Dorie Panganiban – Crownpoint, New Mexico … The cold winds on November 9 made the outside of the La Vida Mission gym chilly and cold for the few staff on campus. But their hearts warmed up as the big U-Haul truck driven by Pastor Mike Kissner and Cathy Kissner, Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) Community Services and Disaster Relief coordinator, pulled up. *

Pulling over by the side of the gym, they brought donations of all kinds from food and groceries to apparel, household items and appliances to office and school supplies, to many other miscellaneous items.

These items were donated to and sent from members at the following RMC church drop-off locations: Grand Junction Community Service Center, Casper Church, Cheyenne Church, Greeley Church, Loveland Church, Campion Church, Fort Lupton Church, Brighton Church, LifeSource Adventist Fellowship, Colorado Springs Central Church, Cañon City Church, Pueblo First Church, Alamosa Church, and more.

These annual donation drives have been happening for almost 30 years now through the initiative of this faithful and loving couple, Cathy and Mike Kissner. The donation drives have saved La Vida Mission thousands of dollars in operating costs, and the Mission staff truly appreciate fellow Adventist members for their generous support.

The donations have been sorted out, organized, and delivered to the different areas at the mission, from the food cellar to the cafeteria, dorms, school, office, church, and community service centers.

The staff and students will go through the remaining donations and will open the school gym to the local community to donate extra items, December 13, at the annual Community Christmas Fiesta.

La Vida Mission would like to thank the churches, the Kissners, and the RMC leadership for their kind support of the ministry at La Vida Mission.

* Please note that LaVida Mission is not affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) nor the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. The volunteer efforts of Mike and Cathy Kissner were not in their official capacity at RMC.

—Dorie Panganiban is the La Vida Mission office manager. Photos supplied.