Greetings from Russia!

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!

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!

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.

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

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!

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!

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

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?

 

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.