January 27, 2003

Dear Brethren:

Greetings from the land of eternal summer. We have had a hot, dry, winter season thus far. Yesterday was different, early in the morning it started raining and did not quit until the afternoon. This cut our morning services to only thirty people, as they have to walk or catch a bus. The night service was well attended with sixty-nine present. We had quite a few first time visitors. Two of those were mothers with several children, who live fairly close to the church. We plan to visit them in their homes in the near future, as the Lord permits. 

This month I only preached six times, and heard more sermons than I preached. When our officials were chosen for this year, one of the men was not chosen. He is a founding member and very faithful. I felt that he was sad because he was not chosen for a position. So I decided to share the Wednesday night services with him. He preaches one Wednesday night and I preach the next Wednesday night. Thus far, it has turned out well. I listen to him preach and he listens to me preach. 

Marie and I attended a funeral service one hot afternoon. Then two days later we attended a wedding. One afternoon we visited a pastor who is recovering from a serious illness. That night we visited a new mother and her baby daughter, Emily Leticia. Life is made up of births, weddings, sickness and deaths. 

We thank all of you for the designated and general fund offerings, the cards and e-mails received during this month. We trust that the winter conference at Gotha, Florida was a blessing to all who attended. We pray that the Lord will help us to be faithful until He calls us home to be with Him. 

Yours in His Service, 

Harold and Marie Bratcher.

Brother Bratcher with the family of a departed Sister in Christ.