August 12, 2025 Family Gatherings and Family Issues

Lessons for August 10:

o Jeremiah 23: 23-29
o Psalm 82
o Hebrews 11:29-12:2
o Luke 12:49-56
Glad to be back with you. Back in a time zone that matches Connie and the family.
My sister Marcia and I had a wonderful time with Ombeni as our guide. We went on two Safaris and connected with his extended family.

We met relatives from Arusha and Dar es Salaam. The retirement celebration at his sister-in-law, Sarah’s church of marvelous with four choirs, 35 pastors and two bishops. A four goat lunch followed the service then there was another buffet at Sarah’s home. She is pictured with her son, Charo, the taller man, behind her. He was our driver back and forth to Arusha navigating the wild traffic including avoiding motorcyclists weaving in and out of traffic. Their second son, Eli, is pictured in white shoes between Ombeni and his older brother, Sarah’s husband, George. Eli was kind enough to leave his car so we could use George’s Land Cruiser for our trip to Chome and Dar es Salaam.

Chome is the childhood home of Ombeni’s nine siblings. The family home is pictured here. It was enlarged to provide a get-a-way for family members, who can stay connected with their hometown. Friends from the past visited while we were there, including the one in the white hat. Ombeni shared clothes with him and others which you donated. His brother, Apollo, is in a blue and white jacket. He was a kindly helper in all things.

Once we arrived in Dar es Salaam we met Caroline’s side of the family including her brother, Chris, who is pictured here in a white shirt relaxing on their penthouse balcony. Chris’s close friends and business partners live next door to them.
We met Chris and Caroline’s father who lives with one of his daughters in Chris and Devotha’s former home near the beach. He was a fun 85-year-old, who loved checking out the videos of our trip.

We also visited the home of Ombeni’s sister Ava, whose husband dreams of retiring and continuing to help those with extreme skin conditions.

Chris’s wife, Devotha, was super and fun loving and met us earlier in Arusha. She went on a camel ride with us. We then visited a Maasai village next door. They dressed us up in traditional dress. I especially appreciated my hair extension.

I will be sharing pictures of the Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Parks in the Sundays to come. The time on Safari was wonderful with an excellent guide and some great photos. I included these photos of people because that was a vital part of the journey. Ombeni returns home yearly to reconnect with family and his family is extremely supportive of one another and were super generous to us as visitors. I’ll be sporting the stole George and Sarah gave me this Sunday. We hope to help them come to visit us next year.

Our text from Luke 12 is a contrast to the family time we experienced. Jesus suggests in this text that faith in him can be the issue. The times they are a changing: 52 From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. Indeed, there are times when faith can be a stumbling block in relationships. Some families avoid the topic. But for Ombeni’s family and our family, faith is part of the adhesive holding us together.
The reason it can be a binding agent is that our faith in the grace of God revealed in Jesus allows us to express our unique gifts without needing to one up someone else.
In the Tarangire, bachelor elephants wander around together. They lost out to a more powerful male and were pushed out of the herd. At least they had each other. Older elephants who have lost a step and cannot keep pace normally decide to separate from the herd. We saw one who made a small puddle of water to drink from by stomping on a water pipe. Isolated and gloomy she awaited her death, perhaps by the nearby hyenas. Embracing God’s grace allows us to release our pride, it opens our hearts to invite people to join our herd. Hebrews 11 lists many of the faithful that are a part of the “great clouds of witnesses”. None of them obtained perfection. “God provided something better”. They are now cheering us on to “run with perseverance the race that is set before us.”

PRAYER – Lord, we thank you for families. Bless parents and children, relatives and friends that they may live graciously with one another. Thank you for the Great Cloud of Witnesses that cheers us on. Amen.
Grace and Peace, Pastor John Bunge

THANKS TO YOUR RESPONSE TO Special Appeals – Camps and Tanzania

Thanks for your response to our appeals for the church in Tanzania. The members of the church in Arshua were amazed at our generosity. The suitcases of
clothes and the check for the church in Chome, brought shouts of joy. The people there danced as they brought up their gifts which included cash, produce, milk and
even live chickens. I hope you can feel some of that joy as you contribute to our general budget and these special appeals. Special thanks to Holly for making sizeable donations of clothes from the Family Assistance Center.
We’ve been watching the streaming of the Sunday service. Thanks to all of you for helping those go smoothly, for your dedication to Faith and the supply pastors!

Pastor Bunge is back in the office and will be here Mondays and Tuesdays.

Meditation – They will be back on September 4 and offer an opportunity for you to join them.

 

PANTRY -2nd & 4th Saturday; from 8 to 10:00. The pantry shelves are nearly empty. Feeding America, our food provider, is short on food donations so it impacts our pantry. We have been having to go to regular grocery stores for food for distribution. We need rice, soup, canned fruit, canned meat (chicken or tuna) and, of
course, always cereal. Any donations to the church designated “Pantry” are used to make food purchases for the pantry. Thanks for your support.

WATERCOLOR PAINTING CLASS by our OWN MASTER WATERCOLORIST, HOLLY. We are taking a break until August.
Drama Classes for Youth directed by Michelle Mureaux will begin again in August as well.

 

QUILTING – Emily Smith’s Group (909.255.2452) has been cleaned up in the sewing room.
They have completed 10 quilts for the San Bernardino Wellness Center and 7 for LWR.

 

• Nelson Hall is home now recovering. I see him later this afternoon.
• Brad Blue continues his recovery and is out and about.
• Robyn Blue’s grandniece Lainey celebrated her 4th Birthday and continues her recovery.
• Thanks for your prayers for me and a safe trip, all went well.

 

 

PRAYERS
• Kim Guevara lost her mother Carol who lives in Canada on Sunday morning. Thank you for
your prayers.
We continue to pray for Cesar Guevara’s brother, Marco, and their children. They did
receive some good news as Kayla, their granddaughter, is now able to live with Kyle.
• Eloise has been diagnosed with cancer around her eye and is going through tests.
• Pat Teeters is also going through test for AFib.
• Debbie, a friend of Kim Guevara’s, is being attended to in Scottsdale was released from the
hospital and is recovering after receiving a new liver.
• Judy Martin has several health issues and cannot return to church. Thanks for your prayers,
cards and visits by Carol.
• Bonnie Strack appreciates continued prayers for her son Brendan Simms, who has suffered
from a series of strokes.
• Jennifer’s breast chemo treatments for cancer are over, her surgery is scheduled for
August 20th to be followed by radiation treatments.
• Continued prayers for Jacque Kottmeier
• Jeanne Koening. Her health issues continue. Her eyesight is limited.

AUGUST
17 BACK TO SCHOOL GAME DAY – We will sit up all the games outside; cornhole tournament – so get your partner. School supplies will also be handed out.
Brats, hot dogs, Jerry Mill’s Famous Potato Salad! Dessert
24 FIESTA DAY TO CELEBRATE JUL-SEPT. BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES Taco Bar
31 POTLUCK – Please sign up in Narthex

PRAYER CARDS – Thanks for sending out cards to remember family and friends.
Thanks again to the artists: Emily, Kim, Barbara, Karen, Holly, Pat T., Linda D., Connie

PRAYER/FRIENDSHIP ROCKS – Karen and Connie have painted some prayer/friendship rocks
for you to keep, give to someone, surprise someone, etc. If you’d like to help, talk to Connie.

Thanks to all who continue to give shoes for Soles 4 Souls.
Another box is full and will be picked up for continued donations
Thanks to Holly from Family Assistance Center in Yucaipa for making donations as well.
Thanks to David Strack for coordinating the effort.