Life – post swine flu – is returning to normal.

The protective face masks have been put aside.  More frequent hand-washing is a new, firmly established habit.  Thankfully we are back to the traditional greeting of a handshake, or “air kiss” or hug.

These two young men, Asael and Otoniel, will be  spending the next 11 days in Minnesota participating in ministry with the youth from Calvary Baptist Church of Roseville.  Each year, Pastor Vonn Dornbush takes a group of young people to Pelican Rapids, MN to minister through kids clubs, sports camps, construction projects and visitation.  Please pray for the group.  Also, please pray for Asael and Otoniel.  Because of the swine flu, the school year here in Mexico has been extended.  They are missing the final weeks of classes and have attempted to make special arrangements with their professors.  Not all have been helpful and there exists the potential that they may need to “re-take” a class next semester.

Last weekend, the 5th and 6th of June, we held a training retreat for pastor´s wives.  This will be the beginning of small groups of women with the purpose of encouraging one another, praying for one another, and growing together in Christ.  These groups will be patterned after the Converge WorldWide LEADNet groups.

Here are some comments from three of the 12 pastor´s wives who attended:

“Understanding that I don´t have to have all the answers is such a relief!”

“After the coaching practice, I felt relieved and satisfied that I had come up with an attainable goal to begin to resolve my difficulty.”

“I am leaving different than I came.”

This retreat was a component of the ministry among pastor´s wives, Entretejidas, or Knit Together,  in which MeLinda Nelson and I have been working for the past year and a half.  We are thrilled to see the excitement of the women.  We are grateful for your prayer and financial investment in this significant ministry.  Our belief is that are we encourage the wives of pastors, not only will their marriages and families be healthier, but their ministries will also be more effective.

Paste this link into your browser to see a short video clip of the retreat: