Greetings from Schierkolks

“And you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Mt. 1:21

Feliz navidad from Mexico! May this Christmas be one of hope and peace for you because of Jesus. This past year held a number of rather eventful things for us, and we’re very grateful to God for seeing us through them all.

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Connely Dyrud’s Christmas Greeting

AFLC Missionary Connely Dyrud Pastor Connely and Carolyn Dyrud began serving  the Lord as missionaries in Brazil in 1969.  Carolyn went home to be with the Lord on September 24th, 2005.  Throughout the years they labored side by side at the Free Lutheran Bible School and Seminary at Campo Mourao, Parana, Brazil. Connely now serves Christ as a missionary at large, recruiting and training up a new generation of missionaries by teaching at the Ministry Training Institute of AFLBS. He travels throughout the United States promoting the cause of Missions. You are here to share with us! Thank you so much for being co-laborers with me and the AFLC mission this year. Your prayers and gifts mean so much. They are very important for sharing Christ’s love. May the Lord bless you now and forever more. A Blessed Christmas and New Year to you and your family. Pastor Connely Dyrud 8938 Oakview Lane N Maple Grove, MN 55369 connely.dyrud@aflc.org  PDF of Connely's Greeting

Why was HE born here? ".....But when the time had fully come God sent His son......" Galatians 4:4-6 Why was Jesus born here? The exact time, place and person to whom Christ was to be born to was prophesied in the Old Testament. His mission on earth was also prophesied and accomplished. Redemption is a gift given to us so that we might live with Him eternally. That is way HE was born here, and we were born here too. Why was I born here? Why was I born to such unloving parents? Questions I’ve heard from people both in the USA and around the world. It is painful to hear people suffer at this time of year with these issues that have not been resolved. In Acts 17:26-27 we read that God “determined” our “time” and “exact place” for us to live on earth. This is God’s will so that “men would seek him and perhaps reach out to him, He is not far from each of us.” Isn’t that a wonderful promise to know for you and me? Why are you here? Many people have asked me that question at this time of the year with all this snow and cold, and then continue to say, “I’ll bet you wish you were back in Brazil where it’s nice all the time.” True! There are only two seasons there; NICE and NICER! I believe God has called me here, to this cold, to share the love of missions every day and to everyone I come in contact with today. This last year I’ve continued teaching in the MTI, Bible School and travel to the AFLC Churches, Bible Camps sharing the call to missions both home and abroad. I’ll return to the AFLC Brazil mission to teach there for the month of March 2011. Thanks for praying for me!

Update on Jacob O’flanagan

I'm back from the doctor. I have an eye patch and some pills. What happened to my eye in technical terms is that I got a corneal abrasion.

Thank you for all of your prayers.

Jacob

Nathan Olson–Christmas Greeting

Nathan Olson is a Short Term Missions Assistant. 

Many Christians in our world are full of complaints, grief and discomforts. The thought of rejoicing seems unlikely or impossible looking at the circumstances that surround them. May the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the remembrance of the salvation that he brings for our lives bring a joy that is non-circumstantial and that goes beyond the daily grind of our lives. May our joy continue to be in Him!

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Pray for Jacob O’Flanagan

Yesterday I was raking and accidentally poked my eye in a pine tree, and today it is feeling much worse.

I am going to the hospital for it now. Please pray for me.

Jacob is a Short Term Missions Assistant working in Brazil.

The Privilege of Sharing

Working Together Our missionary work is the result of many people working together.  As we look forward to returning to Brazil the end of December to begin our eighth missionary term we are again looking for people who are willing to commit to being a part of our team.  You can do this by reading our letters, praying for us and helping financially. We want to thank those of you who have faithfully contributed to our regular support over the years.  As we have persevered for over 25 years so have many of you – we are long-term missionaries together! We would also like to take this opportunity to let you know of some of the projects approved by the World Missions Committee that might be of interest to you as you consider donating money to missions. Donations Gifts can be sent to AFLC World Missions 3110 E. Medicine Lake Blvd.  Minneapolis, MN 55441.  Please include a note with your gift explaining how you want your gift designated.  You will receive a tax-deductible receipt from the Missions Office. If you prefer online giving, visit http://www.aflcworldmissions.org/wm/  and look at the left side of the page for a dropdown list to make your donation. “They gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.  And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.”   II Cor. 8:3-5 Personal Support Our salary and ministry funds are supplied by gifts designated to personal support.  This is the fund that keeps us on the field sharing the Gospel with the Brazilian people. National Leadership Conference Funds are allotted for offering a Leadership Conference for our Brazilian pastors and lay leaders once a year.  Money helps provide for the conference as well as for transportation needs for those who live far away.  Our pastors are poorly paid and this is one way we can bless them and encourage them in the ministry. ARCA Bible Camp Scholarships Each year children and teens are blessed with the opportunity to go to Bible Camp because supporters donate money for this project. Many youths meet Christ at camp and others make important life and ministry decisions because of their time in this place. $50 helps subsidize one camper. ARCA Bible Camp This fund helps with capital improvements at the camp. We are still in need of funds to complete the re-surfacing of the gymnasium floor which was our project for 2010. In 2011 there is a need for new bunk beds and mattresses   ARCA Social Outreach As urgent social needs arise, this fund enables us to help people who are unable to meet basic needs – food, shelter, medicine, lab exams, rehabilitation and counseling, etc.   Seminary Scholarships Money to this fund helps provide scholarships for students in Bible School and seminary as well as to provide educational opportunities for our national pastors. Student Work Fund This money goes to the Bible School and Seminary to provide work opportunities for on-campus students to offset the cost of their studies. Thank you so much for your partnership in this ministry!

This message was sent from Paul and Becky Abel through the AFLC World Missions email newsletters.  To get the Abel’s or other missionaries email newsletters directly click here.

Schierkolks’ Update

“God has ordained to dislodge and
defeat Satan by the prayers of His
people.” -Wesley Duewel

Kirstie felt nervous on her first day as a teacher in the Kid’s Clubs. She’s a big 7th grader now but the class she has on Tuesdays can be a handful.  Thankfully, Samuel volunteered to be her helper.  Even so, day one of the Club was a tough day.
Actually, it was for all of us.

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Jore’s Christmas Greeting

December 2010 Merry Christmas O Come let us adore Him! This was the theme of the Christmas program we hosted in our home recently with 8 other missionary families. Hannah, our little angel, belted, "Glory to God in the Highest!" right on cue. Jude, our smiley shepherd, had been counting the days until he could sing his solo in "Go tell it on the mountain". And Elijah, our serious wise man, shushed his fellow wise men as they prepared to go on stage... "You guys, this isn't practice anymore. This is the real thing!" It was a joyful evening of celebration and worship together as we recounted the story of Christ's arrival on earth as a baby.  Elijah Wesley Our oldest is already 6 1/2 and sprouting up past all of his buddies. I just told him today that I'm going to have to take him to the market soon for new clothes as he's growing out of his whole wardrobe. Elijah is a deep thinker and is always throwing questions at us, "How could God never have been born?" "How can heaven last forever?" "How do you make plastic?" "Who invented the piano?" He began piano lessons a few months ago, and although he isn't so sure he loves it, we often hear him plunking away and figuring out how to play some of his favorite songs. He enjoys reading "The Boxcar Children" and doing science experiments and art projects. He can't get enough of fishing with Dad in the Nile River, just a mile from our home, or playing soccer. He and Jude have become gardening-lovers, like Dad, and have their own tomato, bean and corn plants that they faithfully take care of. Elijah is our official egg-checker (we have 11 layers) and he takes this job very seriously. Our prayer for Elijah is that he will grow to be a humble man of prayer and a bold testifier and follower of Jesus. Judah Benjamin Jude is our passionate 5-year-old. You never need to guess how he feels about something. His love language is no doubt "physical touch". If we ever need to help him get out of a foul mood, a little snuggling and kissing will do the trick every time. He is an avid book-lover, and is quite excited about the fact that he can now read 3-letter words all by himself. He and Elijah joined a gymnastics class a few months ago, and he loves it so much that he can't stop giggling whenever it's his turn up on the trampoline or on the mat. Like Daddy, he loves bird-watching. If you ever catch sight of our little blondie flying out the front door and racing to the yard, peering up at the sky, it's probably because he has heard the familiar bird-call of the "Turaco" (his favorite bird) and he is eager to catch a glimpse. Our prayer for Jude is that his driving passion in life will be to follow Jesus and serve others. Hannah Ellen "Hannah, how old are you?" "Four," is the reply every time. Our 2 1/2 year old is eager to be a big girl and to be a part of everything her big brothers do, including school time. This is the reason why she no longer includes naps in her daily schedule. The afternoon is when the boys typically sit down to work on their math, writing and reading. She was not at all okay with missing out on all that fun. She now hurries through a 30-minute quiet time in her room and then races out to join the fun, taking up residence at the end of the table, coloring away or seriously sorting beans. Hannah also enjoys pretending that she is Jeremiah's 2nd mother. She is thrilled to no longer be the lowest on the totem pole in our family and has already begun bossing around her infant brother. I'm sure he has many years of this to look forward to. We are praying that Hannah will grow to know how deeply loved she is by her Creator, and that she will find her worth and identity in Him alone. Jeremiah Daniel On June 29th we received an amazing and precious gift. Jeremiah Daniel was born in Kampala, the capital city, after a long and intense labor. We laughed and cried and praised God for this new life that He has entrusted to us. He was joyfully embraced into our little family, and he could not be loved more fiercely by his proud siblings. He is a jolly and roly-poly little man who is content to hang out on a quilt on the floor or in Mom's baby-carrier, watching and giggling at all of the activity around him. One quote by Jude that we'll never forget, said when Jeremiah was a few months old: "I love Jeremiah the best in our family, but I think he likes milk more than me."  Our prayer for Jeremiah is that he will boldly follow Jesus all of his days, and that he will continue to be a joy-giver to all of  those that he meets. We are soon to celebrate our 8th anniversary of marriage, and we have just passed our 4-year mark here in Uganda. We feel abundantly blessed to be married to each other, to be the parents of 4 healthy, happy, rambunctious little kids, to be living and serving here in Uganda, but most of all, to be the recipients of God's forgiveness and amazing love. Our prayer for our home is that it will be a place of peace and grace, not only for our family, but for all who enter. If you're ever in East Africa, let us know. We'd love to have you! With love, Nate & Rhoda    Elijah, Judah, Hannah and Jeremiah

This message was sent from Nate and Rhoda Jore through the AFLC World Missions email newsletters.  To get the Jore’s or other missionaries email newsletters directly click here.

Jacob O’Flanagan–Brazil

Jacob O’Flanagan is an AFLC Short Term Missions Assistant working in Brazil

It's been a little while since my last update but things have been going well here in southern Brazil. The past few weeks I have mainly been working with the grounds keeping at the Seminary and Bible school campus here in Campo Mourao.  So far I have been doing everything from raking, to working in the garden, to cleaning the walks around campus. Edival, who is the guy that I am working with here at school has been happy with the work I have been doing and I have had energy to do the work set out before me.

I've been back to Maringa to have Thanksgiving Dinner with the Abel Family which was delicious. I found out yesterday that I will be spending the holidays in Curitiba, the capital city of this state. So I am looking forward to and preparing for that.

We have had a couple of camps here over the past couple weeks which help the school out financially, and the buildings aren't being used for much else anyway since it's summer here and school is out.

I have been able to learn a little more and more Portuguese every day and am able to exist in a completely Portuguese speaking environment.  Last but certainly not least I have been able to make good connections with the people here even with the language difference.

Thank God for all of these things, and I ask for continued prayer in all of these areas.

Thank you all,

Jacob

Andrew Abel–Short Term Missions Assistant

As I approach my final semester at Northwestern I am faced with the task of a senior project. For a couple of years now I have thought about the idea of filming a promotional/informational DVD for the AFLC work in Brazil and possibly other mission fields later. As a way to unite this vision with my senior project I am . . .

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Christmas–Paul & Becky Abel

Go Tell it on the Mountain that Jesus Christ is Born!

From the mountains to the plains, through the forests and even to the desert, our furlough travels across the U.S. have been a mountaintop experience. . .

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All I Want for Christmas–Jonni Sliver

As I have visited with many of you I have heard several of you say “You are going to love rocking the Babies”; and you are right! I have been practicing my cuddle so that I am ready for Pamela, Altieres and Thivaldy, three of the babies in the Miriam Infant Home. But there are others who are part of the Miriam family who are needing to feel special expressions of God’s love, even if it isn’t found in a rocking chair!

Deisy is a bright and sunny young lady, and at . . .

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