Jimani

This past week the director of our Administrative Committee, Bob Smith, and a representative of the Committee on Relief, Mark Vance came to Santiago to meet with the people here. We had a day of meetings on Wed. including the seminary students, Rona-the Haitian pastor, several members of the church, and a visit to the Red Cross. After a busy day of meetings we began our trip to Jimani, the Dominican border town in the south that is close to Port au Prince.

We left Moca at 10:40PM with Juan Manuel as our Dominican driver (he is Alex's older brother), and he drives like a Dominican! We made it to Santo Domingo where we saw a HUGE convoy of military vehicles lined up at the toll booth. Most of us were trying to get some sleep but just when you almost fell asleep the van would hit a rough bit of road and bbbbrrrrrmmmm you would be rudely awakened, or we would hit a pothole (same result). So sleep came in small doses! Juan Manuel did know the way which made the drive quicker. We only had trouble in one spot where they had taken down the sign that was his landmark. We had to find someone awake (it was 3AM) to tell us which way to go. (We saw several watchmen and policemen sound asleep on their watches!).

We arrived in Jimani at about 5:30AM and decided to try to get some sleep in the van, while we were parked. That's when we all found out that SOMEONE snores!! So one person got a nice rest (where are the potholes when you need them?). Eventually a policeman came and told us we had to move the vehicle off the road, so we drove into the area where the international groups had set up camp. We found someone from the Defensa Civil who gave us some information about the situation in Haiti.

Everyone going into the country must now show their vaccination records. Everyone gets tetanus, rubeola vaccinations and malaria pills. These are the three main concerns at the present time. You are also warned against going into the country on your own. It is best to go along with a guarded convoy. Muggings and robbery at the border are quite a serious problem. During our conversation, we were informed about a hospital nearby that was caring for a large number of Haitians. We drove there to meet with the doctors.

The hospital was in two large houses that had been converted into hospitals. The first one was being used as the operating rooms and the second one housed the patients before and after their operations. We saw a constant stream of patients being brought in for surgery - most of them need amputations. The doctors explained that they do try to save the limbs, but many times the amputations are being done because of infections and gangrene. We also saw the area where they were receiving donations and Mark was able to contribute the medical supplies that he had brought along.

We walked down to the other building and saw many Haitians in various stages of healing. Because of the trauma of the earthquake, many of them have a fear of being inside a building. They are fearful of the building collapsing down on them - the children especially have this fear- so we saw many people who had dragged their mattresses outside and put up makeshift walls around them. While we talked and witnessed with some of the patients that spoke some Spanish, Rona began witnessing to them in Creole and spent a great deal of time trying to witness to them and give them some comfort and hope.

We started on our way back to Santiago and were enjoying a nice ride when we had a flat tire. We got the tire changed and then stopped in Santo Domingo to buy a replacement. There was a place not far from the highway that was open. The owner of the shop brought a used tire that was the right size and all SIX of the guys from the van examined the tire before a consensus was reached that this tire was acceptable. The new tire was put on and now we were ready for the last leg of the trip back to Santiago.

All in all, it was a very nice trip and we were able to accomplish our objectives: Rona was able to witness to some fellow Haitians, and Bob and Mark got the information they needed to set up further aid to Haiti via the possibility of volunteer WELS nurses and medical workers going to Jimani to serve there. We thank God for keeping us safe in all our comings and goings.

Cleaning day

Saturdays are always cleaning day at church. Several members volunteered to be on the cleaning committee and they are in charge of getting things ready for Sunday service.

The floor is swept, benches are dusted and everything is hosed down with water. Then the mopping begins. This is hard work, especially in the heat. It also takes more than one mopping since the dust accumulates easily with the sides of the building open to the air.

The children stay in the back, since they are taught from young not to walk on a wet floor.

After the work is done, everyone enjoys a quick cup of coffee and some bread or cookies and then heads back home, content that everything is now prepared for worship.

World Missions shifts resources to reach more people with the gospel

The following quote is from President Mark Schroeder's "Together" e-newsletter to the WELS, November 3, 2008:

The Board for World Missions (BWM) continually discusses and plans how best to use the resources available for foreign mission work. The BWM has often stated that these decisions should be made for "strategic" rather than for financial reasons. In other words, the board is always looking for ways to get the gospel to as many people as possible. It also strives to plant mission churches that will be able to flourish independently after WELS missionaries leave. Sometimes this approach requires shifting missionary manpower and funding from one field to another—not because the funding for World Missions has been reduced, but because the opportunities in one field may appear to be more abundant than in another. Certainly, all of these decisions involve the prayerful use of sanctified human judgment.

In its October meeting, the BWM considered new opportunities such as those in Asia, as well as factors "on the ground" in several existing mission fields. The board made a decision to reallocate some of their resources. Support for mission work in Bulgaria and Albania will be reduced; two missionary positions in Latin America (a missionary in the Dominican Republic and one of the positions in the Latin American Traveling Theological Educators team) will also be vacated. The financial resources that had been allocated for these areas have been reallocated to other promising mission efforts in eastern and southern Asia. In addition, the BWM will continue to work with people in the reduced fields to help them adjust to the new circumstances and to make sure that the spiritual needs of our fellow Christians continue to be met.

What does this mean for our WELS mission in the Dominican Republic?

As President Schroeder explains, as faithful stewards of the offerings of God's people, the Board for World Missions is called on to direct its resources to areas where it appears the Lord is opening the door to share the gospel with the greatest number of people.  Our WELS mission in the Dominican Republic is being suspended in order to redirect manpower and funding to other also promising mission fields.

Since October, the DR mission team has been working toward a smooth transition to turn the work completely over to the Dominican and Haitian congregations.  This means:

• the WELS Kingdom Worker sponsored EFL program ended in December.  Volunteer Vanessa King returned to continue her studies at Martin Luther College.  Volunteer Julie Majerus accepted reassignment to the EFL program in Mexico.
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• DR Missionary Shiloh Monday accepted a stateside Call to pastor St. Mark Lutheran Church in Salina, Kansas.  He and his family left the field on December 20.
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• LATTE Missionary and DR field coordinator Nathan Wagenknecht (that's me) accepted redeployment to assist the seminary program in Brazil.  I will remain in the DR until my Brazilian visa is approved.
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• LATTE Missionary Philip Strackbein and his wife Kathy will remain in the DR for another 2 or 3 years to finish the seminary education of our current four students.
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• As of December 1, all five congregations are being pastored by Dominican or Haitian men and will continue their gospel ministry.

While it is certainly sad for those of us who have or will be leaving to say farewell we REJOICE that the Gospel seed has been planted and cultivated here in the DR for the past 15 years.

We TRUST in the Lord that he will bless the preaching of his Word through the local congregations who remain and will faithfully continue their ministries.

We PRAY that the Lord bless the many souls in other mission fields who will be better served as resources are redirected their direction.  May Christ's saving name be proclaimed and glorified throughout the world!

The Lord bless you with his Peace,

NW

Pentecost Party

This post dates back to May 3rd. Sorry for the delay -- I'm trying to catch up :-)


At the end of each 6 week English class session, we provide an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) party for our students. This is an opportunity to get to know our students better, meet their family members, and share God’s Word with them.

This session, the party began with fellowship teamed with playing cards and dominoes. Snacks consisted of apples, crackers, ham and cheese, cookies, peanuts, raisins, and the popular homemade “rice crispy bars”.

Volunteers and craft projects welcomed the students’ children. Coloring sheets, crossword puzzles, and crafts kept the little ones busy the entire afternoon.

The English teachers hosted an activity similar to the popular game show “Jeopardy” focusing on things the students learned in class. Topics included “numbers”, “verbs”, “animals” “weather”, etc…. There were even two topics labeled “Helena” and “Julia” to see how well the students knew their teachers. The final bonus round featured the topic “Pentecost”, highlighting the theme of the occasion.

The event concluded with a Bible study led by Pastor Shiloh Monday. A blessed opportunity to share the coming of the Holy Spirit and message of the Savior with all!

[Thank you, Julie, for writing this post. We thank God for both Julie and Polly for their volunteer service as English teachers this last year.]

The Lord bless you with His peace,
NW

English Classes - Session Two

Our volunteers have started the second session of their English classes. I decided to try and find out what all goes into preparing just one class.

In the picture, Polly and Julie are writing out their lesson plans for each class. They research all their resources according to the needs and level of their students. They create all their own original worksheets, adapting them to the level of their students. Games, activities and group activities are also chosen to reinforce the language skill being taught.

Preparing for each class also includes administration duties such as taking attendance and calling students who have missed class. Copies must be made for each day's activities which involves a walk to the copy shop and waiting in line for your turn. There are also homework activities to be corrected.

Julie and Polly arrive early for each class. They unlock the gates, open the doors and windows and begin to set up their teaching area. Chairs and tables are put in place, some dusting might need to be done, mop the floor if necessary, get out all their teaching aids. Also, a quick check to see that the bathrooms are clean and stocked.

Now that they have begun to form relationships with their students they are starting to make home visits to the students. The visits are set up with the students and usually involve finding their way around the city and then spending time with each student in their home, getting to know their family and using the visit to make an evangelism presentation.

Our volunteers are working hard to teach excellent classes and also to reach out with the gospel to all the students. We appreciate all their hard work. Thank you!

[ Thank you, Kathy, for the above post. --NW ]

Substitutes

Substitute – "to put in the place of another person or thing".

Nate W. and Kathy S. worked as substitute teachers in the place of Julie and Polly while these two Kingdom Workers were at home recovering from pink eye (see the post titled "Quarantined" here).

To begin the day Nate and Kathy each made a trip to the girls’ apartment to pick up a copy of the lesson plan and a list of the student’s names. In the afternoon, they arrived early to set up the classroom and look for all the necessary materials to teach the class. The substitutes had also helped out with the registration and interview portion of the English classes, so they were not complete strangers to all of the students.

When the students arrived, we saw how disciplined they were. Everyone wrote their name on a sign-in sheet, put on their name tag and took their seat. Of course, the first question was, “Where is Polly? Where is Julie?” We heard many sympathetic, “Ooh”s when we explained their health situation.

The teaching went well and even though the students missed their teachers, they were happy to have substitute teachers so as not to have their classes canceled. Nate and Kathy were also happy to have this opportunity to serve. It made them appreciate all the teachers do to help their students learn a new language.

Joyful Service

English classes started in September. Each day there are about 35-40 students attending the classes in our worship facility. Since space is limited, we use our worship area as one of the two classrooms.

That means each week the room metamorphoses four times. After the Thursday English class, tables and chairs are removed and benches moved into place for the Haitian service Sunday morning. After the Haitian service, the benches are removed and tables and chairs set up for Sunday afternoon English class. After that class, tables and chairs out; benches in for Spanish service. After Spanish service, one more switch to be ready for Monday English classes.

It's great to see everyone -- members, seminary students, even the English students themselves -- eager to help. It involves quite a bit of activity, but what a joy to work together, grateful hearts willing to serve!

Quarantined

Almost two weeks ago, both of our EFL volunteers contracted pink eye (conjunctivitis). They woke up in the morning with their eyes pasted shut and endured itching and puffiness during the day. In order not to infect anyone else, both teachers quarantined themselves, staying inside their apartment for the next four days.

Since the pink eye didn't start until late in the week on Thursday, they missed only one evening of classes. (Kathy Strackbein and Missionary Wagenknecht were "guest teachers" that evening.) Julie and Polly were very conscientious *not* to spread the pink eye, disinfecting pretty much anything they touched for a week!

They were able to get some drops for their eyes and also antibiotics to fight the infection so that by Sunday afternoon they were back in the classroom. We thank the Lord for granting them a speedy recovery. The rest of us missed seeing them at their classes and get-togethers. Glad to have you back, Julie and Polly!!!

(posted by Kathy Strackbein)

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

Reaching out through English classes

This is just a quick post this morning to thank the Lord that our English as a Foreign Language (EFL) program is off to a wonderful start. We have received over 200 different names of people interested in learning English. Our two Kingdom Worker (more info here) volunteers, Julie Majerus and Polly Clark, together with members of the congregation, have started conducting personal interviews with the first 120 students to get to know them, evaluate their English proficiency, and design the classes to meet their needs.

They are putting in a lot of work, and it is already bearing fruit by God's grace. Already in the interviews, people have asked why we are offering these English classes for nothing more than the cost of materials. Julie and Polly took the opportunity to explain that it is an act of Christian love. "Jesus loves me, and I want to share that love with you by helping you however I can."

I've asked Julie and Polly to "introduce themselves" in a paragraph or two, so you can expect that in another post, coming soon. :-)

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW

Baseball Bible Camp 2007

This is the fourth year that Dave Reinemann, a teacher and baseball coach at Northland Lutheran High School (www.nlhs.org), has come down to offer a baseball camp near one of our congregations. Andrew, a NLHS grad who had come on the first two trips, returned this year to assist and translate for Dave.

The congregation Cordero de Dios (Lamb of God) in Moca and Pastor Alex welcomed them warmly and used the camp as an opportunity to get to know neighborhood children (over 50 children participated) and share the Gospel with them. Each day started with a Bible story that showed God’s love in Jesus, especially the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).

What LOVE God has shown by welcoming us into his waiting arms, just as a loving Father receives with rejoicing the return of his wayward son! We were dead in our trespasses and sin, but God has made us alive again through the life, death and glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. We were lost, blinded by earthly desires, but God has found us through the Gospel. It is God’s LOVE that calls us to return to him.

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW

Apartment hunting

God is good!

Through the generosity of WELS Kingdom Workers (for more info on WELS KW, click here) and our Christian brothers and sisters who support it, we will be starting an English as a Foreign Language program to "open up" our church to the community.

As we get to know the men and women who come to learn English -- and as they get to know us and see examples of our genuine Christian love -- it creates a natural bridge for us to share the Gospel with them, just as Peter wrote: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope (and love) that you have" (1 Peter 3:15).

More details of the program will come in future posts, but at this time, we ask for your prayers as we look for housing for the two volunteers who will serve as the English teachers. Due to rising costs here in the DR, we are having trouble finding an apartment that is secure, close enough to the church, and within our budget. We trust the Lord will provide what we need, in his time, as we continue the search.

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW

In their own words...

Before we said farewell and Godspeed to the young men and women of Project Timothy 2007, I asked them two questions:

“What was your biggest surprise about the Dominican Republic?”

• The garbage
• The living conditions weren’t as bad as I thought they were going to be
• How friendly everyone was
• How open / welcoming everyone was – even complete strangers

“What was your favorite part of the trip?”

• Teaching the Bible stories
• Teaching the children
• All of it

On an island where the great majority of visitors go straight from the airport to the endless number of all-inclusive beach front resorts to be pampered and served, how refreshing that these young Christians found their joy in serving others. Motivated by Christ’s love for them, their delight was to share the story of Jesus and his love with little children.

Join us in thanking God for their service!

Now as the missionaries and Dominican members’ work continues, pray for the Lord’s blessings as we try to follow-up on the contacts that were made so that we can *CONTINUE* to share the life-saving gospel with many more souls.

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW

Project Timothy update

After another set of technical problems last week that prevented me from updating, here is a quick note on the blessings the Lord granted our mission field through Emily, Emily, Hannah, Kathy, Chris and Levi -- students from Luther Prep School (www.lps.wels.net) in Watertown, WI who were part of Project Timothy 2007.

They came prepared with two Bible stories -- the prophet Jonah and Jesus calming the storm. To reach more children, we schedule one story in the morning and one in the afternoon in a different area each day of the week. We still have to finalize our stats, but we estimate having taught over 400 different children.

We thank God for this opportunity to present the message of Jesus' love and forgiveness to so many children. We thank God for both Emilys, Hannah, Kathy, Chris and Levi -- together with their chaperons Matt and Erin Nottling -- and their service. May the Lord grant them safe travels home and many blessings during the summer!

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW

Project Timothy / Hurricane Season

Today we welcome a group of six students from Luther Prep School (www.lps.wels.net) and their chaperons to the island of Hispaniola. They are here through Project Timothy, a program of our synod prep schools to expose high school students who have already expressed interest in entering the public ministry to ministry opportunities in home and world missions.

They will be conducting VBS style classes in a number of different areas, helping our local congregations make contact with children and parents in their area. Classes start next week, so I should have plenty of pictures for the updates next week! We pray for the Lord's blessings on their efforts to share the saving gospel with Jesus' little lambs.

On a side note: Today is also the official beginning of hurricane season in the Caribbean, which goes until November 1. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (www.noaa.gov) predicts 13-17 named storms, 7-10 hurricanes, and 3-5 *major* hurricanes this year. Two years ago, their predictions were low, last year they were high, but usually they are pretty close.

Please join us in asking the Lord for favorable weather and his protection this hurricane season.

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW