Foreign Mission News Blog

One-liners from India

2012-01-30T05:50:00.001-05:00

Ansten: Love the people! Lord save India!

Tom: Màs curry chicken!

Jean-Mary: The team is extraordinary!

John: So many people...so little time!

Dr Kumar: Thankful that we can worship the Lord freely in India!

Ariann: Love the kids...they're all so beautiful!

Leona: I could live on masala chai!

Rajahmundry road blocks!

2012-01-30T00:26:00.001-05:00

It is wonderful to be back in India again, however, it has been an eventful few days since we arrived last Wednesday! On our trip back from the airport, we were stopped for a few minutes by protesters. Our hosts here in India informed us that there are protests going on between the upper and lower castes. The lower caste people are protesting the lack of freedom and the need for social reform. Many of the shops have been closed, the schools were out for a day, and the roads have been blocked frequently.

We didn't think it was going to be much of an issue...but that was before we headed out Thursday morning in two different directions: John Ruotsala, Tom Lappi, and Ansten Tretten to the pastors training and Ariann Somero and Leona Matson to teach the children and meet with the women. We had traveled for only a few minutes when the traffic came to a halt: more protests. Unfortunately, it wasn't only a few minutes this time! The guys were stuck for three hours...luckily us girls were in a smaller car and we were able to sneak through the traffic, creeping between trucks with less than an inch clearance on each side. Eventually, though, we too were stopped--about 100 yards from our turnoff! After waiting for about 40 minutes, our hosts decided we could walk out--which we promptly did. Since we walked out we were only about an hour and a half late--but we still were able to have a wonderful time with the children and the women!

Yesterday the protests were supposed to be over. However, as soon as the guys hit the main highway, they were stopped--just three cars from where the protesters sat! After about 15 minutes, they decided it was time to pray--before the prayer was even over the protesters got up and they were able to continue! Praise God!

The devil, however, doesn't rest. We woke up this morning to the news that the protesters are out again. The roads are blocked, the shops are closed, and people are marching once again. We know, however, that God is in control and we will arrive where we need to arrive. However, please pray not only for our speedy transport but also for justice and freedom for the people of India!

Note: there aren't many pictures because the connection is so slow right now that they won't upload.

HOLA DE GUATEMALA!!

2012-01-22T19:12:00.003-05:00

What can I say? Exciting? Inspiring? Breathtaking? I think I've used up all of those words before. Guatemala - which just happens to be the 40th country I have been to in my life - is truly a world of it's own. One of the first things that struck me when I arrived here last Tuesday, January 10, was the exhilaration of the mountains - everywhere! I love mountains. I am like the Psalmist who often lifted his eyes unto the hills (mountains) and contemplated where his help came from. "My help cometh from the Lord!" Truer words were never spoken.

The view from my bedroom window in 'Casa Paul Somero', where he has graciously invited me to stay, in his absence, of course, underscores what I am talking about. You are never far from the mountains here. Yes, even before I got to this house we drove four hours directly from the airport in Guatemala City eastward to the village of Juan Ponce. There I went straight from the car to the pulpit and preached on one wonderful verse that God had given me in Leviticus 26:12. "And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people!" What a powerful theme for my two month stay here in this breathtaking (there, I did it again!) country.

Stopping for a view in the mountains with Scott and Karen Niemitalo. They flew all the way down from North Carolina to give me the warmest of welcomes to this mission field. Scott is the man in charge of Guatemala for the Foreign Mission. They stayed for just three days, but long enough to make me feel most welcome and at home.

One man who knows the mountains like the back of his hand is our dear brother in faith, Solomon, who is son-in-law of the revered Salgiero who has long since gone on. On the second day he took us way up into the mountains to the village of Tajaral - it seemed like we drove straight up for an hour and a half. When we had driven as far as possible we continued on foot to the local homes perched on the slopes to bring prayer and encouragement. Here Solomon is resting with his son after teaching us fascinating things about the flora and fauna along our way. Cutting a cactus to use it's juice to treat a dog bite that Lynn Wirkkala got as we entered one yard and showing us how one plant quickly shut it's leaves when tapped, among many other things. Lynn has been living here as a missionary for about four years now. It's good that the dog bit her and not me. If you know me and dogs I might never have come back :-) !!

In one home we met a sage old man in his eighties and shared the Word with him. Here with Scott Niemitalo and Denis Garcia. Denis has been back in Guatemala after his studies in the States for about a year and a half now. He is one of my most important Spanish teachers here. At this occasion I even read John 3:16 for the first time in Spanish.

This sign, at the entrance to the village means "Tajaral for Christ" indicating the spiritual foundation of the lives of many who live in this high mountain village.

But it isn't just the mountain vistas that take your breath away as you travel the roads of Guatemala, but it is the Wild West nature of the country. Every day we pass the shell of a school bus in which the driver was ambushed and killed in front of the children and his own daughters as some kind of retribution. People drive pretty much how they want to at the speeds they choose and park wherever they wish. In towns the formidable speed bumps keep the speeds down but it is hair-raising to see the chances drivers take on the highways. Police, military personnel and guards all with automatic rifles are virtually everywhere, but so is lawlessness. The other day we passed a big, almost new complex beside the road which Ryan used to visit regularly to get gas, shop at the shop or have a bite to eat at the cafe. Today it sits empty and abandoned, riddled with bullet holes and pocked with shattered glass windows. Someone obviously didn't like the owner.

In sharp contrast to the lawlessness is the way the law and grace through the Word of God are being spread here. Ryan Ruotsala is the fulltime missionary serving the three congregations here. In this picture very competently leading the singing with two ladies of the congregation of Piedras Azules last Saturday. Many of the songs sung are tunes familiar to us. Ryan has even presented me with my very own songbook in which I can write the English names of songs I recognize. The guitar makes it easier for me to sing in harmony with many of these tunes.

Like I said Piedras Azules is one of the three active congregations here, albeit probably the smallest. Here some of the women and children relax outside the church after the service. This church, like the other two, in Zacapa and Juan Ponce, are the result of many contributions and much hard work on the part of numerous people and visiting missionary groups visiting from our churches in the U.S.

Just two days ago Pastor Giovanni, who lives in Zacapa but serves all three of these churches, took me on a prayer walk through the village of Juan Ponce. This man is a pastor who is a Guatemalan national and has served these congregations now for past two years. He has been such a blessing to them since there was a real "pastoral vacuum" in this area for several years. The Foreign Mission always focuses on raising up indigenous pastors who both know the living Gospel and their own people and can serve in the long term.

We went from home to home, listening, encouraging, exhorting from the Word and praying with the villagers. Pastor Giovanni especially chose homes where family members, for instance the husband, were not attending church regularly or at all. Strong men in the church, with the exception of a few pastors and church workers, are a rarity here. Something I have seen to be sadly true in many other countries. And so we said a special prayer for the father in this family, as well as for the other members of course.

Prayers for the children. Here you see Jonathan, the little grandson of one of our church members, who suffers from uncontrolled eye muscles. He often holds his hand over his left eye, either to ease the pain or to be able to focus. He has never been seen by a doctor and badly needs that, but the family cannot afford it. LITTLE JONATHAN NEEDS HELP. Anybody out there?

Then we visited Sarah - who made us fresh tortillas in a manner that I am sure they have been made for eons. Very tasty. In each home we prayed with people and invited them to church. In another home a rather young man named Julio seemed to be touched by the Gospel. His wife and little son are church members and regularly attend but he had never been to church, earlier suffering from an alcohol problem. As we left his home Julio followed us carrying his axe over his shoulder. In the yard of another home I finally asked him if he wanted me to pray for him and his contrite heart. He consented. I felt the Holy Spirit come down upon us. His heart was touched to tears as I proclaimed for him the blessed Gospel of liberty to the captives that Christ himself had bought for us with His own blood on Calvary. How often Jesus had proclaimed this and how often He encouraged us to do likewise.

After our long walk in the heat of the day we were invited to one village home for a most "delicioso" meal. The hammock on the veranda looked so inviting after dinner so I did my "horizontal" thing and enjoyed myself thoroughly. In the lovely warmth of the afternoon my thoughts wandered. Imagine how I had been brought to this country that I never dreamed I would visit since "everyone else had already been here". But mostly I was thinking about our village prayer walk that day and how God had led us. Would the Holy Spirit bring those people to church the next night? It was an exciting thought!

The next evening (yesterday) I was back on the steps of the just completed Juan Ponce church watching a blazing sunset over the mountains disappear into a final intense wash of light. I could really only think of one thing, "Would God bless our prayer walk of the day before and "bring the wandering ones to Jesus"? The service was scheduled to begin at 6:30. At 6:20 just two people were there. At 6:30 maybe four more including Julio's wife and child had arrived. About twelve people had been there at the last service we had held there. My heart was about to sink, so I went in as Pastor Giovanni started the service with great enthusiasm, leading many beautiful and even familiar spiritual songs. I decided to concentrate on my sermon text for that evening, Luke 4:14-21, where Jesus read the master plan for his ministry on earth from the book of the prophet Isaiah (61).

The anthems raised. Suddenly I looked around. The church was filling with people and THERE WAS JULIO!! I went back to hug him, a big lump in my throat and a "Gloria" in my heart. And others just kept coming. By the time I got up to open my sermon (with several lines in Spanish, of course!) there wasn't a free chair in the sanctuary. And then I read, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring the gospel to the poor......" and the Holy Spirit took over.

If you made it reading this far - and I hope some of you did - you can go ahead and rejoice with me! God is good. His mission here in Guatemala is living and viable and now He has even allowed me to be a part of it!

May God's wondrous love and peace be with you all!

Dennis

2012-01-18T11:46:00.002-05:00

Endeavoring to obey the Word of our Lord...Go ye into all the lands and preach the Gospel to every creature.

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From the field:

Dear Sir,
When we were reading your email of the information of sending me the funds US$ 2000 to print the Bible, tears were falling from our eyes as we were so glad, a very good news for us. As we are working to print the Bibles, they will be ready the Bibles, when the team comes to us. Thank you very much, you are so good to us for the Lord's work for Mnmar.
I will be praying for the increase funding for the month too.
In Christ,
Pastor Van (Mnmar)

Special projects

NOTE: These projects are not funded by the FM general fund. They are only funded if earmarked funds are received.

> Motorbike for a pastor in Kenya $1075
> Generator for a church in Togo $800

Regular support options

> Foreign Mission General Fund (any amount welcomed!)
> 12 Month Pledge Program ($10+/month)
> Indigenous Pastor support ($30/month)
> Full-time Missionary support for Dennis Hilman ($200/quarter)
> Orphan and children support in ALC Home in India ($30/month)
> Bible and other book purchases ($30 min.)
> Bicycles for pastors ($80 each)
> Memorial Funds
> Endowment Funds
> Mission Hospital in India
*Pictures and other feedback supplied, if desired.

A 2011 review and a 2012 preview!

First off, we want to thank all of you for your financial support in 2011 and most especially for your prayers! In 2011, we made trips to India, Philippines, Vtnam, South Africa, Ghana, Togo, Liberia, Kenya, Guatemala, and Russia; we helped support local work in all of the above countries as well as Pkstan, Mnmar and Sr Lnka; and every week people from over 40 countries received our weekly spiritual articles! One new development last year was the addition of Leona Matson as the FM youth leader. We are also blessed by the ongoing work of our full-time missionaries, Dennis Hilman and Ryan Ruotsala, and the hard work done by the Foreign Mission Board members. The board keeps in touch with weekly updates and holds meetings as needed. We earnestly pray that God will continue to use us as we strive to follow His commandment to preach the gospel to the world.

Besides continuing our work in the above countries and our ongoing correspondance with 30+ other countries, we also have a few new plans for 2012. We are prayerfully considering a trip to Chna and ask that you would pray for us to use wisdom in that decision. We are also hoping that more of you would be called to join us on one of the many trips we will be taking in 2012. Check out the Monthly News below for more information!

Monthly News

> There will be a group heading to India later this month and a trip going to Russia in February. Please pray for God's guidance and direction!

> Dennis Hilman is currently in Guatemala and Scott and Karen Niematelo have just returned from there. Updates will be posted in the news blog soon.

> Lord willing, we will be visiting over a dozen countries this year! Click here for a list of upcoming trips. We'd love to have you along!

> Do you have used digital cameras, laptops, or mp3 players that you'd consider donating for distribution overseas?

> Church visits from the FM Administrator will continue throughout 2012.

> There will be a trip to Pkstan, Mnmar, and Sr Lnka in mid-February! Are you interested? We'd love to have you along! NOTE: The spelling errors are delibrate; email if you'd like more information.

> We are so thankful that Chad Koivenen's test results came back "non-cancerous." Thank you all for your prayers.

> Last week's Foreign Mission board meeting was blessed. Praise God!

> The Mnmar Bible project has now been fully funded! (See note in From the field in the left-hand column.)

> We are hoping to inform more people about our work. Do you know anyone who would be interested in receiving this? If so, hit forward to a friend on the top left of this email!

Have you considered a tithe of your time?

The Foreign Mission would love to have you join us on a trip overseas at any time. However, if that is not viable right now but you'd still like to help out, we would still love to use you! Are you computer savvy? Are you good with video-editing? Do you like to organize fund-raising events? Are you a people person? Can you write? Can you edit writing? Do you have great ideas? Do you have spare time? If you'd like to help, we'd love to hear from you! Email the FM Administrator at foreignmission@comcast.net.

www.themissionsite.com\| find us on Facebook \| forward to a friend
Mailing address for DONATIONS: The Foreign Mission 1601 NW 4th Avenue Battle Ground, Washington 98604 Add us to your address book Mailing address for CORRESPONDANCE: The Foreign Mission of the ALC 63 Poor Farm Road New Ipswich, NH 03071 FM Administrator: foreignmission@comcast.net	Copyright © 2012 The Foreign Mission, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have professed interest in the work of the Foreign Mission.
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The Foreign Mission · 1601 NW 4th Avenue · Battle Ground, Washington 98604

Is God calling you to Asia?

2012-01-13T12:21:00.000-05:00

We have just confirmed that there WILL be a mission trip to Pkstan, Mnmar, and Sr Lnka in February/March. This trip will be about three weeks long and will include services, a Bible school graduation, teaching at a seminary, etc.

If God is calling you to share his love in these beautiful countries, please respond NOW as you will need to start your visa process immediately.

We also fervently ask for your prayers! Please pray for preparations now and for God's protection and guidance during the trip. We are very excited to be visiting these three countries again after such a long time!

December Foreign Mission Monthly News

2012-01-03T21:39:00.002-05:00

Endeavoring to obey the Word of our Lord...Go ye into all the lands and preach the Gospel to every creature.

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From the field:

Hi,
How do you do? I guess you reached home safely. I'm doing fine through God 's grace and i was so happy for your short visit and thank you a lot for all what we shared. May the Almighty God bless you in all that you do. Thanks and be blessed.
Elias (Kenya)

Elias was a young man we met when the taxi driver needed directions last year. Since then we have kept in touch and become good friends.

Donations

Special support options
NOTE: These projects are only funded if earmarked funds are sent
> Orphan support in Kenya (Kisii Highlands) (money needed for food, education, clothing, etc.)
> Motorbike for a pastor in Kenya $1075
> Generator for a church in Togo $800
> Bibles for Myanmar

Regular support options are plentiful
Email or click on the Donate link below for more information!

Showers of blessings!

I loved waking up in the early mornings, snuggling down under the blankets and looking up at the morning light sneaking into my little room through the chinks in the window shutter. Blinking my eyes open, I'd stare up at the ceiling through the mosquito netting covering my bed and listen to the rain drumming down on the tin roof. Outside, despite the rain, I could hear sounds of breakfast preparation as well as women singing in the other huts. It was another day of services and seminars in Upper Guccha, Kenya!

The rains were unseasonal and did cause problems. Many people weren't able to attend, and those of us who did had sticky mud to deal with as soon as we stepped outside. The rain and the wind also proved difficult since the services took place under tents outside. However, despite the adverse weather, the time we had was truly filled with God's showers of blessings! To read more about the trip to Kenya, click on this link!

May God richly bless you as well this holiday season with his peace, grace, and love! Merry Christmas

Leona Matson

Monthly News

> The missionaries who went to Kenya are all safely home. Click here to read updates in the news blog.

> Still need Christmas presents? Why not make a donation in someone's name or check out the Foreign MIssion Store?

> There will be a trip to India at the end of January (please sign up soon, deadline is near)!

> Donations have been low in the last few months. Please consider making a tax-deductable gift this season.

Would you like to join a mission trip now or in the future?

If so, please email foreignmission@comcast.net or visit www.themissionsite.com for more information. It is always better to have teams organized in advance so that everyone can complete the training program and we can meet together--even if just via phone calls or email--to pray and discuss the trip. In 2012, we have trips planned for India (January), Guatemala (April), the Philippines and Vietnam (May). Planning for trips to Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Ghana, Togo, South Africa, and Kenya are also underway. Please pray that the trips will go forward with God's direction and in His time!

www.themissionsite.com\| find us on Facebook \| forward to a friend
Mailing address for DONATIONS: The Foreign Mission 1601 NW 4th Avenue Battle Ground, Washington 98604 Add us to your address book Mailing address for CORRESPONDANCE: The Foreign Mission of the ALC 63 Poor Farm Road New Ipswich, NH 03071	Copyright © 2011 The Foreign Mission, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have professed interest in the work of the Foreign Mission.
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Friendly Kenya

2011-12-15T16:05:00.000-05:00

From the sweltering heat of Watamu to the unseasonal rains of Kisii and from the crowded streets of Nairobi to the untamed bush of Maasailand, my trip to Kenya took me all over the map. Despite the diversity of weather and population though, one thing didn't change: the friendliness of the people. The Kenyan people are some of the warmest and most welcoming people I've ever met!

In Watamu, we were visiting an orphanage supported by the Larium congregation. We were warmly welcomed by the Fondo family who run the orphanage and encouraged to return for a longer visit anytime.

In Nairobi, we stayed with a wonderful family in the suburbs. They welcomed us into their home and helped us get oriented to the crazy city of Nairobi!

In Upper Guccha (near Kisii), the people's warm welcome made even the rain and the mud seem insignificant! We arrived after an hour-long walk through the mud to be met by smiling people, warm food, and a cheery mud hut!

In Maasailand, we walked through the fields to arrive at the church: a clearing under a large tree. When the congregation saw us coming in the distance, several of the women ran out to meet us and escorted us back singing the entire way!

We had a truly blessed time in Kenya this year. Last year when John Ruotsala and Chad Koivanen went, the police chief welcomed them and asked that they return with more people next year. We revisited the same police chief this year and he was so happy to see a team of four people instead of two. However, he charged us to come again--with 20 people! So, if anyways is interested in coming and meeting the happy, friendly people of Kenya, contact the Foreign Mission today! foreignmission@comcast.net

A view from Kenya!

2011-12-11T13:56:00.001-05:00

There has been little time to post a blog during this trip! There is so much to discuss, that it is very difficult to put into a blog. Therefore let me just ramble on a bit with a few random thoughts.

First of all, there is no power in terms of electricity where we ministered, but we surely did feel the power of God during this trip. What I mean by this, is that the amazing power of God has seen fit to lead us to these wonderful people that have such an amazing grasp and knowledge in the scriptures. Many of them know the Bible so much it is very humbling to us. Yet, they were so very thankful for our coming to share the Gospel with them.

It seems people all across this country, though very poor, people are so happy and helpful. It seems like they will care for whatever need we have. This is true with total strangers as well as those we know. The smiles are so bright and their countenance is so peaceful.

I wonder if part of the reason for this is that without power, they must communicate one with another! Whatever the reason, in many ways, one longs that Americans could become more like the Kenyans in many ways. However, we realize that we as people change with the times, and I know the Kenyans do as well when they come to the USA. It is only by the Grace and Power of God that He keeps all believers no matter where we live.

One pastor we spoke to that has several children told us one of them had been promoted to Glory. What a way to say their child has passed away. His church is 6 months old and has 180 people. May God bless his humble heart. He is from a different tribe of people. Kenya has 42 tribes.

Perhaps the most knowledgeable man in scriptures that I have ever know, Sylvester, has such a wonderful spirit. We were in awe as he lead us through the Bible in a Bible study after we had him over for a meal. Wow, such a wonderful man. He came running up to me early one morning.and said 2 of his cows had been stolen. He asked for prayers. Then he went by running up the muddy roads for 15 miles to home. He put out a call and 50 friends and neighbors turned out to help hunt down the thieves. Then they ran 25 miles tracking the cow by measuring the footprints. They found the cows. You see, the Masai people love to steal cows.
(here Leona is meeting Sylvester for the 1st time)

Well, Sylvester's team spotted the cow, but then they had to tell the Land Board they found it. So they had to run back 25 miles. The next day they ran the 25 miles again, got the cows and ran them back home. Sylvester reported that the entire time they were looking, family and friends were praying, as we were as well. Now that the cows were safe, he ran the 15 miles back to us, leaving his family singing and praising God about the cows returning. When Sylvester entered our mud hut, after running full blast in the rain and on the mud, you should have seen the scene! Such true joy and celebration! Hugs, long embraces, and praises to God were voiced aloud and often. Sylvester was thanking the Lord for answering prayer! Yes, you can add up the miles he ran, 130 miles in 2 days. This is without eating or drinking, but rather fasting and prayer! Words cannot explain the faith of this man, but we surely do thank God for giving us the priviledge to know him.

(this pic is outside Pastor Fredricks church)

Services here have been almost conitnual. It is so wonderful to share the gospel with such people. Their heart is for the unreached as well, and they try to bring the gospel to them as much as possible. They also invite people to the services, and we were even priviledged to be able to speak on the village green with the blessing of the police chief. People from all walks heard the Word during these two service times.

The widows, (some pictured above), the ophans, and even special people like Emma (pictured below) are ever present.

There is so much more to write, but blogs are supposed to be short! Please pray that the Word preached here by both us and them as they faithfully serve the Lord, would be made living in all the hearts that hear by the power of the Holy Spirit. God is in control now as we leave, as He was before we came, or while we were here!

Here is part of the crowd at the outdoor services sending greetings to all Christians in America.

Please email foreignmission@comcast.net if you want to come on the next trip to this wonderful land!

You can see many more pictures of Kenya at the Foreign Mission Facebook site.

Welcome to Kenya!

2011-12-06T08:13:00.000-05:00

Our small mission team met in Kenya about a week ago. From the capital city of Nairobi, we traveled 6 hours south-west to the town of Kisii. From Kisii we then traveled my matatu (mini-bus) to the Upper Guccha region where we stayed with Pastor Charles, his wife Mary, their family and a group of 32 orphans that they care for! During our few days there we spent time visiting, preaching, teaching and enjoying the warm hospitality of our amazing hosts. Here are a few pictures and comments by Thomas Questad about our time there:

The trip from Kisii to upper Guccha took about twenty minutes of riding in a semi-noisy, fairly cramped, and very bumpy matatu (mini-bus). When we finally arrived to Sangra (the closest village) we had to get out of the vehicle and walk the last half mile or so because it was too wet and muddy to drive. Walking in the mud is not as fun as it might sound, but we made it to pastor Charles home and surprisingly only half of the visitors slipped and fell!

After we had completed the journey and they fed us we had our first of many services. Their love for the preaching of God’s Word was amazing. All they had for a church was a tent with a very muddy floor and people came from all around; many of them had to make a further and muddier journeys then we did (and ours was long and muddy).

They didn’t have any instruments per se but there was this little girl that could make some amazing sounds out of an old three-gallon water jug and she was probably playing it over two hours a day...

And late into the night it seemed they couldn’t get enough of praising God! The first night I don’t think they slept; we could hear them whenever we woke up throughout the night.

This is the family and orphans that lived in Upper Guccha, plus some of the visiting pastors. We took this picture down the hill from their home on our way back to town.

Here is our slippery journey back up the hill to town to meet the chief and catch the matatu. I guess the few days spent there in the mud helped us learn, because no one fell on the way back!

This is John with the police chief (seated) who was very friendly and told us to come back and bring more people!

Please continue to pray for our time here in Kenya. Please also pray for the people of Kenya: 40,000 people so far have been affected by unseasonal flooding.

Smiles in South Africa

2011-11-27T15:14:00.002-05:00

More memorable experiences and reasons to smile in a very memorable country!!

The pace has slowed considerably since most of our team departed for the good old USA last week. Now it's just Leona Matson, Thomas Questad and myself left to continue the work God has called us to do together with the Bishop Mphahlele and other members of the United Lutheran Church here. Later this week Leona and Thomas will leave for a two week mission in Kenya and on November 30 I will be heading back to Finland.

Now let's take a few minutes to look at what has been happening here in the mission field in this most southern part of Africa for the last few weeks:

"Let the little children come unto me!"

With the team we had many memorable visits to pre-school daycare centers or "creches" as they are called here. In this happy shot you can see Bob Maki and some of the rest of us thronged by the children we met that day. Leona led us in an enactment of Jacob and the ladder. The children were enthralled. It is so amazing how when we are ministering to these little children that they truly end up ministering to us, too. In another one of the creches the most unforgettably animated little boy punctuated all of his very loud and shrill "Allelujah's" by waving a full size plastic model of an automatic pistol. Unfortunately I did not have my camera that day.

Pistol-packin' praise warrior - minus pistol

When we returned to that creche a week later I did get a picture of him "in action".(Boy in center in green shirt). His enthusiasm was completely captivating. Unfortunately on the second occasion he had left his dramatic pistol at home, but his energy had not subsided at all. It is just amazing to see Leona working with the small children in all of these creches... to see how the seeds are being sown in these preciously enthusiastic young lives and then on the flipside of the coin to be ministered to by these little angels of God.

The Good News brought to thousands in SA schools

Almost uncounted are the times we visited outdoor school assemblies in many towns and villages with up to 1200 primary, middle school or high school students in attendance. Sometimes we had access to a microphone, but usually we pushed our vocal chords to the max and the students were attentive. Just imagine being able to freely preach the Gospel in all the public schools like this. That in itself was reason for rejoicing! In this picture we see Jacob Seppanen pronouncing the benediction over a group of some 1000 students.

Personal prayer walks

Hardly a day has passed that we have not been involved in very specific and personal prayer encounters with individuals in their homes and villages. Here Pastor Bob Maki prays for a needy soul. What a thrill it is as hearts are opened and the needs spoken to in the cleansing and healing name of Jesus and the power of His blood.

The Thusanang 16

In the village of Thusanang our team split up into three groups in order to reach as many people and pray for them in their homes as possible. We visited a lot of people that day and many were the hearts that reached out to God. Returning to our "base shack" with Calvin and Debra Matson, our translator David and a lady from the local congregation, we were passing one shack when a man poked his head out of the door. He called to us, seemingly in jest, "Dumela (Hello), I have never had a white man lay his hands upon me!" We walked a little further, but his words really spoke to my heart! "Why not?! Let's go back and talk to him!" We went back to his yard and I confronted him in that same doorway. "We are here as representatives of the living God and if it is His will we can in fact lay our hands upon you and give you His blessing!" Other men working in that yard and the neighbouring one were attracted by what they heard. "Come on everyone," I called out to all the men working in the garden, yard and other places. "Jesus Christ is paying you a visit today! Come let us gather together in His name and hear from the Word of God!" They all put down their shovels, hoes and hammers and began to gather in the shade along the wall of the original man's shack. As I began preaching some ladies and children also joined us. Sixteen people in all. I opened the word around God's love for all mankind, for them particularly there along the shack wall in Thusanang, and how He gave His only begotten Son to die that not one of them needed to perish but could have eternal life.

It was truly a divinely appointed meeting. Before we finished the "service" every single one of the adults requested prayer individually and the proclamation of hearing that all of their sins, doubts, fears and guilt were forgiven and washed away in the name of Jesus and the power of His blood - of course with the laying on of hands!!!! Sixteen people who had never before been touched by a white man were now touched and cleansed by the very Spirit of the living God.

Check out the hair...

You might not realize it but there are hundreds of ways to do hair in South Africa. After I took this photo of these expectant children waiting for a handout at a day center for orphans and vulnerable children I noticed that even though they are youngsters with little to call their own materially, they still have pride in their cleanliness and personal appearance which is often expressed in meticulously arranged hairstyles which can take hours to execute.

The Word supreme

Another school. The focus of everything we do is the Word of God.

The aged remembered

We visited homes for the elderly. Here Jacob Seppanen listens to the prayer requests of one elderly gentleman and comforts him with the hope of the Gospel.
　
Boys Town

A very cherished place for me to return to was Boys Town. Here underage boys who have been remanded by the court or social services live in a kind of self government community. This is in order to teach them to function as responsible members of society. Spiritual education is encouraged. This picture is unique in that not only were most of the enthusiastic boys present but I think it is one of the only photos we have with all of the nine members of our Team SA 2011 present. On the far left is Calvin and Debra Matson, upper left you see Dan and Joyce Karnes (Joyce partly hidden), center back Leona Matson and Thomas Questad, upper right Jacob Seppanen and Bob Maki.

ULCSA sign

The United Lutheran Church in South Africa is not a large organization. All of the eleven small congregations meet for their Sunday services and other occasions in little shacks, mostly put together with corrugated metal sheets. There is certainly nothing ostentatious about this church, even as this sign in the township of Bekkersdal suggests.

Bethlehem

The only ULCSA church not made of metal sheets is the "stable" church called Bethlehem - out in the middle of a field where cowherds and shepherds often pass the front door. Here Calvin and Debra wait with some of the congregation members for an evening service to begin.

Spontaneous Sunday School

As with so many times for children's Bible stories and Sunday Schools in South Africa the gatherings are spontaneous. Here Joyce Karnes leads a Bible lesson for a group of kids in the front yard of a village home. The group started with four children and ended up with forty! Almost all of whom attended the evening service for people of all ages in a school classroom later that evening. Speaking of the Kingdom of Heaven!!

The incredible balloon!

Before we went to the service that evening Leona had time to do a Bible-related balloon demonstration that is close to unbelievable. She first filled several balloons with air and threw them out into the crowd of children. One at a time she asked for them back explaining that as people, if we don't have anything in us (meaning lacking faith in Jesus) we often do just like a balloon does when you put a candle under it (representing the heat and discomfort of personal difficulties). It pops of course! Naturally all of the children were holding their ears and cringing. She repeated this lesson accompanied by the repeated popping of balloons until it was very clear what happens to an empty life facing trials and temptations. Then she produced a balloon that was filled with water and explained that when we are filled by the Spirit and Jesus as the water of Life something very different happens. Then with all of the kids gasping she put the candle directly under the water filled balloon and lo and behold IT DID NOT POP no matter how long the candle was held right under it. Again and again she held it directly to the flame and it never popped!!! All the while she explained the meaning of this. You almost have to be present to see how powerful and convincing this lesson demonstration is, but it is very convincing. And not just for kids!!

Lion king in court camouflage

A trip to South Africa could hardly be really complete without going on a safari and meeting some of God's great wonderful creations in their natural habitat. Here we chanced upon the Lion King resting not far from the three lionesses in his pride. Such a close-up encounter in an open safari jeep can't help but get the adrenalin going a little.

Bibles for Bosasa

As many of you know bringing the Gospel to prisons and detention centers has been a highlight of my life for many, many years. South Africa this time was no exception. We visited prisons four times and were privileged to visit the Bosasa Boys' Detention Center in Kruegersdorp on two occasions, in addition to Boys Town.

The visits to Bosasa were especially profound and unforgettable. On our first visit fourteen boys ages 14 to 17, who are awaiting their court trial, gathered in the small auditorium for a service. Their response to the message was almost overwhelming. Every single boy crowded forward afterwards to hear for himself the blessing of the Gospel of Christ in the forgiveness of his sins, doubts, fears and guilt. And then came the questions - deep and thought-provoking - and the pleas for us to come back as soon as possible. Calvin Matson, who sat behind me with Debra and others, was deeply moved. Especially since I had made many references to the Bible and held it up several times. "Do they just think that it is some magic book," he wondered, "out of their grasp?" At that point he committed himself to seeing that each of those young men would get such a Book.

The problem was fitting a new meeting with just those boys into our schedule. There are 150 boys awaiting trial in Bosasa! But God led us wonderfully. Calvin bought Bibles in all of the necessary languages before he and Debra had to return home - before the rest of us. And then came the tricky part of figuring out which 14 boys had attended our first meeting, since we didn't take names, of course. It was decided for our second visit that we would first meet all of the boys in the courtyard on some bleachers and give a short presentation of why we were there. That went great! That rowdy crowd became quiet as church mice while I told them Who we represented and why we were there in the name of the living God and His Son Jesus. Then I invited them all to a full service in the auditorium. This was also to kind of separate out the more serious boys so the "Bible boys" would be sure to be present. I was warned not to mention the gift of Bibles yet then in case we would suddenly be committed to giving out 150 Bibles - which of course we did not have - and many of those who were not true believers would very likely use them for cigarette papers and other less honourable purposes.

Almost 50 boys crowded into the auditorium - singing beautifully - and fully attentive during the sermon. With Thomas Questad as Goliath we did a re-enactment of that Bible story and lesson using one enthusiastic young detainee as David. We showed how the "Goliaths" in our lives can be overcome by faith, prayer and the Word of God. The message appeared to answer deeply in their hearts.

Then I simply asked for the fourteen boys who were with us the first time to raise their hands, which they did and to their great joy received their Bibles in Zulu, Tswana, Sotho or English as appropriate. Each boy then put his name and date in the Bible they had received. This Bible will always be theirs now but they were not allowed to take it back to their ward since it would probably meet some ignominious end. They can, however, return to the auditorium to read it under supervision at any time they wish and then can take it with them after they leave for their court sentencing. We also had extra Bibles for several of the other boys.

We left Bosasa that day rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit to lead and to guide and to provide even the Word - as in the Bible itself - for young men who need that leading and guiding more than anything else in their lives. (Faces blurred for identity protection).

And so my two months of service in South Africa this time comes to an end. I mentioned at the beginning of this article that there have been many, many reasons to smile for joy and celebration at the goodness of God and His wonderful love towards people of all ages and life situations in the villages and townships of the Randfontein area and the Northwest Province not far from Johannesburg. As we have brought them the Living Word and the Love of God, so have they beautifully reciprocated by enriching our lives with the same love, peace and joy.

See you in Finland next week!!

Remember that orders for my new book "Listen, The Cry" can be placed through the Foreign Mission Shop or outside the USA/Canada directly to me. The possibility of being a representative for book distribution in your congregation is still open in some areas. Please let me know if you are interested. Also remember that it would be so nice to mover the book as much as possible before Christmas. I deeply appreciate the interest so far!!

In God's love and peace!

Dennis

November Monthly Report

2011-11-23T08:45:00.000-05:00

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From the field:

Please pray our church in Zapanta Valley which is attack of the rebel people now all people are evacuating, total of 90 families are affected. They stay in Barangay Hall in Bangayan, so their problem is their food, I want to share them but we don't have enough funds. Again please pray because there is a military operation now underway. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us and God Bless you always.
Pastor Bert M. Senonis Sr. (Philippines)
(pictured above with his wife and daugther)

Special projects:

NOTE: These projects aren't funded by the FM general fund. They are only funded if earmarked funds are sent.
> Bibles for Myanmar ($950 of $2000 already donated)
> Van, Motorbikes, church roof (email for info)

Regular Support options are plentiful

Email for information or visit www.themissionsite.com

Meet 10 yr old Cynthia who has CP and her mother. (Guatemala)

Stories from the Mission Field

Mission trips from South Africa and Guatemala have returned this month to testify of some of the amazing things God is doing. Check out two experiences below. Click on the link at the end of each excerpt to read the whole article in the Foreign Mission News blog. Please continue to pray as we endeavor to follow Jesus wherever He leads!

What about Sophie?
...Seeing her, something extraordinary happened to me. I fell to my knees beside her on the couch. I tried to control my sobbing and could not. I could feel the hands of Calvin and Debra on my shoulders praying that God would give me strength. I kept praying an incomplete prayer, "Dear Lord...dear Lord..." to finish reading this article, click here.

God in the small things!
In preparation for my time in Guatemala I was in prayer that the Lord would open my eyes and ready my heart to be His hands, feet, and mouthpiece in the little seemingly unimportant times... to finish reading this article, click here.

Monthly News

> There will be a trip to India at the end of January (please sign up soon, deadline is near!) and a trip to the Philippines and Vietnam in May. Sign up by responding to this email!

> At the free dental clinic funded personally by the Guatemalan mission team, 203 dental procedures were completed! Thanks to the Guatemalan dentists and doctors and the American young people who worked so tirelessly. As with all FM trips, the preaching of the Gospel was of primary concern and everyone who had dental work done listened to a sermon first.

> After 11 years of translation work, our people in Myanmar are ready to print a Bible into a language that has no Bible! Thank you to all who already donated for this project.

> There is a trip going to Kenya at the end of this month. Please pray for God's protection for the missionaries.

> Most of the missionaries from the South Africa and all from the Guatemala trip have returned. Updates can be found in the News blog.

> Dennis Hilman, Leona Matson, and Thomas Questad are still in South Africa. They will be leaving before the end of the month. Dennis will head home and the others will join the team in Kenya.

> Please pray for foreign mission board member, Chad Koivanen, who had pass on the trip to Kenya due to testing for the possibility of cancer (tests due back shortly). The picture above is Chad in Kenya last year!

Featured country of the month: the Philippines

The Philippines is an island nation located in Southeast Asia. The Philippines is home to over 94 million people and over 90% of these people are considered Christians (80% are Catholics and 10% belong to other denominations). We started working in the Philippines in 2006. To read more about our work in the Philippines, click here; to watch a video about our work, click here. There will be a mission trip going to the Philippines in May 2012; if you are interested, email foreignmission@comcast.net today!!

Calvin and Debra Matson with friends in Sout Africa.

Youth group in the Philippines

Scott N. with Pastor Giovanni, his wife, and Pastor Solomon in Guatemala recently.

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God in the small things! From Guatemala!

2011-11-18T15:23:00.000-05:00

God’s Loving hand in the little things.

In preparation for my time in Guatemala I was in prayer that the Lord would open my eyes and ready my heart to be His hands, feet, and mouthpiece in the little seemingly unimportant times.

God has been faithful to answer my prayers in numerous still small ways. One I will treasure occurred in the midst of the dental clinic. It was my job at the clinic to clean and sanitize the tools before and after each patient. Between each patient I had a little down time. As I washed the tools I prayed the Lord would use my free moments for His honor and glory.

A few patients later I noticed a young girl a few patients down the line, looking nervously around the room. I longed to go over to comfort her, but my Spanish was limited. As I walked over to her I noticed a Spanish hymnal sitting on the bench a few feet away from her. I picked it up and asked her to teach me a Spanish hymn. She was shy and reluctant, but she agreed to teach me. She taught me her favorite song and I sang Amazing Grace for her in English. I was so blessed and encouraged by her praises to the Lord.

We continued to sing as she waited her turn to see the dentist, her in Spanish and I in English. It was a beautiful and precious time of praising our Saviour and Lord together. I think the Lord that our time together stilled her heart and kept her mind occupied as she waited to get her teeth worked on.

Thank you Jesus for working in what seem to be the small unimportant times of life. This moment will be forever treasured in my heart and memory.

Valerie Haataja (one of the Guatemala group November 2011)

Guatemala Morning!

2011-11-13T09:41:00.000-05:00

This Lords day moring brings another beautiful day in this wonderful country. The birds are singing praises, the mountains are showing His handiwork! The prayer of the team is that the Lord would use us each in some little way to share the Love of Jesus with as many as possible here Guatemala.

We are sorry for the slow updates, but the schedule has not allowed anytime to post!

There are so many ways to share God's Love with people wherever one is! Preaching the Word is of course so very important. This is why the preaching always remains the focal point of the mission! Below are a few examples from the field. Lord willing there will be more to come!

Juan Ponce ALC

Loving the orphans

A precious 10 year old girl with CP and her loving mother

Taking care of the children during so mother can a tooth pulled

Team Guatemala 2011 (in part)

What about Sophie?

2011-11-11T08:10:00.000-05:00

The day started out like many others for our South African mission team. We travelled a short distance from the church and headed to a neighborhood clinic. Calvin and Debra joined Joyce and I to minister to the sick. A large waiting room was nearly filled with patients and care workers. As usual, Tswana songs of faith started our visit. After prayer and a short message about the compassion of Christ, we layed hands on and prayed for all who asked. As we left the clinic our hearts were filled with joy and love from the South African people and awed by Christ's compassion toward them.

Someone then asked if we could visit a gravely sick person just a few blocks away. Of course we went. Upon entering this shack (tin house) I prepared myself for meeting this person I presumed to be elderly. We were taken through the kitchen into a small living room with a couch. On the couch lay a young child, she looked like a little girl about 5 years old, around 25 lbs.

Her body was tangle up so that the arms and legs were woven together like a handle for a reed basket. Her human shape resembled a ball. Her front teeth all came out at angles. She had large, thoughtful eyes, a slight smile on her face.

Seeing her, something extraordinary happened to me. I fell to my knees beside her on the couch. I tried to control my sobbing and could not. I could feel the hands of Calvin and Debra on my shoulders praying that God would give me strength. I kept praying an incomplete prayer, "Dear Lord...dear Lord..."

I was finally able to ask her name, Sophie, and was told her age was 15 years old. She has been suffering from CP since about 6 months old. For awhile it seemed like there were only two people in that room, Sophie and me... I was holding her bony skinny hand and stroking her head. All I could say was, "Sophie, Sophie, Sophie." Then after a while a few other words came, "Jesus loves you Sophie."

Then Sophie started ministering to me. Her large, expressive brown eyes zeroed right into mine and seemed to tell me, "It's alright, my friend, I'm okay, I feel your love."

There seemed to be a slight movement in her face, a smile. That helped me out. So I prayed for her, as earnestly as I have ever prayed in my life, "Dear Lord. Please take care of Sophie. Hold her in your arms. Give her a special place in heaven."

After a while I was able to get off mt knees and say good-bye to her. Most likely I will never see Sophie again in this life. But that little girl is a memory I will carry in my heart. She stripped humanity down to bare essentials for me. She was a human being, totally dependant on God's mercy just to stay alive. And that seemed enough for her. And you know, it's enough for me too. Sophie will have a new body soon. I will too. God will take care of us. Jesus died for Sophie and for me. I saw Jesus' face in Sophie. And that brought me to my knees.

In God's Love and Peace,

Dan Karnes

Bibles stories and prayer walks

2011-11-08T12:27:00.000-05:00

Things are just beginning to wind down here in South Africa. Bob Maki, Jacob Seppanen, and Dan and Joyce Karnes will fly home tonight from South Africa. We are sitting today without light in the village of Lesung (the outlets work, but not the lights...). It was a beautiful day here with a service and baptism this morning followed by lots of time for fellowship. Our last week here was busy, as usual. It was also very blessed!

Joyce told these preschool kids the story of Jonah and they in return shared a song with her!

Jacob praying with some of the people staying at the hospice near Ikageng. When we left, the director begged us to return whenever we could.

Dan speaking to the students at a local high school. The principal was very happy to have us there and emphasized the importance of having prayer in her school.

Bob praying for people we met while walking through the township of Sufurbylt. Both of these people said they didn't know Jesus. After Bob shared the Gospel story with them, they wanted to hear their sins forgiven.

Please pray for safe travels for the team as they head home today. Please say a special prayer for Dan and Joyce who were both feeling a bit under the weather when they left.

South Africa by Jacob

2011-11-06T13:59:00.000-05:00

On several occasions we have visited permanent temporary villages made of shacks. Poles of whatever sticks and fenceposts that can be found and rusty used corrugated tin are the standard building materials. The floors are often dirt. Sometimes there are steps and porches made out of dried mud. With temperatures approaching 100F, you can imagine what it feels like inside. The heat just radiates off the tin ceiling like an oven. Sometimes there is a woodstove heating water for washing or cooking. It's almost unbearable. There is no running water or electricity, and the outhouses are often little more than a few sheets of tin around a hole.

The people living here are often refugees from other African countries. Almost all of them have some sort of malady, which is no surprise given the living conditions. While visiting these places, we saw HIV/AIDS, TB, unexplained tiredness (if you can imagine that in the heat), various aches and pains, etc.

When asked if they were Christians, they usually said yes, but when asked if they knew who Jesus was, the answer was frequently no. In short, their situation seemed deplorable and hopeless. I found myself wondering how they had any hope at all.

In one village a guy in his 20s or so asked me "How can I believe in God when I have nothing?" He had recently lost his job, he was living in a shack, and he had no food. We prayed for him, but feeling mindful of James 2:15-16 we found a nearby store and bought food for him as well. We don't have the resources to do this for everyone, and it's hard to see so many in need and have little to offer. Nonetheless, we offered what we had, and in reality it is far greater than anything that we could physically give them. We offered them the hope they so desparately need by telling the the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I wonder why God chose to give me a life of abundance and them a life of want with the only significant difference being where each of us was born and over which none of us has control. Even so, we are all alike in that we were all born in desparate need and God has filled that need for everyone who believes in Jesus. God will also provide for the rest even if we can't. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you."

South Africa thoughts by Calvin and Debra

2011-10-31T14:41:00.001-04:00

Calvin and Debra Matson flew home from South Africa several days ago. They were only able to stay here for 10 days because they needed to get back to their children. They are definitely missed here in South Africa! They were an important part of our team! Here are some journal entries they shared with me before they left:

A piece of Calvin's journal from 10-19-2011:

Extremely homesick, mostly missing our children (although I have enjoyed talking about them all and sharing their pics), and adjusting to the African culture and lifestyle.

I found this prayer in the refrigerator door in our shack (yes, they do have refridgerators, microwaves, and t.v.'s. And, yes it is a shack, made of lightweight barn tin and 2x2's with newspaper jammed in the cracks to keep the wind, bugs and rain out):

Daily Prayer

Bless me Heavenly Father, forgive

my sinful ways. Grant me

strength to serve thee, put purpose

in my days. Give me

understanding enought to

make me kind, so I may see

all people through your eyes.

Teach me to be patient and

honest in everything I do. Help

me see when I falter, and

hear me when I pray. Receive

me unto thyself, that I may

dwell in your presence forever

and ever. Amen.

It's time for bed, just saw a mouse on the table a bit a go (will try to catch him tomorrow). Going to the Chest Hospital tomorrow after a group meeting. Thank you Lord for your hedge of protection on our travels and trip thus far. May we continue to thank and trust you as you provide.

From Debbie's journal, Sunday, October 23, 2011:

Wow, what a day. Thay all have been good, great and amazing at times, but today sure touched Calvin's and mine and Bob's, Dan's, Joyce's, and Dennis' hearts. We went together to a Juvenile Detention Center called Bosasa Youth Center. When we arrived we expected to see boys hanging around outside that we could meet and invite to church. No one was outside. We were taken to the room where church was to be held. Shortly, 14 young men arrived.

Bob Maki started preaching. Almost right away you could tell they were hungry for the Word and for forgiveness. They were so receptive. Dennis spoke a powerful message as well. It was a privilege to be there as they came for prayer and to hear their sins forgiven. Again, they were so receptive and genuine. They begged us to come back. They so want to learn more and be encouraged. May they not be there alone. We pray God will send people to disciple them. They don't really have anyone who will beleive in them.

A couple of days later we did go buy these boys Bibles, but they haven't been delivered yet. Dennis and others hope to return to deliver them and share more with these boys as soon as they can. The local Christians don't want to be reaching out to these boys because they are "getting what they deserve". We pray that that attitude will change quickly since thay are at a very vulnerable and receptive stage in life.

Our team is now in the small village of Maskiet. We ask for your prayers as we continue in the Lord's service!

South African Sunday school day... by Joyce!

2011-10-28T14:32:00.002-04:00

Good evening from South Africa! The trip continues to move forward at a breakneack speed, but God has been good and blessed us with so many different opportunites to share obout our Savior. Here are some of Joyce Karnes pictures and comments about our Sunday school day camp.

A large bus arrived and over 100 children filed out along with the South African Sunday school teachers and several members of the team. The program started with wonderful African singing by the children. Next Leona presented the story of Adam and Eve including the fall and the Promise. The children then broke up into stations related to the story.

After lunch, outdoor play at the pool, fun on the blow-up castle, and viewing the monkeys, the children filed back in. Leona demonstrated with a balloon how our lives blow up without Jesus when we have problems, but the balloon (water inside to represent Holy Spirit) stays intact with Jesus by our side. Pastor Bob demonstrated how Jesus covers our dirty lives (peanut butter on white bread in heart shape) with his blood (red jam) and then we are pure in Christ (white bread in heart shape). Saturday 10-22-11

Singing at Bible school camp

Debra (Eve) and Thomas (tree) in skit

Jacob (serpent)

Swimming

Leona leading a song while waiting for a photo session

Please continue to pray for our team! God's Peace from South Africa!

A South African Experience!

2011-10-23T14:03:00.001-04:00

Schools, prisons, hospitals, youth centers, churches, Sunday schools, detention centers, preschools, and private homes: It's been a whirlwind so far and it's only just began! Dennis Hilman and I (Leona Matson) have been here for almost a month, but last week we were joined by Bob Maki, Dan and Joyce Karnes, Calvin and Debra Matson, Jacob Seppanen and Thomas Questad. Here are just a few photos of some of the things we've been up to since everyone arrived.

The team got their feet wet the morning after they arrived when we visited a pre-school. We shared the story of Jacob's ladder and reminded the kids that God promised to be with Jacob and He promises to be with us as well!

Here are Debra and Dorah: sisters in Christ praying for patients in the psychiatric wing of one of the local hospitals. The staff wanted to know whether we would return every week to share with the patients. Please pray that God would touch the hearts of the people in the local congregations to take on this ministry!

The kids love to see pictures in storybooks...Thomas is showing them pictures from the story about Jesus walking on water. Jacob had told the story to the children earlier that day. These kids are from a shack village called Tausanang. We had a prayer walk through the village before seeing the kids. Many people asked that we would pray for them to find work. Please pray for the people of Tausanang!

Satanism is creeping into the schools here: both primary schools and high schools. We have been asked by more than one person to specifically pray for this when we visit the schools to share with the students. Satanism has always had a stronghold here as many people still worship the ancestors and mix Christianity with pagan beliefs. Please pray for the kids of South Africa and pray for the team members as we go to share at six different schools tomorrow morning.

This morning our team of nine split up and went to four different congregations. We met back in the late afternoon and had a chance to talk and share about the day and the week that passed. It's been an intense time here and we all ask for your prayers as we continue for two more weeks!

2011-10-11T16:31:00.002-04:00

South Africa Alive

Prayer changes things in Rietvallei

I know, I've only been in South Africa for one week but I really want to tell you about these first few days. I arrived on September 30, joining Leona Matson in the mission field here. She arrived a week earlier. We both have rooms in the comfortable home of Sikeme and Mary Malefane who are pillars in the church here. Their home is located in a township near Randfontein, a distant suburb of Johannesburg.

This first week the plan was for me to spend each day in another township called Rietvallei, a few miles east of Randfontein. This is a rather new housing development area made up of small block government-built houses situated very close to one another with high fences or brick walls around them. The main streets are paved but many others are gravel or dirt. About 5,000 people live there.

When we arrived the first morning we met an enthusiastic group of young teenagers at a rundown swing set in an open lot. They had offered to escort us on a prayer walk around the township, handing out flyers inviting people to come to a Thursday night church service and a meeting of young people on Friday. With us was Bishop Mphahlele and Pastor A. Koyana.The most wonderful part about the young people's group was that all of their Tswana names mean something very special in English. I will not include most of the Tswana names in this account but each of these English names, which I have capitalized, does represent a very real person.

So off we went with Thabang (HAPPINESS) in the lead. LOVE was right beside him, with SUCCESS following closely on our heels. These three boys are good friends. We were also fortunate to have the boy GIFT with us, for which we were thankful. Two girls, STAR and HOPE, who are very close friends, were happily chatting out in the lead. As they enthusiastically passed out flyers I thought of the star of Bethlehem and the hope it gave us all! Maybe the most important young man of all with us was REVIVAL. Oh, how we have been praying for a revival in Rietvallei so we were glad that he was such an enthusiastic member of our company.

One of the first young men who met our group along the way was TEST. Oh, yes, couldn't we have expected that? Just when we get started with God's missions in life we often have to face some kind of a trial or test. Our TEST was kindly, however. He just smiled a big South African smile, joined our party, and we continued. Our aim was to visit as many homes as possible during the week and to pray for the people who lived there.

Our young prayer team and some neighbour kids gathered outside one of the homes. Note the flyers in their hands.

In one home where we stopped to pray there were only two teenage boys and one young man home. I didn't catch the name of the first two but the third one was TRUST. TRUST insisted that he was true to his name, but he disappeared as soon as we came to spiritual matters. His brothers, however, were so deeply involved in the message of the Gospel that they both asked if they could hear that all of their sins were forgiven, which I movingly proclaimed in the name and blood of Jesus. We encountered TRUST once more outside as we left the home and he proclaimed with his hand on his heart that he would be at our service Thursday evening. He wasn't. Not that trustworthy I concluded!

I should mention at this juncture that my translator DAVID never left my side this whole week, reminding me how I have so often been comforted and inspired by the legacy of that chosen man of God and Psalm writer.

One of the most serious cases we encountered was LAZARUS, lying there on the floor covered with blankets (the days have been rather cool here so far, since it is only early spring). This poor man appeared to be on his deathbed so you can just imagine how the Spirit led me in a powerful prayer for him. "I could almost hear the Master's voice calling, "Lazarus come forth!"

Other personalities we encountered on our prayer walk were ABRAHAM and ISAAC. I was looking for JACOB, only to remember that Jacob Seppanen will soon be arriving with the group from America who will join us here on October 19, so those three patriarchs will then be in place.

But JOSEPH was a special case. He was in pain. His newly amputated leg was causing problems. When he heard the Gospel message, however, he cried out for mercy and forgiveness, knowing that though he may never walk again properly on this earth he will be able to walk and dance the streets of heaven. The name and blood of Jesus is so powerful on these prayer rounds. Of course the home of JOSHUA was also an important and memorable stop after that since it was in fact, Joshua, who led the descendents of Joseph into the Promised Land.

Mid-week we were directed to a church organization called the Holiness United Home Care Givers. REUBEN (Joseph's compassionate oldest brother) was in charge. REVELATION, THANKS and PRAYER were three of the ladies assisting him. They bring compassion and hope to about 92 outpatients in the township. How appropriately then that it was the young man, GOOD, who took us out to go on more prayer rounds to TB, HIV positive and other patients with serious illnesses.

It has indeed been a blessed experience to walk through the township of Rietvallei this week praying for many, many people. This included prayer in the homes of each of our young team members. One early morning we were also invited to the clinic where there were at least 50 people in the waiting room plus the staff. We sang and prayed with them and God led me to speak about Jesus at the Bethesda Pool.

At the Thursday evening service we had a good turnout as well as for the youth gathering on Friday. At the youth gathering, though, we once more faced that frustrating concept of "African time". We wondered if anyone was coming. Then would you believe?! Our qualms vanished when in walked HAPPINESS with LOVE and VICTORY right behind him. We were all set!!

Leona's Gardens

Leona has already been very active in many aspects of the mission here. To relax she has started a garden here outside Malefani's home. Yes, it is gardening time in the Southern Hemisphere and she has been happily digging in the dirt and cultivating seeds for planting - beans, beets, swiss chard and carrots. The South African way of doing things is a bit different but she has acclimated to it.

Leona's real love and inspiration, however, is the garden of children's hearts - preparing the soil, choosing the right seed and planting in a caring way that the children understand, of course laced with fun and games.

On Friday Leona came with us to Rietvallei, specially to meet this group of kids and share with them a wonderful parable-like story of how Jesus gave His life for them. Yes, she is quite a "gardener".

My first week here in South Africa is drawing to its close. What a blessed and inspiring week it has been. Difficult of course to see all of the suffering and sometimes "hopeless" situations, but so comforting to know that prayer does change things! We are also very confident that the hands-on presence of Jesus in Rietvallei this week will strengthen and encourage the members of the congregation there. Tomorrow our week of prayer will conclude in that township as we celebrate Holy Communion at the Sunday service in their cozy little shack church.

Next week I will be working in the township we are living in called Pellesville, serving together with members of the Bethlehem congregation. After that the group from America is coming - Dan and Joyce Karnes, Calvin and Debbie Matson, Thomas Questad, Jacob Seppanen and Pastor Bob Maki. They will join Leona and me here for three weeks.

Reitvallei and South Africa may sound too far away but why not take your friends and/or neighbours on a prayer walk this week and bring the love and promises of Jesus closer to those who live in your neighbourhood!

In God's love and peace,

Dennis

Greetings from South Africa

2011-09-28T02:59:00.000-04:00

I landed in sunny South Africa last week and it's wonderful to be back here! I've only been to one congregation so far, but it's been wonderful to see some of my kids again. :)

Since arriving, I have been busy planning for the team that will come to join me next month. Please pray for them as they make their final preparations. The team will be: Dennis Hilman, Dan and Joyce Karnes, Jacob Seppanen, Calvin and Deborah Matson, Thomas Questad, and myself (Leona Matson). Dennis Hilman arrives this Friday and the rest of the team leave October 18th.

God's Peace to everyone!

'Round Russia with Him

2011-09-15T16:02:00.001-04:00

Dennis Hilman has provided us with a final report and update: A small sample is here, but the length is too long to post on this blog. Please email foreignmission@comcast.net and request an email of this report!

...a well-attended 3 day youth camp began in the same church. There were more than 30 participants. Here some of them weave friendship bracelets. But much more than bracelets were woven. We spent much time in the Word, times of testimony and times of prayer among other things. As we sat together I was deeply touched by the incredible open-hearted depth and complete honesty these young people demonstrated - often in the face of very difficult life experiences. For most of them faith - for some new-found - was definitely not taken for granted. On the last evening almost everyone present came forward for personal prayer as we gathered round and laid our hands upon them with individual petitions to our Heavenly Father and the blessed assurance of the Gospel. A deep experience woven in all of our hearts for life! (picture above)

From the peaceful forests of Gananina Jaama we travel one hour east of Ekaterinburg to the "famous" village of Gagarka. Countless are the times we have held services in this humble home since 13-year-old Marat first invited me here in 2001. This was actually our tenth anniversary celebration. From left to right in the picture above you can see Brian, Kostya (you will soon see him again), Marat's cousin Zhenia, Marat, his babushka, a guest Marina and Marat's mother Nadya. I am speaking in Russian from the 23rd Psalm. Jaclyn is beside me.

This was a rather remarkable occasion since it was Marina's first time at such a service. She is the mother of 5 children but came alone that day. The Word apparently touched her heart deeply and after the service she opened up to Greg and Svetlana - confessing deep doubts, fears and sins that had overtaken her life. After a long and intensive counselling session in the kitchen she was able to hear from the very heart of Jesus that all of her fears, guilt and sins were totally forgiven and washed away in the precious name and blood of Jesus! She then inquired about baptism for her and her five children. We assured her that at our earliest opportunity in the future, when the children can come, we will fulfill her desire for them all to take part in that holy sacrament.

Again: email foreignmission@comcast.net for your full copy! (21 pictures!)

Russia by Thomas

2011-09-06T03:47:00.001-04:00

It's the end of our trip through Russia. We have just split up to travel home. As usual, the trip has gone by much too quickly but it will be great to get home and have a solid 8 hours of sleep. Here are a few more pictures from Thomas Questad highlighting some of his favorite moments of the trip.

The youth camp we held half-way through the trip was cool. It was fun to hang out and get to know people.

It was interesting to see the village life. This is the village where the youth camp was held. We also went to a wedding here.

While we were in Ekaterinburg, we attended the baptism of two little girls as well as of Kosta. He didn't need a godparent, of course, but he asked Greg to stand as a witness anyways.

This is another village we visited. While we were there, we visited the family of Marat (this is their house in the picture). We also hung out with the village kids.

This is being posted from the airport in Moscow. Everyone except Dennis is now on their way home. Dennis will leave Russia on the 8th. Please pray for everyone as they return home.

Russia by Gregory

2011-08-31T13:51:00.003-04:00

I have had very little time to spend with my computer this trip, which is a good thing, I’m sure, as it means I have been busy with what we really come here to Russia to do, which is to encourage and share that precious gospel. Since my last update we have visited Ekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains, a dividing line between Europe and Asia. We had a truly blessed visit in Ekaterinburg with many of the brothers and sisters that were part of Pastor Dennis Hilman’s congregation when he lived there.

Leona and Gregory with the children baptized

At our Sunday service in Ekaterinburg, Pastor Dennis baptized Yurij and Yulia Gonin’s children (I and Leona Matson stood as God-parents) and I also stood as a witness (Godparent) to Konstantin Rib’s baptism. I have had a close relationship with Konstantin (Kostya) and his family for the last ten years, and though Kostya has always faithfully attended our services and helped us in our work, he has been quietly distant in spiritual matters, but now the Lord has suddenly touched Kostya’s heart to seek a closer relationship with the Lord through a deeper repentance and through baptism. I felt very privileged to be part of Kostya’s baptism when he and his family told me that I am a person they trust and love very much, and that they wanted me to stand as a witness for Kostya because they know I will continue to pray for and encourage them along this oft rocky road of faith.

Konstantin's Baptism

We also visited Gagarka and the Christians there. Marina, a young mother of 5, who heard we would be holding services in Gagarka, came to us from another village. She had been carrying a deep burden of sin and guilt and fear of God’s judgment on her heart all winter and so after service I found a quiet spot to sit with Marina, along with sister Svetlana Fedorova who helped me to minister to her, and there we listened to Marina’s tearful confession.

It was with thankfulness and joy that I was able to explain the gospel to Marina and to tell her how the Lord had heard her prayers and sent me from across the seas from the opposite side of the world to sit beside her here in this tiny Russian village home, and to lay healing hands upon her and bless her with the forgiveness of sins in Jesus name and precious shed blood. Afterwards I gathered our group together to pray for Marina and to bless her once more. Now Marina wants to be baptized along with all her 5 children, so I presented a New Testament bible to her and asked her to read it over the next months and to prepare her heart and by God’s grace, I will come to her village in the winter and we will baptize her and her children then.

Svetlana, Marina, and Gregory

I also want to write about Katya, a young English teacher who I met through another friend in Ekaterinburg. Katya is an Orthodox Christian and so when the Lord opened opportunity for me to speak to her about matters of faith, she wanted to know which God we believed in... and when I returned the question to her, she told me she believed in Jesus Christ, which I found so encouraging, as so many Orthodox Christians will say they believe in God, but not often do they say “I believe in Jesus Christ”.

Katya (with flowers) and Crew!

I spent that first evening quietly discussing faith with Katya while others visited around us. Katya agreed with me that it was no coincidence that we met. She told me how only yesterday she had written in her journal how she “Needed to read the bible!”. (Katya had tried to read the bible in years past, but found it difficult to understand.) I invited Katya to our service the next day and she came.

I presented her with a Russian version of the New Testament, then she stayed with our group late into the evening and again she was with us on our last evening in that city. It was obvious to all of us that the Lord was opening Katya’s heart and expanding her view of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Katya sang with us and prayed with us and confessed her sin and need of Jesus. Before we left her that last evening, I gathered our group around her to lay hands upon her and pray for her, and to bless her, when she asked, with the forgiveness of all her sins.

We flew from Ekaterinburg to St. Petersburg on Monday. We left our luggage, with the gracious help of Pastor Leif Camp, in the offices of the beautiful St. Mary’s Ingrian Lutheran Church which is located in the very centre of St. Petersburg, and spent the day sight-seeing in that breathtakingly beautiful place. A young sister, Maria Lubova, who moved from Udmurtia to St. Pete last year, spent the day with us and we prayed with her and encouraged her along this way, then we traveled by bus to Kingisepp, where I am writing this update from. Here in Kingisepp many long-time friends are gathering with us to sing and pray and be encouraged in God’s Word. We will spend another day or so here before continuing on to Rzhev, the last destination in our trip before Moscow and home.

Church in St. Petersburg

There are many other things I want to write about, but I don’t have time. The young people traveling with us are all doing so well. It’s a bit difficult for them sometimes because of the language barrier, but they are expanding in their outreach.. learning to talk without language.. or with that international language called “Love” :)…

Debbie at the Winter Palace - St. Petersburg

New Additional note to explain an issue in the above report.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support and the encouraging notes and replies to my updates.. I just wanted to answer a question that has come up a couple of times from some of you concerning why we didn't baptize Marina (read above) right away that day. We did want to do that and discussed it together, but we had little time and the fact that Marina's children were not with us, but back home their own village played into it as well. When I encouraged Marina to read the bible, it didn't have anything to do with making her "ready" for baptism, but only for her to learn more deeply about her Jesus.. By God's grace, we will be back in the winter and it will be a wonderful celebration for Marina and all her children.. Please do keep Marina in prayer, though, as she is faced with some real struggles.

Now we are preparing to leave for St. Petersburg and then on to Rzhev this evening. We have had a wonderful visit with the Christians here in Kingisepp. I wish our visits weren't so short...

Much love and grace to you all,

Gregory:)...

Some additional pictures!

Kostya, Dasha & Nona!

Queen Leona, St. Petersburg

Anya Kuzmakova - My very good friend and fellow missionary

Russia by Jaclyn!

2011-08-30T12:45:00.001-04:00

Our Russian team has just lost two of our members. Our Russian translators, Anna and Svetlana had to return to work yesterday. It was such a huge blessing to have them along and we pray they might be able to join us on another trip in the future. We are now in Kingisepp and will be here for a few days. Now I'll let Jaclyn tell you about the trip with a few of her favourite pictures.The pictures here focus mainly on our time in Yekanerinburgand the village of Gargarka.

It's always sad to leave behind new friends! Here are Maxim, Lena and Maxim seeing us off at the train station. The people in Russia are definitely the best part of traveling here.

Here is another good friend we met! Debbie, Brian, and Thomas with Misha, who helped us with translation and lots of other logistical planning in Yekanterinburg. Our time in Yekanerinburg was blessed by all his help.

It's great to have a chance to connect with kids! Here is Leona playing on the jungle gym with the children in Gagarka. Later we sang a song and told these kids a story from the Bible. Most of the families in this village are Muslim.

Here are some of the kids we were able to connect with! Ina and her friend in Gagarka.

Here is Brian teaching the children in Gagarka how to do pull ups. The building behind him is the school. We were able to visit a bit with one of the teachers who was there. Pray that perhaps this will open doors to speak to the kids there in the future.

Please continue to pray for our trip. We have one more week here before we fly home. God's Peace to all!

Russia by Debbie

2011-08-25T14:46:00.000-04:00

The next few posts will be pictures and comments from the mission team members. This post is by Debbie Rokala. The focus of her pictures is our first stop in Russia: the Tula region.

It's always helful to know at least some of the local language when in the mission field. Here are Leona, Brian, and Jaclyn practising some Russian after breakfast.

Pastor Vitaly and his wife Galina made breakfast and opened their home and hearts to us every morning and drove us around to the places we needed to be while we were in the Tula region.

While at Vitaly’s, his granddaughter Nastya became our cute little friend! She was such a little sweetheart and she loved to just chat up a storm even if we never seemed to answer in a language she understood.

Leona saying goodbye to Nastya--As well as to some good new and old friends--just be for we left Tula region.

Here are Sveta, Brian, and Anna making bracelets on the train to pass the time and to hand out to the people we meet. We also taught the youth at the youth camp to make these friendship bracelets. We then reminded everyone of the importance of our friendship with Jesus as well as our friendships with our brothers and sisters in Christ!

Greetings from Russia!

2011-08-22T14:33:00.002-04:00

This was our youth camp in Gurez Pudga,Udmurtia

It is early morning in Izhevsk, the capital city of beautiful, green Udmurtia, Russia. The apartment is still quiet and asleep.. except for me who rose up early so that I might find a bit of time to edit some photos and to write my very first update since arriving to Russia two weeks ago. We have all been so very busy, especially me, and have had next to no time for computers. In the last two weeks we have met with so many wonderful Christians, encouraging them and being encouraged by them, but also the Lord has given us much opportunity to share His gospel with those outside of faith. It is really amazing to see how the Lord works in the hearts of the hearers, bringing healing and joy to those who are already His own, but also, with wonder, opening the eyes and hearts of new believers.

Vlad, Marta, Taisaiand Sergie - This was Marta and Taisai first time in a Christian camp like this. They were filled with wonder and amazement the fellowship and gospel they found there!

Thomas with a young friend named, Nikita

The youth traveling with us are simply wonderful. All three of them, Thomas, Jaclyn and Debbie, began this journey with quiet and reserved hearts, but after two weeks here in Russia where people are so open and accepting, they are emerging, coming into their own, talking and laughing and ministering to people around them. Serving in the mission field is always a two way street for our hearts, meaning the more we give, the more we receive. It is truly a joy to see the Lord not only working through these youth, but working in them, opening their hearts to the wonder and love that surrounds His gospel presence.

Svetlana and Anna are Christians friends who are interpreting for us

Everything has been going very well so far, though things got a bit chaotic when we mistakenly arrived a day early on our host’s doorstep in the night. They had planned to host us in two apartments, but one apartment was not ready that evening as they weren’t expecting us until the next night, so some of us ended up finding a piece of floor to sleep on. I certainly felt silly about missing a day and arriving early, but our host, Diana Chetvertnykh, was so gracious and glad to see us that our chaos went unnoticed.

Student friends who we met last winter in the university came to be with us at the Volga River Picnic. It was simply wonderful to see them again and to share the gospel together!

I did have a rather stressful day earlier in the trip when a captain and another official from the Mari El Immigration Department pulled me from the middle of a church meeting to interrogate me for a couple of hours, making me write a confession that I was in Russia preaching the gospel. I really don’t know why these fellows sought me out on this particular trip or even how they knew where I was in that small Lutheran mission church. At first my interrogation didn’t go too badly. The officers seemed frustrated and even a bit embarrassed that there was nothing really criminal surrounding my presence there in Russia. I told them about how Jesus’ own disciples had been brought before the officials in ancient times and for what?.. for teaching truth and honesty and love! Sister Anna Kyzmakova who was helping me with interpretation, boldly reminded the officers that today we might have to answer to their boss, but there will come a time when they will have to answer to ours!

And so my interrogation went and just when I thought they might let me go, one of them suddenly noticed that my visa was marked as a tourist visa. Whey they saw that, they ordered me to show up at the immigration office the next day to explain why I was in Russia doing religious work on a tourist visa! At the immigration office the next day, the Lord gave me much more opportunity to preach the gospel to those officials and to their director. In the end, knowing I needed to compromise, I agreed to get a religious visa the next time I came to Mari El, they fined me the minimum fine they could, which was 2000 rubles (about 75 dollars). Before we left, the young captain took me aside privately to tell me how he hoped I had not been offended, and so he and I talked and shared our lives for some time together and now, by God’s grace, we will share more in the future, but this time as friends. God is truly amazing!

Our group and friends in the 1000 year old city, Kazan

I am not going to go into much more detail in this update even though I have much to write about, but instead will add some photos (portraits which I love to take) with faces and captions that will tell a better story of our journey here.

Please know that we feel your prayers and love. I have no doubt that much of our success is due to your intercession on our behalf.

Our dear brother and sister, Maxim and Oksana were married!

Me with some young friends, Misha and Milana:)...

Jaclyn with Anatoly, the father of Esa, who many of you met at convention in the summer.

Dennis Preaching Sunday Morning at the Youth Camp - Anna Interpreting

Beginning to gather for the Volga River Picnic in Cheboksary, the capital city of Chuvashia!

Me with Anna and Tanya!

Brian with Andrei

In Russia,

With Jesus, Gregory and all!

Russian team!

2011-08-16T00:24:00.000-04:00

Privet! Greetings from Russia.

Our team has been here now for just a week, but it has seemed like much longer. As always in Russia, we been on the move quite a bit. Since arriving, we've been to three different areas and today we will travel to yet another city. We have been on the move in planes, cars, buses, vans, subways, and trains! We ask for your prayers as we continue.

The day after we arrived, we visited some friends in an assisted living facility. We sang songs, shared from our hearts, listened to their stories, and prayed together. As we were leaving, one lady told us, "I can never express the joy you have brought us by coming today. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

Yesterday, we attended a picnic on the Volga River. We only have a very short time in this area and we wanted to see as many people as possible, so we planned a picnic and invited everyone! I enjoy learning and listening to Russian, but it was definitely a treat to speak English with the many university English students and teachers who came to the picnic.

In the next week we will be attending a wedding, helping with a youth camp, and meeting up with Dennis Hilman among other things! We ask for your continued prayers as we travel!

Russia!

2011-08-09T09:37:00.001-04:00

Please be in prayer for the team of missionaries that are on their way to Russia!

Keep an eye on this blog for updates, the first of which we expect this week!

News from the field.

2011-08-02T08:34:00.000-04:00

The below email was received very recently from one of the indigenous pastors that the Foreign Mission works with. Similar emails are often received from around the world. Occasionally one is posted here so that we can remember our Christian friends in prayer..... The names have been withheld for safety reasons.

Dear in Christ,

Since there is no democracy, no human right, religious freedom in many things, the ethic group people of Shan, Kachin,Karen and Moon people holding the arms and fight with Burma army since for along time. But there is no peace, poverty, damaging, killing and raping is in apart Burma.

We were expecting the cease fire and peace for inland country for the people. But more worse and worsen. Now for fighting killing and by force labors, raping on women. killing on the civilian., and drought of famine and poverty, no good education for the Children, No health care for good hospital, corruption is full in every offices .

For the western countries have been sanction and ban to Myanmar economic, no work, no job and no salary for people.
They are forcing and trying to propagate to Buddhist ism , for Christian the way is very narrow. Please pray with us by sending faithfully for our staff and workers of ALC. . God bless.

In Him, and God's peace,

xxxx
ALC of Myanmar

Mission trip opportunities

2011-07-21T17:13:00.001-04:00

Would you like to join a mission trip now or in the future? If so, please contact the Foreign Mission today! It is always better to have teams organized in advance so that we can meet together--even if just via phone calls or email--to pray and discuss the trip.

There are currently trips planned to Russia, South Africa and Guatemala which are either full or close to full. These trips will be leaving in the next few months (Russia - August, South Africa and Guatemala - October).

Next year, there will be trips to India (January), the Philippines (April/May), and Guatemala (April?). Trips to Russia, Guatemala, and South Africa will probably take place again next summer/fall.

Trips to Kenya, West Africa, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan may take place at some point as well. Please pray that the trips will go forward with God's direction and in His time!

Come to South Africa!

2011-06-28T13:23:00.000-04:00

The United Lutheran Church in South Africa (ULCSA) was founded in 1997 with one congregation in Randfontein, a suburb of Johannesburg. By the following year, the number of congregations had grown to three. Today the ULCSA is comprised of 26 congregations spread over the Guateng and Northwest provinces. Most of these congregations are small, with up to 30 active members each. These congregations are served by 11 ordained pastors along with 4 pastor candidates, 7 evangelists (trainees in church service), deacons and deaconesses, and Sunday school teachers.

Much work is still needed in South Africa. Many congregations do not have pastors. Sunday schools are struggling to find qualified teachers and materials. Outreach into the communities is vital, especially outreach to the youth. Many of the youth in South Africa are dragged down by addictions, lack or work, and poor education. God is working, however, and we humbly ask for your prayers for the United Lutheran Church of South Africa!

Do you feel called to go to South Africa? If so, we'd love to have you join us. There is a trip going to South Africa in October or November of 2011. We will be holding pastors' training as well as working extensively with the Sunday School teachers, Sunday School children, youth, and public schools. We are praying for both singles and couples to come along. For more information about South Africa, check out the South Africa tab or the informational video both found on our website. To apply for the trip or for more information about the trip, contact the Foreign Mission Administrator, John Ruotsala at foreignmission@comcast.net.

A Filipino Encore!

2011-06-15T14:04:00.000-04:00

I really feel blessed! God allowed me to visit the Philippines twice this year and both times it was a wonderful experience. The main difference this time was that I did not go with the FM team that I went with in January, but with my brother, Pastor Raymond. This was the first mission trip we had ever gone on together - Together we were able to go to new areas that the Foreign Mission has not been able to go into before which proved to be very rewarding. And together we were able to go down memory lane and explore many of the areas of our lives, our precious family heritage and our spiritual background that we have in common. See why I call it a real blessing!

My brother Raymond and I were welcomed first by Pastor Benjamin Alud (center back) in General Santos City in the very southern part of the big island of Mindanao. We were asked to begin the first seminars immediately upon arrival the very first day. Originally two day pastors' and church workers seminars had been planned in both Gereral Santos City and Sarangani Province on consecutive days, but when we got there we found that both seminars had been mistakenly scheduled for the SAME TWO DAYS. So Raymond and I had to split up and take different days at different places.

The first day I went out to Sarangani Province and Raymond took the seminar in General Santos City. The next day we switched. In this picture Pastor Benjamin Alud, who arranged our time in southern Mindanao is on the left and the host pastor of the church I spoke at is on the right. The seminars turned out to be well attended. Several tribal pastors from the hill country in Sarangani Province attended this seminar here in Alabel.
On the second evening a very spirited and youthful crusade was held in an open sports hall in the city. Not unusually the PA and sound system acted up most of the first part of the evening. This is a frequent occurrence in some of the mission countries we visit - either the lights go out or the microphone goes off or both. Anyway, as I got up to speak my translator and I gripped our microphones and said a fervent prayer because they were sputtering and spattering. The moment we prayed the microphones both began to work flawlessly - and did so for the remainder of the crusade evening where many people came forward in penitence for prayer and blessing at the close of the service. It was a thrill to see all the young people who came forward. Unfortunately the pictures that Raymond and I took that night all turned out too dark. A real pity since it was a very inspiring occasion.

Brother Raymond and I then flew to Cagayan de Oro in the north of Mindano and held a one day seminar there - this time together. At the close of that seminar the pastors all gathered round and thanked God for our service in the Philippines and asked Him for continued blessings upon our lives, mission, and ministries. The head of the Overcomers Apostolic Lutheran Church of the Philippines, Pastor Bert Senonis, is on the left.

The following Sunday I preached at a village church on a low-lying peninsula by the sea near Cagayan de Oro. While the service got underway the tide came in and was lapping at the door of the church not long after we sang the last hymn. Nothing to do but wait an hour or so in the now isolated flooded village until the tide went down and I could depart - not on a motorbike as I had come, but on this colourful craft which took me across a river so we could get back to our car.

After brother Raymond returned to America I was invited up to the Kitcharao area....about a seven hour drive still farther up the northern tip of Mindanao. The landscape in this mountainous lake country was lush and breathtaking.

Up in the hills we were taken to the Tribal Church in Maraiging - here pictured with Pastor Sergeio Galdiano and his wife Ruth - where we had a short service.

A lot of children came to church. Their fathers and some of their mothers were at work in the fields and forests since it was midday.

A special arrangement for the tiny tots which I thought was novel - an enlarged bench so that they could sleep during the service and their parents could follow along.

"Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not!" At the end of the service the mothers crowded forward with their little ones for prayer and blessing. Note the very dark and sometimes almost negroid features of these tribal people - also the curly hair which is otherwise unusual in the Philippines.

The special event to which we were invited to in the Kitcharao area was the annual Thanksgiving Day celebration (not the fourth Thursday in November that we are accustomed to) and the 26th Anniversary of the church that Pastor Senonis heads. Here the musical comp group bows their heads for a time of prayer.

And I just had to have you say hi to my little hero, Junel Mosquito, who you met in January.....you know the little boy wonder - drummer and singer - The grandson of the host pastor of the Thanksgiving Day services, Pastor Mosquito. I think he's about six but looks even younger - and certainly not too much bigger than a mosquito. By the way I learned this time that they don't call him by his real name, but have given him the nickname of Do-Dong. Could that be what his drums sound like?? And it's all to the glory of God!

Rounding the curves on the picturesque highway back from Kitdharao you get a great view of Lake Mainit one of the biggest lakes in the Philippines. How could I help but love such a country and its people who have given a whole new meaning to the word "gracious"!!

I returned to Finland on June 2 and have had a very special time here so far. It is so nice to get to see my family on a daily basis and to sleep in my own "pad". But I am not complaining. This spring has been one of the happiest and most rewarding springs of my life and by this I mean that I am so happy to have been able to do the Lord's work on such a scale. With this comes the sincere thankfulness that He has provided the health and energy, the rest and relaxation and the inspiration to carry it out. Again, all glory to God!!.

I now have about three weeks to kick back and relax here in Finland before I attend the Centennial Hilman Family Reunion in Sylvan Lake (Canada) the first weekend in July and then our national church convention in Michigan the second weekend of July.

Have a blessed summer.

In God's love and peace,

Dennis

The Liberian Call

2011-05-24T14:47:00.002-04:00

As late as two weeks before departure (on April 30) I really did not know if I could go to Liberia at all. I was so close - already in Ghana. The call to come there was urgent and I knew how timely and pressing the mission needs in that country were. We had made a Foreign Mission sponsored trip there as recently as November so I knew that the FM budget could not include any more trips this year to Liberia. I then placed the issue in prayer squarely before the Heavenly Father. My answer was the inspiration to write to Matthew Niemela, who lives in Michigan, and ask his advice. He had made a mission trip with us to Liberia a year ago, at which time he proved to be an invaluable asset on the trip and a most gifted missionary. To my amazement he wrote back almost immediately saying he was considering dropping everything, coming to Liberia and splitting the costs with me!!! What a Godsend! Within two days he had made his final decision to accompany me and soon had his tickets and visa, and before you knew it he was on his way to Africa, to the city of Accra, Ghana, where I was waiting for him, so that we could fly together to Monrovia, Liberia. A true miracle of God's grace and love!!

After all this build-up our first experience in Liberia was a rather unceremonious one. Ten minutes after leaving the airport our taxi developed a flat tire and just dumped us out beside the road with our luggage and returned to the airport. We would not be daunted! We were in Liberia with our dear friends Pastor Natt and Evangelist Christian Bowah (right) with the sun shining brightly and our hopes very high. Stranded temporarily beside the road was peanuts compared to what we had gone through to get there and we knew that God was very much in control. After a while we did manage to get a ride to our very modest hotel and all was well!

In Monrovia we were able to visit the Promised Land Apostolic Lutheran Church for the very first time. What a joy to see all those kids! Later you'll see some of the older members of the congregation.

Matthew spoke the opening words of greeting from his family, his congregation, and from the Word of God. Matthew is a gifted proponent of God's Word and everyone listens when he speaks in his humble, enthusiastic and authoritative way.

Preaching is a sweaty business in Africa. They so appreciate it when I wear a suit on Sunday mornings, but there is a price to pay. At times, with temperatures regularly in the 90's and above and no ventilation, it looks like I have taken a veritable shower in my suit but I always survive and hardly think about it while speaking. The important thing is that the Holy Spirit anoints my tongue and the Word goes forth in truth and sincerity.

More of the adults in the congregation of "The Promised Land Apostolic Lutheran Church" in the Liberian capital of Monrovia. Notice the sign in the background. Like I said, it is the first time our mission has visited this church and it was a thrill to find such a thriving congregation in this city......the only Apostolic Lutheran one there!

And then we made the long and arduous journey out to Zwedru in Grand Gedeh County. This trips takes about 12 hours and is largely over heavily potholed roads which lurch and jar the vehicle. Much of the road is also "blessed" with clouds of red dust so on the return trip you should have seen my very authentic red hair and beard - just like many years ago!

When we arrived in Zwedru an immediate and true joy was our visit to the prison called "The National Palace of Corrections"(!!). Since we first opened our prison ministry there in November the local church has actively kept it going and on this day three new converts were scheduled to be baptized. In the picture above you see those young men leaving the prison compound along with prison guards and some of our mission team on the way to the place of baptism. It was a very serious procession. One of the prisoners had been one of the biggest rabble-rousers in the prison before his conversion. All were amazed at what God had done in his life.

Reading the baptismal blessing and prayer for the three prisoners who had just been baptized. You would hardly have believed the reverence exhibited by each of these young men as they came up out of their baptism. I almost expected a dove to descend and a voice to come from heaven, so powerful was the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew Niemela presenting Bibles to the three who were baptized. The former problem prisoner is receiving his Bible. Matthew, his family and congregation in Chassell, Michigan, have provided many many Bibles, not only to prisoners but to many congregation members of our churches in Liberia. Most educated people in Liberia understand English so we can buy English language Bibles at the Bible Society in Monrovia and take them out to the more remote areas.

Fairly new church building in town of Mewaeken in the southern Liberian county of River Gee - festively decorated for our arrival.. This area is one of the several outreaches of the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Liberia. Actually one of the three outlying areas we visited on this trip to the hinterlands, which included the newly evangelized areas of Pyne's Town and Boundary.

Inside the hand-built mud brick church in Mewaeken is a lovely African atmosphere.

After the pastoral teaching and seminar sessions we were presented with a goat - which Pastor Johnson (right) had gone to the forest to find and bring back, tied, on his motorbike, where Matthew was also a passenger. Matthew definitely did not appreciate the goat kicking him from behind as they rode along. In receiving this valuable gift I committed a major faux pas. Realizing that its certain fate was to be slaughtered for us I said quietly, "Poor goat!" Pastor Johnson, who had just provided us with one of his best goats was taken aback - not understanding why I called his precious gift to us "poor". Actually this goat did meet the expected fate a few days later back at our headquarters in Zwedru and provided several tasty meals. Friends of mine, by the way, explained to Pastor Johnson what the deal was and so I think he forgave me.

The man on the left in this picture is Pastor Dickson Dweh, Vice President of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of Liberia, our chief host in the Grand Gedeh county seat of Zwedru from which we then moved to the other areas - mostly by long motorbike rides.

Evangelist D. Christian Bowah, who along with Evangelist Uriah Nyenow have led the mission efforts to the new areas of Boundary and Pyne's Town. It is amazing what dedication these young men have exhibited - leaving their families in Zwedru for long periods of time and living out in remote villages on the good graces of the Lord alone as they preach and teach and bring the Gospel of salvation to these, often very heathen areas! That is, in fact, a major reason why Matthew and I knew we HAD to go to Liberia at this time - to demonstrate our support and encouragement for the spiritually noble efforts of people like these two dedicated young evangelists and Pastor Johnson .

The newly evangelized area of Boundary. Here a congregational procession walks to the place of baptism singing beautiful spiritual songs. SEVEN people are to be baptized on this day. For those seven people I believe that it was truly a life-changing walk.

One of the seven who was baptized in the river that day. Assisting with the baptism was Pastor Othello Tyne, President of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of Liberia

The road ahead. As we travelled to the back country of Liberia we were usually three on a motorbike, often facing "roads" like this. With years and years of experience our driver, Christian, manoeuvred around the "lakes" and potholes with consummate skill. One could almost relax on those rides which lasted two or more hours. Often we could even enjoy the lush tropical forest that we were passing through. Night was worse. When one of the bikes in our party - carrying Pastor Dickson's wife and their 2 year old boy - lost its headlight we had to try and run beside and behind it for many many miles to light the way and that was considerably more trying. Such is the life of a missionary.

Safely back in Zwedru with our driver, Christian - here at the new home he is building - really from scratch. On the left are hand made mud bricks and behind him and Matthew the new house he is building which will be a mud plastered frame one. Things are simple in Liberia. And people ingeniously creative. They don't sit around waiting for a handout they get out and do it on their own by the sweat of their brow!

And speaking of sweat the whole Zwedru congregation has invested in building up a "farm" in a big clearing on the slopes of a tropical forest not far from town. In this picture you see "Mama" Tarow covered with ashes to protect her skin from the sun, together with Matthew, showing where the newly planted dry-land rice is coming up. Kasava plants have also been planted (a kind of very productive and nourishing root vegetable). Mrs. Tarow is the widow of the late president of the church, Robert Tarow. Both of them were around when Andrew Mickelson and Gust Kandoll visited Liberia many years ago when they sowed the seeds for today's mission.

Picture of promise. Young plantain (a type of food banana) trees already growing sturdily on the "farm". What a joy to see people in this congregation so energetically investing their time and energies - and faith - in the future - and counting so heavily on the benevolence of a loving and gracious Heavenly Father.

Sometimes in the mission field you end up wondering who really is inspiring who. I don't think that Matthew and I could ever have personally given all we had - and more - to go to Liberia this May, for instance, if we had not been truly inspired by the faith, example and commitment of the Liberian Christians who have become our family there. How could we have done less?!

After spending 2 weeks in Liberia I came rather directly to the Philippines. What a blessing it is to be here with my brother Raymond! Our first mission trip together. Now I am scheduled to return to Finland on June 2. As usual I covet your prayers.

In God's love and wondrous peace,

Dennis

Is God calling you to Russia?

2011-05-17T10:51:00.001-04:00

Come and travel through the largest country in the world! Come view amazing scenery and meet amazing people! Come share the bread of life with those who long to hear about the Saviour of their souls!

We'll be going to many of the towns listed in purple.

Is Russia calling to you? Is God calling you to go? Do you love working with youth? Do you have a heart for the global church? We are excited about this year’s youth trip to Russia. Will you come and join us?

The youth trip in 2006 ended up playing soccer with the youth in this village!

We will be traveling to cities and villages in Russia from Moscow to the Siberia-Asia border in the Urals. We are planning to hold a youth camp in a village in Udmurtia and smaller day camps in several of the other villages along the way. We’ll be attending a wedding, visiting the historic cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg, and, most of all, sharing our Lord and Saviour with the Russian people.

Gregory Greve and Dennis Hilman: our intrepid leaders!

We will be traveling in August/September 2011. There is still time to sign up! Contact the Foreign Mission Administrator at foreignmission@comcast.net today.

THE GHANA GLOW

2011-05-05T09:32:00.001-04:00

In the sunshine and warmth of these April weeks Ghana has truly glowed. The prayers and efforts toward unity and reconciliation that were made here, together with Pastor Bob Maki in October, have borne fruit. There is a calmness and peace in the congregations I have visited. The prayerful endeavours of Pastor Frank Famiyeh to expand the influence of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of Ghana into the western region of the country have also borne fruit. Today I would like to take you to the village of Asante-Aye in that region, which is about an hour's drive from Tarkwa, a central city in that gold mining area. (Note: It seems that all the gold is either still below ground or in the pockets of foreign investors since no evidence of any wealth can be seen in this area.)

So it was in this poor village that the prayers and tireless efforts of a young man named Samuel Sagoe, a pastoral training student of Pastor Frank's, got a new congregation started last year. This is now part of a movement which promises to spread to the neighbouring villages. There have been no Christian churches in any of these villages. The harvest is truly plentiful and now the congregation in Asante-Aye is vibrantly growing......one could almost say glowing! On Palm Sunday I had the privilege of delivering the message there. How appropriate! In a clearing under a grove of palm trees, coconut trees, banana trees and cocoa trees I preached the message that with God all things are possible. The verdant tropical canopy seemed to reverberate with the truth of that message - that God's possibilities through His Son Jesus Christ are all-encompassing - for example right in this village where demons and pagan spirits previously held sway.

Palm Sunday glow under the canopy of palm, coconut, banana and cocoa trees (note the cocoa pods) in Asante-Aye. The congregation is active as they sing and praise the Lord with even the little babies taking a part, albeit on their mothers' backs. And even in the poorest villages people dress in their finest for church.

Imagine the future of this congregation! The service was packed with children. The open Bible on the table provides the basis and direction for how they are being nurtured.

Samuel Sagoe - the young man whose vision, prayers and determination helped to found the congregation in Asante-Aye. Pastor Frank has also played a major role in the development of the congregation.

People, young and old, flock to the newly built frame for the future church in Asante-Aye - a project being engineered by Pastor Frank which only needs $2000 to complete it, that is for corrugated metal sheets to roof it and side it.

Some members of the congregation happily gathering under the open beams of the future church.

The next day was Easter Sunday, when I preached at Lakeside Church again - on how the stone was rolled away, Jesus was truly risen and right there and then He even revealed Himself to Mary Magdalene by calling her name. What joy we can have in each of these verities in our everyday lives - especially when our Lord reveals Himself to us again and again by speaking to us individually! After the service all of the young people and youth who had been at the beach with me the day before wanted to have a picture of us together on the steps of the church. A few other congregation members joined us of course. Who can resist being in a picture - especially in Africa!

AND AHEAD?

Liberia calls. On Saturday April 30 Matthew Niemela from Chassel, Michigan will join me for a two week mission adventure in that country. I say adventure because Liberia is always an adventure! I plan to return to Ghana on May 14 and leave a couple days later for the Philippines where I will spend the better part of two weeks together with my brother, Pastor Raymond - all God willing, of course. I covet your prayers.

In God's love and peace,

Dennis

April Foreign Mission News Report

2011-04-26T16:18:00.000-04:00

Please click on the link below for the April News Report

http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=c6e5380bf2aa0b1efaefe84a3&id=0c699dd3d2

Picture is in Ghana April 2011

Introduction of a new Foreign Mission Program!

2011-04-14T14:09:00.006-04:00

Your Foreign Mission is currently working to expand the scope of our mission work.

As always, our focus will remain on the preaching of the gospel which has been done through services and pastor’s training.

Now, however, we would like to invite you into the mission with your specific calling and talents. Do you have skills with children or youth? Are you experienced in leading women’s Bible studies? Do you love working with new believers or speaking with those who don’t yet know Christ? Is God calling you to take a short-term mission trip? If so, please contact us! We’d love to hear from you and we’d love to send you more information and resources.

There are lots of upcoming trips. Please pray for (and prayerfully consider joining) the trips to Russia this summer, South Africa this fall, India early next year, and Philippines next May. Anyone who is interested in joining one of the trips, please contact the Foreign Mission today at foreignmission@comcast.net

We look forward to traveling with you!

TOGO LIFT!

2011-04-14T13:57:00.000-04:00

I have just returned from a very inspirational trip to Togo. Imagine that in such a poor country God provided me with such a great reception this time. Pastor Nestor Devigan, President of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of Togo and the vice president, Pastor Victor Abalovi organized our stay. They changed many things this year because of some of the dismal experiences of the past. Instead of a raunchy road of mud and potholes there was a nice paved road all the way to Notse, the town they chose for the venue of the seminars this time. In the past two years the seminars have been held in remote villages. Notse is only a two hour comfortable drive north of the capital of Lomé. Instead of a single bed in a single room in a simple hut there was a nice hotel with air conditioning and would you believe even a swimming pool. Instead of some of that questionable Togo village food (from which as you know I contracted a life threatening food poisoning last year) there was a restaurant which even had spaghetti bolognese and pepper steaks!!

But even better than this the seminars were very much better organized this year. Over 50 local pastors and church workers attended the three-day seminar "religiously"! They were really there from start to finish. And how they participated!

The seminar days culminated in a session that I call "Lasting Change". Those of you who know me well or who have followed my articles from various countries are familiar with this concept. But in Notse, Togo it really came to life. We first studied the text on the infirm man at the Bethesda Pool who made his problems known to Jesus and was instantly healed - how Jesus wants us to confess what burdens us before Him and others. After that each person took a pen and paper and wrote down all - or at least the most significant - of the sins, guilt, fears, doubts and other problems that make their life difficult. They were assured that no one else would ever see this list but that it was to be openness to God. After that we formed groups of six persons each and the instruction was that each person would take one thing on their list and confess it to the group, after which the whole group would then lay their hands upon that person and declare, in the power of Jesus name and blood, the cleansing from that sin or problem and otherwise pray that he/she would find true release in all areas where they were being before God..

It would be hard to describe what then happened. Every group took the instructions and admonitions completely seriously and soon the whole church was filled with people praying over group members and pronouncing the absolution in the powerful name of Jesus and in His atoning blood very audibly. It seemed as if the whole flimsy thatched palm leaf church would just get blown away. When the prayers finally died down and each and every person had been prayed for, of course including we the leaders, it was time to turn over the "problem papers" to the Lord and Him alone. We did this by throwing them all into a big metal basin. This we took outside while the whole assembly followed singing a beautiful and powerful song of praise - then we gathered in a circle, prayed and sang some more.

While the papers and the problems were being incinerated, songs were sung and prayers were prayed. This, I pointed out, is like how our sins and burdens are consumed by the fire of the Holy Spirit, covered in the blood of Jesus and drowned in the sea of grace when they are given to Him in confession and contrition.

The burning basin. There is something very concrete in watching your worst fears, sins and problems consumed in the fire of God's love and grace. Of course this particular fire was only symbolic as I pointed out several times but it does represent what really happens when we confess and give all of those things to Jesus.

Gathered round with Pastor Frank Famiyeh from Ghana (in the green shirt) who accompanied me to Togo and assisted with the seminars.

Another view of the group circle. It was a wonderfully animated one - both very serious and very joyful.

Here you can see the whole group outside the church around the burning basin. The church is not the sturdiest structure in the world but serves the purpose. By God's grace they have begun to build a more permanent church building right next door but are hampered by lack of funds.

Another shot of part of the group with Togo church president Pastor Nestor Devigan in the blue jeans.

An intensive final prayer is said - of real thanksgiving and joyous release and freedom.

But I guess it was the Sunday service with the local congregation that really lifted me the most. The church was packed with gobs of children, wonderfully dressed women and even a whole lot of young men and men!! After the children's choir sang, then the women's choir moved rhythmically forward and sang two numbers. But it was the youth choir under the direction of a talented choir leader which did several songs with moving harmonies, that maybe made the greatest impression. But wait, I haven't mentioned the traditional drums and brass band!! Would you believe when I was introduced not one but four trumpets played a fanfare. I thought of how the "trump shall sound" on that great and final Day. But I must admit that never in all of my 65 years have I been introduced by four trumpets.

And as those trumpets blew the fanfare they also introduced the fact that I was to deliver the sermon. I chose the text about the man with the palsy who was lowered down from the roof into the presence of Jesus The congregation was very responsive but when I got to the part where Jesus surprised them all by saying "Your sins are forgiven you!" that message really went home with them. God is so wonderful and so powerful and you can see so clearly how His truths resonate in the hearts of true believers!!

Actually not quite so splendid was our first night at the hotel in Lome. While we were in the restaurant having supper, Frank's briefcase was taken from his room (he had forgotten to lock the door!) with his passport, a telephone and the money that we had just changed for our stay there - about $350. The next morning the case was discovered in another part of the hotel with the telephone and money gone but the passport still there, for which we were really thankful. The people at the hotel felt very bad about this and gave us that first night free of charge. Actually it was not free at all since it actually cost us far more than I would ever like to pay for a hotel room - but what could we do? The management overemphasized for us how careful we should be with valuables - and then my Visa card came in handy.

Blowin' in the wind. About five hours after leaving Lome, the capital city of Togo, we arrived back at my "headquarters" in Accra, Ghana. Five hours of hot breezes provided the "air conditioning" along with a lot of intense sunshine. When we stopped at one police checkpoint and the usual flock of vendors surrounded our car to ply their wares I had to tell them that there was nothing I needed. "But I like your hair!!" quipped one young female vendor happily. I looked in the mirror and realized it was all windblown and standing on end. No wonder she "liked it!"

Remember: To go to Togo was a great idea this year..

In God's love and peace,

Dennis

Dedication in India

2011-03-02T17:22:00.002-05:00

By: Dennis Hilman

My month in India is drawing to a close. The pace has been much more relaxed since the rest of the team returned to America. I have spent the whole time, most enjoyably and with many blessings, in Pastor K's area, headquartered at the ALM Church Center in Kapileswarapuram (I have even learned to say the name of this village!). The first two weeks of this month the team was here. They began with several days of pastors seminars, then many evening services, church services, and prayer meetings as the Gospel went forth. Our whole nine member team was involved, with the young people very active with the children here at the ALC Children's Home which is also located here, and with women's Bible studies and so forth. It is so impressive to see the organization Pastor K and his wife Ruth direct from this center - and in such a warm and human, compassionate and spiritual way.

I use the word "dedication" in the title of this article for two reasons. One is a focus that the Lord gave me on this trip to lead the dedication of a new church in the Vizag area. The whole idea of the need for a new church in that area was laid on my heart when I first visited here two years ago. It was then God spoke to me about the young Pastor Isaac and his congregation - a growing group of faithful people who had no outward place of worship. So I prayed about that but did not mention this need to anyone. At the convention that year Jack Bergstedt approached me, quite by surprise, and asked if I had any particular need from the mission field on my heart. I didn't even dare tell him since I felt that the need was probably far greater than what he had in mind. But later I did tell him and lo and behold he offered to support the building of a church for Isaac and his congregation in the village of Chinna Doddi Gallu (now get your tongue around that one!). That was a little over a year ago. Arrangements to build the church began immediately. In the later stages of building it was evident that additional funds would be needed to complete it. Cal Niemela provided those funds. The beautiful little temple of God was completed in November and now dedicated on February 9, 2011 with the whole team participating. More information and pictures from the church dedication below.

The second reason I use the word "dedication" is in reference to that incredible quality exhibited by the faithful in Christ Jesus here in India. They are totally committed to the hearing and reading of the Word - with an amazing ability to find passages in the Bible. Besides that they can sing spiritual songs for hours by heart and are most devoted in prayer and the need for personal prayer.Naturally their pastors lead them in these traits of dedication. And then of course there are all of the unbelievers who also show a great interest in the word and prayer.

Pastors seminar in progress with Pastor Phil Wilson teaching and Pastor K translating. I shared the teaching responsibilities of this three day seminar with Phil while John Ruotsala preached sermons in line with the themes we taught.

While we were teaching the young people on our team were often busy in other areas. Much time was spent with the children - singing, teaching, playing, and just being a loving disciple of Jesus with them - since the children themselves have so much to give. Leona Matson led many of the activities with her paper constructions and other creative ideas..

About 70 pastors and church workers attended this seminar - here together with all of our team in front of the church at the ALM Church Center in Kapileswarapuram.

Everywhere you go in India you get a royal welcome. Here is all of our team with the sign welcoming us to the ALM Church Center and ALC Children's Home. Hope you can fit the right name with the right person.

One evening the children put on a spectacular rendition of the Garden of Eden for us - the creation and fall of man. The whole hall was turned into a very conviincing Garden of Eden with half a forest being carted in, a plethora of little animals (stuffed, plastic, you name it) throughout paradise and of course the familiar trees - like the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil all hung with its forbidden fruits. In the course of the play God created Adam, then Eve from his rib, the serpent enters the Garden and tempts Eve and she and Adam are forced to leave paradise after the fall,the Messiah is promised, their sons are born, Cain kills Abel and then even Seth is born. It was all very dramatic and graphically portrayed by children of different ages but very hard to get a good picture of in the poor light. Luckily they had signs on everything and everybody so you knew who they were, Later my dear little friend Joshua posed for me by the Tree of Life - with its bananas this time!

And what would be India without going traditional from time to time. Our American/Canadian/Finnish team all dressed up for the evening. They say you can't really understand an Indian (get it?!) before you have walked a mile in his moccasins - or in this case his pastor's shirt or draped elegantly in her sari! By the way saris are an everyday mode of dress - they are worn in all situations, for work and play - girls even wear them swimming - and of course grace every church sanctuary and meeting with their multicoloured elegance and beauty.

Typical village scene - woman with her water buffalo. Scenes like this are at every turn as we walk through the village to pray for people. Since the team left I have even had much more time for these kinds of walks with Pastor K. We have prayed, for instance, for the opening of a little shop, for the family of a 4-year-old boy who died last week in a fireworks accident, for the sick, elderly, infirm, barren, lame, halt and blinded, and for the success of an enterprise of a faithful congregant. After each evening village service - in a little church, home or even in the street, prayers for each individual participants can go long into the night. Speaking of dedication.

"My sheep know my voice!" Village shepherds leading their ambling flock of sheep to greener pastures along a street beside the church center. Scenes like this, which take you so graphically back into Bible times, meet you at every turn in the village and country roads.

Outdoor night meeting. You have probably seen pictures like this before from India, but I just had to include it because many of our nights have been spent in services like this. I find it both exhilarating and humbling to stand before such a crowd which is so anxious to eat of the Bread of Life and drink of the Living Water. And even if the service goes easily beyond 10:00 at night there are many who wonder why you quit preaching after a sermon of only one hour! And then come the individual prayers. It is moving to say the very least.

Now we get to the church dedication. With the words "I, as a servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, declare this building to be set apart to the Glory of God and to the edification of His Church in the living faith which is in Christ Jesus" I cut the ribbon at the main door. Pastor K is on the left, Pastor Isaac on the right. An indelibly moving moment.

Inside of the sanctuary of the new church. The texts written on the walls are Bible verses in Telegu chosen for their appropriateness to the temple of the Living God. To mark the festivities plastic chairs were brought in but the usual mode of seating is on plastic tarps on the floor. This way many more people can fit it. The overflow sat in a large tent outside on this dedication day.

Opening the service with the traditional greeting of "Wandanalu" - peace and blessings. I spoke on our Heavenly Father as a God of possibilities - who brought this temple into reality in such a short period of time - from the stage of many fervent prayers to a shining edifice to His glory. The theme "with God all things are possible" echoes through the Scriptures - the greatest possibility and miracle of all is that we can find salvation and peace with Him through the gift of His Son Jesus Christ!

Precious young sisters in Christ from two different sides of the globe (Bethany Helmes on the right) - here "under the wings" of the FM Administrator, John Ruotsala.

Pastor K and Ruth, myself and Pastor Isaac and Sharon at the side of the church after the dedication. We couldn't get in front of it on that day because of the tent.

The pastors trio - John, Dennis and Phil, all decked out with the garlands of honour, welcome and blessing for the dedication service.

Last Sunday I visited Isaac's church once more and preached there for the morning service. It was much more relaxed this time and the tent was gone so we could see the front of the church, but the love and promises of Jesus were still evident everywhere! Here is Pastor Isaac with his wife Sharon who is expecting their first child in June. Blessings abound.

.
Village wedding. Here Pastor K and I are showering the newly married couple with flower petals in blessing. After we did so all of the other wedding guests came forward and followed suit to wish the young couple happiness in this way. That wish was undoubtedly not out of place since this was an arranged marriage - and this day was the first time they ever laid eyes on each other. "Wow!" I thought as they had stood a few minutes earlier and the groom took the bride's hands to declare his marriage vow to her,"this is the first time they have ever been that close - ever touched each other!" Yes it is truly a cultural difference that we in the west find hard to fathom and yet they say that marriages in the west are far more apt to fall apart statistically than these arranged ones. Anyway I did enjoy the wedding with all of its Indian customs - maybe especially because the bride and groom sat so attentively for the message from the Word. Thankfully they are both from Christian families.

So I am now scheduled to leave here next Monday and arrive back in Finland, God willing, on March 2. It would be so nice if you would remember me on this journey

In the riches of God's love and peace,
Dennis

Upcoming trips!

2011-02-28T10:40:00.000-05:00

Dear Christians interested in joining the Foreign Mission on a mission trip. Please email foreignmission@comcast.net to make it known that you desire to go on a short term mission.

Also, please know that notices of intent given well in advance are most welcome. There is much to learn especially if it is your first mission trip. By signing up in advance, you can be part of any conference calls for training, and you will be notified of any mission training classes that are coming up.

Here are some trips you may want to consider.

Russia in August 2011
India in Januaray 2012
The Philippines for the convention in May 2012
Guatemala (to be announced)
African countries (to be announced)

Please be in prayer for your Foreign Mission and for those joining in on mission trips, that all would be done to the Glory of God.

India by Phil!

2011-02-23T09:55:00.000-05:00

2/22/11

Looking back at our recent trip to India, many things come to mind that I could write about, but what keeps coming to the forefront is “masses”. India is a land of almost 1.2 billion people and while traversing the roads and walking the city and village streets, the number of people is indeed evidenced. Of course our church services were not attended by millions upon millions of people as we experienced only a small percentage of the Christian population, notwithstanding the entire population. However, the services were large and the amount of people that we were in contact with was also large and many, if not all, desired to have contact with us, their guests. Many services concluded with the entire congregation (at times over 1200) coming forward for prayers, laying on of hands, and blessing. At times like these, my mind went to the life of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 14:22-23: And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

Verses like this remind us of the humanity of Christ; Jesus got tired and needed some time alone. But this scripture also reminds us that Jesus did not just get away from the people and spend selfish time, but rather he spent time with his Father in prayer. So often after a difficult day, our team would gather in the quietness of the evening and after prayer and reading from the Bible, we would share of our experiences, cares, and concerns, both for ourselves and for others. This important time spent together in fellowship availed us of the opportunity to share one another’s burdens which has a biblical foundation. God knows of our needs and it is His desire to enter into those needs through Jesus Christ. (I Peter 5:7)

In the midst of the masses, God enters into the hearts of individuals through the Holy Spirit. We looked out upon a sea of faces but yet were reminded that the church of God is built up of living stones, each fitly framed together for a dwelling place for the Lord. At the first pastors’ conference that was held in Dr. Kumar’s area, there were approximately 150 pastors in attendance. The conference was held for 3 days under a large, colorful, canvas tent. Just to the side of this large tent was a village “community center” complete with a well. Needless to say, this area was frequented by many of the ladies from the village as they came to attend to their daily needs which required water. As I witnessed the ladies coming with their needs and burdens, I thought of John 4:6-7: Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

The village where the conference was held is 99% Hindu according to Dr. Kumar. The conference and the nightly big meetings were broadcast via huge speaker systems that could be heard by upwards of 4000 people due to the density of the village as well as the absence of any other noise. The first day of the conference John and I noticed a lady who seemed to be spending an inordinate amount of time at the center, busying herself with certain children and washing and re-washing pots and pans.

As the day wore on, she relented and sat down in the doorway of the center and listened. Days 2 and 3 were the same, a certain amount of busyness and then relenting to the message and sitting down. What was she thinking? Was she a Hindu? Was the message of Jesus interesting to her as Jesus could be used as an additional god in her life? Was the message intriguing as it offered some hope to her, a hope that the Hindu gods could not? Was the true message of repentance and remission of sins affecting her? Whatever the situation might have been (and yet may be), we are only called to plant the seed and water the seed, praying that God gives the increase. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. (Romans 10:17-18) We must leave this in God’s hands.

The second Sunday of our trip found us at God’s Peace Temple, a church located in a village a couple of kilometers from the home of Pastor K and his wife, Ruth. After the communion service, we were invited to a birthday party a couple of blocks’ distance from the church. It seemed as if the entire congregation migrated over to the concrete-walled, thatched-roof simple house where the party was to be held. The 10 members of the team were ushered onto the front porch, given seats on the omnipresent Indian plastic chair, and then handed the common drink – a cold soda, this time an orange Fanta. The birthday boy was one year old that day and as we broke into song – everybody knows “Happy Birthday” – the little guys eyes widened with awe, maybe for the fact that so many people were at his house or maybe because he had never seen white people before, especially 10 of them sitting on his front porch! After singing, the mother gestured that she had something to say. I was thinking of what she might say: “What an honor to have the entire congregation at our son’s 1st birthday!” or “I am so thankful that God has given our little boy a year of good health!” or “I would never have thought that I would have guests from around the world at our house!” or I am so thankful that we have a house to invite people into.”

No, none of the above, but with tears in her eyes and a catch in her throat she pleaded that we would all pray for her husband, that he would become a believer. She had all that she needed in that humble, primitive village – a good, sturdy house; a husband who cared and provided for her and their children; a vibrant, active church family; health…but her husband was an unbeliever, a Hindu at that. I saw no anger in her eyes; I saw no resentment; I saw no envy in her eyes for those who do have Christian spouses. I saw no anger in his eyes; I saw no disdain for those believers who sang blessings for his son and prayed for his salvation. Paul, through the Holy Spirit, was given wisdom concerning these situations: And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. (I Corinthians 7:13-14) We must leave this in God’s hands also.

So now we are back home. Soon the culture shock and sensory overload of a foreign land will be gone and our typical lives will resume; I will forget about the masses as well as the individuals while other, more pressing issues enter into my life. But we are assured of One who does not forget any within the cares of this life, One whose desire it is that none should perish, One who gave His Son, who lives that death may die.
God’s peace!

Phil Wilson

Philippines by Julie

2011-02-14T07:40:00.001-05:00

When John asked me to write a note about my recent trip to the Philippines my mind began to wander. That’s a lot to put into one paragraph. Many visits to small village churches, a large service in an outdoor gymnasium, everywhere we went worshiping the Lord with people who live on the other side of the world! But what really stuck out to me was the fact that often times where the Lord wants us is not in OUR schedule or in OUR plans.

Picture of Julie in action! (not added in here by her!)

One day our van was out of gas and I began to watch the scene unfold around us. We were near a park area where many homeless live. As we sat there John begin talking with some boys, I’m not sure if they understood or what he was saying but I do know that their faces began to smile. Fratt and Randy began to sing, gathering a crowd of rough looking men, who first watched, then you could see smiles and thought full faces, feet tapping, some even sang along or clapped. Leona sat down on the dirty sidewalk and pulled out some sheets of paper, she has a talent with children and attracts them everywhere she goes. They proceeded to make paper frogs, possibly the only toys these children have ever have had, the smiles on their faces were now mixed with laughter.

Later on this same road trip we stopped in a small town along the way. Again I watched the scene unfold around us. The local “pool hall” was a table under a wood canopy, many man were inside some with their children. John began a game with one of the men. In a little while Fratt and Randy came over and began to sing “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” and “This little Light of Mine”. The crowd grew, school must have just gotten out for the day, many children stopped in to see what was happening.

The love of Christ was shared at each of the places, through music, smiles, hand shakes, and the Word with the Message of Christ’s love. Many people in the Philippines know English, however one phrase John had learned in their language is “God is Good, All the Time” so we, and everyone heard that everywhere we went, what an awesome reminder!

Incredible India (Leona's thoughts)

2011-02-10T23:09:00.000-05:00

Greetings from the incredible country of India! It has been such a blessing to be here again. Many of my pictures are from Kapileswarapuram, where Pastor K and Ruth serve, instead of Rajahmundry, where Doctor Kumar and Jean-Mary serve. My time in both places was equally blessed, but I want to share new experiences with you so I’ll concentrate on more recent events instead of reviewing events the others have already shared.

Poor village people arrive daily at this small A.H. Mission Clinic. Here they find both prayer and treatment from the faithful doctor’s assistant that works here. Despite a lack of supplies, she diligently comes each day and examines 50-100 people. She is able to treat most patients and she distributes medicine when it is available. When she can’t treat a patient, she refers them to Dr. Kumar. The clinic owns six acres of land here and part of land is given over to a teak plantation. The young teak trees cost only about $1½, but, God willing, the ~1000 tree plantation will yield a substantial amount of money when it is harvested in about eight years (which will be fifteen years after it was planted.) This money is currently earmarked to help build a hospital to treat cervical cancer. Unfortunately, as a result of the collapse of the economy, the construction of this hospital halted five years ago and only the foundations are currently built. We pray that construction will continue in God’s time.

Pastor K’s wife Ruth is such an amazing example of Christian love and servanthood. She reminds me of Lydia in the Bible—someone known for their hospitality. Ruth found out that Jada, Bethany, and Lana will all celebrate their birthdays while in India and within 24 hours she pulled off an amazing birthday party complete with decorations, guests, presents, and cake! The girls have decided they need to come to India every year to celebrate their birthdays. Many of you met Ruth while she was in the USA and Canada last summer and can probably testify to her quiet nature and servant’s heart. However, today we saw a new side of her. She was a fearless warrior marching into battle against a poisonous snake while others stood back in fear! I think perhaps Ruth would prefer to remain anonymous, but I want to thank God for her love, care, and example.

When we were walking through the village a few days ago, we were invited to the local Hindu theological college where young girls are taught to sing and dance the mythological Hindu stories. The girls were so excited to meet us and I really enjoyed meeting them too. It was so heart-wrenching, though, knowing that daily they bowed before gods made by the hands of men. This stronghold of Satan is less than a half a mile from our church. However, God reminded me that His power is so much stronger than the power of Satan! So I ask each of you right now to stop and pray. Pray that each of these girls will meet the true God who created them with the beautiful talents they are now using to praise false gods. Pray that the Christians here in the village of Kapileswarapuram —perhaps the girls here at the ALC Home—will be used by God to touch the hearts of their Hindu peers. Pray that missionaries will be invited back to the Hindu college, that relationships could be formed, and that we would be able to share the story of the true God with these girls who were so eager to meet us on this trip.

Every time I visit the ALC Home, one of my favorite memories is watching the children perform songs and Bible skits for us. It is just so wonderful to see children learning and enjoying the stories of the Bible! This year the boys’ skit started with creation and finished with the birth of Enos to Adam and Eve. The scene above shows the birth of Abel. Adam is on the left, Eve is holding Abel, and Cain is on the far right. The Garden of Eden guarded by the cherubim can be seen in the background.

The girls’ skit was a bit different. They used a traditional Indian poetic style to tell the story of the birth of Jesus. The girl in the middle told the story while the girls on either side asked questions. This method of using a traditional storytelling style was not only beautiful to watch, but also reminded me of Paul using examples from Greek mythology when he explained the gospel to the Athenians in Acts.

Earlier today (Tuesday, February 8th) Bethany, Lana, and I had a second meeting with the women of the Kapileswarapuram congregation. The first meeting was held last Friday. Then the three of us—along with Julie and Jada who were still here—lead a discussion about the names of Jesus and how they apply to our lives. Today we talked about the Water of Life—the Holy Spirit. We started by discussing the importance of water to our daily lives—for drinking, washing, cleaning, cooking, etc. Then we talked about how equally important the Living Water is to our spiritual lives: it gives us life, helps us grow, and gives us power from God. We were so pleased when our India sisters joined in and shared examples from their lives as well. We ended the session today with a demonstration. Lana filled a bucket with balloons, which represented sin in our lives. Then she poured water into the bucket which drove out most of the balloons. She reminded us that the Living Water fills us and cleanses us from sin when God gives us the faith to believe.

Philippines experience!

2011-02-08T21:25:00.000-05:00

Well John asked that we each give a brief synopsis of the Philippine Mission so here are just a few thoughts from my point of view. Frat Aho...

I’ll explain one stop that we made in the Philippines.

We were on our way from Cagayan de ore to a remote place called Kitcheroo when one of the vans ran out of gas so we had an un expected delay on a busy street near a public park of sorts. I pulled out a guitar and struck up a tune while waiting for the guys to get us on our way. A small crowd gathered to hear the music. I noticed in particular a certain dude who had a dew rag on his head… he looked like a gangster. He seemed to enjoy the music. While I sang I saw a few members of our small missionary band stop and talk to the people. I gave up the guitar to Randy and heard a few more songs… Then he sang “On the Hills of Glory”….. “no young ones crying no old ones dying… on the hills of glory I will tell my story of how Jesus saved a wretch like me.”

I watched as the gangster looking man compelled his friends to come and listen… then I watched as Jesus touched his heart… I put my arm around him and felt him tremble as he listened and silently wept…. Then I watched as Dennis preached the love of Christ to him and the others as we got back in the van and headed for Kitcheroo.

Frat

Team India

2011-02-07T06:59:00.000-05:00

We have been requested to show a picture of the entire India team. The clothing has been gifted to us by our hosts!

India by Bethany

2011-02-07T06:21:00.001-05:00

The below pictures and captions are by Bethany. Her and all the other team members have been very busy in various capacities of the mission. The Foreign Mission is so thankful for them!

This was the slum church /school that we visited in India. Here is where us young people taught the children songs, games, paper mache, and Bible stories.

These were the paper mache boats for the story of Noah’s ark. We also did Whales with the story of Jonah.

At Alvar Helmes Mission Hospital the orphan children dropped petals as we each received our flowers, as our welcome. There we toured the mission Hospital, and sang songs with the orphan children and watched them perform.

We spent part of one day driving to the different wells donated to the people of India through the Foreign Mission by private donors. In this picture, The Doctor is posing by one of these wells with a group of the local women who use it.

At ALC Home, this is where some of the food preparation is done by the help. We were able to spend some time there learning their Indian way as well.

Please keep praying to the Lord that His Word would affect the hearts of the people here in India!