The main mission contact in Nepal recently submitted a monthly report summarizing ministry related activity in May 2009.  Below is his report and accompanying pictures.

In May , most of the days we went to mountain area for outreach and for medical clinic. We have visited five districts for outreach and medical treatment program. There were 180 people come for treatment and we have distributed 200 the Promise among them and 20 Jesus The Christ to start new learning group.

And We have conducted Training Program at 2 places. There were more than 100 people gathered together. We have taught them about creed, Lord’s Prayer, Holy Baptism and Holy Ccommunion. They were really excited to know many new things from scriptures about above topics.

In this month we have baptized 4 people.

A couple of months ago, Mike traveled to Sonora, where mission work is going on right along the Arizona border. While he was getting ready for worship, he ran into this little guy. The boy was fascinated by Mike’s “pastor gear,” and even tried on his stoll.

When Mike came back and showed me the pictures from his trip, this one really stood one. Besides the fact that I think it’s super cute(!), it is a good reminder of one of the vital aspects of mission work. Mike and the other pastors here are training tomorrow’s leaders.

Will this little one grow up to be a pastor? A lay leader? A strong Christian father? Our goal is to keep him, and others like him, strong in God’s Word. May the Sunday School lessons and worship of today stay with him, and be his guide throughout all the days he spends on this Earth.

On Sunday, May 31st, the congregation “Santa Trinidad” (Holy Trinity) in Gomez Palacio, Mexico, had a good problem: they ran out of chairs! Four people had to stand because there simply weren’t enough chairs to accomodate everyone.

This, whenever it happens, is an encouraging sign. It means that the congregation is growing, and it’s growing fast. Pastor Juan Jose Olvera currently serves this group, and as I’ve mentioned before, he is a strong evangelist in the Mexican Lutheran Church. His congregation currently worships in a rented house.

Pastor Overa’s congregation is going to host an upcoming quincenera, which is a celebration given to Mexican girls when they turn 15 years old. It usually includes a church service and reception (think of a wedding minus the groom). The congregation is expecting such a large turnout that they are going to hold the service outside in order to accomodate so many people – they simply won’t all fit in the house!

We rejoice with the members of “Santa Trinidad” and wish their group continued growth. May God bless their efforts and bring even more souls through their doors.

Pastor Freddy (right) from Santiago in the Dominican Republic and Juan are shown in the photo. Juan is the leader of a small group of Christians (chapel also pictured) who were looking for someone to help them understand the Bible and to grow in their knowledge of God’s Word and promises for them. Juan contacted Pastor Freddy and he agreed to study with Juan and his group. Juan and his group are nearly ready to join our Santiago congregation. Pastor Freddy is an example of what LATTE – the Latin America Traveling Theological Educators – is trying to accomplish with our work of training nationals to be pastors and leaders of their churches. He has been trained by us so that he is now anxious and able to go out and teach and train others. God be praised.

Larry W. Schlomer
LATTE

“This blog entry is written by Katie Lehman, a lay worker on assignment in Thailand through the organization WELS Kingdom Workers. She shares her thoughts on the departure of Missionary Jud Krohn, who is being recalled to the United States because of synod budget cuts.”

Looking around us these days, it seems we’re in a season of global uncertainty. The wavering economy has had visible effects in our WELS synod and with our Christian brothers and sisters around the world. Thanks be to God that our assurance, peace, hope, faith, and purpose are not in our economy, but in the One whose kingdom is not of this world. It is Him we praise and look to for guidance in the days ahead. It is Him we praise and remember for the work He has done among us in the past. Read more ›