On December 22, I happened to walk past the doorway to my living room and noticed a soft glow from the east window. It was 7:00 a.m. and the sun was beginning to rise. Over the course of the next ten minutes I stood mesmerized by the beauty that was unfolding. It was truly one of God’s great wonders. A narrow band of clear sky between the blackness of the horizon and the night-like sky caused by the heavy cloud cover started out as a bright yellow, then turned to radiant red. As the sun rose, the sky turned into a mixture of red, orange and yellow – reminding me of pictures of great forest fires.When the sun peeked over the horizon, its reflection on the heavy cloud cover was a beautiful combination of gray, pink and lavender. Within a very short time, the sun was illuminating the landscape between my window and the horizon and day had arrived.

I am a very visual person. When I read or listen to the radio, I “see” in my mind what I am reading or hearing. The scene that had unfolded that morning is now what I “see” when I hear and read about all of the people our missionaries are reaching and bringing to Christ – when these new Christians learn that “Jesus is the Light of the World.” A whole new life, a whole new light unfolds before them. I imagine this picture of light enveloping them as they understand what our Lord did for them on the cross and how He continues to be with them until He takes them home to heaven. I imagine how this Light changes their lives as they hear and understand these words from John 8: 12, Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” All praise goes to God for the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League’s part in spreading the Gospel and that Light to all corners of the world.  

There are 21 Mission Grants on the list of grants LWML is funding for the 2019-2021 biennium.  You can find their stories at www.lwml.org. Click on Missions and then Your Mite Offerings Have Made an Impact. There you will find the stories relating to these grants. As of November 30, 2020, only $345,455.23 was still needed to meet our $2,100,000 goal for the current biennium, which ends March 31, 2021.  

Right here in Iowa East, our new Mission Grant goal of $105,000 has already paid out $25,000.  That’s close to a fourth of our goal already. Praise be to God for your generous giving to these worthy causes.