Each water mission is a challenging, meaningful and educational experience. We are blessed to have had so many talented and dedicated church members participate in these missions over the last five years. We are also blessed to have wonderful Guatemalan partners. We are excited about this year’s mission. To date, five water systems have been installed in churches and in a school in the western highlands of Guatemala. We have forged bonds with our brothers and sisters in Christ there.

Fourteen members of our church departed Monday, January 25 for our fourth mission to Guatemala. This year we again partnered with two churches for two new projects. One installation is in the oldest Presbyterian church in Coatepeque – Jerusalem Presbyterian Church. It was founded in 1908 and has about 150 members. Pastor Aguirre describes Jerusalem Presbyterian as the mother Presbyterian church in  the area. Team members for the educational component are Jean Magee and Hank Boerner. The technical members are Bob Munson, Pete McMurry and Glen Thomas. Our second installation is in the Horeb Presbyterian Church in the city of Tecun Uman, which is Ayluta on some maps. Tecun Uman is located on Guatemala’s western border with Mexico, about 45 minutes from Coatepeque. Horeb Presbyterian Church has an active ministry providing water, food and shelter to Mexican migrants. It is our first installation  n a church involved in this type of ministry. As a result of our mission, Horeb Presbyterian has promised to provide free purified water to the following institutions: Health Center, Red Cross, City Fire Department, Migrant House, Orbe Church, and to the city itself. The education team members are Ron Richardson and Kirk Biddle. The technical team members are Tom Billups, Robin Faucette and Gil Monaghan.

This year we also have a Review/Survey team consisting of Buddy McCarty, Dan Brasfield, Forrest Foxworth and George Dent. This team is visiting our previous five installations with the aim of continuing the partnership and learning more about their utilization of the water systems. The goal of the Review/Survey team is to enhance the sustainability of the systems as we become more acquainted with our partner’s needs and their particular utilization of the water system. This team will also survey additional sites for future partnerships.   Our agreements with our partners require that water be furnished at no cost to those unable to pay and that any water sold must be sold for no more that 50% of the actual market price. Because of pressure from the vendors of pure water, Guatemala is now requiring our partners to obtain a license should they wish to sell the water their system produces. Because we anticipate that Guatemala will soon require licenses for all water distribution systems, we will work with our partners to meet this expected need. Although the need for potable water remains overwhelming, we are now reaching the point that enough LWW* water purification systems exist in  Guatemala to establish a conference of the system operators; it would be beneficial to set up networks and increase exchange of information, spare parts and ideas to make the operations more efficient. We are exploring this possibility as well.

We have been, and continue to be, blessed with strong support and participation from you, the members of our congregation. We hope and pray we are doing God’s will. Thanks to all of you. Please keep us in your prayers.

Note: After drafting this article, Jean Magee and Pete McMurry have had situations arise that will prevent them from participating in this year’s mission. We wish Pete a swift recovery from his gall bladder surgery. We also hope that Jean gets her

Chelsea Gregg will be the Director of Children and Youth Choirs. Volunteers are needed to help with the Children’s Choir. Anyone who is willing to help out would be greatly appreciated. We are very excited to have Chelsea take on this role.

We have seven teenagers starting Confirmation this year.  They are Shelby Carswell, Quinten Boyd, Kirk Reeder, Larkin Robbins, Gus Depew, Hunter Johnson and Nicholas Kaltchenko. Classes begin on January 24. Please keep them in your prayers as they go through this awesome process.

The CE committee elected Elizabeth Burleson and Mary Kate Robbins to serve on Presbyterian Youth Council with Josh Chrestman as an alternate.

We have an incredible group of teenagers in this church, and we are excited about Elizabeth and Mary Kate serving on the PYC.

Aubre Wells is starting a new Bible Study on Friday Mornings at 10:30.   Esther: It’s Tough Being a Woman by Beth Moore. Child Care will be provided.

The Young Adults Wednesday Night Study Group will begin reading Exploring the Way on January 20 at 6:00 upstairs in the Young Adult room # B-206. Child Care is provided until 7:30.

Ron Richardson and Lori Dickerson will lead the Sixth Graders on Wed

Empty Bowls Luncheon - Ash Wednesday February 17, 11:00a.m. - 1:00p.m.  A $12.00 donation will include soup, bread and water.  Tupelo Furniture Market, Building 5.  For more information call 842-9222 or 231-2879.  For curb service call 842-9222, 801-9936, or 891-7000.  Casseroles and Baked Goods Sale and Sale Table will be open at 10:))a.m..  Contributions for Bake Sales - Call 841-2026.

Attention all friends of Camp Hopewell - Camp for Children and Touth with Diabetes and Christians Living wiith Cancer Family Camp.  Start training for the first half-marathon in Oxfors.  Our goal is to create an endowment fund for these children and families and to provide an experience at no cost to the participants.  Save the date!  Half-Marathon and 5K Saturday, February 27, 2010.  Take the challenge and band together to form your own team.  For more information contact Mitzi Moore at 842-7293.

The Session has called the Annual Congregational Meeting for Sunday, January 24 at 10:00a.m. in the sanctuary.  Committee reports, presentation of the 2010 budget and election of elders will take place.

Wednesday Supper for January 27:  Hot Plate: Spaghetti, Salad and Galic Bread /  Lighter Side: Grilled Chicken Salad Children: French bread Pizza or Child's Salad.

Register or call the church office at 842-5681 by noon Tuesday.  Reservations are requir4ed.  This week's program with be the third installment of the video series, Seeing Gray in a world of Black and White.