Dear John, Jane, and Children;

Thank you for bring this to my attention. I was emotionally knocked to my knees. While I read your pamphlet I was humbled by your restraint and terrified by the system.  I have always thought the government was out there protecting law biding Christians from irresponsible acts of evil.

I am appalled at the lack of legal control that has been setup to control the Services to Children and Families, and police officers. It is time for the regular citizen to know and stand up for their rights. I want to commend you for your convection, and again thank you for the pamphlet and the web site. I read the pamphlet and have looked through the web site, reading as much of it as I could understand. My gut reaction is that of disgust at the way the law makers and enforcers have set things up to their own defenses and not the common good of children and families.

My heart and soul goes out to you and your children. My prayers will be heavy toward you and this terrible act. My pray will not be just for your healing but that God will make a great and good thing of this so that God will be glorified by your lives, and that his peace that passes all understanding will grow in you and your family. God loves you, he will take care of all of you. You must trust in Him.

I contacted Barbara Ross and left a message. Her aide contacted me today in response. She (the aide) walked the fence, saying they were glad I called and were looking to learn more about the incident, but that children had to be defended, and that they were looking into other states laws and how or if Oregon laws needed to be altered.  I gave her my opinion, they said they would keep me informed as to events. the Ciff Trow line was only a computer line so I was unable at this time to voice to him. I will get to him.

A little about myself.  My father took me from my mother when I was 2 1/2.   For about a 1/2 year he hid me all over the south west, then abandoned me on the streets of a California town.  A Christian family took me in.  They brought me up as their own child.  I believed I was theirs.

One day a strange showed up, showed me some pictures, said that they were my real family and that I had to go live with them, period. I was seven. I had one day to accept it. No apologies, no explanation. The next night ( it was evening, sundown), I was placed on a plane alone (a filght attendent was to make sure I got off in Ohio). I didn't know where I was going, or to who. My family (the one taking care of me) had tried to explain it all to me. Believe me I did not understand. What I heard was, we want you to do what you are told, behave, and be a good Christian.

I arrived in Ohio about 3 AM, met a woman I had no memory of, and called her by her first name until I was in my mid teens. I wanted you to hear this so that you would understand, how deeply I was effected by your incident. And how glad I was for Alex that you got her back so quickly. The system failed me in many ways. I had just accepted what happened to me, as just the way it was done and never questioned the system, until I got your pamphlet.

Now I want better for others, the children and the parents. Until you have lived it, there is no way to know the deep emotional internal breaking apart that happens, or the walls that your mind constructs to prevent the hurt. Only through God's great grace and mercy is there hope to overcome those terrible things.

Time does not of itself heal wounds, God does. If there is anything that I can do, let me know. Christ will take care of all, and each of you,

Terry Alphin

P.S. If I rambled forgive me. Accept the parts you want, it is all given in Christ's love.