The Humanitarian Aid Committee of the Board for World Missions is making a visit to Zambia and Malawi to assess the work of our committee. Our committee exists to help build bridges for the Gospel by providing points of contact with people through humanitarian aid.  It is funded solely through gifts of WELS members.

Our trip to Lusaka, Zambia, went well. The Lord blessed us (Prof. David Valleskey, Kent Raabe and Tom Hering) with safe travel, and on Saturday morning, Jason Paltzer, the Lutheran Health and Development Program Director, was at the airport to greet us. We are truly enjoying the hospitality of all we meet connected with our missions in Lusaka.

After settling in a bit, we traveled about 25 miles east to the town of Chongwe, where we visited members of Malembo Onse Lutheran Church. Malembo Onse means “All for God.”  Here we saw our first borehole (well), which was originally drilled in 2004 with the purpose of providing fresh water for the church’s study center where pre-Bible institute students can receive theological education. The Lord willing, these students can eventually enter the Seminary to become pastors.  Members of this congregation have also begun a self-help project of raising chickens.  Another interesting way that Malembo Onse members are building bridges is through the operation of a home-based care project.  Numerous members, mostly widows, have been trained in the area of basic health care and then find opportunities to provide in-home care for people in their church and in the community that suffer from chronic illnesses.  In addition, the care providers offer prayers and share the good news of Scripture with those they serve.  We are learning several other ways in which additional aid may be able to more effectively support their efforts.  Mr. Phili, the Church Council chairman, was very gracious in showing us their facility, explaining their work and answering our questions. Read more ›

Ezekiel saw living spirits in service to God moving on wheels. Somehow this translates into our desire to have our pastors in Nigeria on wheels too. Nothing so complicated as Ezekiel’s vision for our pastors however. Motorbike wheels are far more practical for them. Especially as they navigate the sand trails or muddy ravines in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States of Nigeria.

Special gifts from members of WELS have provided the first motorbikes to our Nigeria pastors since 1998. This year, we were privileged to graduate ten pastoral candidates from Christ the King Lutheran Seminary. Seven of them were ordained and assigned to their congregations of All Saints Lutheran Church of Nigeria in late April. Those seven were also given the cash to secure their motorbikes. These were presented at their ordination and blessed for service in God’s kingdom. The three remaining candidates will be ordained by Christ the King Lutheran Church of Nigeria in December. In January, they too will be equipped to buy their motorbikes. The object is to keep ‘em rollin’ in making contact with their people.[slideshow=61]  Read more ›

Spend enough time in Thailand, and you’ll almost certainly hear a Thai person speak this classic broken English phrase: “Same same, but different.” The apostle Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians 12:4 that “there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.” This month the “It is Finished” Bible Institute in Chiang Mai, Thailand, celebrates the graduation of two more students, and although these two individuals have very different gifts and backgrounds, both are ready to utilize their Christian training to serve their one true Lord. Same same, but different.

One of the graduates is a Hmong man named Tae. At the age of 28, he is the oldest of the current Bible Institute level students. It’s not just this fact that makes him a wonderful role model for the other Bible students, though. The Lord has blessed this man with a remarkable gift for sharing his faith through word and deed to people of all ages. His willingness to serve wherever needed and his perseverance in his studies are two more gifts granted by the Spirit to him. Having very little formal education in his home village did not stop Tae from diligently studying Scriptures; in fact, it’s just further testament to the grace and power of God in his life.

The other graduate is a 22-year old woman named Jen. Having completed high school, Jen has more educational background than many of the students at the Bible Institute. Of all the students, she also has the most solid command of the English language, which she hopes to use as an outreach tool in her future ministry, along with her musical gifts. Jen is often the spokesperson among some of her more quiet classmates, yet she also has a humble spirit which listens to the opinions of others. She is the first female graduate from the “It is Finished” Bible Institute. [slideshow=60]

The two graduates will continue to hone their God-given gifts as they soon begin on different internship assignments. Tae will work within his home village as well as assisting the church in Hmong Village 9. Jen will travel to southern Thailand to serve as an intern in Krabi. Please join us in asking for God’s continued blessing upon these two very different servants as they serve their same Risen Lord.

I have been away from home a lot this month, so updates have been few. Here, however, is a quick posting of pictures you might only see in the DR (or similar countries…)

How many people can *you* fit on a motorcycle?

Someone used a bit too much coloring on their Easter eggs.(Yes, these are colored chicks.)

An overpass to nowhere…

Any guess as to why we have so many power outages?

The Lord bless you with his peace,
NW

On Sunday, July 20, 2008, Alejandro Sánchez graduated from the Mexican Lutheran Seminary. He’s pictured above with Missionary Mike Hartman. A graduation ceremony for Alejandro was held during the closing service of the national convention (learn more about the convention here and here).

We are extremely grateful to have another pastor in Mexico! Alejandro will help serve the mission congregation in Pachuca, a suburb of Mexico City, until September. Then he will receive a call to serve as pastor in a different area of Mexico.

To see men like Alejandro make so many sacrifices and dedicate their lives to full-time ministry is a humbling experience. Currently, three more men are studying to become pastors in Mexico. In the coming years, we hope to have more services like the one for Alejandro.

Here is another picture of Alejandro with his mom and younger brother: