It is easy to pray for a nice person. But to pray for a convicted murderer you need the mind of Christ.

Mr. Van Der Sloot (22) has confessed to the murder of Stephany Flores in Lima, Peru. Most every red-blooded person here, has consciously or unconsciously adopted a lynch-mob mentality. A righteous anger has reached its peak in a unanimous out-cry for justice to the last extent of the law. Parallel to that, there is an already greater anger against justice itself due to the possibility that the law of the land may be a little lenient in favor to Mr. Sloot because the murder was the result of a fit of rage and was not premeditated.

Since the times of Jesus, I never have heard of a man so hated by everybody as is Mr. Van der Sloot. To me he was just a Dutch fellow far from my parish and jurisdiction and was just a piece of news – till my “two up”, that is, my MTW country supervisor, Mark Berry, called me to ask if I could help to find a way to reach him to minister to him and to the parents of the girl that he murdered.

Mark said that the Lord had put this burden on his heart. He mentioned also that the team of short term missionaries who visited us recently, were friends of Natalie Holloway, the girl that Van der Sloot is suspected of killing in Aruba five years ago to the very day of this recent murder in Peru.

Soon after the phone call from Mark, I found myself calling judges, lawyers, a general, congressmen and other power brokers in Lima. Tonight the news broadcast showed Van der Sloot in hand-cuffs, with chains on his legs, circles under his eyes, a weekold beard and still dressed in the same outfit he had worn since the day he was captured a week earlier. I’ve learned that he is under surveillance 24 hours per day for fear he might commit suicide. He wept when his mother called him, and trustworthy sources say that he prays every day and night.

As soon as the dust settles and the media frenzy dies down, my friends in Lima are working on setting up a visit for me and Mark to see him in the maximum security prison to minister to him. Other friends helping us, are close friends of Mr. Flores, a car racer and father of the Peruvian girl who was the victim of Van der Sloot. They will acquire an appointment for Mark and me to visit the Flores.

Could it be that the prayers of Mr. Van der Sloot are being answered? Is a confessed and convicted murderer beyond God’s grace? I don’t think so!

That is why I am writing this letter to ask you to intercede that this particular mission may be done in the strength of the Lord and in the power of your intercessory support. Praise the Lord that because of your prayers on behalf of the Leaders Prayer Breakfast here in Huanta, it is gaining strength and quality every weekend.

In His Service as your representative,

Gerry Gutierrez (and Ruthie)
Casilla # 1 Huanta-Peru.
Phone: 011-516-632-2169