Steve Willis' Medicine Hat REPORT
January 13, 2012
Report for December 2011

Happy New Year!
     As I write this Report, the New Year has come upon us and passed. May I wish you a Happy--Blessed--New 1012. Note: some translate "blessed" as "happy" in Ps. 1:2 and Matt. 5's Beatitudes. I mean it that way for all of you. I and the church pray God's blessings upon you who support me, and especially for you who lead churches as elders. May I also add many thanks to you who help get the checks to me and you who help share the news in my reports to the members of the churches. Without the work and support you supply, I could not stay here in Medicine Hat.
I started the Report, but got delayed in finishing it. In these last few days, we have had the coldest weather that I think we've had so far this winter. Shirley hasn't been able to leave the house due to heart problems. We did not have a "White Christmas," in fact, we could see the grass in the yard. I even wondered if one of the brothers here decided to mow the yard at the church building (he hadn't). But it has gotten very cold in the last few days and snow arrived with the cold. With the wind chill, we were almost -40º F (which is also -40º C). Whew!
Support Changes
     If you'll look at the data in the support frame (page two), you may note that the church in Valparaiso, IN has given me a raise to $300. We are grateful for their consideration. 
What does not show up in the support frame is the news I received from the church in West Columbia, TX, will only be able to send support for three months into 1012. They have been sending $550 of late. They are having to cut back on all the men they have supported. I believe they have been sending me support since 2004. We offer many thanks for their and all of your willingness to help share the gospel here in Alberta.
What this means is that I'm going to need to raise more support, the Lord willing. Can you help? If you are presently helping, can you do some more? If you are reading this, but are not sending funds, can you start now? Do any of you individuals know of churches that may be able and willing to help? I'm asking for that sometimes starts a receiving process (Matt. 7:7) and a blessing (Acts 20:35).
News of the Work
     It's been a while since we have been able to report some sort of growth here, but I think we see some coming--a family of four coming from the other church in town. This church started in the 1970s out of that church when some there decided to support the Herald of Truth. We've had contact off and on since moving here in 1994, and have had some visit. A few seem to miss the social meals they have in their building. These people, a young couple with two younger children, feel those are things not in the Bible, as we also do not. While they have not yet placed membership here, it looks as if they will. Pray for them and us. Help us all to conform to God's will.
We are continuing Bible classes from 2 Peter (Sunday morning) and Jude (Wednesday nights). 
The weather and some traveling for the holidays has lowered our attendance, especially the evening services. I have resolved to study privately with any present if we don't always have very many for a class. 
I continued my series of sermons on Time into December with these topics: Perilous Times, Redeem the Time, Time of My Departure and A Time of Harvest. I also preached about Partaking of the Divine Nature, Lessons from Hezekiah (pt. 1) and some "Christmas" Considerations. 
Medical Matters
     I had the surgery on my hand late in December. I can tell that the intended "fix" (for locking trigger-finger) will likely work. I had the same surgery on another finger on the hand two years ago and it's OK. The doctor was satisfied with the work, too after two weeks.  But, like the other fixed-finger was some time after surgery, this one's not straight yet. It makes typing difficult, for that finger doesn't align with where it was once trained to align. And, for that matter, I'm not supposed to be "working" with that hand yet. I've not exactly been following that rule and have been pained up/into the forearm. I just have to watch it. 
I'm to see the doctor again in February. I expect then he'll set a date for similar surgery in my other hand. I'm hoping to get all this finished before Shirley has her knee-replacement surgery; no date is set yet, but we're aiming for late-April to June, the Lord willing.
We appreciate hearing from you and, as we asked before, request that you keep us in your prayers. 

--Steve Willis
swillis@memlane.com