Should we only report good news? In the history of God's people the news IS good because God reigns. Looking at individual incidents there is much to cause concern or of which to be ashamed. The same is true of mission today. The history of the Africa Inland Mission is called 'We Felt Like Grasshoppers'. A report may not have a good feel about it. It may have been badly written but perhaps someone 'out there' is suffering for the sake of the gospel and has yet to see the victory. He or she may have been wrongly advised or inadequately supported. An institution may have ceased to serve the purpose for which it was started. Unless we look at painful experiences that have not (yet) ended in glory we can not hear what the Lord may be saying to us. This issue contains advice and challenge for today, answered prayer, evidence of God at work in the absence of mission, and faithful service over many years with apparently varying success (News from the Missions). The encouragement is that God can and does use people like you and me to further his kingdom and can best do so when we obey him even though 'we feel like grasshoppers'.