John Louk

It probably goes without saying that the pandemic this year has thrown much into chaos or at least completely changed plans and expectations. As we struggle with the pandemic, health professionals continue to beg us to wash our hands, wear masks, and distance ourselves physically. Even in the face of spiking cases, illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths, many still simply refuse because they don’t think those actions are helpful or they believe it’s a hoax or perhaps just not that dangerous. This year has also brought protests and rioting over racial justice and oppression. This has led to conversations about the history of our nation and what belongs or should be removed. Within that milieu there are some people only intent on causing harm, destruction, and chaos. And if that weren’t enough, murder hornets. 2020 has already been a stressful year and we’re just over halfway done.  In the midst of all that, we had a historic Annual Conference on July 18, the annual gathering of Iowa

We had another death in the congregation, the first from COVID-19. Because it had to be a small, private funeral, I want to share some of Austin Smith’s story to celebrate his life. Austin always had a big smile, and he dressed sharply. One of the things he enjoyed most was getting dressed up to go outside simply to go for a stroll. For me that sums up his enjoyment of life. Austin, Elizabeth, and their family came from Sierra Leone, a country torn apart by civil war in the 1990s. Austin worked as a machinist and supervisor for a tobacco company there. Elizabeth was an accountant for the government. Everyone who worked for the government was at risk. In fact, the risk became so great that their family had to escape. They left at midnight to meet a boat that would take them away. But when they arrived, there wasn’t enough room for everyone in the boat. Austin stayed behind. He put Elizabeth and their children on the boat and told them to go ahead. He thought he’d be okay since he had