Vox Simonisis a monthly publication (with exception of January) of the First Mennonite Church. TheVox Simonisis designed to inform the FMC Congregation and friends of the congregation of ``God's work'' through the individuals, families, church groups, and the greater community.
``Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.'' Mark 12:29-31 Individual submissions are welcome. Please bring contributions to the church office. You may also email submissions tofmcreedleyjuno.com
WEB SITE INFORMATION
First Mennonite Church now has a website on the internet. To visit the FMC site, go to:
www.fmcreedley.org
You may email the church office at:
fmcreedleyjuno.com
FMC STAFF
Stephen Penner, Pastor ………………………………………...E-mail: stevepenneryahoo.com Juan Montes, Pastor ………………………..………….…………..….E-mail: jvmontesjuno.com Barbara Ewy, Director of Children's Ministries …………………………..E-mail: abewycvip.net Dee Patrick, Office Coordinator ……………………………….……E-mail: fmcreedleyjuno.com Paul Reimer, Custodian…………………………………...………...E-mail: psreimernetzero.net
Contact us...
1208 `L' Street (P.O. Box 111), Reedley, California, 93654
(559) 638-2917 (559) 637-8826 Fax
Submissions are accepted and are used by discretion of the editor.
REFLECTIONS By Stephen Penner
On Caring
Most people can hear a gospel writer describe how Jesus looked around ``and had compassion'' upon the people he saw and conclude that caring about people beyond ourselves is important. Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan, his healing of the women beside the road, his words on the cross to the thief, and much, much more, all remind us of the importance of caring. And of course, caring, showing compassion, demonstrating love, are qualities that other great religions of the world would also affirm. Our caring is often influenced by what we read in the newspapers, what we hear on the radio or television, the people we know in our community, our friends at church, the people we know on our street. I've sometimes wondered if it isn't possible to max out on the things we care about, that we have compassion for. How much caring can one human being possibly carry within herself? Finally, you have to eat and sleep, tend to family matters, go to workhow much capacity does one human being have to significantly care above and beyond all that? Is there anything wrong with symbolic caring, sort of an occasional shout out to some cause or concern? A person might say, for example, that, you know, I believe in MCC and all the good things it does, but I just can't care like that all the time. So, once a year, I'm willing to go to the MCC Relief Sale and put in two hours in the hamburger booth, just to show I care. Here's a beginning list of things I care about or think that some readers may care about: the air quality in our Valley and how it impacts our lives, gangs in Reedley, the current tension between India and Pakistan, the terrible conflict in eastern Congo, people suffering with AIDS, people we know dealing with some kind of mental illness, people dealing with serious disease, the high teenage pregnancy rate in our county, the impact of big corporations on small businesses, the future of downtown Reedley, people living in the United States who are undocumented, without legal status, the high abortion rate in our country, students who don't seem to care at all, people who are grieving, people living with physical disabilities, veterans of the Vietnam War and the Iraq war, the people of Zimbabwe, the people of the Darfur region of Sudan, the people of Columbia, the people of Iraq, American soldiers and their families, people around the world who can't read the Bible in their own language, people who have recently lost their job, people living with some form of dementia, refugees and internally displaced people, people in prison, Palestinians and Israelis, people without a home, people who are victims of domestic violence, civil rights for gays and lesbians, the suicide rate, faltering marriages, people dealing with cancer, people who are behind on their mortgages, people living in fear of death under the shadow of war, the need for stable jobs... The list could surely grow to be much longer. For many of the above we are able, if we try, to conjure up in our mind's eyes the face of someone we know who fits in that category. I think it is important to nurture deep within our spirits the compassionate Jesus. I think we can give ourselves a pass to say that we just can't care profoundly about everything. But that doesn't excuse us from having a few people, a few causes, which we give much of ourselves to. The beautiful thing is to be a church where we bless each other, and encourage each other, as we express Christ-like compassion and concern in the particular arenas that stir us the most. This Christmas season, as we read the familiar stories again, and as we remind ourselves of the coming of Jesus, God's Son, into our human reality; we would do well to act upon the prodding of the Spirit to reach out in compassion.
THOUGHTS...
by Barbara Ewy
. .A Season of Miracle I have always liked the Christmas season. As a child I liked the Christmas lights and the wonderful carols and anticipation that are part of the Christmas scene. I enjoyed the church Christmas program and took my turn playing angels and narrators and once even got to be a wise man! Christmas vacation was always filled with family time. We divided it between my dad and mom's families, often spending Christmas with one and New Years with the other. Cousins, games, laughter, peppernuts, football, stories, and cracking nuts around the kitchen table are all part of my memory of Christmas past. As I grew older I became aware of the dark side of Christmas. A seminary friend died in December just before the holidays. My awareness of the world's problems grew. I recognized that some are homeless and others not sure where a Christmas meal will come from, much less gifts and a tree to place them under. I have come to appreciate Advent, a season when we recognize the world's darkness and look for the light and hope that God's coming brings to our human need. John 1:14 proclaims, ``And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.'' Jesus' coming, not as a warrior or powerful king, but as a helpless baby to dwell among us is the miracle of Christmas. It is something difficult to understand but easy to wonder at, to marvel, to ponder. What does it mean for us to follow Jesus, the one who both said and lived that the ``greatest shall be least'' and ``the first shall be last''? Isaiah spoke of a day when all nations would come to the Lord's house to learn God's ways and walk in God's paths. Jesus is central to our understanding of how that happens. We invite you to come and wonder with us on December 21 when we presentA Season of Miracle, our children's and youth Christmas program. We will retell the story of Jesus' coming through narration, music and drama based on Luke chapters one and two and Matthew chapter two. Isaiah's vision of God's kingdom will provide a framework for our thoughts. The program will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 21, and will be followed by a Christmas meal in the fellowship hall. You are invited to bring Christmas goodies to place on the tables for dessert. Everyone is welcome. Come, wonder with us and celebrate the birth of Jesus!
Rumblings Around the Campus by Paul Reimer , Custodian
Thanksgiving is just past and Christmas is ahead of us. The weather was foggy everyday this week and I am raking leaves. Fortunately they empty the dumpster twice a week because it is always full of leaves. This month the Trustees will be taking out the trees on the west side of the church. They will grind the stumps and branches. The wood will be cut up and hauled away. New trees will then be planted in their place. The rain gutters have been cleaned before the rain last week and gutter nails hammered in where needed. The lawns still look good and green where I seeded with rye seed. That's all for now until next year. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
The following is a list of books missing from the church library. If you have one of these, or any other book stamped First Mennonite Church Library, please return it to the counter in the library. Thank you! Simons, Menno The Complete Writing of Menno Simons Ruth, Corinna Siebert, Editor The Unfolding of our Story Yoder, James D. Black Spider Over Tiegenhof Aukerman, Dale Hope Beyond Healing Layman's Bible Commentary Volumes 17, 19 and 25 Schroeder, William and Huebert, Helmut T. Mennonite Historical Atlas Yoder, John H. The Politics of Jesus Ruth-Heffelbower, Duane The Anabaptists Are Back Sharp, John Gathering At The Hearth Langenwalter, J.H. Christ's Headship of the Church Erb. Paul Bible Prophecy Questions and Answers Current copies of the Mennonite Weekley Review are now available in the library. Read, and then return to the basket on the counter.
Events in our FMC Family and Beyond~~~ · Sylvia Gomez was burning the midnight oil in November, studying for her Human Anatomy class. Judging from the results of her recent test, it was worth the effort. · Jerry and Ro Linscheid were in Freeman, South Dakota over Thanksgiving where they spent significant time with Ro's mom. Tyler, of course, traveled with them and his older brother Michael cruised into town from Bethel College to spend time with the family. · There are lots of leaves around the FMC campus. Paul Reimer is charged with the responsibility of dealing with the leaves. He employs a series of tools to address the falling vegetation. These instruments include a couple of rakes, the leaf blower, and the lawnmower. · Dee Patrick celebrated her Thanksgiving dinner at Sierra View Home together with Roger and Roger's mom, Flora. · Tim Cowdrey, grandson of Paul and Corinna Ruth, was named to the Central Valley Conference junior college football all-star team as a punter. Tim is a sophomore and this is his second straight year to make all-league. · Frank Riffel and Rudy Valdovinos sat and cheered together at Reedley College football games this past season. Frank reports that at one crucial game his heart grew faint in the fourth quarter because the Tigers were behind. But Rudy never gave up, and his cheering helped spur the local eleven on to victory. · Doris Reimer's house filled with Andersons over the Thanksgiving holiday. · For the second straight season Bethel College volleyball player Kristen Schrag was named the all KCAC (Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference) defensive specialist-libero of the year. Kristen is the granddaughter of Vern and Judy Warkentin. Here's what Kristen's coach says about her: ``She is so dynamic. She's a difference maker on the floor.'' · Kyle Bohn reports that if he lived in a quiet town like Reedley, instead of the congested greater Los Angeles area, he would ride his bike all over the place. Sort of like Roger Zimmerman, Paul Reimer, and Ed Boldt. · Ray and Ellen Ewy, Ron Ewy, David and Dorothy Boldt, Peter and Nick Boldt, Ed and Barbara Boldt, Daniel and Dolores Boldt, Nathan Boldt and girlfriend Rachel enjoyed Thanksgiving together at their Cedar Brook cabin. · John Anderson joined the R-Aging Pirate Runners for their traditional early Sunday morning run on the long Thanksgiving weekend. · Daisy Cintora broke her glasses on December 1. · Tom Caron is a mail carrier in Fresno. Along the way the person who carries the mail meets a wide assortment of dogs. So far Tom has been bitten ten times. Yes, that's TEN times. · Over Thanksgiving weekend Zak Blake, Yessica Ambriz, Nick Boldt, Peter Boldt, Laura Penner, and Andy Ewy all marched in a Disneyland parade and the Hollywood Santa parade as members of the Reedley High School marching band. There are 320 members in the band. · Behind the Reedley High marching band stands a solid crew of parental supporters. Helping out at the Southern California parades were Alan and Barbara Ewy, Jenny Penner, and Brad and JoLynne Blake. · Elijah Montes recently fell asleep in Grandpa Montes' arms at a FMC staff meeting. This came right after tasting an orange for the first time. · These are exciting days at the Edith and Isaias Montaño household. Sons Joshua and Caleb are anxiously awaiting the projected mid-December arrival of a new sibling. Rumor has it that the new born will be a girl and that a name has already been selected.
· The San Joaquin Chorale, under the direction of Roy Klassen, presented their Christmas concert on Saturday evening, December 6, in our sanctuary. Ron Ewy, Don Friesen, Karen Peterson, and Dick Peterson all sing in the chorale. · The children of Madie Butts helped her celebrate her 80thbirthday by hosting a fine meal in the Fellowship Hall on November 29. · Laura Penner is a soprano in the Reedley High School Madrigals. · Alex Boldt is a bass in Open Road, the Bethel College a cappella men's octet. · The life of a university professor stretches far beyond the classroom. Brent Auernheimer's inquisitive mind leads him into various areas of computer technology and engineering research in addition to his duties as a faculty member at Fresno State University. · A number of Church in the Basement people spent Thanksgiving Day morning at the Beverly Living Center visiting people who otherwise would be largely alone for the holiday. · Ken and Kass Seitz will be spending their last Christmas in the Middle East. They began their service in Lebanon in 2004 and will conclude their five year term of service with MCC next summer. · Wendell and Aleta Rempel left for Kansas on Monday, December 1. They will be spending quality time with their children and grandchildren. · Ruben Montes and Jose Mireles both play the djimbe. · Juan Montes is coaching the Reedley High girls' junior varsity soccer team. He also helps out with the varsity girls. The girls' soccer program has been making steady progress the past couple of years. · Jerry Linscheid recently returned from an MCC visit to Bolivia. He was part of a learning tour led by Bob Buxman that was composed primarily of individuals from various MCC Relief Sales on the West Coast. On Sunday evening, December 14, Jerry and Terry Oberg will be sharing about their experiences. · Eligo and Juanita Nuñez shared on Sunday evening, November 23, in the Fellowship Hall. Eligo is an excellent singer whose music bears a Caribbean influence. Juanita is the moderator of the Hispanic Mennonite Church. She brought the message from John 4 that evening. · Andy Ewy is a goalie on the Reedley High School freshmen boys' soccer team. · Chuck Bohn donated his time to put up a white board and a bulletin board in the MYF room in the basement. · Cathy Ratmeyer and Georgia Linscheid are now sponsoring a monthly tea time with Sierra View Home residents. · The gutter in front of Georgierena Harder's house on W. Ponderosa is the lowest point on the street. Thus, it falls to Georgierena to periodically sweep away the leaves and water that collect in her gutter. Don't worry, it's good exercise! · Gail Harder collects information for the Pirate Plank published in theExponenteach and every week about life around Reedley High School. · Jim Compton-Schmidt has been coordinating an email discussion about the challenges facing our schools and colleges. · Cal Poly Pomona student Angelica Valdovinos had a first hand view of the terrible wildfires which ravaged Southern California in recent weeks.
COFFEE TIME AT SIERRA VIEW HOMES … by Cathy Ratmeyer On Wednesday morning, November 12, Georgia Linscheid, Doris Reimer and I invited all of our church members at Sierra View Homes apartments and in Residential Care to gather for coffee, cookies and fellowship. Nearly everyone was able to come, plus other residents who wanted to join the group. The children from Kids Club, ages almost two to twelve years old provided the highlight for the event. The week before they had drawn pictures with pencils and crayons to give to the residents at Sierra View. I held the pictures up one by one while Edythe Eymann carefully analyzed them (she had training for that) and gave them an excellent rating. We look forward to the next coffee time in December. The plan is to do this the second Wednesday of every month.
Mennonite Disaster Service By Wayne Zimmerman
MDS has been given the green light to establish a worksite in the Dulzura, CA community.Dulzura is located south east of San Diego near the Mexico border. This area was affected by the fires of 2007.MDS has been working with the county official and relief organization who are involved in giving permission and funding for materials. Jim Scott, a volunteer from Michigan is on location and is in charge of establishing a camp in a rather picturesque desert location.CA MDS workers are involved in accomplishing the set up. The camp is scheduled to be ready to accept workers after the New Year.Two home sites are approved for rebuildingand a 3rd home nears approval. Additional sites are expected to be available for reconstruction once the actual work at Dulzura begins.
Walking With a Man Who Was a Soldier
By Winona Campbell
When I hug him I feel the ever present dog tags clink on the chain under his T shirt. They will be with him all his life, reminders of that war, that remnant of buddies, those altered lives. He calls his bedroom a "hooch", a slang term in Viet Nam for a small hut or building. A music system lines two walls. Music and talk radio stand twenty four hour guard against reoccurring thoughts that bring dismay. A picture of Jesus given to him by his mother hangs above the bed. Under this gentle Christ he prays nightly for loved ones. With his military penchant for time he knows that his prayers take thirty minutes. Then he waits for four psychotropic drugs to carry him off to sleep in the safety of his hooch. It is crucial to his sanity that he fired no bullets into a man. He was a guard in the last eight months of the war, but while he lived under deafening bombardment, no enemy came into his sites. He never cries, yet once broke down when he read the number of deaths resulting from the Viet Nam War. His now deceased wife told him, "You did what you were ordered to do over there." A loyal member of three veterans groups, he nevertheless quotes a criticism circulated among the former enlisted men: the purpose of the war in Viet Nam was to rid the country of Mexicans, blacks and Oakies. Like a boater with each foot in a separate rowboat, his opinions about the war sway back and forth. He is proud of Viet Nam vets yet angry that current nineteen year olds may enlist and follow in his (then) nineteen year old footsteps. He worries about the huge number that will return from middle eastern wars with post traumatic stress. They will be placed on the same type of drugs invented in part for Viet Nam vets. They will suffer at least some of the terrible side effects that drag him down: slurred speech, tremors, irreversible liver damage... Many more drugs and side effects will be borne for a lifetime. He believes that the average life expectancy of his disabled Viet Nam vets is 59 and wonders how long these fresh nineteen year olds will live. When we met I thought that, like me, he only needed a shot of exercise and playing music to get on the track to a new life. At first it was easy to tune instruments, play by note and by ear, let the good sound of a Martin guitar and an old Russian violin compensate for lack of practice. At first it was easy to slowly walk the school track with a view of the high Sierras. At first it was easy to visit for hours at my parents dining table. Then I began to ask the kind of medical questions that my pharmacist brother had taught me to ask. Thus began my volunteerism as an unofficial patient advocate. My first visit to the mental health building at the Fresno VA hospital: patients sat in a U shape arrangement of chairs and made no eye contact, except for a man in a dirty Viet Nam era uniform, with filthy shoes and unkempt hair. His eyes were fixed on the guy across from him as he ground out his version of the Tete offensive. Finally the locked door to Dr. M's office opened. The patient stayed well over the thirty minutes normally allotted all VA hospital visits. During this wait I surveyed the reception desk shielded by thick glass, the other patients' dirty shoes, the blank faced staff who moved in and out. I heard my ready chuckles meant to relax him, but they didn't work. The doctor was not charmed with my presence, queries or the fact that we stayed over thirty minutes. He spent his time with eyes on the computer screen which is the new way of doctoring. The Sunday I introduced the man who was a soldier at First Mennonite Church, Steve's sermon on peace encouraged us to walk with veterans of wars. Since then I have learned that various churches and individuals have reached out to my dear friend, but that he shies from groups. He retreat to the safety of his hooch. The most sincere form of worship for the two of us is to read a Bible story from a book that has pictures, then say a prayer. Sometimes during the week the story comes up again. Currently he is mystified by the stoning of Stephen. Like Rembrandt's Night Watch, the dark shadows of his life highlight his ready smile, instant laugh, and generous heart. I tell him he is either a saint or an idiot, which delights him. When I am melancholy he consoles me that in death our graves will be only twice the length of an M16 rifle shot from each other. While we often see military personnel as our opposites... every service member is a potential voice for peace, speaking not just from a theological or academic perspective, but from firsthand knowledge of the tragic effects of war.-Micheal J Sharp, The Mennonite 10/7/08
A SEASON OF MIRACLE
Sunday, December 21, 2008
5:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
First Mennonite Church
1208 L Street, Reedley
Christmas dinner will follow.
Please bring cookies and Christmas goodies for dessert.
Please bring non-perishable foods for our food pantry.
REEDLEY
PEACECENTER
CALENDAR
Friday, December 5, 6:30-8:30 An Alternative Christmas. Learn some ways you can celebrate Christmas with family and friends by giving gifts that help needy people around the world. After a briefpresentation/discussion, we will visit the local Ten Thousand Villages Store in Reedley for some fair trade holiday shopping.
Friday, December 12, 6:30-8:30
Speaker:Robb Davis, former executive director of Mennonite Central Committee and currently an associate faculty member in Peace Studies at Eastern University and Eastern Mennonite University. Topic:Living the Upside Down Kingdom at the UN, in Tehran and in Washington: we Decided to Talk to President Ahmedinejad. Friday, December 19, 6:30-8:30
Movie:Miracle Down Under.Severe heat and drought threaten the land and the happiness of a family in 1891 Australia in this 1987 film. As the Christmas holidays approach, the family has no water for their land and struggles to hold on for a miracle.
Friday, December 26No meeting
Friday, January 2No meeting
Mennonite MissionNetworkDecember 2008
Prayer Vine
Connected to the true vine, to ministries across the street and around the world.
1Teaching-BrazilPlease pray for the Radical Journey team members in Brazil as they teach music and English classes to children as well as conduct daily prayer walks in their neighborhoods. 2Teaching-Puerto RicoPray for the students and tutors at Instituto Bíblico Anabautista study centers in Puerto Rico. Through this ministry may God raise up future leaders for the Mennonite Church there. 3Teaching-Middle EastA mission worker requests prayer for the seminaries and Bible colleges in the Middle East as they prepare pastors and teachers for the churches of the region. 4Teaching-SwitzerlandPray for Linda Oyer, Paris, as she teaches tomorrow and Saturday for the university-level Anabaptist theology program for pastors and lay leaders in Bienenberg, Switzerland. This year's theme is ``Christology in an Anabaptist Perspective.'' 5Teaching-Burkina FasoPray for Anne Garber Kompaoré, Burkina Faso, as she checks translation of the books of Amos and Proverbs in the Moore language this month. 6Teaching-MediaPray for Mennonite Media staff as they work on video components for a new believers' curriculum from Mennonite Publishing Network. 7Teaching-NigerMission associate Martine Audeoud, Niger, requests prayer for the class on leadership she is teaching to seminary students, and for a new opportunity to teach a course at the national teacher training college in Niamey. 8Teaching-IsraelA Mission Network intern serving at Mar Elias Educational Institute in Ibillin, Israel, requests prayer for the campus, staff, faculty and students in light of a recent attack made by local villagers on four busloads of students. 9Education-U.S.As Donna and Loren Entz study this year at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., pray they may understand the new direction God has for them. 10Teaching-BoliviaThe annual summer vacation Bible school in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, is held in December and January in eight local Mennonite churches that hope to reach a total of 1,000 children. Mission worker Margrit Kipfer Barrón requests prayer that the children will know and follow God in their lives. 11Church Ministry-GermanyAs Sharon and Steve Norton complete their work this month in Halle, Germany, pray that a German pastor will sense the call to give leadership to the Soli Deo church. 12Church Ministry-ArgentinaPray that God will call mission workers to serve long-term as part of the intercultural Mennonite Team in the Chaco, Argentina. Additional personnel are needed to share in Bible-related ministries with indigenous churches. 13Church Ministry-BrazilA local colleague of mission associates Colleen and Pablo Fast, Brazil, is reaching out in her home community along the river and where new churches are planted. Pray she will be strengthened in her mission work. 14Church Ministry-U.S.Pray that despite the uncertainty in the economy, Mission Network can meet its budget in December and January through the continued generosity and giving hearts of contributors. Remember the finance department staff during this busy time. 15Church Ministry-U.S.Japan mission workers Kaz and Lois Enomoto, with children Erika and Kent, are spending an extended time in the United States for personal reasons. Pray for their renewal in preparation for further service. 16Church Ministry-U.S.Pray for John Powell, interim director for Mission Network U.S. Ministries, as he gives team leadership for staff who provide resources for area conferences and congregations to engage their communities with God's mission. 17Church Ministry-MongoliaTonya Starner asks for prayer that local believers in Mongolia will truly know the Father's heart and experience God's strength and encouragement in the face of daily challenges. 18Christmas Ministries-ColombiaPray for Amanda and Gamaliel Falla and the five developing churches on the north coast of Colombia as they prepare for Christmas celebrations, reaching out to people with the Savior's love and peace. 19Christmas Ministries-SenegalPraise God that children in Senegal will benefit through 50,000 Christmas shoe boxes sent by Samaritan's Purse. A mission associate requests prayer that through this project God will open doors and guide in the dispatching and follow-up. 20Christmas Ministries-MacauMacau Mennonite Church is focusing its Christmas outreach through small groups and a dinner in a restaurant to which family and friends of church folks are invited. Pray that people will make room in their hearts for the Prince of Peace. 21Christmas Ministries-FranceOn this Christmas Sunday, pray for churches around the world who welcome many visitors who normally do not attend. Linda Oyer requests prayer today for her church in Paris. 22Church Ministry-FrancePray for Janie and Neal Blough, Paris, who tomorrow will participate at the rescheduled biannual gathering of the European branch of the Mennonite Francophone Network in Strasbourg, France. 23Christmas Ministries-U.S.Many Service Adventure participants and leaders are traveling over the holidays. Pray for a time to reconnect with family and friends, and that they will be rejuvenated for the second half of their assignment. 24Community Outreach-U.S.Please pray for wisdom and guidance for Mennonite Voluntary Service participants who live and serve in the community of Boulder, Colo. Josh Gross, Sam Moyer and Kara Schmidt. 25Christmas Ministries-InternationalToday, pray that Mission Network workers will be filled with joy and peace as they celebrate Christ's birth with believers and congregations in the countries where they serve. 26Centers-South KoreaPray for Korea Anabaptist Center and its English teaching ministry through Connexus. Peter Koontz requests prayer that teachers will have energy and creativity, and for direction in exploring possible renovations at the facility. 27Community Outreach-North AmericaPray that God's Spirit will guide Chau Dang, newly-elected president of North American Vietnamese Mennonite Fellowship, to help leaders and congregations reach out to their communities with Jesus' message of love and forgiveness. 28Community Outreach-InternationalJoin a mission couple in praise to God for the church planters who have been trained in the past year to begin small businesses to help sustain themselves in least-reached areas. Pray that both their businesses and ministries will grow. 29Community Outreach-ArgentinaRichard and Ruth Friesen, Argentina, request prayer for creativity for Rosenda Diarte and Rubén Alvarez, indigenous Toba translators, as they author a booklet to explain the newly-revised translation of the Toba New Testament. 30Community Outreach-U.S.Pray that the monthly community sing at Chenunda Creek Fellowship, a Mennonite congregation in Wellsville, N.Y., will continue to help seekers find a welcoming haven that expresses God's love for them. 31Community Outreach-U.S.Pray that God will guide Jim and Paula Hanes and their family, on study leave in the United States, as they seek help for daughter Amanda to lower anxieties about school, to enjoy school, and to fulfill her potential. Prayer Vineis published monthly byMennonite MissionNetwork www.MennoniteMission.net
