It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations: 3:22-23 KJV
A Visit to "28"
This past weekend, the Dominican Republic FORO took place. As is our custom, the first day of the FORO was spent with missionaries, visitors and local church workers doing some sort of activity together, to gain a better understanding of the people and the country where we serve. (To learn more about what a FORO is, click the blue button below.) This time, we made a visit to a place known by most Dominicans as simply "28", which is a home for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The official name of the facility is Happy Angels Home. In this country people with IDD are often thought to be angels, thus the name. Regular visits to the residents of "28" are made by our missionaries, to encourage them and share the Gospel with them.
Deaconess Danelle Putnam shared a Bible story about Jesus calming the storm. The residents particularly enjoyed watching some of our group act out the story. Then we assisted the residents with coloring pages and puzzles for quite some time. To wrap up the time, one of the pastors prayed, and each resident received an individual blessing.
Year Two of Our Seminary
It is difficult to believe that when I arrived a little less than two years ago, workmen were hauling buckets of concrete up ladders, to add a third floor to an existing church and school building. That third floor is now our Centro de Misericordia y Seminario Concordia el Reformador, or in English, Concordia Reformer Mercy Center and Seminary.
Well into their second year of forming pastors, our seminary professors have worked out many of the kinks and are hitting their stride. This fall our 10 residential students and 25 who are studying online, represent 10 Latin American countries.
Our seminarians have been busy in the communities where they do field work, making visits and calls in homes, in parks, and even at a baseball field. Their presence here is a much appreciated blessing for our churches.
Part of my service to the seminary here in the Dominican Republic has been to create and provide materials for those wishing to support the new seminary or our seminarians. The Adopt a Student Program has taken a great deal of time and effort, on the part of many people, but it is up and running. If you would like more information about adopting one or more of our seminarians, please email me, and I will be happy to provide information.
Four Baptisms
Three Sundays ago, was the last Sunday for Missionary Pastor Sergio Maita at our church in Pueblo Nuevo. During that service four brothers were baptized. Thanks be to God!
Pastor Maita has moved to Santo Domingo with his family and will now be serving a brand new mission in an area called Ozama, and Missionary Pastor Joel Fritsche will serve the congregation in Pueblo Nuevo.
Back in Nebraska
I have been asked to be the speaker for the Big Mission Event on November 11th, at Divots in Norfolk, Nebraska. To say I am looking forward to that would be an understatement. The opportunity to reconnect with friends and supporters is humbling and also gives me great joy. I cannot wait to share about the work you all have sent me here to do, and I hope to see many of you there. As a side note, I have known a number of the usual attendees since I began teaching on the Winnebago Reservation in 1998. Thanks be to God for these mission minded people!
New Parts
In June it was discovered that my nearly 20 year old knee replacements have some parts that are beginning to wear out (sounds a bit like a used car). They have held up well, given the tens of thousands of miles of hiking, climbing, biking and other various activities I have used them for, so I have no complaints at all.
At the end of August I returned to Nebraska for a short time to have the worn parts replaced in the right knee, and returned to work in the Dominican Republic around mid-September. The left one is scheduled to be repaired on November 13th. If everything goes as planned, I expect to return to the Dominican Republic in early December. Hopefully they will be good for another 20 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. I'm thinking the 100,000 miles might come first.
Because of these unexpected surgeries, my home service (reconnect with supporting congregations) has been pushed to later in the spring. I will give more details as soon as I have more information.
A Little Fun
Thank you for all of your prayers, emails, and support. I give thanks for you each day, that you are willing to send me here to do this work on your behalf. God bless you all.
Did you know
- Across the Latin American Region, over 100 devoted Lutheran women are studying to become deaconesses.
- Hurricane season has been extremely quiet, for which we are grateful, but a tropical storm has lingered in the area for several days, which has resulted in heavy rains and some local flooding.
- Recent earthquakes have rattled our island, causing several cracks in my walls, but no major damage has been reported. The building codes here require that buildings must be constructed to be earthquake resistant. We pray for our neighbors in Haiti, who did see major damage and deaths from these tremors.
Prayer Requests
Please Pray for Me
- For patience and for a solution for my leaking windows and toilets. For about 11 months, my bedroom windows leak when it rains, and my toilets leak whenever they want. Several different workmen and visitors have attempted to stop the leaking, but have had no success.
- Giving thanks for the successful knee surgery I just had, and for healing for the repairs I will have done in November.
- That the Lord would open doors, such as our television broadcast, to spread the Gospel here in this place. We also have the possibility of a radio broadcast in another country, for which I would appreciate your prayers.
Please Pray for Our Latin American Missions
- For the people of Haiti, who just suffered death and destruction following a 5.9 earthquake and a 5.3 aftershock.
- That our Latin American pastors would be encouraged and uplifted in their service.
- Thanking God for our new group of seminarians studying to become pastors.
- For the new mission work in Ozama, Dominican Republic (see photo below), that many would be reached with the Good News of forgiveness, life and salvation.
