Puerto Rico Mission: November 13

On furlough...dinner out

Hello everyone. Our three week furlough is past and beginning to quickly fade away as we climb back into the saddle... so to speak . We arrived back in PR late last Thursday. In many ways the trip went by too fast. Fridays through Mondays were busy with travels and speaking engagements. I suppose we traveled around two-thousand miles over the three weekends we were in the States. We stayed with our son and daughter-in-law in a suburb of Chicago. Our trips carried us to Chattanooga, Knoxville, and then two weekends to So. IL. In all, we visited and spoke in four churches. Without exception, the churches received us with open arms and smiles on their faces. I cannot imagine anything else they could have done to make us feel any more welcome! Some of these people we have known for fifty to sixty-plus years. And, all four churches have financially backed our ministries from forty to fifty years. Isn't that remarkable! They have been astonishingly faithful, in spite of the ups and downs that all churches face from time to time! Such faithfulness humbles us and if I think about it too long, moves me to the point of tears. I am reminded that one of the traits of the Fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness...which I suppose has so many applications. Certainly we have tried to be faithful to supporting churches and individuals as they have been faithful to us and our ministry. Well, let me go on before I smudge the computer screen! 😁😁.

Crashboat beach in Aguadilla:
Underwater fairyland

Last Sunday, the 5th of Nov., I had the privilege to preach the 60th anniversary of a church my dad/mom and fifteen others started in Marion, IL. Then the 12th, last Sunday, I preached the 50th anniversary of a church in Hormigueros, PR. We took our band down along with one of our worship leaders to help with the musical segment of the service. The musicians practiced last Thursday, and again this past Sunday before traveling to our destination. God deserves the best and we always try to do things well for Him and everyone else. "Whatsoever you do, do with all your heart as unto the Lord and not unto men." (Col 3:23).

Coming up, here in Aguadilla next Sunday, the 19th, we celebrate Thanksgiving with a dinner after the service. Our guest speaker, Javier Ortiz, is a Timothy of our congregation. We also, November 26, are getting ready to lay out the ministry opportunities for 2024 where everyone is invited and expected to participate. That is based on Paul's teaching in Eph. 4:16. Then the first Sunday of December kicks off Christmas season with a drama/cantata. Practice begins this week. Later in December we have a guest band scheduled to play/sing Christmas music. We will be finishing the year on a high!

Santos y Isabel Torres:
Native Ministry to the DR

In our last blog I mentioned one of our church members was going to Cuba on a missions trip. She is back and we are anxious to hear a report from her travels. Other missions "things" we have done for several years is The Christmas Child box promoted by Samaritan's Purse. So far there have been 48 boxes collected. Also related to missions, the church board decided to make a monthly donation to Native Ministry (Santos Torres) to be used to supply a morning snack for children as they gather at Santos and Isabel's home for a weekly Bible study. If you recall, Santos was part of our congregation for 20 years but now is living/working as a missionary in the Dominican Republic.

Well I suppose I should stop for now. Happy Thanksgiving.

Johnathan and Mary

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