The Saratov Approach Page #4

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to comfort

the Propst and Tuttle families.

A candlelit vigil held

by a youth group in Wisconsin

was a token of support

for their fellow Christian believers.

- What is it?

- I don't know.

Who is it from?

I don't know.

What do you mean you don't know?

Well, it's a cashier's check.

It doesn't say.

Someone just left it

on the front porch.

Mary, this could save him.

Lee...

Lee, we can't.

I know.

- Did you hear that?

- Shh!

Boy, you are worthless.

I told them you're going to die

if they do not pay.

And what happens?

They do not pay.

I tell them you're going to die

if they go to the media.

And what happens?

They go to the media.

Maybe He has forgotten

about you,huh?

You come

from a big American church,

going around town telling people

He loves everybody.

Does He love me?

Hmm?

Tell me what you tell everyone.

Tell me.

We know that God lives.

We're His children...

and we're created in His image...

because He's the Father of all people.

We're brothers.

We're all brothers.

He provided a way for us to...

overcome sin and death...

and return to His presence,

and He prepared a plan

that will bring us joy.

And the central figure

in that plan is Jesus Christ.

So...you think He's real?

I feel Him. Yes, I do.

You feel that?

Yes.

How about this?

Do you feel this?

What about this?

You feel this? Huh?

Is this real?

Huh?

Do you feel this?

Huh? Do you feel this?

This...This is the only thing

that's real.

Here.

Write down your last goodbyes

and tell your parents

it's your last chance to be alive.

Roy speaking.

Is this the Tuttle family?

Who is this?

My name is Mark Larsen.

I'm calling from Denver.

- And what station are you with?

- I'm not from any station.

I, um...

I wanted to talk to you

about what's going through

your son's mind right now.

How would you know

anything about that?

Because I was kidnapped, too.

I was in Argentina at the time,

nearly 20 years ago.

We were kidnapped for ransom,

just like your son.

Our first night, we were terrified,

couldn't sleep,

thought we were going to die.

In fact, the whole time,

we thought we were going to die.

Your thoughts start to wander.

You think about your family,

the ones you are serving.

You don't want to cause anyone

to worry.

You think that this kidnapping,

this situation is...

somehow harder

on everyone else than...

it is on you,

so you start to pray.

You're not praying for yourself.

You're praying for everyone else.

And finally, you think about

the ones who have taken you

and what they've done to you

and why.

You begin to worry

about what will happen to them

for all of the things

that they're doing to you.

Then, almost against your will...

you pray for them...

and your heart fills with compassion,

and you plead

that they will feel God's love and...

that they'll change.

I imagine your son is having

some of those same thoughts.

What happened to you?

We put our faith in God.

No matter how bleak

the circumstance seems to be,

no matter...

how horrible,

I want you to remember one thing --

the longer those valiant boys

spend with their kidnappers,

the harder it will be

for them to keep them...

because light

always overcomes darkness.

Hmun dang zawng aia tlawma

thlawhnaa zin duh tan

#9612136045

biak mai tur a ni e

A thlawnin office/inah

tickets kan dahsak thei

We just got this.

It's from your son.

But I think it'd be best if you read it.

"Do not mess around with these guys.

Give them exactly what they want.

They have guns.

We think they have poison.

We think --

Work quickly and work smartly.

If you'll not give them the money,

tell them so we can die."

We could save him.

We could --

We could save our son with this.

We have the power to keep him

from being hurt

and from suffering.

I don't want him to die.

I don't want to sacrifice our son.

More details of the kidnapped

missionaries today.

Ransom photos

of 20-year-old Travis Tuttle

of Gilbert, Arizona,

and 20-year-old Andrew Propst

were released

with the complete text

of the ransom note.

Specific demands were listed,

including directions

not to alert the FSB or media

or the missionaries

would be "exterminated."

Earlier today, the Tuttle family

spoke with Eyewitness News

over the phone.

Right now we really don't know

what is going to happen.

The church has given us updates

as they receive them,

and we've received calls and visits

by some of the leaders.

What would you tell your son

if you could speak to him right now?

I would tell him

that we love him and miss him.

I would tell him

that no matter what happens,

we are proud of him,

and we know that the Lord knows

where he is and what he needs.

Here we go.

Nikolai!

Thank you.

You want a beer?

No.

I bet you do.

Yeah, I do.

Help you out.

Spasibo.

Tuttle.

Tuttle, we're free.

We're getting out of here.

- How did you get --

- Shh!

This ends right now.

Wait, wait, wait.

There are still two guys out there

with guns.

If we mess this up, we're dead.

We've got to come up with a plan

that we both feel good about.

Hey, the plan is simple.

We knock them out,

we handcuff them,

and we take their guns,

and we get out of here.

No,no,no.

It's got to be perfect.

We get one shot at this.

Okay. Here.

Sit down, sit down.

Let me show you.

I'll stand here, all right?

And I'll take the sheet.

When he comes in,

put it over his head.

We got to knock him out.

- This.

- Propst!

Sorry. I'm sorry.

If they catch us, we are dead.

Just take a second and remember

that you're not the only one involved.

Now, we need to be absolutely certain

we're doing the right thing.

We got to know what we're doing.

Bow your head.

Our Father in Heaven...

we know we are in Thy care.

And right now, we need that help

more than ever.

Please guide us...

direct us,

keep us from harm...

in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Well?

All right.

So...you can go through with this?

Yeah, I think so.

Okay-

Ready when you are.

Please help me.

Please.

Propst.

Propst, we've got to do this.

You plan on teaching someone today?

I plan on teaching someone every day.

We know that God lives.

We're His children,

and we're created in His image.

He provided a way for us

to overcome sin and death.

So, what changed your mind?

It hit me that He didn't want

to go through it.

He didn't want to be whipped

and crucified.

But He loved his Father enough

that he did it anyway.

He was a hero.

He prepared a plan

that will bring us joy.

You're not in charge.

Come on.

We've got to do this.

Propst, let's go.

Propst.

He prepared a plan for us.

Today, Senator Gordon Smith

of Oregon

met with President Clinton

on behalf of the two missionaries

who have been kidnapped

and are being held hostage

somewhere near Saratov, Russia.

The President pledged full support

of efforts

to bring the missionaries to safety,

though no ransom will be paid.

The President is very aware

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