Pastor's Blog

Rita, Adriana & Sofie will not be able to travel to Guatemala for the funeral service for Pancho Arriola, Adriana’s & Sofie’s father.  It is a situation that is out of their control and involves passports, visas, biometrics, the winter weather, et cetera.  Rita has tried really, really hard to make it happen and I commend her for her efforts.  I have spoken to Adriana and she understands the situation.  She is not happy about it but understands.  Sofie will probably not understand as well simply because of age.  That is understandable.

So, I asked Rita and Adriana if we could have a memorial service for Pancho and they agreed.  Hopefully, this will “help” in a limited way to bring a bit of closure for the girls.

This memorial service will take place tomorrow night, 1/31, beginning with a visitation at 6:00PM which will last until the service at 7:00PM.  The service itself will be brief probably lasting thirty minutes or so.  We have chosen to have this service tomorrow so it will coincide date wise with the actual service in Guatemala.

Instead of flowers, I am asking that folks consider making a financial donation to help Rita and the girls get to Guatemala as soon as possible in order for the girls to see their paternal family and the burial place of their father.  This will involve airfares and legal documents for the girls.  You will be able to make a donation at the visitation and/or service tomorrow night.  Out of town friends can send donations to P.O. Box 756 Grand Bay, AL 36541.  Please mark it as being for the Arriola girls.  Questions?  Contact me.

Friendship family, Rita, Adriana & Sofie mean much to our church.  I am calling on you to do whatever it takes to attend the visitation and/or service to show them our support.  Please use social media, the phone, et cetera to spread the word.

Rita’s Sunday School class will provide a meal for the family.  Becky Hatcher will coordinate a fellowship with sweets and drinks that will take place in the fellowship hall after the service for anyone who wishes to spend more time with Rita, Adriana and Sofie.  If you want to help with the fellowship, contact Becky personally.

Pray for Adriana and Sofie.  I cannot imagine.

Thank you in advance for ministering to this family.

Today’s Bible reading –  Exodus 10:1-12:13, Matthew 20:1-28, Psalm 25:1-15, Proverbs 6:6-11

I had written yesterday that, even though the church office was closed, the ministerial staff stood ready in the event of an emergency.  Around 4:00PM, Bro. Chris and I were called to Rita Padilla’s house as they had just gotten word that Pancho Arriola, father of Adriana & Sofia, had tragically passed from this life in a parasailing accident in Panajachel, Guatemala.  Pray for the family and that Rita and the girls can get there for the service.  Folks, that will take a small miracle.

The doctors contemplated sending Rob Nevin home yesterday but that did not happen.  He can get the necessary therapies at home.

I did not travel to the hospital yesterday so I do not have an update on Carolyn Blaylock or Bill Goff.  Hope to see them this morning.

I am assuming that Carla did not have her scans yesterday because of the road conditions.

The church office is open today from 8:00AM until noon and 1:00PM until 5:00PM.

Our first GRACE Ministries team of 2014 is scheduled to fly into Guatemala today.  They will be departing from Grand Rapids, St Louis, Atlanta and New Orleans.  Yesterday was a full morning of trying to reschedule flights because of cancellations.  Pastor Bob Harvey is leading this team.  You give an Auburn man one job to do and look at the mess he has created!  Pray that all goes well in their travels.  I will most likely be driving three of them to the New Orleans airport.

I pray that you will have a great Thursday with Jesus.