Helping Hands Pantry Needs
Closed due to Covid-19

Helpful Service
Andrew & Jennifer Cotton are frequent visitors in our worship assembly; both are nurses. Andrew works for one of the Healthcare Providers in this area. Not very busy at this time, he would like very much to help those in the community in a positive way: when people have health concerns, he, as a nurse, can take vital signs, make assessments, evaluate and make recommendations as to what steps need to be taken. He would also be available to run errands, like picking up groceries etc. His services, of course, would be free. Andrew’s phone number is available from the church office.

Beautiful Footnotes

Inspiration from Zambia – Madison Stone

This week we wanted to share some thoughts from Troy & Leana Futrell’s granddaughter Madison whom we help support in the East African nation of Zambia working in a medical team effort. She reminds us of the need to be active in being a light for others in difficult times. Keep Madison and this effort in your thoughts and prayers. For the elders, Ken D

BE A LIGHT
In our first few months into living in Zambia, we got pretty used to the power outages that would occur most nights. We learned how to hang out, eat, play games, and watch a movie all in the dark. We got used to the power being out for several hours a day, but one time, we were without power for 50 hours straight. There were no streetlights, so it would be pitch black when the power would go out. Our lights didn’t work, we could not charge our electronics, and there was no refrigeration. We couldn’t fix all of those “problems” immediately but we could fix the darkness. We didn’t have to sit in the pitch black for long. Once we would light a candle or a gas lamp, it would light up the room. Unfortunately, many people in this world live in a greater darkness that can’t be fixed by candles and gas lamps. It is our job as Christians to share the true Light of the World with the people around us.

People don’t usually enjoy being in the dark. The dark can be scary, It can be hard and exhausting. The dark may also cause fear. But those 50 hours that the power was out gave me something new that I had not realized before. It gave me time. Time to reflect on things that I am thankful for, that I often take for granted. I decided to use that time to make an ongoing list of what I was thankful for: a roof over my head to protect me from the rain, food, gas stoves, transportation, puppies, family, friends to sit in the darkness with, board games, books, and my list continued to grow the longer we didn’t have power. It was not easy. In fact, it was really hard. But, choosing to sit in the darkness and let it consume my thoughts and feelings would have made the situation so much worse. Sometimes it might feel like the world is really dark, but there is always something to be thankful for.

Matthew 5:14-16 says; “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

I am thankful that the light offered by Jesus is for everyone. When the darkness seems so prevalent, I think it’s important to remember that we still have things to be thankful for. We can’t always fix someone’s problem or take it away, but we can be there with them through the darkness. We can sit with them and offer a light. We can still rejoice and praise our Lord. We can still pray for people. We can still be a light