What could $100 do in the ministry of the Dominican Republic? $200? $300?

Occasionally I'm asked by brothers and sisters in Christ how they can support our work. Below is a list of some of the ways your financial gifts are used. The list is by no means exhaustive, but I hope it helps you to see how your gifts support the spread of the eternal-life-giving Gospel.

$100

• 2 tanks of gas to San Pedro groups
• 3-4 months of electricity at worship center and seminary classroom
• 2 months of security guard for missionary residences
• 1/5 (one-fifth) monthly scholarship for a married seminarian

$200

• 3-4 months of phone and internet service for worship center
• 20 textbooks to teach seminary Greek
• 6,400 pages of Sunday School, Bible class and worship materials
• Advertising for special evangelism events

$300

• Translation work from Spanish to French for Haitian members
• 1 month rent of worship center / seminary classroom
• 1 month scholarship for a single seminarian
• 3-5 months of auto insurance

We encourage your gifts first and foremost to the synod's regular operating budget, because that budget provides for the bulk of our mission's costs. You may give through your local WELS congregation, or find out how to give online by clicking here.

But if you would like to give an offering specifically for the work here in the DR, above and beyond your offering to the regular synod budget, you may do so online by clicking here, or you may send a gift to the following address (be sure to specify it for the Dominican Republic):

WELS - Dominican Republic Fund
2929 N Mayfair Road
Milwaukee, WI 53222

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW

Health Issues in Third World Countries

When people come to the Dominican Republic they usually know about the tourist places, eg. the beaches, the Colonial City, the whale watching, etc. What they don't always think about are the strange diseases you might come in contact with when you enter a different country.

Recently two members of our Christian family had very different health issues. One had several insect bites that became infected. At first, the doctors thought they were just simple mosquito bites and didn't do anything. When the infected bites grew to about the size of quarters, continuously oozed, and caused constant pain, the doctors finally realized they were spider bites. The bites were treated with antibiotics (twice a day injections for a week), lanced and drained. We are happy to report that there has been a complete recovery.

The second became sick and was diagnosed with dengue fever, a virus transmitted by certain mosquitoes. The symptoms of this disease are high fever, chills and general pain in your whole body. When you have dengue you need to rest quite a long time before you are back on your feet. After a week of continued high-grade fever and body aches, more tests were done, and it was concluded that the real problem was food poisoning. The correct treatment was given (different antibiotics). By God's grace, she has also recovered.

Thanks be to God for the recovery of our brother and sister. And thanks be to God for providing availability of treatments to help them recuperate.

(posted by Kathy Strackbein)

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW

Independence !

Today we send special greetings to our fellow Christians in two of our sister mission fields -- Brazil and Mexico -- because both countries celebrate their Independence Day this month.

Brazil celebrates its independence on September 7. (For more info on the mission in Brazil, click here.)

Mexico celebrates today, September 16. (For more info on the mission in Mexico, click here.)

Each country's independence and freedoms are precious blessings from the Lord. But may we all remember that our true "independence" (freedom from sin and its eternal consequences) comes when we are dependent on Christ.

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW

English Volunteers Introduce Each Other

Our EFL (English as a Foreign Language) volunteers from WELS Kingdom Workers are ready to start. Instead of writing their own "autobiography", they took a moment to introduce each other.

Polly Clark introduces Julie Majerus:

Then I heard the voice of the LORD sying, ¨Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?¨

And I said, ¨Here am I. Send me!¨ (Isaiah 6:8)

Julia has dedicated her life to telling others about Jesus. She served as Project Manager in the World Missions Promotions Center for four years and served in mission fields in Japan (1 year), Malawi (2 years), and currently in the Dominican Republic.

She is extroverted, friendly, and uses her talents and background in Communication to teach English and witness her faith at every opportunity.

She is the most selfless person I have ever met and I am privileged to know and work with her.

Here is what Julie writes about Polly:

Polly Helena...

... a communicator, educator & friend

Polly has utilized her communication degree to teach English in both North and South America and most recently in Southeast Asia. She enjoys traveling and sharing her faith with new people in her teaching assignments. Polly is also trilingual in English, Portuguese and Spanish. During her free time, she likes to cook and/or dance. :) She is an excellent asset to the team. I am thankful to have such a wonderful co-worker, roommate, & sister in Christ.

Rom. 1:16-17