I shall always be grateful for my parents' fidelity to their newly found religion when they moved from the Northwest to a small town in the southern part of the country where, I feel safe in saying, few if any of the residents had ever heard of Christian Science. But this did not deter my mother and father from continuing their interest in the study of Science. Their faithfulness resulted in a number of people becoming interested. Informal services were held, and my mother did some healing work in the community before moving to another location where she practiced many years.

During the early years of study, some of the healings in the family included two cases of typhoid fever in an acute stage, setting and healing of a broken bone, healing of blood poisoning and of bone disease in the hip, and elongation of the shortened limb, as well as other proofs of the efficacy of Christian Science.

My parents were sharing their home with my husband and me some years ago. My parents and I decided to read Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy through in a month. One day as I was finishing my reading, I looked out of the window and saw boards and other big pieces of debris flying past. There had been no warning, and so it took us a few moments to realize that a tornado had struck. We closed windows and doors, all the while declaring God's ever-presence and that "there is no vapid fury of mortal mind—expressed in earthquake, wind, wave, lightning, fire, bestial ferocity—and this so-called mind is self-destroyed" (ibid., p. 293). Soon there was a calming of the wind, and the storm dissipated.

Members of the family who lived a short distance away and could see our house from theirs telephoned and said that a huge, black funnel-shaped could had hovered over our home for a few moments and then had lifted and disappeared. Although many buildings had been very badly damaged and others moved about so that the neighborhood looked entirely unfamiliar, the only damage to our place was the debris littering the yard. Even the trees were not uprooted or broken. We recognized at once that our desire to know more of God's law, and doing something about it in our study of the Christian Science textbook, had been our protection.

I have had two other wonderful instances of protection when I was not even aware that I was in grave danger. Afterward I realized that I had been tenderly held in Spirit's embrace and guarded from harm.

When I stop to remember the constant, loving care of my Father-Mother God, one healing among others stands out vividly. I do not know what the illness would have been called, but I was struck with such extreme discomfort in the lower back that I could not sit, stand, or lie down without extreme pain. I was alone at the time and for three days read, prayed, and sang hymns. When at the end of that time I had no relief, I called for help from a Christian Science practitioner, who later became my teacher. She wrote immediately, and among other things told me to remember that love is a lubricator. This statement led me to study references on "oil," the definition of which reads (Science and Health, p. 592): "Consecration; charity; gentleness; prayer; heavenly inspiration." I pondered these sacred qualities and gave thought to the need of expressing joy and gratitude. In a short time the healing came, and I was about my homemaking duties and work in my flower garden.

I shall always remember with thankfulness my two weeks of class instruction.

Even before my husband became a student of Christian Science, he always upheld me in my desire to study and practice my religion, and this was a great blessing. We both feel much gratitude for the Christian Science Benevolent Association Sanatoriums, where we have found peace, inspiration, and relaxation during our visits.

I am deeply interested in the erection of the Christian Science Church Center, a visible symbol of the love Christian Scientists feel for all the world.

(Mrs.) Joy Oaksmith Barnacastle
Shreveport, Louisiana