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Show Gospel Changes Newsmans RY pi J AA Life HFef Church News Editor BERLIN, GERMANY Being in the right place at the right time is important for a newsman. Helmut Ruchatz, Dahlen Ward, Berlin Stake, has been in the right place for many major news events in Europe during the past 28 years. He was the first motion picture cameraman to report the construction of the Berlin Wall. He haj photographed President Nixon in Poland, President Kennedy in Germany, Nikita Khrushchev in Romania and the European security council in Helsinki, Finland. But Brother Ruchatz has not always been in the right place at the right time. Two years ago he was struck by an automobile. Not only that, he was in the hospital when the missionaries called at his home. That is being in the wrong place twice, he said. The missionaries knocked on the door of the Ruchatz family five times before they met a friendly reception. I had always sent them away before, Sister Ruchatz said. But this time they said something that interested me. We have the same foundation of our church as Jesus had in His, the elder had said to Sister Ruth Ruchatz, who spoke briefly to them before leaving to visit her husband in the hospital. Sister Ruchatz was a student of the other Bible, and had investigated churches during previous years. I told my husband about the visit of the missionaries, and we were both very skeptical. I am afraid I gave them a hard time. If you have any mistakes I will find them, U you do not you will have a new member, she told the elders. had Sister Ruchatzs left Spain many years ago looking for religious freedom. Faith in God and an active interest in religion had followed the family through the years. During the months that followed, while ij i I ft - - ' j i : 'p great-grandfath- er Ruth Ruchatz's taught her husband the gospel. Continued on page Snow Turns Trip into 14 rvv t ri . Pz 1 h News cameraman, Helmut Ruchatz, who lives in Berlin, has covered major stories of Europe. Faith-Promoti- ng Ordeal SUN VALLEY, CALIF. When John K. Larsen left his home son for a here Jan. 2 with his short camping trip, he had no idea of the ordeal they would undergo before returning home. Brother Larsen and his son, John Jr., set up camp in the Angeles National Forest, pitching their tent near the Buckhorn campgrounds north of Mt. Wilson after hiking some four nuies from where they parked their car. Father and son, who have camped together on numerous occasions, planned to return home Thursday night, Jan. 3, but a heavy storm hit and snow piled up around their tent.' Before the storm had stopped, the tent was buried six feet beneath the snow. Brother Larsen and John Jr. were inside. When the pair had not returned by Friday, Sister Larsen became very concerned. Realizing there was a storm in the mountains where her husband and son were camping, she called the search and rescue squad. Also, the family began fasting and praying for the campers safe return. In the mountains. Brother Larsen and John Jr. were also praying. faith-testin- 4 g - CHURCH 9 By late Friday, Jan. 4, a ground search had been started by the Montrose and Altadena sheriffs search and rescue teams. They found the Larsen automobile. Saturday, said Brother Larsen, my wife was given a blessing by President Lynn N. Cook, second counselor in our Burcank Stake presidency, which was amazingly calming and comforting." Also Saturday, the friends of the Larsens in their North Hollywood 2nd Ward, and ihc neighboring North Hollywood 3rd Ward, joined the fast and prayers for the missing campers. Said Brother Larsen, Saturday night was the roughest because of an inch of water in the tent. The weight of the snow covering the tent had compressed in the sides, allowing some water seepage. Our sleeping bags were soaked, said Brother Larsen. I didnt see how I could go it one more night. To get through the night, Brother Larsen lay on one of the wet sleeping bags, holding his son on top of him tG keep the boy as dry as possible. WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 2, 1974 Sunday morning, Jan. 6, father and son had eggs for breakfast. Said Brother Larsen, When we were packing the food, for some reason, at the last minute, we decided to throw in some extra cheese and other things. It came in very handy. To pass the time in the small camping tent, Brother Larsen and John Jr. sang songs. It also helped keep their spirits up. Brother Larsen sat on a saucepan, holding young John on his lap to keep him dry. It was a bit later in the day that Brother Larsen, pondering the problem of water in the tent, felt impressed to make a slit in the tent, go outside and dig the snow away to get some of the water out. This timing was perfect, he said, because, as soon as I dug out, I heard the rangers voices. John Jr. broke into sobs when he help was coming, although during the ordeal he had not whimpered or complained. As the searchers arrived, the Knew boy stopped his crying and chatted cheerfully until he and his father were home. Paramedics accompanying the rescuers checked the boys feet for frostbite, but found none. John Jr. was then wrapped warmly and placed in a backpack carrier. The rescuers took turns carrying him out. The rescuers walked about three miles to a snow cat, which took them the rest of the way. A few days Brother Larsen said, after the rescue was completed, 1 paid a visit to Sgt. Shaughnessy, the man who planned the entire operation. While all that had recounting happened, I told him about all the prayers and fasting that had been offered in our behalf by family and friends. I Sgt. Shanghnessy told me that could tel! them all, that as far as he and his men were concerned, the perfect timing in coordinating men and equipment for this rescue and our physical condition when they found us, showed Gods hand was definitely involved. |