Puerto Rico Mission: July 9, 2021

Good afternoon. We are approaching the middle of July. Wow! Is it possible? A couple of weeks ago was Fathers' Day at church. Perhaps your church also celebrated the occasion. Like Mothers' Day, we always stress it pretty heavily. After all, with few exceptions, no one influences a child as much as their mom and dad. Thinking back on my life, there was no one that came in even a close "second". And, that is the way God intended it. Godly parents will raise children who, not always, but more often than not, will follow our example. Isn't that what Proverbs 22:6 declares. "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

South central Puerto Rico (Click to enlarge)
(Photographer unlisted)

Back to Fathers' Day: We had a good crowd, eight-five, a normal Sunday attendance when things are normal; no hurricanes, no earthquakes, and no fifteen months of pandemic. It concerns me that some of our congregation have yet to meet with us. I cannot help but wonder if this mess has revealed some hidden flaws in peoples' faith that only surfaced with the multiple challenges we have had to face. Back to Fathers' Day, we had several of our church members speak about their fathers. Gifts were given out to the dads and a carry-out dinner was served to finish the day.

We are anticipating returning to services inside the building soon. The governor just lifted all restrictions for groups up to five-hundred. Our church board is analyzing all the pros and cons of meeting inside. Probably by the end of July we will return inside if there is no major outbreak on the island after the lifting of all restrictions.

We are also ready to do our ministry fair, an event where people can sign up to be involved in around twenty ways in our church. This will be coming up in a week or so. A church in which its members are not committed and working is a church that will limp along until it flickers outs.

Local produce.
What a mango! 5 lbs.!! (Click to enlarge)

Last time, I mentioned the youth were going for an afternoon of riding electric scooters, the first youth event since the pandemic began due to government regulations. It was a great activity. Youth and adults numbered twenty. No one got hurt although there were a couple of skinned knees and torn jeans.

Not much more to share for now. Mary and I are well. We intend to take a three-day on-island vacation in a week or two. We plan to go to the mountains and see a few places that have escaped our attention for these many years. We hope you too can get away for a little while where ever you are!

Thanks for your interest in our work and lives. I have added a couple of photos below to show you the waters and beaches around our town.

God bless you!

Johnathan and Mary