This year marks the end of our church's "Sister Church" relationship with the Iglesia Cristiana Congregacional of Mazatlan and the Villas Del Del Sol Iglesia. After four years, our formal agreement which involved monthly financial support for Pastor Jose Rodriquez, regular and committed prayer for Pastor Daniel and his family, Pastor Jose and his family, and the brothers and sisters in Christ at Iglesia Cristiana Congregacional and Villas Del Sol. The formal covenant between Marcus Whitman Presbyterian Church and our sister churches in Mazatlan has ended.

What does not end are:
1. our congregation's commitment to stay in contact with our friends and dear brothers and sisters in Christ in Mazatlan;
2. our continual commitment to keep Pastor Daniel and his family, Pastor Jose and his family, and all our friends in Mazatlan in our prayers;
3. our joy and warm memories of the mission opportunities experienced in Mazatlan;
4. the grace, care, and friendship shared over the years between our congregation and our sister congregations;
5. the excitement and honor of being partners in the ministry and mission of God's Kingdom in Mazatlan and in Des Moines, WA.;
6. the grace and joy of knowing that God is alive and at work both in Mazatlan and in Des Moines, WA.;
7. the smiles and friendship of Celis Family and Rodriquez Family (their smiling pictures are in the pastors' study), the smiles and friendship of the team members, and the smiles and words of thanks from so many dear folks who came to the clinic for dental, health, and vision needs.

On my first short term mission trip to Mazatlan, I remember the Thursday evening attending the evening Worship Service at the Iglesia Cristiana Congregacional. During the service, some of us from the Seattle Christian School Team were asked to share about our experience. I remember closing my comments (which had been graciously and skillfully translated for me by Sue Jones) with Paul's words to his friends in Philippi, "I thank God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

...And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God." (1:3-6 & 9-10)
These words are true and even more meaningful today, for a written four year agreement comes to an end, but the experiences, friendships, transformation, and partnerships continue.