Encourage One Another

One of the important aspects of teaching is to encourage the student to do his best, using and developing all the talents that the Lord has given. Each student has been blessed with a unique set of abilities and brings different talents and life experiences to the classroom. As teachers, we encourage them to develop these capacities and use them to their fullest in their ministries.

In the classroom the students are encouraged to ask questions, to share experiences, doubts and concerns so they may grow in their knowledge of the Word. The teacher can encourage the student and the students encourage each other to trust in the Lord.

All of our students here in the DR are active in ministry. They spend their mornings in seminary class and dedicate their afternoons and evenings to doing ministry among their people, preaching and teaching, encouraging their members with the Word. We try to attend as many of these services as we can to listen to their sermons and classes, watching them interact with their members and discussing with them any counseling sessions they may be having.

What a blessing to watch them grow in their work, in their ability to use their talents to serve and in their ability to see opportunities to encourage others with the Word. What a blessing for us to be able to encourage them in this work.

"Encourage one other and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing".

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the many Easter cards we have received. Mail is slow here, so the Easter cards are still coming in. Thank you for all of YOUR encouraging words. Each card reminds us of your love, of your desire to encourage us so that the saving Gospel may continue to be spread among the people here. Thank you for encouraging us!

Encouragement

One of the important aspects of teaching is to encourage the student to do his best, using the talents that the Lord has given. Each student has different abilities and life experiences that they bring to the classroom and to their work. As a teacher, we try to help each student develop these talents and learn how to use them in their ministries.

Watching the students in their own environment helps to evaluate how they are doing. The teacher is able to observe how the student interacts with the members of his group, how he is delivering his sermons and classes and ask about any counseling sessions they are carrying out with their members.

All of our students here in the DR are active in ministry. They dedicate their mornings to seminary classes and use their afternoons and evenings to study and to reach out with the gospel. Whenever possible, we attend these classes and services to better be able to encourage the students in their ministry.

What a blessing to watch them grow in the work, to watch the members grow in their trust of their leaders. "Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing".

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of the people who have sent us Easter cards. Mail is slow here, so the Easter cards are still coming in. Thank you to all of you for YOUR words of encouragement. Every card reminds of your love and we thank you for all your prayers, they are deeply appreciated. Thank you for encouraging us!

San Pedro

Saturday we traveled to San Pedro to visit the congregation there. We found Julio sitting outside sewing a man's dress shirt on his sewing machine. As he sews, a group of young people gather around him and he patiently answers their spiritual questions, witnessing to them about the Savior.

Several of these young people are in instruction class and Philip had the opportunity to talk late into the night with one of them, named Felipe. His questions revealed his confusion about free salvation and his own good works since he has visited other churches. But he was also amazed when he heard Philip giving him the same answers he had heard from Julio. "This is what the Bible teaches", and Felipe wanted to know more.

Saturday night we attended the Bible study. Julio is reviewing the catechism with the congregation and new people. Sunday worship was led by Julio with Papo participating by leading a part of the singing.

The area of San Pedro where the church is located is a poor area of town, you still see horse-drawn carts on the street, but it has been blessed with people who love the Word and have a desire to serve the Savior.

postscript: On the three hour drive home we had a flat tire. We pulled over to the side of the road and as Philip worked on changing the tire, two cars stopped to help. It turned out to be a great witnessing opportunity and each of them took home one of Philip's law/gospel dvd's. An unpleasant experience - like having to change a flat tire - became a blessing for us and for our helpers.

Just As He Said

This past Sunday, Christians all over the world celebrated and rejoiced in the resurrection of Jesus from the grave. In midst of uncertain times, our faith was strengthened as we heard again of Jesus our Savior rising victorious over sin, death and the grave; just as He said.

Here in the Dominican Republic, we also celebrated the joy of Jesus' resurrection. Alleluia's rang out as we sang our triumphant hymns of praise. He is risen, just as He said. Alleluia!

The children also participated in an Easter egg hunt. They RAN to find the eggs just as the disciples and the women ran to the tomb. The children found plastic eggs filled with chocolate treats. The disciples and the women found an empty tomb. He had risen, just as He said.

What comfort for us in our struggles and desire to serve our Savior. Since He rose, we can be assured that all His promises are sure. "Your sins are forgiven" - just as He said. "I am going to prepare a place for you" - just as He said. "I will be with you always" - just as He said. "I will come again to take you with me" - just as He said.

We usually don't like to find things empty - except on Easter. Then we rejoice in the empty tomb. "He is not here. He is risen. JUST AS HE SAID".

A very blessed Easter to all.

P. Strackbein

Farewell

This past week the Dominican mission said goodbye to another of its faithful workers. On April 2, Nate Wagenknecht left the field after having lived and worked here for three years.

The members of the church gathered to say farewell, giving him a plaque of recognition and gratitude for his labor of love among them. Many happy memories were shared and smiles of joy and comfort as we mutually assured each other that if not in this life, then in heaven we would once again enjoy each other's company.

The people will all miss Nate's cow jokes (What do you call a cow when it lies down? Ground beef), his smiles and cheerful nature, his faithful and godly wisdom and counsel.

Thank you, Nate, for all your work and efforts in this mission field. We wish you God's blessings on your new endeavors. May He lift you up on eagle's wings and always hide you beneath the shadow of His wing.

Spreading the Word

Two times in two months on two different trips two strangers bump into each other on an airplane.

Two months ago, LATTE professor Philip Strackbein went on a teaching trip. On the airplane leaving the Dominican Republic he sat next to a man by the name of Andy who was passing through from Europe on a business trip. During the two hour long trip, he had an opportunity to witness to Andy, talking to him about sin and the Savior using Scripture to answer his questions and doubts about spiritual matters.

This week, two months later, Philip was on a different teaching trip. When he boarded the plane, he found surprisingly that he was again seated near to Andy who was also traveling. Once again, he had the opportunity to witness to his new friend. This time he gave him a DVD of a personal presentation of the law/gospel message to take home with him and to share with his family.

We are the Lord’s servants and He uses us to spread his message of salvation in Jesus the Savior. Two times he placed the same two strangers together so Andy could hear this beautiful gospel message. We pray that the Holy Spirit use these two witnessing opportunities to create faith in Andy’s heart, so he too may enjoy heaven eternally. And we pray that Andy, too, will speak to others of the Savior so the Word may reach others in his home town.

by Kathy Strackbein

Multi-Language Publications

Multi-Language Publications has been a blessing to our work here in the Dominican Republic because many of the Bible studies and Evangelism resources we use were produced by them. Following is a four minute video highlighting their work and how they contribute to sharing the Gospel message of God's forgiveness in many, many languages and cultures throughout the world.



For more info on MLP, go to their website here.

The Lord bless you with his peace,
NW

Moving day...

Back in January, we discontinued the use of our WELS subsidized outreach center and seminary classroom on 27 de Febrero Avenue (the one that was broken into five times).  That meant packing up, moving out and cleaning up.  The below pictures show some of the fun we had  :-)

The two Santiago congregations that were using the outreach center for their weekly Sunday services were successful in finding new locals to use and will continue their ministries.  They took whatever evangelism and worship resources they could from our outreach center and will use them at their new locations.

The seminary will continue in a less expensive and more secure location in a third floor apartment.  We're still in the process of putting everything in its place in the new seminary classroom...

The Lord bless you with his Peace,

NW

Another personal note

Dear friends,
My brother Daniel, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Yorba Linda, CA, wrote a blog entry about our mother and God's grace to her and our family. I invite you to read it by clicking on the following link:

Pastor's blog, Grace Lutheran Church, Yorba Linda, CA.

The Lord bless you with his peace in Jesus,
NW

A personal note

     God sent his holy angels to carry my mother to her Savior's side this Sunday morning, 2:00am Arizona time. The following note is from my father Myrl:

Dear Loved Ones,
     Our gracious LORD in His good time called Marcella [Marcy, Mom, Grandma, Aunt] home to Himself in heaven at 2:00 AM on February 1, 2009. The LORD granted her 70 years of sojourn in this world, and through the blood of Jesus grants her eternal life with Him. She has been on hospice care since January 6, and totally bed-ridden for two weeks. The hospice program kept her comfortable except for the painful coughing fits about once a day. After a very bad night on Monday, we have used meds to keep her comfortable. She went to sleep Friday evening -- after saying goodby to her brother and a cousin who visited on Thursday.
     Resting her confidence in our Savior, she said goodby to her brother with, "I'll see you again in heaven." She was a 24 year survivor of breast cancer, and endured four years on chemotherapy. She was a 41 + 1/2 year survivor of marriage to me. What a wonderful wife!
     Her earthly remains will be cremated without further viewing. We are planning a "Victory Celebration" at Grace Lutheran Church in Casa Grande, Arizona. The timing on this will depend on when Nathan and Julie can get in from Dominican Republic and Mexico. If I can work it out, I would like to also celebrate her life with many of you in some way both in Texas and Wisconsin.
     Join me in praising God for all His blessings on our life and on our family.
Love,  Myrl

The Lord bless you with his peace, just as he is blessing our family with peace, comfort, and sure hope through Christ's resurrection,

NW