February 25, 2022

Hi everyone! February is flying by. I can hardly believe March is at the door. We hope all is well with you. Let me give you a quick update on our work and lives in Aguadilla, PR.

I closed out the last blog stating we would be choosing and installing two new deacons. That is now done. We have a church board composed of four elders and two deacons. These people are fine Christian people who exemplify Christ in so many ways. I could not be happier. The ordination of deacons had to be postponed one week due to heavy rains. If you remember, we meet outside so we had to cancel services the Sunday of the ordination. 

Youth retreat

The plan was to return indoors the second Sunday in January; but after Christmas, Covid broke out all over the island at levels unseen up to that point. So, the board decided to postpone returning indoors. Numbers are way down. The virus seems less virulent and almost everyone is vaccinated. Soon we will be inside.

Also, since the last blog, the youth had their weekend retreat in the mountains. Counting adults we had sixteen attend. Friday night when we all arrived at the retreat site in the mountains the youth seemed quiet and down. I was a little concerned yet when they arrived at the church mid-day Sunday they were sky-high. According to them it was "the best retreat ever". Those comments really made my day! Praise the Lord!

Youth's mountain view of the ocean

The church members are in the process of signing up for ministry teams for 2022. We are quite late
getting this done due to several factors. In a couple of weeks we will have it closed out and then we hope to put people to work. That is the biblical pattern; everyone working to bless others. 

Friendship Day, February 13, has come and gone. The attendance was pretty good...but not as good as we had hoped. Nevertheless, the service went well. Our granddaughter did an interpretive dance which brought some tears to our eyes and a hearty round of applause. At the end of the service we shared a cake and everyone got a simple gift...a bookmark imprinted with the names of the books of the Bible. We, as a congregation, are reading through the New Testament this year. The marker is a simple reminder to read the Scriptures daily. It is vital if one is to maintain his/her focus.

"Queen Mary"

March and April has been organized by one of our worship leaders. Several events are coming up: The church's  anniversary, International Day of Missions, Youth worship night, and a Morning of Gold service which honors the older people in our congregation. It will be a busy month. 

"Queen  Mary's" admirer

Mary and I are blessed by having our youngest son and his wife visiting with us for around ten days. It is a work/vacation for them; working via internet from our home. Late afternoons and evenings take us to ice cream shops and occasionally enjoying sunsets on the beach.

I will catch you up on the next blog.  Blessings!

Johnathan and Mary    

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"Click" to expand photo. 

Endemic Orchid "Bletia Patula"

Poinsettia bush in our front yard

"Rio Grande" river in neighboring town