Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - We gathered at eight o'clock this morning for prayer and fellowship with local volunteers. We had a good time praying over Ephesians 5:26-27: "That He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word. That He might present the church to Himself glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that she would be holy and without blemish."

Around nine o'clock we arrived at our designated spot, the very center of the campus of the University of Arizona in Tucson. The moment we came to a stop, a student ran over and asked us whether we were selling Bibles. We told her we were giving them away, and she said, "I want one. I'd even pay for it." She happily received her free new Recovery Version New Testament.

The first people to come to the table were a young couple. They asked for one Bible, but we encouraged them to get one each since once they started reading the footnotes, they'd be fighting over who would get to read it. We showed them the footnotes, and they immediately agreed with us that they needed two.

One girl said, "Whenever I read the Bible, I don't get it." We showed her a footnote and she responded, "Oh, I can understand this!" We rejoiced that we could give her a Bible that was easy to read with clear footnotes.

Another girl rushed up to us saying, "I need a Bible right now. I don't just want one. I need one. My mom asked me where my Bible was and I don't know where it is. That was just a couple of days ago." She was thrilled that we were on campus today. She's going to let her mother know about our offer also.

A woman came to the table and told us that she had attended parochial schools for ten years and still doesn't understand the Bible. We showed her some footnotes and other features of the New Testament Recovery Version. She spent a lot of time at our table fellowshipping about the Word of God and how happy she was that she could study it.

A young man asked to see the Recovery Version saying, "I know someone this can help right now." Then after looking over the text and footnotes he said, "Actually, I need one of these, too." He got a Bible for himself and an offer card for his friend.

A football player had felt he needed to get right with God, so he asked his roommate whether he had an extra Bible. His roommate didn't have one, but the football player noticed our tour bus on the campus and met us there. One of the crew members told him how he, too, had played football and how he had received the Lord Jesus in a locker room just before a game. This opened the student's heart to the Lord Jesus, and he was willing to receive salvation by praying, "Lord Jesus, come into me." He received the reality of John 6:6 today: "That which is born of the Spirit is spirit," as well as a Recovery Version New Testament. The very next person who came to the table had been a roommate of his. This one was so happy to find he had just received the Lord Jesus and told him they would have a Bible study together. He received a free Recovery Version also. Right after this happened, one of his teammates, who also is a Christian, came to the table. He was glad to hear about his friend's salvation and told him that now they could pray together. The Lord has already provided some to take care of this new believer.

Someone who received a Bible told us that he had read it and was enjoying it already.

A girl came to the table to get a Recovery Version because her roommate had gotten one and shown it to her. She was so impressed with it that she is going to give our BfA brochures to the other nineteen people in her Bible study group so they also can get the free Recovery Version.

Today we gave away 2,050 pieces of BfA literature, 83 gift packs, and 110 Bibles. The people we met were warm and sincere in their desire to know the truth.

We also heard that a crew member who flew home yesterday on the plane gave away 24 wallet size cards offering a free Recovery Version New Testament. He's continuing to do his Father's business.

It has been a privilege to write these real stories of so many people's hearts being opened to the Word of God. It is a life-changing experience not only for them but for us also. We praise our God for His heart towards man and His way to reach man.

Praising our Savior God, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth,
The "Word of Truth USA" Crew