August 17

Hi everyone. Much of summer is  behind us; and yet August events are upon us. The first of two events on the calendar is our annual Friendship Day scheduled for the 25th of August. This year, for the special program, Noemi Luz, known throughout Central and South America will be the guest singer. We hope to have a fine attendance for this event.

Then, the 31st, we are having  a church excursion; the second of the summer. The bus is already filled to capacity. It should be a great outing. We use these events to strengthen the social bonds of the church members and connect with new people.

Some of my duties I rarely mention are weddings and funerals. Mary and I had the task of supporting a sister church on the opposite side of the island after their pastor passed away from an extended illness. Several pastors and ourselves had some part in the funeral service. Typical of  many Puerto Rican services, the funeral service lasted three hours.

Today we made a hospital call at 10:00 A.M., have a wedding to perform at 3:00 P.M.. and then on to a lesson on baptism set for 6:00 PM. Then, its back home to review the sermon I wrote yesterday and equally important pray. Oh yeah, do this blog :-).

The last couple of weeks (one day a week) I have been putting up gypsum board. Earlier this year we began a house restoration project for a very needy family. We are now at the drywall stage. All groups are gone so I am going on with the help of another missionary and a couple of super interns.

Mary is back to teaching at the University of PR. She has twenty-one credits and is one busy woman.

Life is good. God is better. May that good Lord bless you.

Johnathan and Mary