I’ll tell you, it’s downright chilly at 55F without central heat. You certainly need a blanket at night. This season a donation of quilts was much appreciated. The quilts came here to the Lutheran Bible Institute through a special courier, my brother, who had come to visit.

Andy lives near Washington DC. When WELS member Edie Hintz heard that her friend Andy was coming over to Malawi, she decided to send over a batch of quilts from her congregation. They were to be given to our ministerial student families.

Edie wrote to me and threw out a request. Could I possibly pick up some colourful African cloth for the quilting ladies at church? I responded, “Yer talkin’ to the right guy.” I spent half of my childhood crunched between my Mom and an old black Singer (the other half was spent at fabric stores). The interest wore off on me. I would enjoy picking out some cloth.

Andy and I went deep into the local market to the ladies who sell cloth. These two meter pieces of printed cotton are used for skirts, baby carriers, and a hundred other things.

We spent what was a delightful hour for me of joking around in the local language and making nearly half of cloth vendors very happy to have a big sale. Thanks to Edie & Friends for keeping our student families’ warmer and giving Andy and I a fun task to do as well.

This blog entry is from Missionary Mark Johnston, one of six WELS missionaries currently serving in Malawi.  Due to synod wide budget cuts, his is one of as many as 15 missionary positions being eliminated around the world.

The Administrative Committee for Africa (ACA) is the WELS committee that overlooks the calling and the distribution of support to our African missions.  Last February this committee trusted Beautiful Saviour with a grant and a loan amounting to over $14,000 for the purpose of buying a parsonage for my associate, Pastor Pembeleka.  The house search is almost complete and the voters, God willing, will be deciding on a house in a meeting this Sunday, May 24th.

Recently, the ACA recognized that the leadership of the congregation was strong, and that Pastor Pembeleka has some very special gifts.  Therefore, since the WELS budget is tight, the ACA has recalled me to the United States leaving the full-time caring for souls to our Malawian pastor.  We are confident that Law and Gospel will continue to be preached and the doctrinal position common to the WELS and the Lutheran Church of Central Africa will be taught faithfully. Read more ›

On Mother’s Day weekend Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church opened its doors to the community of northwest Las Vegas. Shepherd of the Hills is the new exploratory mission starting in Las Vegas. After months of community outreach, weekly Bible study at Pastor’s house, and preparations, we were ready to welcome the community to come and learn about their Savior at our rented storefront facility. A community open house was held on Saturday, May 9th. About 50 visitors stopped by to check out the church and meet the church family. We would have liked to have more visitors, but were excited about those that came! Besides, God had something more in store.[slideshow=107]

Our Grand Opening service was the next day. We hoped to have between 50-70 people at our first service. By the time 9 am rolled around, the 100 rented chairs were filled and we were pulling out every chair that we had in the building. God richly blessed our first service with 123 people. Nearly 100 of those who heard the good news of Jesus were first time visitors to Shepherd of the Hills. It was amazing and humbling to see God so abundantly bless this little mission start-up with all that he has. What is next for Shepherd of the Hills? Only God knows, but we pray that he keep us faithful in our efforts of reaching out to the lost of Las Vegas with the light of the Gospel!

In Christ!
Pastor Aaron Strong
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church

“Isolated” and “remote” are two words that describe this village.  It is not the easiest place to get to. It’s off the beaten path. It is eight miles off the main road down a narrow, single-lane blacktop road. From there it’s down a dirt lane for several more miles until the road abruptly ends! More than a year ago the bridge that connected the village with the outside world was washed away in the rushing waters that followed the monsoons.

As Pastor Ashok says, the village is “almost an island.” The village and the fields around the village are surrounded by water on three sides. Going over the canal is the quickest and easiest way to get to work, shopping and school. Going via land adds about forty miles to the trip.

The government is building a new bridge but it will take some time. The alternatives available are a small boat and a rickety bridge. To call it a bridge is being really kind. The “bridge” consists of small tree limbs widely spaced and loosely strung over poles. The swiftly moving waters in the canal were easily visible beneath our feet as we struggled to maintain our balance.

Having negotiated the canal was only the start of the journey. The men waiting for us on the other side of the canal had umbrellas to protect us from the blazing sun.  Shoes that were black and shining at the start of the journey were dirty gray by the time we padded along the dusty road to the worship service.  But the journey was well worth the effort. More than forty men, women and children were crowded onto the verandah of a school, a verandah that has been their place of worship for the past four years. They meet there rain or shine. They meet there in the cold of winter and in the scorching heat of summer because there is no other place in their little village that will accommodate such numbers or that they would be allowed to use.

The people in this congregation desire a worship facility of their own. They can’t fit their entire congregation onto the verandah.  When everyone is present, some members are exposed to the elements. There are those who don’t want to worship on a verandah and so they stay away. Others want to see the stability and roots that a permanent place of worship will bring. Read more ›

Mike has been looking for a vehicle to use for the work going on in Zaragoza Sur for the last couple of months. Last week he spotted an ad in the newspaper that looked like it might be just what he needed. He made a call and then headed out to look at it.

He returned a few hours later, driving a 1978 Volkswagen van. This is a solid vehicle to use in Zaragoza Sur. It’s not flashy, it runs well, and it is very spacious inside.

It may have been around a long time, but it’s ready to go to work here on the Mexico field.