Another good Wednesday to you all!

One of my favorite thoughts regarding Sunday mornings comes from Psalm 122:1: "I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”  There's nothing quite like the moment each week when God's family comes together for corporate worship.  I hope you always come to this moment with a spirit of anticipation and expectation.  God inhabits the praises of his people.  What a wonderfully marvelous and mysterious thing that is!

FIRST REPORTS FROM OUR HONDURAS MEDICAL TEAM:

Over the past two days we received the following reports from Alex Zukowski:

Today was our first day of work at a church in a city called El Progreso.  Dr. Hall saw 116 people and we passed out a whole bunch of medicine.  Tomorrow we're going to another church in another city, Wednesday Thursday Friday will be up and villages in the mountains (pray for cool weather) we're having a blast, you can just flick the tarantulas right off of the suitcases. On Friday we'll be at the place where the high school team will be in June.  God is good! The team

Pastor Jerry, Wish you were here!  We had "baleadas" for dinner. It's like a huge soft taco.  Dr. Hall is amazing - sharp all the way through the day which is hard to do in the heat.  The local church folks have little money but huge faith.  We've been seeing over 100 people per day.  Wednesday, Thursday & Friday we'll be traveling to more remote churches.  Jerri McGarrah has been sharing wonderful devotionals about the "peace of God" as spiritual warfare.  We are agents of God's peace and favor.  This is a messed up world but God’s grace abounds all the more!  Tomorrow, with our bare hands, we'll kill 5 chickens for dinner, just kidding it's only 4 chickens!  It's pretty safe to say that everyone considers being here an honor.  Til next time!

The team.

What great reports!  These are your prayers and your contributions at work.  This is the healing ministry of Jesus in the 21st century being extended to "the least of these."  Please allow me to say again, as I did several weeks ago:

THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO GIVE TO OUR MISSIONS PARTNERSHIP!  AND TO THOSE WHO DON'T: YOU CAN START GIVING TODAY!  Call the office or fill out a pledge card - it is never too late to get started.  There is no way we can touch our world with the compassion of our Lord without your help.  There is no investment you can make that will ever yield more in returns than to make it possible for people to KNOW Jesus - to know his saving grace and his loving touch.  May God continue to bless our team in the days ahead.

NEXT SUNDAY: ANOTHER WEEK WITH DR. REEDER AND JANET:

What a great morning we enjoyed with the two of them.  We even had a guest vocalist: Louis Armstrong.  They will be with us again this coming Sunday to talk about process and transition, helping us get our hearts and our heads into the proper frame of mind.  Please remember to fill out the pastoral qualities survey that was made available to everyone on Sunday.  Fill it out and bring it with you this coming week.  Anyone age 15 or older - no membership required - who loves Salem First and cares about her future is welcome to fill one out.

CONGRATULATIONS TO PASTOR JOSHUA AND LOUISE KILLIAN:

Pastor Joshua and Louise were officially engaged on Feb. 19!

Thank you for your continued faithfulness during this transition season.  Your coming, your giving, your serving, your loving, your praying - it MATTERS MORE THAN YOU KNOW!  Blessings to you all...

Pastor Jerry