The Villager Voice ~ from Alan                                                                                                                                    

I suppose I should have guessed something was up when I heard Lynette shout, “The Car Wash isn’t over until the Pastor is wet!” I did get plenty wet during the course of the morning last Sunday - turned out to be a good decision to change into my bathing suit after church - and would have been even if Jared, Amelia and Molly did not make it a point to be certain I was.

What a fun, fun morning. We washed more than sixty cars between 9:00 and 1:00, and we are so grateful for your generosity, indeed the generosity of our entire community. Who makes $3300.00 at a car wash? We do! The event was a fund-raiser for this month’s Mission Trip to the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota. Our six missioners raised at least $200 each in pledges before the the car wash even began, and between the pledges, the donations of our customers (it was a free car wash, though nobody escaped undunned) and the delicious offerings at the concurrent bake sale (Linda Jones’ cookies kept me fortified through to the very last car), we surpassed our goal for the entire trip. Let me be clear: this means that because of all of you, your support, encouragement and good humor, our young people will be part of what will surely be a life altering experience. Both they and you have every reason to be proud of this effort.

We leave Saturday morning August 18 and return early early Monday August 27. It’s my understanding that connectivity is erratic at the Reservation, but as I am able, I will post periodic updates on our activity. Meanwhile, hold us all in prayer, and we will think of you as we work.