of these were not part of my nature, culture, or background.

But again, they have become part of the personality of Chaim, making him a great leader here.

It was such good teaching, Captain Steele. I took many notes. Dr.

Ben Judah told everyone that if we could all learn to walk in the Spirit, we would have an easier time getting along for two and a half mare years. He told us that besides the nine characteristics and the joyful, thankful, submissive heart, we will know we have the Spirit when we have the power to tell other people about Christ. He took that from Acts :, where Jesus told his disciples that they would have power after the Holy Spirit came upon them and that they would be witnesses to him to the ends of the earth.

Believe it or not, we have to be witnesses even here. There are still some among us who have not chosen Christ. The trouble now is that there are rumors of miracle workers in the Negev, not far from here. Many have said they heard about this from friends outside. Some even said they read of it in Mr. Williams's The Truth. Well, I know they could have, because it was in there, but he made it very clear that these people were fakes, pretenders.

Even if they can perform some magic tricks, they were put in place by Carpathia and are not to be trusted.

But can you believe it? There are groups here who plan to venture out and hear these people! I must have the Spirit, Captain Steele, because I myself and you know how shy I am am preaching against this, pleading with people not to go.

Have you heard the rumors that the head of Carpathianism, the one we know to be the False Prophet, is himself challenging Dr. Ben Judah to a televised debate? I cannot believe his foolishness!

Does he not remember that it was Dr. Ben Judah's television message about Jesus being the Messiah that first brought him to the attention of the world? Why does he think Dr. Ben Judah has such a big following yet today?

No thinking person would allow Leon Fortunato inside Petra, of course, and neither would any of us advise Dr.

Ben Judah to venture out to some Global Community approved site.

So if this is to happen, Tsion will probably be on camera from here, and Leon from who knows where? Frankly, I hope the GC is foolish enough to follow through with this and that they have the courage to air it live and not censored.

I continue to be thrilled to be able to serve G.o.d under his divine protection. And though it happens nearly every time I fly, I never get tired of seeing the GC threaten and warn and even try to blast us out of the sky and then waste their missiles and bullets, missing us from point blank range. Many of them must be among those who would change their minds about G.o.d and about Nicolae Carpathia, if only it wasn't too late for them.

Rayford always loved hearing from Smitty. There was a youth and innocence about him that had nothing to do with his age. In fact, he was still in his early thirties, but Rayford loved him like a son.

He was shutting down his computer when Chloe came knocking. She was alone. "Got a minute?" she said.

"For you, are you kidding? Where are your men?"

"Doing Kenny's favorite thing."

"wrestling on the floor," Rayford said.

"Exactly. I'm telling you, Dad, since a little before his birthday, we've been finding out what the Terrible Twos are all about."

"It's not that bad, is it? He's naturally going to be a little rambunctious, having to play inside all the time."

"We'll survive. Roughhousing with his dad takes a little of the steam out of him. He's all boy, I can tell you that. But, hey, this is a business call."

"Really?"

"I need to call in a favor. Do you owe me anything?"

"Let's pretend I owe you everything. Give me an a.s.signment. Co op, I a.s.sume."

"Oh yeah. One of our biggest trades ever could happen in abut three months, but it has to be done by air, and we need a larger than normal crew. I'd like you to head it up on the western side.

Mac's going to run things from the east."

"That big, huh? I'm all ears."

"I've been sitting on this awhile, trading off bits of it here and there, but both parties have too much inventory. They don't need what they've got, but they're ready to trade with each other. You know how water has become as valuable as wheat?"

"Sure."

"Our Argentine friends are willing to prove it. We've got a contingent, run by a Luis Arturo, at Gobernador Gregores on the Chico River. They've harvested thousands of bushels of wheat.

Naturally they are worried they're on borrowed time, with the size of the operation. And they're worried about water. The Chico is getting more polluted all the time, and they are suspecting it's intentional on the part of the GC."

"They've got wheat and need water. Who's got water?"

"The most unlikely place. Well, maybe not as unlikely as the middle of the desert, but this isn't a place you normally think of for bottled water. Probably the biggest underground church outside of America. Bihari's group at the Rihand Dam."

"You're not saying . . ."

"I am "

"India ?

"That's the place. They've got about as much volume of water as the Argentineans have wheat, and they're willing to trade straight up."

"You need more than a big crew, hon. "

"Tell me about it. We need big planes. Albie got something lined up out of Turkey, of all places, and he's having it retrofitted to hold the skids of water."

"Regardless, it should work fine for the wheat."

"Thing is, Dad, we can't wait. We've got to do this almost simultaneously. The wheat's got to be heading toward India while the water's on its way. Albie and Mac are going to pick up Abdullah and bring Bihari with them. I'd like you to choose three other guys from the States "

"Well, Buck and George "

"Not including Buck this time, if you don't mind. Don't look at me that way. It's just a feeling."

"That this is a doomed mission? Thanks for sending met " "Not at all. I just think Kenny needs him right now, and frankly I may be self serving or prejudiced or whatever I don't think he has the time to take away from The Truth. "

Rayford leaned back and looked at the ceiling. "George and Ree from here, if you can spare 'em."

"We've got time to work around their schedules, sure. "

"And I'd look first to Whalum for a plane that big. And if he's got one, he ought to bring it here to pick us up and serve as our fourth."

"I'm for that," Chloe said. "That'll get Leah off my back."

"Still wants a ride to Petra?"

"Yeah. Which is not all bad, except we haven't been able to work it out yet, and I think she's taking it personally."

"What a shock, eh?"

"Well, we both know what she's up to, and I'd almost like to get Tsion's permission before I send her over there to start stalking that's overstated shadowing him."

When the time came for the project, Lionel Whalum was en route to San Diego, sans Leah, who was none too happy.

Chapter.