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Flight attendant Deb Smith was supposed to leave town for three days, but she couldn't get Kristin and Kati Lisk out of her mind.
The two missing Spotsylvania girls are strangers to Smith. But she decided to devote yesterday to praying for their safe return.
Smith, who is a member of Chancellor Christian Church, helped organize a prayer circle off State Route 3 at Five Mile Fork. Dozens of people saw the hand-painted signs along the road--"Pray for Kristin and Kati. Can't stay? Pray"--and pulled up the steep gravel driveway. There was a small boy and his father, dressed to head off to a baseball game. There were teen-agers and senior citizens.
Most stayed for a few minutes. They joined hands in the circle, formed in a grassy field.
Some cried. Some asked God to forgive the girls' apparent abductor.
"I haven't been able to sleep," said Tamara Gallo of Spotsylvania, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I haven't been able to think about anything else."
Gallo has an 8-year-old and a 5-year-old. She said they've asked to be picked up at the door of the bus at their bus stop each day.
Gallo feels such empathy for the family that she called Ronald Lisk to tell him she is praying for him.
"I couldn't not do anything," she said.
Spotsylvania has been saturated with reminders of the missing girls. Fast-food restaurants, convenience stores, post offices and gas stations have posted the fliers with the girls' pictures in prominent windows. The fliers tell passers-by to call 911 with clues and tips.
Churches miles from where the girls live have posted messages on their front lawns. The Church of the Messiah on State Route 3 has one that reads: "Pray for Kristin and Kati Lisk."
Someone from Goshen Baptist Church, where the Lisks are members, made dozens of yellow fliers asking for a massive moment of prayer every evening at 7:30.
"Turn off the TV, radio, computer, telephone and join in a quiet time of prayer as we gather together in community to support the Lisk family in this time of need."
The church itself has a round-the-clock prayer vigil. There's a big poster board sign-up sheet with the Lisk girls' pictures posted in the hall behind the sanctuary.
Desiree Trail, who lives several miles from the girls' home, spent yesterday afternoon tying pink and yellow ribbons--one color for each girl--to trees and lightposts in Spotsylvania's courthouse area.
Piece Goods Shop and Fancy Hats of America donated plastic bags filled with ribbon reels.
Trail said she spent part of the weekend adding the Lisk girls' pictures to various Internet sites. She wants to organize a network to get ribbons tied and posters posted in surrounding counties.
"Everyone in Spotsylvania has been bombarded already," she said. "We need to bring more awareness outside the county."
Brad Williams, a firefighter with Spotsylvania's courthouse station, spent yesterday cleaning up. The station served as a headquarters for many of the searchers during the weekend.
"Lots of folks said they wanted to help, so they cooked for us," he said. "We had so many cakes, cookies, breads."
There were two pickup trucks worth of leftover food. It was delivered to the homeless shelter and Hope House.
Cars passing on Block House Road yesterday afternoon were stopped so police could question drivers about possible clues in the case.
One woman who was stopped used the time to get out of her car and hand out lapel-sized yellow ribbons.
