Several months ago Mission Central was honored to have the President of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Foundation come and visit the district facilities located 2 miles east of Mapleton, Iowa.  Rev. Thomas Ries came to spend some time having a special tour of the entire facilities, the Mission Museum, and to examine the office files to more fully understand what God has provided here in the hills of Western Iowa.  God has provided so many blessings on the work here in our Districts that it has caused many on the national level of our church to take special notice of what God can do in the middle of a cornfield.  Sometimes we forget that "when we think we have everything figured out, the Lord smiles and says...Now let me show you how I can do things!" and we are again reminded of the Lord's words recorded in Isaiah 55:8-9; "for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways" declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." We are humbled at how God has provided the blessing for our work, and we have done NOTHING, but, God has done it all and all praise, honor and glory go to Him who loves us and died for us. We welcome Pastor Tom Ries and were so happy to have him come and see what God can do.