South Afrcia October 2013

"FOR OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN" Matt.19:14  

 

Children are a vital part of the living church.  Throughout Africa and now here in South Africa where Pastor Dennis Hilman and I,  Pastor Bob Maki,  labor with the United Lutheran Church, we are invited to many public schools and pre-schools to share the word of God.  Unlike in the United States the laws in SA do not prohibit Jesus from public places, including schools, where the preaching and speaking of Jesus is invited!

 

 

 Bishop Louis Mphahlele of the ULCSA with me receiving a warm welcome from the Head Mistress of the public Tsholofelo Education Centre in the township of Bekkersdal.

 

Yesterday we began the day at 7:30 a.m. at a public primary school in the township of Bekkersdal in Westonaria. This is the school which many of the children attend from our congregation in Bethlehem attend, where we preached on Sunday. When the Bishop, Louis Mphahlele, was driving us to that school he saw a number of children from that church walking to it.  He stopped the car and invited them to  pile into the back seat.  About 7 or 8 of them did so and rode to school with us.

 

 The school day begins with an assembly of of about 1000 plus children lined up outside in front of a platform area.  They begin by singing several hymns of Zion and then recite a prayer together.  In this prayer they ask God to watch over them this day and His help in being able to treat each other in a Godly way, and praying that God would be with them, helping them to learn.  A teacher then introduced the Bishop along with me as a pastor from the U.S.  bring God's word, and thanked us for coming.

I was asked to speak to the children.  While preaching I noticed big smiles of the faces of some of the them.  Later the Bishop related that these were children from the Bethlehem church and they would be telling their friends that  it was "my moruti" (their pastor) who was speaking.

Afterwards the principal encouraged the students to continue in the word that they had heard and walk in the light of Jesus Christ. He then led all of us in prayer.

 

 

Later that morning we went to the Tsholofelo Educare Centre, which is a creche or preschool also in Bekkersdal.  About a 100 small children and six teachers gathered with the four of us - the Bishop, Dennis, Mary Malefani and myself.  The teachers began by leading the children in several Christian songs.  It sounded like the voices of angels. 

We then acted out and told the story of the 99 sheep who the good shepherd left to go after the one little sheep who had wandered away. The Bishop translated to the Tswana language.  When we spoke the little ones listened carefully and you could see their reactions as the story was acted out:  sadness when the little sheep was lost and afraid and then they clapped and were happy when the Good Shepherd found the lost sheep and carried it back to the fold.

These little ones who believe in Jesus not only will become the Kingdom of Heaven but they ARE the Kingdom of Heaven.

Pastor Bob Maki

Chairman, ALCA Foreign Mission Board

 

 

 

 

 

Come spend some time in South Africa!

It is wonderful to be back in South Africa once more. I arrived here last Friday and it's been wonderful to meet both old friends and new. Here are a few pictures of my friends from this beautiful country:

 Here are some of my kids! They were walking by on the road and saw me sitting behind a house in the village of Lesung and came running over to say hi. I've stayed at the same house for several years so many of the neighborhood kids know me.

 This is the house I stayed in several years ago when I was in the village of Ikageng. Amanda (in pink) took such good care of me. Her daughter Thabang (standing) and niece Nicky are also good friends.

 Two years ago I volunteered in a high school near both Ikageng and Lesung. I enjoyed my time with the students but also with the teachers. This is the family of the head English teacher (sitting to my right) from the school whom I got to know quite well.

There are always new friends to make! And the young ones are always fascinated by my camera. :)

On Tuesday night, I went to the airport with the Bishop to pick up Bob Maki and Dennis Hilman. They will be serving here for almost three weeks while I'll be heading to Kenya on Sunday. Please continue to pray that God will work in the lives of his children in South Africa and that he would bless the time Bob, Dennis, and I have to spend here.

Leona

Russian Road Trip!

Gregory Greve, the Foreign Mission board member who is in charge of our work in Russia, has recently returned from a trip to that great country. Here is his reflections on his time there:

Greetings to you all from this great land of Russia! Dennis Hilman and I have been traveling here on a mission trip for the last month visiting and sharing the gospel. Dennis has been faithful to keep a facebook commentary going as we have traveled here, but I decided not to bring my (Ugh!) heavy computer along with me this time so I have not been writing as much as I have in the past. Now we are nearing the end of our trip; Dennis has already left for America and I have a couple of days left to visit Christians and other friends here in the Russian capital before I head to Germany to meet with a young Russian man who repented at a picnic I held for students two summers ago and who now lives in Germany with his wife and children, so I thought I should try to write a post for the mission blog:)...

It's was so great to travel in Russia with Dennis Hilman again. It was through Dennis that I first came to be involved in the Russian mission back in 1999 when I read a blog post he had written shortly after he had moved from his home in Finland to Ekaterinburg, a city in the Ural Mountains of Russia, to begin full time mission work there. I was so touched by the post he had written and by the sacrifice he seemed to be making that I wrote a letter in reply to encourage him in his work. That letter struck a cord in Dennis' heart also and from that day Dennis and I wrote letters to one another almost daily for close to a decade. So it follows that I have been involved with the Russia mission from that day, too, first via prayer and financially supporting projects Dennis was undertaking in Russia, and then in March of 2001 I participated in my first trip to Russia.

It's amazing to me how the years have flown by since I took that first to Russia and how from the first I fell so deeply in love with this country and with her people. Now I have been to Russia a total of twenty-one times. One might think that after so many years and so many times in Russia that I might get tired of her or think of going to other countries for a change, but the truth is that the more I come to Russia, the more I love her and the more I want to be here.

Watch Out!! Gregory and Dennis on a Russian Road Trip!

In 2006 Dennis was refused entry into Russia for reasons which were never given and was unable to apply for a visa again for 5 years. It was very traumatic for Dennis and all of us at the time, but what Satan imagined for our harm, the Lord imagined for our good, and since that time the world, literally, has been Dennis' mission field! So while Dennis has been traveling the world, I have been faithfully traveling to Russia. Of course Dennis knows many of the brothers and sisters here from past years, but it's really exciting for me to introduce him to so many new brothers and sisters and other contacts I have developed over the years.

Introducing Dennis to what I call my "English Student Ministry" Here we are with a group of English students from an Udmurtian university who met with us in restaurant. Our precious sister and fellow servant, Diana, in the back in red.

Over the last years I and the brothers who travel with me, like Brian Niemitalo and Shane Jutti, have been, with the help of Christian and non-Christian professors and teachers ministering more and more to English language students in universities and colleges in the Udmurtian, Chuvashian, and Mari El Republics. Over the last years I have shared faith with literally hundreds of students, planting the gospel seeds and nurturing budding faith through E-mail, Skype telephone and other modern connections.

This year a new law was introduced in Russia stating that any foreigners visiting universities need to have written permission. This permission involves much detailed documentation by university staff both before and after the visit, so you can imagine my dismay at hearing this news. Again, what Satan meant for harm, the Lord uses for good. The teachers and I quickly adjusted our outreach by inviting students to meet with us off campus. It actually works quite well as students feel less intimidated and the off campus atmosphere lends more freedom on both sides to speak our hearts.

Two English Language students: Artyom and Guy, who have participated with me in class settings over the years, now meet with us off campus to share friendship, faith and hearts.

Besides my English Language Student ministry, I travel across Russia visiting and speaking in many cities, villages, churches, businesses and individual homes. Last year brother Brian Niemitalo and I were asked to visit to a family in a village who, after hearing missionaries were coming to their village, asked that they not be forgotten. If you want to read about this amazing visit in which our Lord had prepared a whole family to hear and recieve the gospel, check out Brain Niemitalo's article in the Jan/Mar Issue of "Where He Leads".

http://www.themissionsite.com/Newsletters/WHL_2013.Jan-Mar.web.pdf

It was so wonderful to meet Alexander and Ludmila and their family again! Last year, when Alexander and Ludmila heard missionaries were coming to their village, they asked that they would not be forgotten. The little girl in front of me, Alexander and Ludmila's eldest daughter, Irina, first planted the seeds of faith in her parent's hearts after participating in Sunday School lessons with local Christians. That budding interest in faith led to our visit and to their repentances and new life in Jesus!

Over a year ago, with sister Nona Rib's help, we began visiting an orphanage in Ekaterinburg. Now we make regular visits to this "family"... We have to be very careful about preaching here as the orphanage rules strictly prohibit religious visits outside the Russian Orthodox Church. One of the things I have learned in the mission field is to patiently build relationships and trust. When we preach the gospel by action, words eventually follow. 

Please continue to pray for our work in Russia! For more information on this trip, check out Dennis HIlman's facebook updates!

Russia snapshots

Dennis Hilman and Gregory Greve have been in Russia for several weeks now. Here are some updates from Dennis' Facebook page:

MARAT FROM GAGARKA - 12 years after he first invited me to this home as a 13 year old Muslim boy. Whereupon he received the grace to believe in the living Lord Jesus, be baptized and lead his family and relatives in other villages to find a life of faith. Still claiming God's grace! Here with me on his traditional old Russian sidecar motorcycle. Also with mother Nadya (in yellow) and from left to right Denis Zhevlakov (the first boy who came to faith in the awakening in the boys' pretrial prison in 1999), our faithful translator Misha and Lena who joined our congregation years ago.

BAPTISM OF EVELINA - Today I had the privilege of baptizing a sweet little girl from a family I have known for years from Kamishlov, about two hours from this church in Ekaterinburg, who were active in our congregation there. Their daughter Olga and her husband Mikhail are Evelina's parents. Olga's mother and brother Vova were the godparents. The pastor of this congregation is Waldemar Benzil. He also asked me to bring the Word. "The water and the Word!"

 

DISPLACED CHILDREN - Today we spent all afternoon in a children's home with a precious group of six children from disastrous home situations, ages 12 to 14. I was able to share many experiences from living abroad and working with children around the world as a pastor and servant of God. They seemed quite fascinated and asked many questions. Pictured here is also Greg Greve with whom I am traveling in Russia this month (center). To his right the group "mother" Marina. Also Nona Rib (left, who brought us there), as well as Elena (front left). Young Roma is holding a globe that I explained God has given me as my working place. He was full of questions. Imagine that any parents could have abandoned such a clever and beautiful child!! "All are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world!"

Dennis and Greg will be in Russia until the middle of September. Please continue to pray for their time there!

Upcoming trips

Here is the list of upcoming trips. If you are interested in joining us, please contact the Foreign Mission Administrator as soon as possible! foreignmission@comcast.net

August 15 - September 15: Russia

October 3 - about the end of October: South Africa

November 1 - November 21: Kenya

 

sometime in January: India

sometime in February: Burma (Myanmar)

July Foreign Mission Monthly News

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

Come join us! "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matthew 28:19-20 Have you considered that your interest in reading this report each month or that your commitment to pray and support the Foreign Mission may also be God's way of prompting you to come on a trip? We would love to have you come! There are many things we do in the field to share the salvation of Jesus: preaching, teaching, praying, singing, helping... There are ways we all can serve! If you feel God's call don't let a feeling of inadequacy stop you! Remember...God doesn't always call the equipped but he always will equip the called! If you want to know more about coming on a trip in the future, check out the Upcoming Events section below and contact the FM Administrator today! foreignmission@comcast.net. Word from the field: God's Peace. Thank you for the help for the re-printing of Sunday School Text Book... the amount reached to the account Yesterday. Please pray for our area as the river is flowing and some face problems with lots floods... Praying for you all... Thank you, Yours in His service, Pastor K (India) Support options  Email or click on the Donate link above for regular support options. Special projects Only funded with earmarked funds Motorbike: Pastors in Kenya and other places are asking for motorbikes to help them travel between their congregations. any amount gladly accepted       Church Building Fund: Congregations around the world meet under trees, in mud shacks, or out in the open. There are always requests for help building churches. any amount gladly accepted *Pictures and other feedback supplied, if desired. Upcoming events > Two trips are planned for the fall, one to Russia in September and one to Kenya in October/November. Please pray for continued planning! >There is space on the trip to India next January/February and space on the trip to Burma (Myanmar) in February 2013. If you are interested in coming, please contact the FM Administrator as soon as possible. foreignmission@comcast.net > There may be a trip to South Africa in the next six months. Please pray for us as we try to determine when to take the trip. > Missionary Dennis Hilman is engaged to Marilyn Stenerson. Their marriage will be January 1st in Florida. > FM Administrator John Ruotsala is currently making church visits in the Midwest. Prayer and praise > The ALC annual convention was a blessed time of fellowship! We praise God for the time we had there. The meetings and services went well. > The president of Sri Lanka will shortly be voting on a bill about religious freedom in Sri Lanka. Please pray that God will touch his heart and help him make the right decision!

www.themissionsite.com | friend 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 CORRESPONDENCE: The Foreign Mission of the ALC 63 Poor Farm Road New Ipswich, NH 03071 Copyright © 2013 The Foreign Mission, All rights reserved.

Guatemalan convention 2013

La Paz De Dios sea con ustedes! The peace of God be with you all!

Greetings from your sister churches in Guatemala that send their love and greetings from our recent annual church convention. We had a blessed time during our two day convention! Scott Niemitalo visited us with his wife and 5 of his children, as we got together with the three local churches from Piedras Azules, Juan Ponce and Zacapa.

Our theme this year was the “Church of Christ”. During the recent months, we have been seeing a growth in people who want to get more involved in God’s work, and are more willing to take on responsibility. So the Lord led us to take this theme as our focus point for this year’s convention, to encourage the members to take on their God-given responsibilities as members of Christ’s body and part of His spiritual church. The church of Christ isn’t just a few leaders who should do the whole work, but rather every member coming together with one common purpose and every one using his or her Spirit given gifts for the benefit of the children of God (Ephesians 4:12-16), and the furthering of His kingdom.

Our time together was very blessed, as Scott and Pastor Giovanni took turns speaking on different aspects of the church, her purpose and place in this world, and her place in our lives as purchased members of Christ’s spiritual building. We started with two services Saturday afternoon, and concluded Saturday with a beautiful evening of worship and a chance for each congregation to share and give testimony of God’s goodness in their lives through song and personal testimony. The young teens and older youth all were part of various skits that reinforced the idea of the church, our lives and congregations being built on the ROCK of Christ, and the important place the church has in reaching out to the hurting and desperate with the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ.

Sunday we concluded with a morning service, a lunch prepared by the woman of the church, and then an afternoon closing service. All were very content and grateful for the teachings, and we pray that the seed planted will bring forth fruit, according to the Lord’s Will, and that as we work together to encourage leadership and responsibility amongst the members, our local congregations will be able to grow into a position of being very self sustaining and able to govern their own church bodies in their communities, as they have not, as of yet, gotten to that point. Please pray for growth in our members, for spiritual understanding, for God given wisdom, and for the Lord to raise up leaders in our local communities so that the Lord’s work in these areas can advance through our small congregations and the involvement of His dear children here.

I want to end by saying what a blessing it is to be able to have gatherings like this. To see the church work together to organize everything; the woman working hard to prepare the meals, the worship leaders practicing the songs, the people working with the cleaning, the young people preparing decorations and then their skits for the edification of the body, and so much more. May the Lord help us all, as His children around the world, to fight for unity, to fight for peace amongst our brethren as the Word so teaches. May Christ’s love shine so bright in and through us, that we can’t help but love, to forgive as He forgives, to reach out to others, and through this, be a beacon to this dark world. Church of Christ everywhere, wherever you are, let’s stand up and work together, take up your responsibility as a PURCHASED member of the body of Christ, and together we can be Christ’s hands and feet, reaching out to those who so desperately need the love and forgiveness our Father so freely has provided.

Ryan Ruotsala

A short visit to Saigon

When we visit Vietnam, the trip takes a much different form than many trips. It is more personal. We visit homes of friends and visit with individuals. We pray that God would touch the lives of the people we meet there! Here are a few pictures from the trip to Vietnam earlier this month:

New country for Dennis Hilman

Dennis Hilman is currently in Burma for the first time. Here is what he posted on Facebook when he arrived on May 22:

MYANMAR (BURMA) HAS JUST WELCOMED ME FOR THE FIRST TIME!! Always exciting to enter a new country - especially when you make it around the somewhat dreaded visa on entry procedures and see a familiar sign and welcoming faces in the greeting crowd. Pastor Van Cung Tum and his wife were there to meet me as well as his lead evangelist (haven't gotten around his name yet) along with a kindly driver so I did feel very much welcomed (but with very little English all round!). They took me to a comfortable, simple hotel room near their place which has both AC and WIFI, so what more could we ask for?!! Here in the capital, Yangon, there is lots of traffic and bustle - and RAIN - since it is the rainy season. Have already enjoyed a nice Chinese dinner with my hosts. Tomorrow the opportunity to serve begins. Stay close in prayer!!

These pictures are from a previous trip, just to give you a flavour of where Dennis is serving. However, we know Dennis will have more of his own pictures up as soon as he can!

Just as this blog was going to be posted, Dennis updated his Facebook with the following message:

THE JOY OF THE LORD IN MYANMAR! "Back in the saddle again!" Yesterday I was asked to begin a one week seminar series of doctrinal Bible lessons for pastors and other faithful church members here at the small Evangelical Christian Bible College in Yangon (formerly Rangoon). These are the Hakha Chin people who number about ½ million of Myanmar's total 60 million population. In fact it is this ethnic group who account for about 6% who are at least nominally Christians of this overwhelmingly Buddhist nation. It feels great to be here and encourage them.

Dean of college Dr. Van Cung Tum middle front with head turned. Note very common wrap-around skirt worn by very many of the men and boys. Also observe the avid young student "Joshua" front left in blue who always has his Bible and notepad ready for active use! 

Please keep Dennis in prayer as he continues to serve in Burma.
 

Jesus Loves the Little Children!

The trip to the Philippines this year included four different Vacation Bible Schools which were taught by Leona M and Tamasen T! It was great to spend time so much time with the kids. The first VBS in Igpit was the longest: four days. The next two were two days and the last one, due to time constraints, was just one day. 

Here are some pictures from the four different VBS' that were held. Most of the pictures are from Igpit because we were too busy at the next ones to take pictures!

VBS teachers, leaders, and translators in Igpit standing in front of artwork created by the children in response to the lessons on being salt of the earth and light of the world.

Thinking about what Jesus meant when he talked about building a house on the sand.

Exploring what yeast does in order to understand the parable of the leaven. (Put yeast, sugar, and water in a bottle with a balloon over the top and the reaction will blow up the balloon.)

Singing This Little Light of Mine with the children. In the picture we are singing "Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm going to let it shine!" It was their favourite verse!

 

Many of the 50-60 kids that attended the first VBS in Igpit posed in front of their artwork.

 Pastor Bert translating a lesson at the second VBS near Kitcharao.

Game time at the third VBS at Pastor Mosquito's church near Kitcharao.

The focus of the last VBS in Bliss, Kitcharao was that Jesus loves all the children of the world.

 The "graduates" of the last VBS holding up their certificates.

A response written to Tamasen and I from one of the VBS students.

We pray that God will continue to be with each child we taught and will help the word that was planted grow in their lives!