We arrived at the orphanage of Gesner, in Leogane. Gesner is the director for about 20 orphanages in the area. While here 12 of the orphanages headmasters were studying the sacrament of the Lords Supper. Even though I could not understand them, it was obvious what they were discussing. After the class we presented the headmasters with dresses that were made by a ladies group from Indiana.

That evening, Missionary Schultz, a Haitian gentleman, and myself all road on one motorcycle to the orphanage of Jeanote. Ths orphanage needs help ASAP. There are 21 children, 14 of them are sleeping in tents that water flows through leaving a trail of mud on the floor. Seeing this makes me greatly appreciate my blessings and increases my desire to help these children.

Saturday we visited the orphanage of Berline, that houses 34 children. These children, too, are still in tents with beds raised on wood pallets to keep them off the ground.

We then visited another orphanage. As we arrived, soldiers from the South Korean U.N. were visiting. They had brought water and food for the children. Later they played with the children and were seen carrying them and giving them piggy back rides.

My purpose for this trip was to prioritize the needs in Haiti. Now that I am back in the states a team of men will be gathered and plans will begin to build housing for the orphanage of Jeanote.

This trip, God willing, will be the first of many mission trips to the orphanages. Please keep the mission team, and the orphans in your prayers as we proceed with the plans. In James 1:27 God tells us to, “look after orphans and widows in their distress and keep ones self from being polluted by the world.”

Mike Nichols

Looking back at the last two weeks since an update has been sent, I can tell you a lot has been happening. I have been in several classes and have spoken to 86 different people in those classes. Some Bibles and supporting faith-based books have been distributed, as well as some in-depth discussions about Jesus as our Savior. I always take advantage during a conversation to share our faith with students. It is best to build trust and create a climate where they want to learn more about our “religion” as I am usually asked to tell them about my religion. Again, that is the seed planting that was shared earlier in my visit to Tomsk. It would be nice to report that we have converted “this many” people by now, but that is the Holy Spirit’s work. Persistence and Christian love for our Russian friends will prevail!

It’s getting to the point in this three-month visit to Tomsk that I must be thinking about saying “good bye” to new-found friends. I know that one will always remember a mission such as this one, but it gives me pleasure in knowing that one day these friends and I could meet again in heaven because of God’s grace.

Thanks for everything.

God’s Blessings,
Cliff

My wife, Kathy, has been experiencing some medical problems with coughing, shortness of breath, etc. for about a month and hasn’t been getting any better. She has seen doctors and had many tests, at least three misdiagnoses, along with a bunch of different medications for each misdiagnosis. This all started shortly after I left for Siberia. She’s tired out, worn down, worn out, and we are both focused on helping her find out what this is and what is needed to make her better.

So anyway, I home, and we are working on getting Kathy back to good health. As much as I enjoyed working with my new Russian friends on their English, getting my wife back to good health is a far greater priority for me. I thank God for the opportunity to go to Siberia for the last two months and meet many Russian friends, but I thank him more for the wife that he has blessed me with for the past 42 years and 10 months.

Warm regards to all,
Rueb

Redeemer Lutheran Church in Edna, TX, ministers to its existing congregation while also reaching out to the Hispanic population. When the neighboring community college dropped English as a Second Language (ESL) classes from its course offerings, Redeemer saw this as an opportunity and grabbed it. In 2005, Pastor Andrew Schroer started teaching ESL classes one night a week. Because the community response to the ESL classes was overwhelming, Schroer quickly realized the need for more classes but also for more help. Volunteers from the congregation assisted until Redeemer received support from Kingdom Workers. Dana Blado served as the first full-time teacher, followed by Paul Hoversten. Eventually Redeemer had to return to offering just one ESL class per week taught by Schroer. The demand for more classes rapidly became apparent again; that’s when lay worker Laura Banda stepped in.

Banda, who came to Redeemer along with her family through the ESL program, volunteered to help and eventually took over two of the classes. With the continued success of the program and need for more workers, Redeemer applied for and received support for another year from Kingdom Workers. With funding in place and having recently graduated from college, Banda agreed to take over the language program. She plans on offering up to six ESL and Spanish classes each week with hopes of enrolling between 75 to 100 people each session.

Currently Redeemer is serving between 80 to 100 people from the Hispanic community, with an average of 41 attending weekly worship services. These are people brought in through the language classes, 21 of whom have already become members. What makes Redeemer’s language program so unique and successful is the approach. “We decided to conduct classes as a service to our community, out of love for our neighbors,” says Schroer. “Instead of offering Bible studies after each class, we build up relationships and friendships in order to share the gospel.” As those relationships are formed, more and more students are showing an interest in the gospel message.
“The surprising aspect of this whole ministry was when the community asked us to fulfill a need we didn’t know existed,” explains Schroer. Some local residents requested the church begin offering Spanish classes for English speaking people in addition to the English classes they were already teaching for Spanish speaking people. The response from this effort has been overwhelmingly positive for the church. Through one of these classes Schroer met Mary Beth. Mary Beth’s husband had never attended church and was soon diagnosed with terminal cancer. Even though she was Catholic and not a member of the church, because Mary Beth had a relationship with the people at Redeemer, she asked Schroer if he would conduct her husband’s funeral service when he died. Schroer agreed to start visiting her husband in the hospital and was able to share the gospel with him. As a result Mary Beth’s husband is in heaven, and she has since joined the church.

Of course Redeemer has had some challenges along the way, too. It’s typical to experience growing pains when a congregation takes on a new ministry. Bilingual services and time changes may have put some members out of their comfort zone, but they all see the need for sharing God’s Word and have made adjustments as necessary. “Anytime you combine two cultures in a congregation, you’re going to have obstacles, but with God’s help we are able to overcome them,” states Schroer. Redeemer awaits the wonderful opportunities to reach out to even more people in 2012 through its language program.

I initially met Natasha’s parents through the English as a Second Language Program. After attending class for several months, the couple decided to send their children to the church’s afterschool program. It was then that I met Natasha.

Now, Natasha was a typical preschool-aged child, energetic, fun-loving, and “independent.” By independent I mean she refused to obey most rules and to actively participate in activities. She tried to do what she wanted when she wanted. It was such obstinacy that landed her in “time-out” during every “Jesus Time.”

Weeks passed, and my patience waned. There were a finite number of times that I could dismiss being interrupted, yelled at, and kicked. And, she had exhausted every last one. What was the point in battling with her? She was being disruptive, preventing the other children from learning, and her behavior indicated that she was gaining nothing from the experience…or so I thought.

God made my misperception overwhelmingly evident to me one day during “Jesus Time.” One child was describing how hell was a horrible place that frightened him. I then started to reassure him that, although what he had said about hell was true, we do not have to be afraid because of what Jesus did for us. Before I could provide him with this comfort, however, Natasha interrupted me once again. “But, Andrea,” she said, “we don’t have to be scared because we are free.”

I was speechless. This was the same girl who initially had very little biblical knowledge, the same child who spent the majority of the time removed from the group, and the one I was ready to remove from the program entirely. But Natasha was also a precious lamb of Jesus who could now verbalize the most important teaching of the Bible, that there is no condemnation for those who believe.

God used Natasha to demonstrate how unworthy I am to be his servant. Thankfully, his Word is powerful and life-saving in spite of me.

Andrea Schmidt

“He who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” Proverbs 13:11
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

The children are getting ready to go home or wherever they have to go tomorrow, Monday. They have one more exam tomorrow and then they leave for a month. Some of the children really want to stay and not go, but they have to because that is maintenace time for the homes and gives the caregivers a break. Some come back early anyway. Some of the girls have to do housecleaning when they get to their ‘family’ to get money for them. The ages of the children in the home start as young as 5 and go up to teens, provided the teen follows the rules of the house. Sometimes they have to leave them go because they won’t behave. We have one school and that has 170-190 children. The total includes the children from this home next to us, ‘village’ children, neighboring villages. Some are Hindu and Muslim as well as Christian. They have the Word of God taught and then regular subjects. Every child has a uniform, don’t know where the children get the money that don’t live at the home to buy the uniform. The home children get a uniform from the mission. After 7th grade the children go on to public school. It is mandatory for the children to be in school to the 10th grade. However, if the parents or ‘family’ pull them out there is nothing anyone can or will do about it. We were told about a girl who was two months from her 10th grade graduation and her parents were going to pull her out to marry her off. She was living in one of our homes so the pastor told the parents it was illegal to do that because she was only 16, so it kind of scared them. She was at least able to finish that grade. A couple of our children have done so well in school, both in the private one and the public that the government picked up the cost of their education past 10th grade, they went on to become nurses. One became a medical assistant and is studying to be a doctor. This is All paid through the government because they did and are doing very well in their classes. Apparently there is a very elite public school for 8th grade on up that chosen children go to. We have one who is on the list to go. It is a real feeling of pride for her and the caregivers in the home. There are high hopes for her of course as long as the ‘family’ does not pull her out to marry her off.

Friday we said goodbye to the seminary 1 & 4 students. It was hard for Judy and I as we said a few words at the end because we know in all probability we won’t see them again. Each one asked us to pray for them and their family and said they would pray for us and our family and congregations. They gave us a special send off. All the students, gathered in Pastor Krueger’s class and we had to go to the front. Pastor Krueger thanked us for our time and said we are a part of their lives forever. They gave us a beautiful carving and then sang us “God Be With You Til We Meet Again.” We cried of course and some of the men did also. Susan Krueger later told us that the men really enjoyed our time with them. Then we had to stand at the back of the room and each man shook our hands and told us how grateful they were for our help. Needless to say it was very emotional and even now as I type this a couple days past, I am emotional. They thought of us as their mothers. Of course I’m sure our age had something to do with it as how we treated them. I have to say I adopted them as sons in my heart. There were several who had phones that took pictures. The students really are working very hard to learn English and soak up as much as they can of all the classes before they go home for a couple of weeks. Tomorrow 25 pre-sem students will arrive and we will be working with them for one week. I’m sure we will develop a relationship with these men also. This has been such a wonderful experience for both of us to find out what a mission really does. We all know about missions, but we don’t know how they really work. Well now we both do and we will never think about missions the way we did before.

Yesterday, we visited a home two hours away. The journey there was quite a trip. Again the traffic is indescribable. There were several groups of buffalo walking in the middle of of the road. Of course they have the right of way, so everyone gave them a wide berth. We saw ox carts and every other form of transportation. When we arrived, the pastor’s wife was at the gate to meet us with a hug and kiss. The children were all expecting us and of course we’re all dressed up in their uniforms for us. They were wonderful. They sang; recited the ten commandments with meanings, Apostles Creed, and Lord’s Prayer; and a couple told their favorite Bible story. One story was on the Pentecost and the other was the Ethiopian and the Eunuch. They fed us really well. Both Judy and I could eat it. We had boiled fried eggs, prawns mixed with some veggies, and some type of bread called puri. We had some type of juice for beverage and it was very good. We gave the children candy and they were so thankful for it. While they were presenting their program, I was winking at some of them and they giggled cause none of them know how to do it. When we were getting ready to leave the ones that figured out how to do it came up to me, gave me a hug and then winked. We laughed. We took a group picture, and the children were hanging on us. They asked when we were coming back. It broke my heart to say I didn’t know, knowing full well that I probably won’t be back, but one never knows what God’s plan is. I gave them tons of hugs and kisses as they followed me to the car. Soon they started blowing kisses at me. I surely would have loved to bring them home with me. They know they have a very good life at the home and when they leave it will truly be a struggle. If they get a good education they will have a chance in life.

There are 28 children living in a building no bigger than 20×30. The children sleep on what looks like a woven place mat on a concrete floor. There is a hole in the floor for the girls potty and a bathing area. The boys have the same. All their belongings must fit in a metal box no bigger than a 21″ suitcase. They are so happy there they don’t want to leave for anything. Even for Christmas they beg to stay. They are very unhappy having to leave for the month of May. They are so grateful to have a roof over their heads, food in their tummy, and people who care about them. How can we leave these children behind when we go home? It will be very hard to know how they will have to continue living.

Have a wonderful day and God keep you safe.

Lois

Rueb and I both enjoy walking to the office as it gives us time to be in the community and enjoy the people. We consider it doing friendship evangelism on a daily basis. The Russians have been helpful throughout this journey, and that makes life so much easier to operate in a culture where one can not speak but a few words of their language. As Rueb and I are communicating in English we have been approached by Russians overhearing our conversation. They want to say a few words in English and we enjoy the exchange. At that time, we give them a prepared slip that has our phone number, address of our church and office, and a brief note telling them that we provide free English classes. This usually becomes an opportunity to share our faith with them during our English class.

A large part of our effort is attending various English club classes that students and professional English clubs have formed to provide an atmosphere for Russians to speak English. We have one class that we attend at the American Center. Two Russian teachers have established this weekly session for students to practice their English speaking skills. The class is set up to learn about different topics each week and everyone must use English during this hour and a half time frame. Last Friday, Rueb and I did a presentation on Wisconsin. It included what Wisconsinites are like, about our industries, our climate, our family life, and our work life. From that type of session we have had students come to the office and further discuss faith, more important, our faith and how Jesus is our Savior. Also, one of the teachers asked if we had Bible story books for her young son and we gave her some books. It is slow in coming, but it really is one person at a time. We are seed planters at this stage and the crop will be harvested down the road!

Please keep us in your prayers that we continue to represent our Christian brotherhood in an honorable fashion.

Cliff

Asia Lutheran Seminary (ALS) continues to explode with exciting growth. Since I joined ALS as Learning Resources Coordinator in 2008, our student enrollment has tripled, our library holdings have tripled, and our physical floor space has doubled. There are currently more than 180 active card-holders of the ALS library, and more than 100 books checked out at any given time. Our student enrollment is at a record high, with current and prospective students and staff holding at least seven kinds of passports.  At this present moment, all of the ALS professors are traveling to teach in other areas of Asia. The library that we are developing for ALS now includes thousands of print volumes, many hundreds of e-books and other electronic media, a map library, distance learning, essay file, periodicals, a new growing music library, and forming branch libraries. We are starting a bookstore on May 1, and the Translation & Publications teams are now bringing several projects into final fruition. We are preparing to host an international translation conference next fall. A few months ago, Learning Resources expanded to comprise an entire floor of the building, and ALS as a whole is now spread through five and a half floors of a 17-story commercial building.  My job has expanded from Learning Resources to also include some aspects of mission advancement, such as functioning as the project manager for our new ALS website.

While we welcome this growth as a tremendous blessing, we know that we are only at the beginning of what we want to do. We are grateful for God’s rich blessings, and for the prayers and support.

Thank you, WKW, for your support of our work in Hong Kong!
God’s blessings,
Carmen Tomfohrde