Heartfelt thanks to:
Carolyn Plampin, dear old friend and missionary colleague, who discovered Claudia and gave me the idea
Dr. Gladys Lewis, my heart friend and partner in crime, who birthed this baby
Dr. David Thomas who kept me supplied with background material and who advises lovingly and wisely
Dr. Peter James Flamming, pastor of First Baptist Church, Richmond, Virginia, who trusted me enough to put me on his staff (oh, happy years) and asked what it is I do that makes God smile
Carolyn Hott Spencer, Latin teacher and travel guide who knows what to see in Rome and how to get there
Ralph Starling, my dear friend and colleague, who measured the Mamertine prison for me
Martha Cloe, Patti Asby and Elizabeth Spencer, my delightful fellow travelers in Rome
Sister Pearl Lopez of The Church of Saint Pudentiana who promised to show me the first century house under the church if I brought an emergency lamp to scare away the snakes
Mario Antonucci at Saint Pudentiana’s who let us photograph his photographs
Tiffin Mabee and others on staff at the William Smith Morgan library at Union Theological Seminary Richmond
Sandra Higgins at the library of the International Mission Board in Richmond
The staff at Viriginia Commonwealth University Library The staff at Boatwright Library at the University of Richmond
The helpful and encouraging volunteers who run the library at First Baptist Church in Richmond
I do love all librarians!
Unending gratitude for all those who listened:
Dr. Wilbur Lewis, whom I love and admire, reviewed the obstetrical chapters and made suggestions
Jay Christie, sweetest spirit I know, in his hospital room
Douglas Johnson, a most sensitive and tender friend
Phil Mitchell, gifted church musician who helped me with worship in the early church and put his head on his desk while I read aloud the part about Paul’s execution
Joyce Chrismon, a patient and attentive friend
Marie Davis, a soul sister, who brings joy to my heart
Dr. Ron Dubois who told me years ago that I ought to write a book
Don and Mary McBride, my beloved brother and sister-in-law, who let me read to them
Suzanane Shonnard who told me about a splendid thing
Deborah Edgar who cried as I read to her from the manuscript (always a good sign)
Margaret Taylor who went with me to the mountain
Jerrie Lohr, my friend and favorite English teacher
My friends in the Builder’s Class who kept asking, “When will it be published?”
Earlene Jesse and her wonderful women of the Women’s Missionary Union of Virginia who have given me a platform
And most of all, my deepest gratitude to Bill Damon, my husband and technical guru, who is happy when I write