June 23rd
Dear Brother Jacob,
I have some good news! Even though my mom would never, ever, say anything that went against my dad, not even to someone else, she’s putting all my mail directly into one of my desk drawers, instead of letting it lay around where my dad might see it. I’m thanking her by doing the dishes more than I have to and stuff like that. But let’s keep going with the pen pal routine, just in case. I’m sure glad you’ve figured out some way to mail things from New York.
I finished reading the Guidebook as soon as I got it. I’ve only seen the Welcome Center, the Main Lobby, and the Lodge. I thought I’d seen a lot, but now I know I’ve barely seen anything! Most of all, I’m really looking forward to seeing the Ecumenical Temple and the inspirational services that are held there. But I must admit I’m also curious about the Planetarium Theater. I love science videos, but I don’t get to see them very often. Science is looking at the same universe that God created, don’t you think?
I’ve just started the Overview of the Lyceum Constitution. That idea about not naming anything after someone is really interesting. I bet you get people all the time trying to do it anyway, especially when they give you some money. It happens all the time in our church. But if someone wants their name stuck on something, they’re asking to get their reward here on Earth, instead of in Heaven. Do you know what I mean?
I was really surprised when I read that no one can buy a membership to Lyceum, for any amount of money. That’s really strange. My dad wouldn’t
like that. How can you make any money that way? Money can get you just about anything in our church.
Getting the books and letters and things from you and Sarah was the nicest part of my seventeenth birthday. They had a cake for me at church, and my dad gave me some new clothes and a hundred dollars, but...
something was missing. I’m not sure what. Probably something I have to find for myself someday.
Sincerely,
Shawn Mitchell
Dear Sarah,
Thanks for the origami things you made! I put them on my bulletin board. How’s summer out there in the Pacific Northwest? It’s really hot and muggy here. I get to go up to Vermont in August for a Bible Camp. It’s a lot cooler there.
I’m going to make a copy of one of my space travel disks for you, as soon as I decide which one I think you’d like best. I have to keep them hidden deep down in my bottom drawer, and I can only play them at school or at the library ‘cause my dad doesn’t like stuff like that. When is your birthday?
I’m glad you don’t blame me for what my dad did, but I still feel ashamed. And it sure is great that you have people you can talk to. You said Sister Rachael was your mentor. Is that like a teacher and counselor sort of person? There was a mentoring program in our church once, but you had to be ‘at risk’ to get a mentor, and you had to be 30 or older to be a mentor.
One of my friends had one, and he said they were more like cops, and he didn’t do it for long.
I read a booklet all about people with insomnia. I didn’t realize it was so common. I learned that people with insomnia more often do charity and church work than other people. I bet my dad wouldn’t believe that!
Hey, happy Pentecost! You guys celebrate Pentecost, don’t you?
Your friend,
Shawn