From http://www.wacotrib.com/auto/feed/news/2001/11/02/1004682549.21267.6376.5192.html

Just in case Dayna Curry cannot celebrate her 30th birthday Sunday in freedom, her family and friends are making a gift box of party hats, balloons, trick candles and "lots of chocolate" to be taken to her in the Afghanistan prison where she is being held.

"I'm still praying like crazy they'll get out," said Danny Mulkey, who is in Islamabad, Pakistan, working for the release of Curry, Heather Mercer and their colleagues from the international aid agency Shelter Now. Mulkey is an associate pastor of Antioch Community Church in Waco, where Curry and Mercer are members. "If they go, (Curry) can take all that crazy stuff with her and celebrate here," he said. "We packed lots of chocolate."

Curry and Mercer were arrested Aug. 3 in Afghanistan. Also arrested were four Germans [? I thought only two - Weirdad ], two Australians and 16 Afghans who worked with Shelter Now. They are charged with seeking converts to Christianity in the staunchly Islamic nation, ruled by the Taliban regime. Although their trial ended in mid-October, Taliban authorities have yet to render a judgment or indicate any resolution to their case.

Mulkey, who stays in touch with the U.S. State Department and with the Mercer and Curry families, said a gift box was packed at the U.S. Embassy in the hope it could make the next Red Cross truck allowed into the prison compound. Besides the birthday items, there are foodstuffs, toiletries and books to share. Mulkey said the books are primarily Christian biographies, an Atlas of the World, crossword puzzle books and even some books in German for their colleagues.

The families have not been able to visit the two Americans since Sept. 12.

The waiting is difficult for the families who plan to remain overseas until the situation is resolved, Mulkey said. Because Curry's mother, Nancy Cassell of Tennessee, is in the same Pakistani neighborhood as Mulkey, the two see each other fairly often.

"She is a woman of faith," Mulkey said of Cassell. "She is completely trusting the Lord in this."

Antioch Pastor Jimmy Seibert said this has been one of the "slower weeks as far as communication and information is concerned." The church is still waiting to hear from an associate of Atef Ali Khan, the attorney for the accused women who is attempting to enter the Afghanistan capital of Kabul from Pakistan.

Church officials, via Antioch's Web site, released some excerpts from letters the two women have sent out of the country through their attorney, who hasn't been able to visit them in more than a week. The letters only got transmitted via e-mail to Waco this week, although they were likely written some 10 days ago. [ see links below - Weirdad ]

Heather Mercer writes: " I never thought I'd write you from prison, at least not so soon! What a crazy place this world can be! I'm so glad we know and love the One who carries the whole world in his hands."

While wishing a measure of "normalcy" for those who are praying for her, she said, "I have seen more clearly in my time here what an exciting hour this world is in; but equally or more so what a dangerous hour. This (situation) helps to keep me sober and thankful."

Mercer wrote that she has to do her correspondence in the middle of the night, under a blanket with a flashlight. "The lights across the city are shut down every evening to prepare for the aerial and fireworks show," she wrote. "Besides it's often hard to sleep in anticipation of the evening's events, so writing becomes my great joy. "

Despite her capture by the Taliban and persecution under the religious laws of Afghanistan, Mercer also asked her supporters to offer prayers for Afghanistan.

"Just like us, they need a miracle as well," she wrote. "Though at times everything in me screams otherwise, we'll soon see the purpose and glory in this mad situation. May it be to glorify our friend and to rebuild this desperate nation," Mercer concluded.

Seibert's congregation of about 1,200 runs a 24-hour prayer room, where members take turns praying for the detainees. The American women were arrested after showing the widely distributed Jesus video from the Gospel of Luke in an Afghan home.

Curry's letter also touts the power of prayer: "We believe that is one of the main reasons we are here to motivate and awaken people to pray for this nation. If we weren't here I don't think near as many people would be lifting this place up. Our father in heaven is up to something great for this nation — and all the prayers are needed to help it come to pass. We are excited to see what he will do.

"I'm so thankful for you and all the others at home that are laboring for us. I really don't think we would be doing so well if people weren't praying. We have seen God's favor in so many ways. And his presence has been incredible!," she concluded.

Bob Campbell, newly-elected president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, said at a news conference Monday at the BGCT annual meeting that he admires Mercer and Curry for their strength and resolve.

"If they have shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ there, they have done so at peril of their own lives. They knew that going in, and yet what courage they have," said Campbell, pastor of Westbury Baptist Church in Houston since 1991. "That’s in the tradition of missions and Baptist missions. These young ladies are heroes for us.”

Terri Jo Ryan can be reached at tjryan@wacotrib.com or at 757-5746.

© 2001 Cox Newspapers, Inc.

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