The Walla Walla University Church community has a decades old connection with people from the nation of Zambia in the southern part of Africa. Deanne and Dr. Jack Hoehn spent a number years as missionaries serving at Mwami Mission Hospital in Eastern Zambia. Years later, the two accompanied our Pastor Troy Fitzgerald and many young people on multiple return trips to the area, sharing evangelistic messages, supporting medical clinics, and participating in health education. In fact, Pastor Troy has led a half dozen trips to southern Africa in his years as pastor at the University Church. These connections are just the tip of the ice burg.

This March, Pastor Troy and a group of dedicated social workers, medical professionals, gifted mechanics and craftsmen, educators, pastors, and a few dozen high school and college students will travel once again to Zambia. Troy and University Church member and WWU technology professor Rob Holm visited Mwami Mission Hospital last November in preparation for the large group’s trip next month.

Mwami Mission Hospital was founded in 1927 by Dr. E.G. Marcus. Located 30km southeast of Chipata in the Eastern Province of Zambia and just 8km west of the Malawi-Zambia border, the mission was created initially to serve the people across that region. Initially, this mission included a special treatment center for those suffering from leprosy. In 1962, a school of nursing was established at the mission by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It continues to operate today, training both young men and women to serve as qualified Zambian Enrolled Nurses across the country. An eye surgery center at the mission saw its first patients in 1985, a service that is still provided to the community.

The nature of their work will be wide in scope and significant in its impact: medical support for the hospital in its care of patients, evangelism and revival meetings in the evening in partnership with Gospel Outreach, repair and support of the physical hospital structure, mechanical repair (and even the building) of ambulances that bring remote villages access to care, local school education programs, education and equipment for more efficient cooking and better water purification for disease prevention in local villages, and developing a program for building a new high school in the area.

Troy shares, “When we serve others, we become better leaders and workers in whatever our fields back home. Also, when we discover the best methods for responding to the problems experienced by relatively primitive organizations, we likewise grow both personally and professionally. Finally, when we expose students to different cultures and ways of living, we cultivate their curiosity for all sorts of disciplines (health, mechanical, social); we inspire them to appreciate every part of a whole community.”

Please begin praying now for the group to be filled with God’s Spirit, to impact well, to grow significantly, and to return even more excited to be about His calling. To find out more about the March 2018 Zambia mission trip, please contact Pastor Troy at troy.fitzgerald@wallawalla.edu. To support the effort financially, place your donation in a tithe envelope and mark it “Africa Youth Mission—WWU Church.”

TOUCHES OF INTEREST

Duwain Warner has been hospitalized recently.  Please remember him and his family in your prayers.

Vann Camp’s memorial will be Sunday, February 11 at 9am in Heubach Chapel.

Nora Sha passed away.  Her memorial service will be Sabbath, February 17 at 2:30pm at the College Place Village Church.

The Church Office will be closed on Monday, February 19 in honor of Presidents’ Day.

Medical Responders Needed. EMT/Paramedics, CPR-qualified Nurses, Nurse Providers, or Physicians who are willing to be on a list of medical responders during the church services, with one present and available for each church service each week, for possible medical emergencies, please contact Deanne at 509-301-6703 or hoehndee@msn.com.

A number of small groups will be offered at the University Church this winter. Groups will be discussion-based, run for 60–90 minutes, and span a four to eight week period beginning later in January. Some groups this quarter will be focused on personal support for challenging seasons in life, others will center on Bible study, while still others will be geared toward practical daily living as followers of Jesus. Click here: for a detailed listing of small groups offered this quarter and contact information for leaders. Group size will be limited to about 10, so if you’re interested, contact the respective group leader right away. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Pastor Alareece Collie at alareece.collie@wallawalla.edu

All-church potluck is this Sabbath, February 10, at 1:15pm in the Fellowship Hall. All are invited!

Please join Elder Arthur Dahl’s family in celebrating his 100th birthday on February 25th, 2018. You may remember him as the Pastor of the Village church, General Hospital, and Clovis, among others. Come wish him happy birthday and enjoy some cake at the Courtyard Marriott, 550 West Rose Street, Walla Walla, between 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The Camp, Gish, Wessman, and Howell families wish to thank you for your expressions of love and caring to us during this time of loss.  We will be looking for a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather in that great waking up morning.

Roger’s School Winter Carnival, Saturday night, February 10 6:00-8:00 pm, at Rogers gym. There will be delicious food (burgers, cotton candy, bake sale, tapas, and more!) along with fun games and activities for all!

The 50+ potluck and program will be held Sunday, February 19, 2018 at the Youth Center, 8th and Bade, College Place. Come an denjoy good food, fellowship, and a musical program presented by Sherrick Hiscock and his Alto Saxophone. Please bring a friend!

SonBridge Dental Clinic is looking to fill the paid position of a Dentist at 3 days/week. Call Mel Lang at (509) 301-3460 if interested.

Market With A Mission: Come enjoy delicious food, baked goods, specialty items, and live music. Stateline SDA Church Friendship Center, Sunday, March 4, from 4-7 pm.  Proceeds will benefit our local Christian Aid Center/Rescue Mission.

Jamie Jorge ~ Healing Music Concert Tour: Jaime Jorge, a world-class violinist, will be performing a free concert on Saturday, February 24th, 2018 at 6:00 pm at the College Place SDA Church. Jamie was born in Cuba and raised in a communist country. Jaime has a passion for proclaiming the gospel through his music. His gift of musical interpretation brings new life and excitement to every song. You will be inspired by his music and blessed as he shares his testimony. The Julianna Sayler Foundation is pleased to partner with Jaime Jorge in presenting this concert and in support of families fighting pediatric cancer.

Retired Denominational Workers’ Annual Brunch, Sunday, February 11, 10:00 a.m.,  Alaska Room WWU Cafeteria.   There will be a fee at the door for this Gala Event.  Come with your spouse or a friend and enjoy a delightful program.  HOWEVER, Reservation is required.  Please call Bona Engen 509-522-4848.

Your Input Requested in Selection of New UCC President: The North Pacific Union Conference is looking for your assistance as we select a new conference president for Upper Columbia Conference. The input from each church member in your family is valued in the selection process. A letter from John Freedman, president of the NPUC, explaining the presidential search process; and a survey for you to include your input is available here: https://sp.uccsda.org/news2018-01-23/ Thank you for taking the time to find out more about the selection process and if you desire, to also fill out the survey.

You are invited to a New Student Visitation Day at Milton-Stateline Adventist School on Friday, March 9th 8:15 am to 10:00 am. We have Preschool to 8th grade. Free bus service to and from Walla Walla, Milton Freewater and College Place.

Milton-Stateline Adventist School is having a FAIR! Our annual fair is filled with great things to eat and games to play is on Sunday, March 11th 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Great family fun! There will be vegeburgers, vege-corn dogs, nachos and drinks. The kids can ride the merry-go-round, go through the maze, have a pillow fight and play games for prizes! All the booths run on tickets. the tickets are 50 cents each. No admission fee.

SonBridge Dental Clinic is looking to fill the paid positions of Dental Assistant and Receptionist at 3 days/week. Call Mel Lang at (509) 301-3460 if interested.

Are you an Andrews University alum? Or are you a student considering attending Andrews University? Join us for a complimentary brunch at our Walla Walla regional event on Sunday, February 18 at 11 a.m. at the Marcus Whitman Hotel, 6 W Rose St, Walla Walla, Washington, 99362. Network with Andrews alums, enjoy a delicious meal, and hear the latest news from Andrews University. Reserve your spot (it’s free!) at alumni.andrews.edu/rsvp or by contacting us at (269) 471-3591, alumni@andrews.edu. We hope to see you there!

ROSARIO SINGLES RETREAT April 5-8, 2018 in Anacortes WA. Marvin Wray, pastor of the Napa California SDA Church is our speaker for the weekend. His passion in ministry is to share the absolute assurance of God’s gift of salvation. Arrive Thursday and spend Friday on an Island Adventure in the San Juan Islands. Registration is $235 for the full retreat. Other registration options are listed on the registration form. For more details and a registration form, send an email to RosarioRetreat@Gmail.com. For those without access to email, you may call our registration line at 360 588-3179 to request info. The deadline to register is March 19, 2018.

Classroom Coordinators Needed! Our Kindergarten 1 and Primary 2 classes are looking for a person willing to organize teachers weekly for their rooms! We would love someone who enjoys teaching in case they need to fill in on occasion. Volunteers must complete (or have already completed) the Verified Volunteers training and screening. Please contact Pastor Jenn today if this call is for you! jenn.ogden@wallawalla.edu or 509.527.2800.

SONBRIDGE CONSTITUENCY MEETING will be held on Sunday Feb. 11, 2018 at 10:00 AM.  The agenda will include inspiring financial and development reports of God’s blessings and an update of future plans.  This constituency session is for designated delegates, but interested parties are welcome to attend!  Thank each of you for your amazing support.

Guests coming and need an extra guest room? Havstad Alumni Center has 3 beautiful guest rooms. For guest room availability and information go to  www.wallawalla.edu/alumni/wwu-alumni-association/guest-rooms/  or call 509 540-8095.

Need space for family/friends event? Havstad Alumni Center is available for rent for those special events. Choose between the 1st floor beautiful home-like living room setting or the 2nd floor which includes a full kitchen.  Located on 4th Street on the Walla Walla University campus.  For more information, please call 509.527.2241 between 9am - 5pm Monday - Thursday.

The Christian Aid Center needs you! This important ministry partner of the University Church is always in need of volunteer help. In particular, the director of volunteers at CAC (and our church member), Jeannette Regalado, is requesting for volunteers to serve as barbers/hairstylists, registered nurses to help in our health clinic, and a van driver to pick up donated food on Monday mornings. Contact Jeannette at 509.525.7153.