Dear Pastor, Family, and Friends,
I am thrilled to let you know that at the time of writing this letter we are now able to have in-person services. Yesterday was our first meeting since the restrictions have been relaxed. There are still protocols that have to be followed and limitations placed on the number of persons permitted to attend a religious service. It was exciting yesterday to see our church family for the first time in seven months. We praise the Lord that we had 14 people in attendance for the service and that 100% of the families who were able to attend did. We still have some members who live in communities that are in quarantine and not able to leave their homes on the weekends.
These seven months have been a time of leaning on the Lord and not our own understanding and trusting in him for his continued guidance. We are grateful to see that through all of this that the Lord has, as he promised, grew and kept His church. We are not sure what is ahead for us in the days to come, BUT we are sure who is in control and are moving forward with the help of the Lord.
One of the biggest challenges we have had to overcome with reopening is, “Where could we hold services?” Although, many things are opening up, the community center that we had been meeting still is not available. Thankfully Juan Carlos, the young man working with me, and his wife offered their home. You can see a picture of how they set everything up. I wasn’t sure how it would work out, but they did a great job. They had everything organized according to the protocols and set up and decorated very nice. You could see their heart for the church and the Lord’s work in how they set up everything. We are so excited to see how they are growing in the Lord and see their desire to serve continue to increase. Please pray for us that things will remain open and moving in the right direction. Also, please pray with us as we are asking the Lord to provide much needed funds to purchase a property so that we can have a place of our own to meet in. We want to say thank you to each church that has already sent an offering to help with this great need. We have ways to go but we know the Lord is able and that the Lord will do it. Gifts can be sent to the address listed below marked for Grace Building Purchase. Again, thank you for all you do for us and the Lord.
In Christ,
The Smitheys