WKW Workshop

Wow! What an absolutely amazing event!  Two days packed with reunions with old-time friends, experienced presenters full of zeal and inspiration, and many new faces at the WELS Kingdom Workers’ (WKW) Chapter/Workshop in Bloomington, MN. I found out  that the two days before the Chapter/Workshop hosted WKW Board meetings and Evangelism Mentor Training (EMT).

On Friday, WKW friends welcomed me as I arrived in Bloomington, MN.  After registration, the program began with an opening service.  Then it was time for a meet and greet along with snacks and the opportunity to browse the different ministry displays.  A concert by the band “Proclamation” wrapped up the night.

Saturday was full of sharing and learning.  Minnesota District President Rev. Charles Degner gave us all a warm welcome followed by a devotion led by Rev. Peter Leyrer.  Rev. Ed Schuppe took us on a motivational journey in Partnering with your Community.  I attended a  joint presentation by Rev.Clark Schultz, Rev. Joel Schultz, and a student from Lakeside High School about Youth in Service and Travel Canvass Witness Programs.

After a short break for lunch, it was my turn.  I presented on international volunteer service.  I focused on sharing the things I wish I knew before I went to serve overseas as well sharing the things I want volunteers to know now that I am on the other side as a missionary wife. Rev. Rich Warnecke gave us the final presentation on Volunteer Recruitment full of encouraging Bible references. WKW Executive Director Bill Meier concluded the event with closing remarks and an introduction of the staff.

Many of us went out for dinner and spent the remainder of the evening reminiscing the past.

It was a memorable weekend and I hope to put into practice many of the new things that I learned.  Thank you WKW!

Contact me for more information if you are planning to serve as a mission volunteer overseas.  I’d love to share my presentational materials with you.

 

Easter Day

Easter morn. Easter afternoon. Easter evening. Easter night. What a glorious day to celebrate the resurrection of our dear Savior Jesus Christ!

My day began with 3 brand-new Sunday school students!  Yeah! At first, these three boys were shy, but after reading the Bible story, they just beamed with smiles. They joined the other students to retell the story of Jesus’ empty grave with finger puppets and a sketch of the tomb, a road, and Jerusalem on the whiteboard.

Then we reviewed the story with worksheets and drew pictures of the door to heaven. The first one-the door was closed, the second one-the door was closed, but with a deceased person waiting to enter, and the third-featured heaven’s door wide open with Jesus in the entrance welcoming the deceased person into heaven, both with huge smiles. The purpose of this activity is to show that we have eternal life in heaven through Jesus, but we must die first (if the end of the world doesn’t come first).

We ended the class with a project. We made paper crowns of victory with the Bible verse, “Because I live, you also will live.” – John 14:19.

A joyous Easter worship service followed Sunday School. The curtains behind the altar housed paper butterflies the students made the week before as we talked about new life in Jesus.

Our mission Cristo Resucitado (Resurrected Christ) in León continues to grow in many ways:

•  2010 - Mission team arrives in León and gathers to worship on Easter in one of their homes  (Nate and I were in Brazil)

• 2011 – Mission celebrates first Easter worship service with 29 in attendance – 17 of them were Mexican visitors

• 2012 -  Sunday’s Easter worship service has 50 people in attendance – over half are active prospects, many taking membership classes with Pastor Brad

• 2013 – Looking forward to what blessings God has in store for next Easter!

May the joy of Christ’s resurrection brighten every day of your life!

Multi-Language Publications now offers a CD of worksheets in English and Spanish for the Bible Stories in Pictures Book.  The children of our mission love the books, worksheets, and projects!

 

 

 

Posada Infantil

This year, our mission congregation, Cristo Resucitado, hosted several special activities for Christmas.  I had the joyous privilege to design the invitations and posters for the special events.  We had them printed at a local print shop right across the street from the mission. Then we gave the invitations to all our congregation’s prospects, English students, friends, and neighbors.

The first event was the End of Session/Christmas Party for the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students.  We had a full house and WKW Joel Hering taught everyone how to play Bunko. (Note to fellow Bunko players: I ended up being the winner with only 1 loss!)

Another event targeted a younger audience, the children, a Posada Infantil — similar to a Christmas for Kids night.  Upon arrival, they registered and were assigned to a group (0-7 yrs old or 8+).  We had several Christmas coloring sheets, words searches, and crossword puzzles to keep them busy until more arrived.  The parents stayed to set up the snack table and help with crafts as they watched their little ones enjoy the activities.

We began the first session, 45 minutes late, which is quite common.  The younger group went with Pastor Brad to learn more about the Christ-child, while the older ones stayed with Heidi and me to make bastone de navidad — candy cane pins with safety pins and beads.  A few of the adult English students came to help with the project.

An hour later, we switched groups.  As the older group participated in an interactive devotion about Jesus’ birth and the little ones came to Heidi and me, full of excitement.  We began making candy canes out of red and white pipe cleaners. Then they moved onto a door-hanger project using Popsicle sticks, colored paper, markers, pipe cleaners, and foam stickers.  Nate presented the story of the candy cane to both groups with a handout.

Towards the end of the evening, everyone gathered together to sing Silent Night in Spanish and English.  Then it was time for snacks.  One of the families brought a malt machine with enough ingredients for everyone.  The Chocomil — chocolate milk is a type of milkshake in various flavors.  It was delicious.  Many of the families brought drinks and holiday favorites. Our homemade Christmas cookies disappeared right away.

We invited all the children to come back the next morning to sing in church.  Then all 37 children received bags of candy with the book, “God’s plan of salvation for the world”.  We also gave them sticks of sugar cane as they were heading out the gate.

A wonderful night of fellowship with some new contacts as well as many familiar faces and opportunity to share the joyous story of Jesus’ birth.

 

Celebrating Confirmations in Christ

On our second Sunday back home in León, México, two men, Javier and Victor, were confirmed in our worship service.

Over the past year, Nate and I have gotten to know these two confirmands as they studied God’s Word and grew in faith. These two men have become active with our mission and take ownership of the church and reaching out to the community.  Both of their families attend various church activities and some are studying with local Missionary Brad Krause.

This month, the children of both families have been attending Sunday School. It has been an awesome privilege sharing God’s Word with them, especially the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth.  It was so sweet watching them retell the nativity story using finger puppets.

After the worship service, we had a convivio — joint potluck.  Pastor Brad Krause and his wife Heidi supplied bratwurst and everyone else brought side dishes, salads, and desserts.

Afterwards, many stayed to decorate the church. I will admit, I struggled quite a bit with the language.  Every time I tried to have a conversation in Spanish, Portuguese words came out.  Some gave me confused looks, while most just chuckled time after time.

It was a great day of friends, faith, and fellowship.

Click here for more details of this joyous event!

 

São Paulo

After a few days at Foz do Iguaçu, our group of American visitors, Nate and I, were recharged to move on to our next mission destination, São Paulo, São Paulo (SP). 

Downtown

São Paulo, SP is the ‘largest city in the Southern Hemisphere & 7th largest city in the world’, with an urban population of 19,140,000.

In the past, our WELS mission worked in São Paulo for ten years (1993-2003), but the work was discontinued for financial reasons.  Currently, the Iglesia Luterana Brasiliera (ILB) is not working in São Paulo, but Luis, a member from the congregation in Dourados, is residing there.  He receives monthly mailings of sermons and devotion materials from the Dourados congregation.

In September, retired Missionary Charlie Flunker visited Luis, and they discussed possible outreach opportunities in São Paulo. One of the challenges to work in such a large city is that most residents live in gated high-rise apartments and condominiums, closed off to the public. This obstacle makes it difficult to reach out and connect to people.

High-Rise Apartments

After some demographic research, Luis and Missionary Flunker identified a couple of residential areas in the suburbs of São Paulo as outreach possibilities for the future. This metropolis of almost 20 million souls, has only 16 Lutheran churches!

Missionary Flunker Talking to Local Fisherman

During our visit in November, Missionary Flunker met us in São Paulo.  He shared the past and present mission work of the ILB and took us to different places to get a minute taste of the city and ideas for future work. We stayed in a hotel in one of the residential areas he and Luis identified.

Discussing Future Outreach Possibilities

It was exciting to see potential outreach opportunities and discuss ideas if funding and manpower are available. Please keep this ministry in your prayers.

 

Gravataí

After our trip to Porto Alegre (POA), Rio Grande do Sul (RS), we spent a couple days with members of Jesus Salvador in Gravataí, RS.

Nate and our WELS visitors met with a former seminary student of Nate´s.  While they were meeting, I visited some local shops and cafes enjoying some of my favorite treats. Then we all went to lunch at an all-you-can-eat restaurant.  There was a buffet and a choice of two different kinds of plates. One plate was at a set price for unlimited all-you-can-eat.  The other plate was weighed per kilo.

In the afternoon, we met with Pastor Elcy and his wife Noeli; followed by a church council meeting.  The rest of the day offered time for fellowship.

On Sunday, we attended a worship service with Lord’s Supper.  The congregation presented handmade gifts to each of us. After the service, the members prepared a churrasco for us with plenty of side dishes and desserts. It was a special time to visit with the members.

In the late afternoon, we headed to POA to catch a bus to Foz do Iguaçu.

 

Escolinha

In Dourados, Brasil; many of the congregation members of Estrela de Belém – Star of Bethlehem reside in outlying neighborhoods in relation to the church’s location.  Instead of offering a children’s program at church, the congregation takes the program to the children.

Jeanderson is an active member of the congregation.  Presently, he teaches one of the weekly Escolinhas – children’s Bible school (Sunday school during the week) on Mondays.

Rosana & Jeanderson

A couple weeks ago, I tagged along to an Escolinha. Jeanderson drove the congregations’ Kombi van with his wife, Rosana, by his side.  They invited me to hop in front as well, anticipating a full load of children for the night’s activity. We drove to members’ and prospects’ homes, picking up their children. We picked up two girls at the first stop. Then three boys and a girl jumped in at the second stop. The girl at the third stop invited her friends along, so we were already at 15, and had many more stops to go.  I believe we arrived to our destination with 25 kids in the van in addition to those from the local neighborhood.

Since there were many “1st timers” – friends of the “regulars”, it took a while to get everyone settled down on wooden benches on the front porch of a prospect’s house.  Also, the recent hatching of termite ants served as a major distraction.

The first 15 minutes were full of singing songs, many with animation.  Then Jeandersen told the story of the birth of John the Baptist often using the Históricas Bíbilicas em Figuras — Bible Stories in Pictures; followed by a review session of questions and answers.

The lesson concluded with worksheets and coloring sheets.  Then it was time to jump back into the Kombi for the ride home.

What a wonderful way to spend 3 hours (1.5 hours for transportation) hearing and sharing God’s Word together with our little brothers and sisters in Christ!