I was just reading a devotion taken from the Beautiful Feet, Meditations For Missionary Women, when I came across a Bible verse from 2 John 12: I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

This struck a cord because so many times I think about writing or emailing but just don’t take the time to actually do. I keep telling myself that I’m going to wait until our internet service kicks on at 5pm and then use Skype so I can actually see the person face to face via my web cam. You really do get a much better feel for what’s going on 7,000 miles away. It allows you to see how quickly nephews and nieces grow, wish your grandmother a happy 85th birthday, and see mom and dad’s face when you need some words of encouragement.

Just this past week I was blessed with getting to know 3 of our stateside committee members who flew to Malawi for a 5 day visit. Being able to talk face to face about the current and future work here in Malawi makes all the difference in the world. Our usual form of communication is by email and official meeting minutes. We all agreed that you loose a lot by using this form and were reminded that it good to keep things real. Real meaning, we all are real people doing real work to support the mission of sharing Christ with our fellow Malawians wether we live here in Malawi or the US.

I’m looking forward to a new found friendship and partnership with my fellow CAMM workers and hope there are many more opportunities to visit and talk with you face to face.

Your Sister In Christ
Jen

Browse through a Lonely Planet book and you’ll find a section entitled “Getting There (and Away).”  It’s part of the tourist destination write-up that tells you how to get where you are going and what you will most likely need to get there and away.

I don’t think you’ll ever find Mtunga Village in a travel book, but you can find it on my “must do” list on places to visit in Malawi. My reason?  There at Mtunga is one of our Lutheran Churches!

If you’re interested, for getting there (and away) you will need a truck, a boat, 20 Kwacha and Noah’s faith.

• The truck “four-by-fours” you through mud, over rocks and up to a soggy swamp.
• The boat ferries you across a marsh and a river.
• The 20 Kwacha (14 cents) pays the boat fare.
• The faith of the old patriarch keeps you from turning back when you first see the boat!

By the way, can you swim?[slideshow=98] Read more ›

The Humanitarian Aid committee has funded dozens of bore holes (wells dug 150 -200 feet deep) to provide water for people in various countries around the world. One bore hole can provide clean water for many people for 10 years. The bore holes are typically dug near mission churches and the water is made available to the people of the village. An obvious physical need is met. People were walking  miles to fill their containers from a river, which for many months is nearly dry. Or they walk a long ways to some shallow well wherethere may be water, albeit contaminated. Now they have clean water close by. And when they come for the water, church leaders and other members have the opportunity to share another type of water with them. Jesus called it living water. Yes, God’s people in these  missions  can then share the good news of salvation with people walking in darkness.

This map shows about 62 boreholes that are currently functioning in Zambia.  A large percentage of the gifts received for humanitarian aid are used to fund borehole projects in Zambia and other countries.  To support the work of work of Humanitarian Aid go to https://archive.wels.net/donate and click on Humanitarian Aid under World Missions.

J. Paltzer

After shoveling snow for most of the 2008 winter in Racine Wisconsin, we finally got Pastor Nathan Pope and his wife Pattie to join us in 85 degree weather for a month.  Pastor Pope has the unique talent to construct and design altars, pulpits, and baptismal fonts.  They not only look beautiful, but that also teach the fundamentals of the Christian faith. He and his wife generously donated a month of their time to construct an altar, pulpit and baptismal font.  Each of these pieces teach Christ as our Savior and the love of God.  We don’t have a church to put them in yet… but soon!  We are grateful for the Pastor and Mrs. Pope’s commitment of time and effort.[slideshow=96]

We currently have four students enrolled at the Mexican Lutheran Seminary in Torreon. These men are part of a five-year program. During their years of study, the students learn the languages of the Bible (Greek and Hebrew), study the Old and New Testament in-depth, look at the history of the Lutheran church, and take many pastor-related courses (sermon writing, counseling, teaching, etc.).

Four professors teach at our seminary. Mexican pastor Esequiel Sanchez, who oversees the congregation El Redentor (Redeemer), teaches a number of classes. Professor Hector Nino, a member of one of the congregations here, teaches the students Spanish grammar. Missionary Ralph Martens (pictured above) and Missionary Larry Schlomer also teach classes.

We are very blessed to have dedicated students and teachers at the seminary. Mexican pastors are key to the future of the Lutheran Church here. They provide a strong leadership base on which the church can function and grow. Thanks be to God for leading these men to become shepherds of his flock here. We pray for a growing enrollment at the seminary during the coming years.