From the Russian Mission Field: by Bruce Selin

Note: Pastor Bruce went to Russia in November 2009 on a preaching trip for THE FOREIGN MISSION.  (pictures coming later)

“For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” 1 Thessalonians 3:8-13

Pastor Bruce Preaching God's Word in Russia

Because Paul was unable to go to visit the Thessalonians personally, Timothy had been sent for the purpose that he might “know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.” v5 Upon Timothy’s return, after hearing a good report of them, the Apostle Paul wrote the opening words to the Thessalonians, with great joy.

Paul’s introduction to the Thessalonians had been very brief. Immediately after preaching in the synagogue, where some believed, the Jews which did not believe stirred up controversy, accusing Paul and Silas of being “these that have turned the world upside down”. Paul and Silas fled to Berea and eventually to Athens.

And so it is. Wherever the glorious Light of the Gospel shines, it causes 2 reactions; in the elect, faith; in the ungodly, hatred and anger. The Apostle, having faced the wrath of opponents of the Gospel, not only in Thessalonica but in many other places, was concerned that the believers in Thessalonica not be “moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.” v3

This, too, is the experience of those who have had the blessed privilege of preaching Jesus Christ around the world. Normally, we have a very brief time with our audience. We preach and then earnestly pray to the Father, that He will keep those who have believed from all the attacks of the enemies of the Gospel. What a great joy it is then, to see God’s faithfulness when we return to those places where we have labored and find God’s redeemed still walking by faith, in the Lord Jesus!

We shouldn’t doubt, but we do worry, nonetheless. This is because we know that the devil “goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”. But, when we see how God has cared for these new believers, we are reminded Whose children they really are, that our Father is more mighty than the enemies, and that He is jealous for His people.

“And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” John 6:39

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10

The Apostle also desires to see these new converts, that he “might perfect that which is lacking in your faith.” We might wonder what he means, when he uses the word “perfect”. Paul understood how difficult it is, not just for converts, but even for us, to remain in the simplicity of, and perfection that is by faith. Peter explains this as growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This was our experience recently, as brother Misha Krupinov and I traveled in Russia. Because this was a more brief visit than normal, Misha and I decided to visit only 2 congregations, rather than our usual 4-6 areas.

First we visited the congregation in Schekino, located approximately 130 miles south of Moscow. The pastor, brother Vitali Prasolov, and his wife Galena, were our hosts for the week. How wonderful it was to have sufficient time to fellowship with these dear children of God! Pastor Vitali was called to serve this congregation after the departure of Misha and Natasha Krupinov, the servants God used to minister there during the early development of this congregation. We can truly see that God has now called Vitali to continue the work. Vitali is a diligent student of God’s Word and fulfills his responsibility faithfully and humbly. We discussed many matters and we rejoiced in the unity in Spirit. Galena cheerfully ministered to our human needs, but also gave a wonderful witness of her faith. Over the passing days we had opportunity for fellowship with all the members of the congregation, and though they each face their own difficulties, we could observe that our Lord continues to draw them closer to Himself. We also met with those who don’t know their Savior yet, or who have a incorrect understanding of the faith. It is always remarkable to see who God arranges these meetings with, but we are then reminded again that faith comes by hearing, hearing the Word of God. I expressed several times, to these struggling or lost souls, how much God loves them and has sent us so they might hear with their ears, and believe with their hearts, the message of Jesus Christ and the forgiveness we have received through Him.

Picture is after Bible Study. Vitali is standing.

Our second week was spent in Rzhev, a city located approximately 75 miles northwest of Moscow. In this city we have a congregation with their own church building, thanks to donations from the ALCA and the Master’s Mission. The young pastor, Valeri Antipov, and his wife Natasha, have officially ministered in Rzhev since 1996. Though the congregation has faced many obstacles, and endured many trials, we can rejoice in the wonderful testimony of faith and the certainty that God has protected and provided for the dear brothers and sisters.

Baptism in Rzhev

Life can be unbelievably difficult in Russia. We visited with one member of the congregation, in her home. As I listened to this woman, and looked at the poor condition of her home, I was amazed at the contrast. This precious sister, living in circumstances most Americans would find depressing, testified of her trust in God, of His constant provision and of His unfailing care for her and her family. She also poured out her heart, concerned for the soul of her young son. We had the privilege to pray with her, but I wondered who needed it more. This sister’s faith is surely founded upon the Rock, Jesus Christ.

Next, we visited with sister Ira, the mother-in-law of Pastor Valeri. What a joy it was to see the miraculous healing that God has given her. On two previous visits, I had observed a seemingly hopeless case of a woman suffering a mysterious, paralyzing disease. Even the doctors were baffled and unsure of how to treat Ira. Sister Ira testified that it was during this time of paralysis, and unremitting pain, that she experienced powerfully how the Lord became her constant companion and comforter. She praised God, with tears, as she spoke of the encouragment she received from the Psalms, how David’s cries became her own and how God answered and has also healed her. Oh how faithful our God is, and His ears are ever open to the cries of His children!  

Sunday services were conducted in both cities, with Holy Communion. What a joy it was to be united with another part of Christ’s Body, to feed upon Him and receive strength and encouragement through His Holy Word. Although our languages differ, we enjoy One Word, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.

As we left Russia, with the Advent season coming soon, I thought about both the first and the second, future advent of our Lord. Like the Apostle Paul, I was overjoyed to know that these dear Russian brothers and sisters are in God’s care, and not in mine. He will accomplish His work in them, as in us, “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” 

BRUCE SELIN

Would you like to make a donation for future such trips?  CLICK HERE TO DONATE      (you can even set it up so you can donate monthly automatically!)

Foreign Mission December Budget and News!

Dear Monthly Readers! God’s Peace!

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13

This month we will try to use charts in place of words for better use of your time as we review the monthly Foreign Mission Budget and News!    Sorry website readers, the Charts would not paste (at least not yet) All emailed copies got charts!  Email foreignmission@comcast.net  and one will be emailed to you!

Feedback from November Budget email: Response to this email last month helped to reduce the financial gap, however, we fell short and were only able to pay 80% to our pastors abroad. However, please see the great news below!

The chart below indicates the sources of the November income of the Foreign Mission. This chart clearly shows that many people donating small amounts make a huge difference. Light blue (teal) are these small individual donations.     (about 1/3 of all income) 

Thank you so much for realizing that small donations are so very beneficial for the work in the Lord’s Vineyard. Small donators are still a small percentage of the congregants, but the number is growing!
The chart below indicates the November Income and the December Budget needs.  (email users)
Chart indicates that November income was suffiecient to pay December bills!

Thank the Lord for His Blessings! The Budget was met almost to the exact dollar amount. This means that our faithful pastors can get paid in full along with all other expenses! Let’s pray that we are as fortunate in December.

November News:

• Bruce Selin and Misha Krupinov went on a mission trip to Russia

• Scott Niemitalo and John Ruotsala went to Guatemala.

• Skype sermons were done to India.

• Indigenous pastors proclaimed His Word!

• Weekly Blogs and emails were sent into all the world!

• For all other Foreign Mission news, feel free to check in at anytime during the month at www.themisssionsite.com or at any of the other links below and click around! You are most welcome and encouraged to take part in the Mission!

  The Foreign Mission is so very thankful for your generous support.

 Contact Information:

Just click on the links below!
Donate online: http://themissionsite.com/needs.html PayPal or Credit Card
Website: http://www.themissionsite.com/ See all the new updates!
FM News blog: updated regularly

http://www.foreignmissionnewsblog.blogspot.com/

FM Spiritual articles: sent to foreign contacts via email

http://foreignmission.blogspot.com/

The Foreign Mission Store. A place to buy gifts! CD's, Books, pens, shirts etc.!

http://foreignmissionstore.blogspot.com/

Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/ForeignMission?ref=name


To Donate by check in response to this email: The Foreign Mission 1601 NW 4th Avenue Battle Ground WA 98604 Please 

Other programs available for special funding by request * Indigenous Pastor support * Full time Missionary support * Orphan and children support * Bible and other book purchase * Bicycles for pastors * Pastor and mission training Emai: Foreignmission@comcast.net for more info!
Thank you, and May God Bless you in this Season of our Savior’s birth.

South Africa

Hello Dear Ones Near and Far!


My tour of duty in South Africa for this time soon draws to a close. It has been an absolutely wonderful three months, but oh how fast it has gone. I am sure you can understand that, however, since together with Bishop Louis Mphahlele and many dedicated co-workers we have had a scheduled daily program for almost a week at a time in thirteen different congregations.

While in those communities we have also worked extensively in schools, clinics, a prison, kindergartens, hospitals, a center for handicapped children, homes for the aged, a meeting of mine workers and prayer in many many private homes as well as holding Bible studies and Sunday services with Holy Communion. Below I would like to share with you some special glimpses of the last weeks. I have tried to enclose as many interesting pictures as possible and otherwise to bring you with me into these experiences. Hang on when the lightening makes a direct strike!! And as usual I am happy to hear from you, too.

I'll be back in Finland on November 29, God willing.

With love in God's wondrous peace!

Dennis　


SHACK STORM!
In the life of a missionary many things are real blessings and positive highlights, but not all. Take the night I stayed in Elias's little tin shack out in the village of Wittranjies. Actually I stayed there eight nights in all as I worked in the village but one night I will never forget. Shacks like his are quite incredible. They are made of rusted sheets of corrugated metal fastened together in a rather haphazard fashion on crude poles...sometimes painted, sometimes not. The sheets for the roof are held down with big rocks. You would definitely not approve of the way the wires to the radio and single light bulb hanging from the ceiling are connected to the only outlet.

And then came the storm - a violent thunderstorm that hit with rain and hail thrashing the ceilings and walls with an ear-splitting din and at one point that awful thud which sent the heart-stopping message that the whole shack had shifted in the wind and then at the height of the storm the single lightbulb suddenly exploded in a direct hit of lightening and we were plunged into darkness. Darkness punctuated by eery flashes of light through the two small windows and many cracks in the walls. The next day, still trembling, I tried to gain consolation from the locals. "Oh that was nothing, you should be here when it gets BAD!" Thanks but no thanks.

A dear friend of mine Uriah Hilman, a cousin's son from South Carolina, had a better way of putting it when he heard my story: "Even this declares the glory and majesty of God amen. God continues to work during the storm. Some days that's all I feel like; God pulling us through the storm. We and our little tin sheds weathering out the worst nature can throw at us but knowing the power of Christ residing within us holding everything together. He is my gravity. When I think there is no way He provides, sustains, and exists. By the Grace of God I grow." And to that I can only say "Amen!"

                                                    Elias in front of his little tin shack



CHILDREN OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER
It was one of those usual mornings in the mission, if there are such things. I had been invited to the Korekile Center in the township of Simunye where we have a congregation. I was only told that I would be asked to pray for some handicapped children. In the very first room I walked into something over my head.....maybe 30 or 40 children in an exercise room - all with various stages of cerebral palsy. Some were sitting or lying on mats around the walls but many came to meet us making odd outbursts of strange sounds, pressing in with unfamiliar jerking movements, grabbing our hands and staring right into our eyes with distant unconnecting gazes. Loving caregivers moved easily among them making me more painfully aware of how really uncomfortable the situation was making me. Summoning all the strength I could muster and deeply moved in my soul I pronounced a short prayer over the children and the caregivers....and for myself as my heart pleaded with my Lord, "Why, why. why?!"

And that was just the first of five rooms!!! This center serves the whole province. Different ages and different severities. In each room a heartrending prayer that God would lift and strengthen these special children. And in each room I saw more of little Komlanvi and Komi, the children I have worked so hard to help in Togo, who obviously are cerebral palsied children. I just thought somehow they were so preciously unique, but HERE - 120 cp children being cared for in one place!! It was truly overwhelming.....and then we got to the last room where there were older children - up to 18. They were all gathered around a table and when they heard that I was a pastor who had come to pray for them they all broke out in a spontaneous gospel song in English. It was their own version of course, but I think it was the most beautiful spiritual rendition I've ever heard! God has not forgotten these precious children. Someday He will explain "why?"


(P.S: Today, one month after I first wrote this, we visited the center again, this time with a youth singing group from one of our local congregations. How the children loved the music! It was like God opened my eyes to a new world where I was comfortable this time as we sang and prayed with them. It helped me very much with the "why" part of it!)

This is Korekile - the cerebral palsied child after whom the center is named - full of joy at our singing!

　
LOVER'S ROCK

Two years ago we organized a group of young men to go into training for important positions of responsibility in different congregations here in South Africa since there is such a crucial lack of active men here who are willing or able to do so. Since then five of these young men have assumed preaching roles in their congregations. The training and guidance of all of these young men continue. A favorite place for them to get away for this training is called Lover's Rock - a beautiful little nature camp by a small river not too far from here with very reasonable accommodations in multiple bed cabins. They cook all their own meals. This year I prayed intensely that God would give me insights to facilitate profound and lasting changes in their life and calling. On the second day He had me give each of them a little green notebook in which they were asked to make a list of their problems, doubts, fears and sins. These notations were not to be read by anyone else, but there was adequate time given.

In the next session I ask them to write down things from the past that influenced the problems of the present. Many of these young men carry a LOT of baggage with them even as they come to these training sessions. Again they were asked to verbalize whatever they wanted to. It was heartrending to hear some of the accounts. Finally they were asked to write down their hopes and fears for the future. In the last session we all gathered round on chairs under a big tree and I told them that it was time to turn over to Jesus what they had written and to do so in their own words - committing their problems, sins, guilt and fears, as well as past baggage and future concerns to Him by tossing their little notebook onto the grass in the center of the circle. There was no rush, no pressure but in the end each of us had made such verbal confession and commitment and had dropped our notebook onto the grass. Immediately I went around the circle, laid my hands on each bowed head and

assured them in no uncertain terms that Jesus had heard them and they could believe in His wondrous name and the power of His blood that He had taken all upon His cross and now we could leave it in the sea of grace. On inspiration the Bishop then leaned down and artfully arranged all of the notebooks into the form of a cross. But what to do with those little notebooks? Somebody suggested we tear out the pages that we had written on and burn them. Each one of us did that. It was very symbolic and comforting.
And so we left Lover's Rock rejoicing, with Jesus the Lover of our souls and the Rock of our salvation!

                             The little green notebooks forming the cross of Christ.

Some of the young men in training for service in the United Lutheran Church - with the Bishop

　　

BIRGITTA'S BOX


When Birgitta left us she left behind a great many beautiful personal things. Like her clothes. She had such good taste. When Maria, Dana, Sonja and I had the difficult task of deciding what to do with her things we chose to pack up all of her best clothes and send them to her friends in South Africa. The ladies here waited until I came to open the box. They did so with a touching little ceremony. Each member of the Women's League who was present held a moving little talk in memory of "Mother Birgitta". All remembered how lovingly she had spoken to them as the key speaker at their annual conference just two years ago this month - also held at Lover's Rock. They remembered how she had thoughtfully brought a little something for each one of them. Naturally it was not really easy for me and one lady truly brought tears to my eyes as she spoke of Birgitta's life as a beautiful flower that had fallen to earth in an untimely fashion and was now blooming in the gardens of heaven. Then as we opened the box it was as if her generous spirit was really with us once more as each woman chose lovely garments that they would keep and cherish always. Nothing could have been more fitting than the spiritual songs of joy these needy women sang as they clung to the pretty things they had chosen from the box. "Did e'er such joy and sorrow meet?" The legacy of love lives on.

Sharing clothes from the box with friends of Birgitta in the church's Women's League. 　


LEONA AND AMANDA


On the 3rd of November my cousin's daughters Leona and Amanda Matson from Canada arrived in Johannesburg from Thailand, via Malaysia, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and Cape Town. This is the fourteenth month of this particular world mission tour for them. Among their many gifts, they have truly marvellous contact with children - of all languages and cultures. As soon as they see a child they pull out pieces of colored paper which they fold artfully into little frogs that jump and wiggle to squeals of joy and laughter... and soon all of the children are in their arms experiencing the love of Jesus and His admonition to "suffer the children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of heaven!" We will leave South Africa together on November 28 - I for Finland and they for Ghana and an extended tour of Africa.

Connecting with children and their mothers - race, culture and language are no barriers

Leona and Amanda with Chris and his brothers and sisters. The frogs again and their unmistakable connecting touch.

Newly erected church structure in Maskiet, South Africa, with it's congregational committee and the Bishop.

A feeding and care program for orphans and vulnerable children coordinated by members of our Bethlehem congregation.

From the field in Guatemala!

Hola from the beautiful country of Guatemala! La Paz de Dios! May the peace of God be with you!

Well, I cannot speak Spanish, but it is fun learning a little here and there as we go. Practicing helps connect you to the locals, as they appear to appreciate when one tries, even if it is poorly!

So far we have been very blessed on this trip. As you may know this is a special place to my wife and I to visit since we have a son that lives down here as a full time missionary. On this particular trip our son Bruce was also able to join us.  As administrator of your Foreign Mission it is good to visit countries so I can report back to the Foreign Mission Board of the happenings on the ground, as well as to get the know the people from the heart that I am in constant contact with from my office.

I would just like to share with you briefly what the typical weekend here is like for Ryan,  Lynn Wirkkala,  Pastor Solomon,  our faithful translator Vivian Salguero, and other church members. On Saturday, after getting ready, it is off to Peitro Azules for a church service.

This place is about an hour or so away. The travel there is not too bad, much better than some other countries I have visited.

However, since several are making the trip, the truck or trucks are usually so full that the box is also full of people. It is best to get to the location of the church early enough so one can walk through the village and ask new people to come to church. The village that the church is in is very poor, and walking along the cement or dirt paths, leads you from tin hut to adobe houses, and maybe an occasionally block house. These are usually one room with blankets hung for dividers inside.


These treks through the villages are an experience all in itself. Here one learns that happiness does not depend on possessions. In these poor environments there is all manner of people, and they cannot be lumped into one group. One thing is for sure, when walking through the poor villages here or anywhere in the world, do not go as one would in a zoo; to see what you can see, but rather go as Jesus would, looking to share His love!

Once the service begins, (which may or not be on time, as exact timing is more of an American phenomenon) the service if very similar to what we are used to in the USA.

The singing is seldom accompanied by an organ or a keyboard due to lack of money for such, and lack of players. Usually a guitar is used since this is the instrument that is available more people know how to play. There are the prayers and a sermon or two. On this particular Saturday, I had the sermon which Ryan translated and then one of the very old pastors from the village had a message also. Afterward, 95 year old Pastor Ernesto had the prayer and songs at the end.

We then packed (instruments, speakers, etc) into the truck and were off to the next service. We stopped at a bread store along the way for a quick hot piece of bread. The church at Juan Ponce is twenty minutes away. The church is currently just a thatched roof which is now inside the future ALC church in this village. It is off the main road a few minutes on very poor village trails. Here the process of unloading and setting up starts all over again. The service here has the same format except Vivian translated.

After the service, load everything up again and head back to Zacapa. After this kind of a day one is exhausted. Once a year is hard work, but these faithful servants down here do it week after week all year long. Believe me; faith is being lived out here in Guatemala.

On Sunday, Sunday school starts at 9:30. When Ryan showed up at 8AM to pick us up, I thought he was crazy. Boy was I wrong, because by the time the multiple trips with the truck to the villages were done, the last of the children arrived exactly on time at 9:30. They have several classes into which the children are divided. Sunday school is similar to ours in the states and lasts about the same length of time.
The Worship service begins at 10:30. The format is the same as above. There were about 50 or so people including the children. The text was Isaiah Chapter 12 but a lot of the sermon was about Jesus and the woman at the well. I pray that the people were fed and nourished, and that our Lord was glorified. After church starts the returning of the people to the villages and homes.

This process is finally over about 1PM.

I know that this article is too long,  but at the same time, if ones gets tired reading this, imagine how tiring this work is week after week for years on end. Please pray for our missionaries down here in Guatemala. Lift them up and encourage them. Do not discount what they do, and do not think these souls in Guatemala are not worthy of hearing the Gospel.

Jesus loves each soul here in Guatemala and around the world! He died for them! Please help the Foreign Mission to continue the work in His Kingdom! Your prayers and action are most coveted as the FM endeavors to be obedient to the word of our Lord when He said “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Remember, this is just a two day snapshot of what goes on every weekend. The weeks are very busy as well with other church events and other acts of love that must be done because that is what Jesus would do!

May God Bless you and thanks for reading!

JR

Monthly Budget

The Foreign Mission Monthly budget email was sent out this morning. Would you like to be added to the mailing list? If so email foreignmission@comcast.net
Summary of November Budget email:
Donations have been very strong and for this we are very grateful. However, for November we are $4602.81 short in order to fund all of our obligations for the month. Details are available on the email!

Could you please help? Any level of donation is huge: Remember the widow's mite!!!
Just click here to donate via PayPal or Credit Card http://themissionsite.com/need.html

You can also donate by mailing a check with a special note on it saying: For Nov. Budget gap. Make check out to: The Foreign Mission and mail it to: 1601 NW 4th Avenue Battle Ground, WA 98604
Please view all that the Foreign Mission does at http://www.themissionsite.com/ When you are there, click on all the various blogs and buttons to see the various ministries!

Please note: Between Nov. 6th and 17th the communications back from the Administrator may be slower than usual due to the fact that he is on a mission trip to Guatemala. Please continue to communicate as usual and he will catch up whenever email and time is available.

Thank you and may God Bless You!

Announcing Upcoming Trips!

The Foreign Mission is announcing several upcoming trips. These trips were approved during the wonderful Foreign Mission meetings held in NH on Oct. 8-10. Of coarse we can plan, but God decides. The FM has budgeted for these trips, but as we all know, these are tight economic times and we rely solely on the generosity of God's children for the income to be able to go through with the plans that are laid out. We go forward together as Christian Soldiers, trusting that God will provide! If you have any questions, or have an interest in joining us on these trips, just email me at foreignmission@comcast.net

Since money is very tight for the Foreign Mission, all travel by people that accompany the minsters on these trips is to be self funded.
Here is a list of places with the best guess on the time frame: (dates subject to change)

Russia- November 3-17, 09 (Bruce Selin) and again in late winter/spring 2010
Guatemala - First of several trips is November 6-16 - 2009
India - Mid Feb - Mid March 2010
South Africa - Currently on going
Philippines - March 2010
Vietnam, Myanmar March 2010(possible with Philippines trip)
Ghana, Togo, Liberia Possibly Spring 2010
Nigeria Possibly Spring 2010

Again, just email me at foreignmission@comcast.net for more information on these trips! Please pray the God's Holy Word would be preached in truth and purity in these countries!

Prayer and Mission Trips

Please remember to pray of the meetings of the Foreign Mission board taking place in NH at the end of this week. Pray that we would all be willing tools in His workshop, desiring to do His will!

Check back here starting next week for upcoming mission trips. These will be decided upon during these meetings. We hope that interested individuals could join us in the mission field as we endeavor to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

South Africa!

Hello again, dear family and friends. Hope this finds you all in the best of health and spirits! Below please find my latest account of my recent mission experiences in South Africa. It always means very much to me when you respond. Dennis

NOTE: (This post is somewhat scrambled due to a formating problem during posting. I figured the best we can do is better than nothing. Thanks, John)

"Go and show the things you hear and see" "Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto Him, Art thou he that should come or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached unto them!" Matthew 11:2-5

For more than a month now I have been working out in the villages of the Northwest Province of South Africa with Bishop Mphahlele and leaders of the local congregations. Every day I am more deeply impressed by the way God creates light and life in the spirit of man through the gift of His Son Jesus Christ. One of the most important things we have done is to go into the shacks and simple homes and pray for people with a host of different dire needs.









We prayed for the blind Ezekiel and watched the light shine in his un-seeing eyes.

We prayed for the lame Sitha who has now been able to even walk a bit since we prayed for him last year.

We prayed for Rebecca, a 42 year-old woman with advanced TB, her face contorted and aged by the disease.

We prayed for the modern-day lepers - terminally ill HIV/Aids patients in an end-of-the-road hospice.

We prayed for the deaf who could only cling to our hands and press them close to their chests. We sorrowed with the young mother whose little boy had just died. And most of all we prayed for the poor and brought the blessed gospel of hope and salvation to them.

No words can describe such an experience - finding and speaking to the incredible needs that we faced every day in each of these villages. Of course we make no pretence of doing the dramatic and blessed miracles that Jesus did but somehow I experienced a miracle each time a grateful heart confesses the name of Jesus and whispers "riyalibouka" (thank you!) with tear-filled eyes after we have prayed for them. How blessed to know that God remembers them!

Besides our prayer walks through the villages - often in the hot spring sunshine - we held many special services including Sunday services with Holy Communion in each village. We were also were invited to hold morning devotional services in several schools, both primary and high schools. We praised the name of God that He is still welcome in most South African schools - especially those in the villages. "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!" (Note albino child in the first row of above picture).

The students all sang for us before and after the services and knew their gospel songs well. One of the most popular stories I shared with them was of Balaam and the donkey that spoke. The donkey is of course one of the most common animals in these villages and did the students ever get involved when I gave them an animated version of Balaam beating the donkey instead of seeing the angel that the Lord had sent.

Health clinics were a real experience. Every morning about 7:40 it is possible to hold a short service in the local clinics for all the patients in the waiting room ready to see a doctor or a nurse.(Yes I was even coherent at that time in the morning!) In the bigger villages up to 100 patients could be gathered. Many of them also sang a nice gospel song before the sermon. I was wondering who was inspiring whom, until after I had spoken on the Beatitudes at a couple clinics and especially at the second one a kind of singing/rejoicing broke out. And it didn't stop! Still when we were going out to the car you could hear them singing and praising at full volume. It really penetrated my soul to see what the Lord could do through His Word! ( I simply could not capture this experience in a photo.)

But then came the prison in Mogwase. This visit was arranged by Pastor Neels. I have visited prisons around the world for almost 40 years now but this experience was in a class of its own. Between 100-200 inmates were gathered in the main hall. Uniforms clean and pressed (they are orange ones with the emblem of the SA prison system printed all over them) and shoes spit polished. But just wait until a hundred or more male voices join in African gospel songs and WOW! I get shivers up my spine as I write this!! The power was almost unbelievable - it came in waves over you and almost swept you off your feet. Again I was wondering just who was there to inspire whom! But the story of the thieves on the cross and how they represent all of mankind - with unbelief and faith - went home with them and as I encouraged all of them that forgiveness is full and free for everyone - be he the greatest of sinners - in the powerful name and blood of Jesus almost every one put up their hand and testified that at that moment they believed that assurance for their own heart and soul. Then heaven came down once more as they all burst into song and I went around and shook hands with as many as possible. Several had a personal testimony of the power of the Word in their hearts that day. I will never forget Mogwase Prison!!! (And I almost got to stay there because I took the no-no picture of the prison above.)

This has truly been an exciting month here in South Africa. Now less than two months remain for me. This time closer to home in the townships nearer Randfontein where I live (so I will get a shower more often :-) But the schedule of prayer for suffering individuals in their homes, visits to clinics, schools, and hopefully prisons, will continue. We have also prayed for another suffering group, that is alcoholics - a real village plague - and this week we will take one young man who has been active in one of our village churches for a 28 day rehabilitation program. This is a real answer to prayer and is at his request!! The work goes on, but only by the power of God. We feel your prayers every day!!

May God truly bless and keep you in His love and peace!

Dennis

Thank you and South Africa

Dennis Hilman has safely arrived in South Africa. I will be posting updates from him here. Below is one such update. However, before I post that, I just wanted on behalf of The Foreign Mission to thank all those congregations that hosted our administrator for the church visits and presentations. The time together was very much enjoyed, and we are most grateful for your love and support. Thank you and may God Bless you for your kindness!

Now to South Africa with an update from Dennis!

My Dear Family and Friends Everywhere, The other night as I was flying through the darkness around the globe - north/south this time - from London to Johannesburg I was thinking. Thinking that although I didn't know a soul on that plane God knew exactly who I was and where I was - even my seat number in row 46 (the year of my birth) - and His radar was doing even a better job of pin-pointing my location than any GPS or the moving map on the little video screen in front of me. Though we fly to the uttermost parts of the sea, He is there. Or like it says in Isaiah 40:28 "Have you not known, have you not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth faints not, neither is weary? There is no searching His understanding." And as I flew over what used to be called the "Dark Continent" I also thought of Psalm 2:8 "Ask of me and I shall give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession". No God's hand is not shortened!

I left my home and family in Kokkola last week with a bit of trepidation because in the day or so prior to my departure I had a bit of a problem with my blood pressure. I have certainly never been troubled by that before! My doctor encouraged me to get a digital bp monitor when I got to SA and to keep tabs on it. On Wednesday I headed for our summer home on the island of Notholmen in southern Finland with Maria. What a beautiful day we had there wrapping up and tucking in our "Grand Old Lady" (that's what we call our lovely old summer home) for the winter. We knew that's just the way Birgitta would have wanted us to do it - with the peace and assurance in our hearts that her "summer home" in heaven is even far more splendid.

By the Sunday before I left I was feeling quite OK and preached at the Frebe prayer house in Helsinki. God opened up to me a beautiful place in Jeremiah (32:16-27) which culminates in that powerful verse that has meant so much to me lately "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?"

I arrived in Johannesburg at 7:00 a.m. in the morning of Tuesday, September 1 and was met by Bishop Louis Mphahlele and a delegation from the United Lutheran Church in South Africa. The rest of that day I just relaxed - and bought a bp monitor like a good boy. Apparently my blood pressure was still a bit high so the next day we visited a doctor who checked me over and gave me some good pills so now things have stabilized pretty well and I am feeling quite on top of it. Later in the week I met with the Church Council (the central board) of the ULCSA and with their Sunday School Committee. It is so encouraging to see how the work of the church is proceeding here - especially that among the children. Even in hard times the congregational members have rallied to keep most of the important projects afloat and the Word is definitely going forth.

In other areas the Bishop and I have been working intensely again with several of the young pastor prospects. Among them, the one who you might know the best, is Chris. Chris is so happy for the people who remember his story and also remember to pray for him. His life is definitely a struggle but we have already spent some hours together with him and his father and sister to make plans for the future, including the necessity of adequate professional help.

The picture I am enclosing today is of the little church called Bethlehem, where I preached at the Holy Communion service this morning. You might have seen a picture of it before. However I thought it was very appropriate that I start my visits and services for the next three months in this humble little church which bears the name of that famous little stable town. I was inspired to speak from 1 John 4:11-21.That text is all about love and how God expresses His love to and through us by the gift of His Son Jesus and how that is clear for all to see when the Spirit dwells in us. (v.12) "No man has seen God at any time. (BUT) If we love one another God dwells in us and His love is perfected in us.....because He has given us of His Spirit." (v.13).

In the next three months we will be visiting more than twelve different ULCSA congregations, spending about a week with each one. For the first three weeks these congregations will be in rather primitive villages quite a distance from Randfontein (which is about 40 miles west/northwest of Johannesburg) where my apartment is. Certain conveniences like a shower, electricity and ready internet access will have to be foregone, but who minds a basin bath when the word of God is going forth, the hungry are fed and the poor, the sick and the suffering are visited. For the remaining several weeks we will be making visitations to congregations within day range of this apartment.

All in all I am so happy to be back in South Africa - where spring has really sprung! Seems like such a long time since I was here last having visited Finland, India, the United States (twice), Ghana, Togo and Liberia since then! Speaking of the ends of the earth :-) !

May God bless and keep each one of you in His tender loving care and us here in your tender loving prayer! If your busy schedule would allow a note from you, that would be appreciated, too! In His love and peace, Dennis

Thanks and Prayer

Thanks to the Christians in the Plymouth, MN ALC for hosting the FM Administrator to share about the mission work the Lord is doing throught the ALC around the world. It was a joy to be with you last Sunday.

Please remember to Pray for Dennis Hilman as he is about to embark on a multi month mission duty for the Foreign Mission. He will be stationed in South Africa. Pray that he would have safe travels, and that the Word of the Lord would be present in Truth and Purity and that it will be proclaimed with the great power of the Holy Spirit!

Events past and up coming!

Last weekend in Watersmeet Michigan was a youth camp hosted by the Ironwood ALC. John R and Scott Niemitalo did a Foreign Mission presentation for about 200 young people!

Church visits and short FM talks by the administrator continue each week. Last week was Sunday was South Range Michigan, and this week will be Plymouth Minnesota.

During September and October, the Foreign Mission board will be deciding on up coming trips for the next 6 to 12 months. As soon as the trips that would allow additional people to go besides pastors are scheduled, you will find those posted here.

One trip that is already schedules is to Guatemala. This is from November 6-16. Please email foreignmission@comcast.net if you are interested in going to Guatemala!

Pray for Rain!

We are asking for prayers that the state of Andrah Pradesh in India would recieve rain. It is the rainy season and it has not rained very much at all. Without plenty of rain in this season, they will not be able to have a rice crop. Without rice, people suffer and many die from famine. There are many Christians that we are in fellowship with in this state who are suffering already and will suffer terribly if it does not rain. Your prayers are greatly appreciated!

Thanks and Trips!

The Foreign Mission would like to thank all the congregations in the Midwest that have hosted the church visits by the FM administrator. It is a blessing to be in the presence of so many Christians, and your warmness to the Lord's Mission is greatly felt. These visits will continue until the end of August for this session. If you have not been contacted for a visit yet, it is only because the scheduled filled up quickly! Lord willing we will visit your church soon as well!

Mission Trips: Now that we have come through another year, and the convention meetings are past, the Foreign Mission will be deciding on future mission trips in September and October. Please send an email to foreignmission@comcast.net if you have an interest in going on a mission trip and your request will be seriously considered as we make our decisions.

Church Visits

I want to thank each and every church that has allowed me to come to do short presentations on behalf of the Foreign Mission. It is a wonderful occasion when we can come to meet so many Christians! May God Bless your caring and sharing!

I still have many churches scheduled for this summer. They are as follows: July 17 and 19th, Spruce Grove. July 22nd Belden, ND July 26th Watertown, SD August 2, Bruce Crossing and Alston, August 9th Painesdale, MI, August 16, South Range, MI August 23 Plymouth, MN August 30 Negaunee, MI This is subject to small changes so please let me know if you have any questions or comments. Thanks, John

Conventions

I am happy to report that the ALCA Annual convention was truly blessed. The theme, Lord bind us together in Love, was appropiate. We truly can say we felt His Love! It was wonderful to be there under the hearing of God's Word, and in the fellowship of believers!

I now look forward to seeing many of you again in your church this summer. As you know, the Foreign Mission has asked me their administrator to visit all the churches as soon as possible. I am in the process of doing so at this time, although I will not be able to visit them all this year.

Convention

Please be praying for our annual ALCA Convention! The Worship Services begin Thursday July 9th in St. Cloud MN. We hope to see you there!
The Foreign Mission will be holding a presentation on Saturday the 11th at 2PM.

Safe Returns and Thank You!

Gregory Greve has safely returned from Russia! Also the youth group has safely returned from Guatemala! We certainly thank the Lord for allowing safe passage for these willing servants. Now, let's pray that the Lord would bless those efforts to the salvation of many souls! It is only the Lord that can give the increase and all Glory, Honor and Praise go to Him!

The Foreign Mission would also like to thank Zion Lutheran in Hancock, MI for hosting a Foreign Mission Mini Seminar on June 28th. We were so pleased with the turn out! It is so wonderful to work together in the Lords Vineyard!

Mini Presentation and Seminar

The Foreign Mission would like to invite everyone to a Mini Foreign Mission Presentation and Seminar being held Sunday June 28th at 6:30 PM at Zion Lutheran Church in Hancock, MI. We hope to see you there!

Please check below the Russia article below for the rest of the schedule of FM events.

RUSSIA

Below are excerpts of an article from Gregory Greve who is on a short term mission trip to Russia for the Foreign Mission.

Last time I wrote was in Yoshkar Ola. Since then we've been to Cheboksary, Ekaterinburg, Saint Petersburg, Kingisepp and now this morning we have arrived in Rzhev. In each place we have been meeting personally and in groups with many Christians, preaching the gospel in church and home services, and continually looking for opportunity to share the gospel with people we meet. On the train from Saint Petersburg to Rezhv last evening, for instance, the Lord again gave opportunity for me to share the gospel and to give out bibles to a mother, Irina, and son, Gresha, and grandmother Zhenya, and then later in Leona and Amanda's compartment, to a university student, Natasha, whom Leona and Amanda had befriended, and who was coming home to Rzhev for a vacation. I actually sat up with Natasha until 1 in the morning in the morning quietly sharing God's word, as the light of the "White Nights" as they call them here, slowly faded outside our train compartment window, then I got up at 5am, a couple hours before our stop, to mark out places in the bible I promised to give her, and that would correspond with our conversation and the word the Lord gave me to share with her the evening before. All of the persons we spoke with last night affirmed, and with much conviction, the importance of faith for their lives. Please pray with us for each of these very precious souls.

Now that we are in Rezhv I will begin to contact many of the people that don’t go to church, or that don’t or can’t go to church so often, which is something I do in every city I visit, to encourage them and to share the word with them and to pray with them.

We will be here in Rzhev until Monday or Tuesday morning before heading back to Moscow to meet our flights home. Please do continue to keep us in prayer, asking our Lord’s love, wisdom, and guidance in all.

May His love touch your hears also, with so much joy and peace,

Gregory

Upcoming FM events!

Here is a quick recap of upcoming events of the Foreign Mission:

Youth Mission trip to Guatemala: (trip filled to capacity) June 16-25
Mini FM Seminar: June 28th Zion Lutheran 6:30-8:30 PM

Foreign Mission Presentation: July 11th at Annual Church Convention St. Cloud MN 2 PM
Mini FM Church Presentations: Sunday AM during entire summer. By: FM Administrator Please contact to schedule your church. email foreignmission@comcast.net

South Africa Extended Stay Mission: Late August 09- November 09 Dennis Hilman. (talks in progress now of possibly setting up a short term trip (less than 2 weeks) during this time period)
Guatemala Mission Trip: November 6-16 Sign up soon if interested by emailing: foreignmission@comcast.net

Remember: All older posts are saved below, you can just keep scrolling down until you find the one you are looking for.

Safe Travels!

Just a quick not to let you know that Dennis Hilman has made it safely home to Finland! He slept in his own bed last night for the first time in well over 4 months! Thank you for all your prayers for Dennis. We are so happy that God did greatly bless the trip to Ghana, Togo, and Liberia, and prior to that to the USA and India.

Also, I can announce that Foreign Mission missionary Gregory Greve has safely arrived in Russia. Please pray for him during his almost month long trip to that country! I will post updates here on his trip as time goes on.

The Guatemalan Mission team is assembled and will be leaving on June 16th. Keep all of them in your prayers as well.

Liberia

Dear Ones Far, Farther and Farthest!

Welcome to my world - my Liberian world! It is late in the evening of Wednesday, May 20, 2009. I am relaxing under the mosquito net canopy suspended over my comfortable double bed in a small bedroom in a simple but very hospitable village home in Zwedru, Liberia (200 miles southeast of the capital of Monrovia, near the Ivory Coast border).

Just four years ago this home did not exist and the whole area was a ghost town. War had ravaged the entire province of Grand Gedeh and all the inhabitants had fled across the border into the Ivory Coast in 1990. They happened to belong to the Kahn tribe whose leader Samuel Doe, from this province, had taken over the country by force ten years earlier. In retaliation to his unpopular reign of power, rebels assassinated him that year and went on a rampage to kill every member of his Kahn tribe. Every able-bodied person fled on the three-day trek through the jungles into Ivory Coast taking only what they could carry with them. Later many also took refuge in Ghana and other countries. It was seven years before the first ones dared venture back and not until the war finally ended only four years ago have most of them been repatriated - with some still living abroad. Everybody has a heart-wrenching story!

But the war seems far away from my secluded little canopied reality this evening. After a hot sticky day I have just returned from my little "bathhouse" at the end of a garden path lined with large-leafed banana plants. That cozy little structure consists of a circular arrangement of poles draped with a light plastic tarp, around a small concrete pad. At the opening is a little candle, in the middle is a bucket of water with a scoop, and above it is open to the whole star-studded sky. A rather enchanting time of refreshment!

Today was the last day of five days of seminars and services for pastors and church workers from the Grand Gedeh province. What a blessed time we had together. These days were organized by Pastor Othello Tyne and Pastor Dickson Dueh, President and Vice President respectively of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of Liberia. These seminars are a follow-up of the valuable visit and seminars held here just one year ago by Andy Kandoll and Dan Karnes from America. This effort also represents the long term vision of Andy's father Gus Kandoll, who was a dear friend of mine, and who visited here twice in the early seventies. One of the best things about our time here in Liberia has been the openness, warmth and straightforwardness of all the people involved. Where there were stresses and strains they didn't try to hide them but brought them into open dialogue. This helped me greatly when I gathered all of the local leaders together this evening for some fatherly advice and counsel as our week together was summarized with a view to the future. My theme was 1 John 1:7.

Now if you are wondering about the patter of small feet that you hear, don't be concerned. It's just that a very prolific mouse family who lives under the packing boxes in the far corner of the room and who apparently have a little runway on the headboard of my bed just above my pillow - outside of the net, of course. I just wonder when they sleep ´cause they scamper about during the day, too. Earlier this evening a bat was trying to unnerve me a bit by fluttering around in the candlelight of my room, but I summoned reinforcements and he apparently got to feeling unwelcome and dashed out of the open space between the wall and roof. He could have used the one small window since it is a rather paneless experience like all Liberian village windows but I guess the open rafters were easier. In the daytime mother hens and their chicks frequently wander in and peck innocently among my things. My only other "guest" is a rather impressive 2½ inch spider who for the first few days pretty much minded his business on the far wall and then yesterday when I was reaching for the open case I carry my Bible and notes in, as I was leaving for the seminar, I suddenly realized he was disappearing into it. To my chagrin he promptly made himself so scarce that I could not find him at all. I just hope he was transformed by the Word into something less innocuous.

As I sit here in the peace of my enchanted little softly netted enclosure it does seem like a world for itself. But I also remember the world I was in just a few days ago on the trip here from the capital city of Monrovia. More than twelve hours of awful roads - first old broken up pavement and then endless miles of rutted, pot-holed gravel, sand and just plain dirt roads. Bump, bang, dodge, swerve and then all over again in the hot sun and dust.. The infrastructure in Liberia simply doesn't really exist yet - destroyed by 15 years of war. For instance electricity is non-existent anywhere in the country, except in the capital. In most rural towns gas is sold in one gallon glass jars. And now I can "look forward" to that return road to Monrovia that is still ahead of us tomorrow. Let us pray for dry conditions. In the rainy season only big four wheel drive vehicles even attempt it. Do you understand the isolation of these people?

You know when you hold seminars you always wonder if people are getting the point and praying that it will make a difference in their lives after we have come all the way around the world and endured all of those awful roads. Well last night one young man named Uriah really made my day. I was sitting outside of this house enjoying a respite from the oppressive heat of the day - it pushes 100 F. or above every day - and here he came around the corner and sat down beside me. I could just barely detect a big smile on the handsome face of this youth leader in the faint light. "I got it! Pastor Dennis, I really got it!" he emoted. "I finally understand the whole point of the seminar thus far! You have been trying to teach us that it is the salvation of souls that is most important, through the Gospel of Christ Jesus to penitent sinners in the name and blood of Jesus! Well, just you wait! You are going to see results from that teaching here in Zwedru - by God's great grace!!" Of course the seminars emphasize a much greater scope of things, but in a religious climate where every imaginable and unimaginable doctrine is afoot and signs and wonders are in great demand these words of Uriah's have profound significance and echo deep into the heart of my calling and ministry.

(Accra, Ghana - Sunday, May 24, 2009) Safely back here in Ghana, which feels like the center of civilization, again. We made that 12 hour road trek from Zwedru to Monrovia without incident - except for being completely covered in sweat and red dust. My first real shower in nine days did feel good, but I would make that trek again any time (except for rainy season) since a big chunk of my heart got left out there in Liberia. I just pray that I can go back again!!! On Tuesday I head north again - through London and Denmark - arriving in Finland on June 1, God willing!

Much love and prayers in God's peace from this side of Africa!
Dennis
Please see all the pictures from Liberia, Ghana, and Togo by clicking here!
http://imageevent.com/aalchurch/picturesfromtheforeingmissiontrips/guatemalapictures

Schedule!

Please scroll down below the long Togo article to find the upcoming Foreign Mission events. If you scroll down even further, you will find picture links. Remember, the newest posts are always at the top on blog, but that does not mean the ones below are old!

Unforgetable Togo!

Togo, unforgettable Togo! Here I sit in a very simple room in the primitive village of Ountivuo, Togo. We have just completed three days of seminars here with very good attendance. People have come from miles around, waded swollen rivers and faced who knows what difficulties just to get here by foot. Here in Ountivuo there is of course no electricity, running water or toilets as we know them. My room has one bed covered with mosquito netting, one chair and one table. The windows are shuttered but have no glass. I keep the shutters wide open all the time for ventilation. Washing facilities consist of a bucket of water with a scoop in it in a small room at the end of this building.

What has made this trip so unforgettable thus far, besides the hearty and enthusiastic attendance at the seminar, was the way here. Pastor Frank Famiyeh, who is accompanying me on all my travels in West Africa, drove our van from Ghana to Lomé, the capital city of Togo.. We were met at the border by the President of the ALC of Togo, Pastor Nestor Devigan and the general secretary of that church, Victor Abalovi. Victor is a young (34) but very experienced driver, who agreed to be our chauffeur the rest of the way. Besides his almost uncanny ability to maneuver a van under impossible situations he is also our translator who can translate to or from four or five languages including English and French! French is the general language in Togo. On our first day, after leaving Lomé far behind, we ran into a violent thunderstorm just as the paved road came to an end and we had to continue on a dirt/gravel road. Torrents of water rushed down the road in rivers but the real challenge was one place where a veritable lake had been formed. A passenger from the car ahead of us waded in to this body of water to check the depth and we could see he was already almost waste deep.. Didn't seem like there was any way to proceed. But our dauntless driver summoned his courage, years of driving skills and the promises of Isaiah 43:2 and ploughed through the water a little nearer the edge right out the other side and we continued - under the most formidable conditions.

That night we stayed in a guest house along the way. The rain was unremitting. The following morning we headed out on a road that I have never even seen the remote likes of in my life. Just picture a sea of black mud facing you in the road ahead, pocked by huge water-filled potholes, up and down ridges at all angles and oozing ruts a foot or more deep and other anomalies too numerous to mention.. Slowly but surely our skilled driver maneuvered us through these impossible messes for what seemed like hours, but was probably less than an hour and a half. I almost wished I were careening along at death-threatening speeds on those crowded roads in India!

You would not have believed, however, when we finally rounded the last turn and the church was just ahead of us how the people rushed out with one accord and welcomed us with hugs and kisses. I just cried. After the tension of the journey - not knowing whether we might be sitting in some mudhole in Togo forever, the genuine happiness and joy of those people was truly overwhelming. Only they know what hardships they all live with here and how isolated their village is. They were so incredibly appreciative for the seminar and for God's Word - begging me to promise them that I would come again next year. I told them if God so wills and He provides a helicopter I will be most happy to return then. Most had never seen a helicopter but it was an amusing thought for them.

Now we just have the church service tomorrow morning and then we will head south - back over all of those incomparable roads. But fortunately the sun has been shining since we got here and of course we have been praying that the roads would be drier. But as I look out of my window I seen how the rain is starting to fall on the mud huts in this village as chickens and goats wander aimlessly about and children kick their ball and play in the sandy yard.. Ominous thunder rolls and lightening flashes in the darkening clouds.. Oh, Lord, please be with us on our journey back to Lomé.

(The next evening in Lomé). There really were thunderstorms last night and it rained heavily for many hours in Ountivou. The worst was to be feared. But the wonderful celebration of the church service in the morning together with Holy Communion lightened our spirits. And what a celebration it was! The music, singing and a kind of very animated line procession through the church seemed to have no end and the joy was unmistakable. Later I spoke on Isaiah 12 about the true meaning of why we praise God when His anger has been turned from us and our sins are forgiven and washed away in the blood of His Son Jesus. I also spoke about "with joy drawing water out of the wells of salvation". In Ountivou there is no well. All water is carried from a distance but I assured them that the well of salvation, with it's never-ending supply of Living Water had been dug right in their midst! Hundreds of people attended the service including at least a hundred children. I know because I had a big bag of 100 wrapped candies to give them after the service and as they lined up in long lines I gave out every single piece.

And then came that formidable road back. Our driver Victor maneuvered it with the most laudable skill - we even managed the "lake" with aplomb and after a couple hours we were back on the paved road on the way to Lomé, singing God's praises! Tonight we are safely in that capital city with air conditioning and showers and a little restaurant that even serves spaghetti bolognaise. God is so incredibly good!! If all goes well I will send this when I get back to an internet connection in Accra, Ghana tomorrow evening. We will then be preparing for our departure by air to Monrovia, Liberia on Wednesday, May 13. Keep those thoughts and prayers coming!!

I am just so incredibly thankful to our Heavenly Father who makes all things possible!

With love to all of you in His blessed peace!

Dennis

Teaching at the seminar. Translator Victor on the right, President Nestor Devigan of the ALC Togo on the left making notations on the blackboard in French. Topic for the first day was "The Plan of God" (for our lives, salvation and ministries). French is the common literary language in Togo but Victor translated into the local vernacular.

Seminar participants and some children on the first day in front of the church in Ountivou, Togo. The number almost doubled on the second day when a number of people had been prevented from coming at first because of a flooding river.

The theme on the second day was "Humility". When I got to the text in Matthew 18 where Jesus uses the example of a child, I called in two small children who were playing outside and also used them as a perfect example of humility and who is greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. Pastor Frank Famiyeh, head of the ALC in Ghana, who also contributed to the teaching at the seminar, looks on.




View from the open window of the room where I stayed in Ountivou -children who came to visit.

The drum section who led the singing at the church service on Sunday morning.

Line up for Communion

Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ

Suffering mother with two severely handicapped and malnutritioned children who she carried to the seminar and church every day! Typically their father split when he learned of the handicaps! My heart just went out completely to this precious little family (the other boy in the picture is just there to hold the older child, but the mother usually carries - half drags - him also ). I have now arranged for this mother and her children to be taken to a doctor for the first time in their lives - all the way to the capital city of Lomé where they can be diagnosed, fed and hopefully given the care they so critically need. Some things you just can't walk by

Typical Village in Togo

Togo thoroughfare! Unfortunately I was too nervous to jump out and get a good picture of the real bad places in the road to Ountivou but let this shot of the last and least formidable of the mudholes, after it had dried up a lot, suffice at least to give you an idea that it was no picnic.

Atlantic beachfront in Lomé, the capital of Togo.

Foreign Mission Events

Here is a schedule of current and upcoming events of the Foreign Mission

Current: Dennis Hilman is in Ghana, and will be leaving for Liberia on May 13th. Read updates from Dennis below.

Russia: Gregory Greve is going to Russia in early June. He will have a few people with him, and will be met there by Leona and Amanda Matson.

Youth Mission Trip to Guatemala: June 16th to 25th. This trip is filled to capacity. It is wonderful to see such interest in Mission trips, especially from the younger generation!

Mission Presentation: June 28th Zion Lutheran Hancock, MI (Sunday Evening, all are invited) Presented by Dennis Hilman and John Ruotsala

Mini Foreign Mission Presentations: 5 to 8 minute information sharing talks about The Foreign Mission on Sunday Mornings during this summer. Where? In the Midwest at a different ALC church each Sunday. Presented by FM Administrator, John R. Please email foreignmission@comcast.net if you wish to sign your church up for this.

Mission Trip to Guatemala: In order be able to include more people that already are interested, a second trip is currently being scheduled in late October or early November. email foreignmission@comcast.net for more info.

More to be posted later: Please keep reading below for past posts!