Mission Trip to India–Part 1

The following is the first e-mail that Kevin Olson (Ambassador Institute Department Head ) sent to family and friends while he was on a mission trip to India with Jim Rasmussen (AFLC Head of Evangelism) in late January and early February.

Life in India

It is interesting how life can be so similar from culture to culture and yet so wildly different.

Some things you have to block out of your mind to adjust to life in the new culture so that you don’t burn out or some other variety of emotional responses.

Indian culture puts a very high value on personal cleanliness as opposed to the public cleanliness that we worship in the U.S. to often the sacrifice of personal cleanliness.

India has a mass of people and so although the infrastructure is much more developed than Africa, it is still pushed beyond the limits.

Driving is one way that the infrastructure gets pushed beyond its limits. People walking, ox carts being pulled, trucks, buses, bicycles, motorcycles, cars, and animals all share the roads, all at the same time. It forces the top speed to a limit of 30-40 mph and means most every moment something unexpected might happen.

This morning I was floored and humbled when I came across the students who live at this school coming out of their morning prayer and group devotions at 6:00 a.m.

These students meet every morning at 5:00 a.m. for devotions. Their ages are 8 to 16. No one forces them to get up. It is just part of their daily routine.

Later in the day we were at a church that I have been at 3 times now. They, like every church, gave us as guests a large flower necklace. In fact today we received two. The guests are always given the seats of honor, given special food and special treatment in every way. The church was packed because of this large celebration that they were having. Yet, with all of this honor and respect, as I was about halfway through a short story that I was sharing, one third of the people got up and went outside to eat. They were eating in shifts which was somewhat understandable, but the worship of the person in contrast to the message of the person was sharper than I had experienced before. Then again, after the meeting, the people flock up to have the guests pray for them.

Tomorrow will be a slower more personal day in town and at the beach with the kids.

Saturday will be another 9 hour day in a village that may look very similar to today’s events.

Sunday we will split up and go to two different churches, then Monday we will start the training.

It is a joy, a struggle, humbling and irritating plus a whole range of emotions all at the same time.

Block out the things that are too difficult to deal with at any one moment, focus on the people and pray to the Lord.

A blog from down under,

Kevin

Stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow!

Ambassador Institute Graduation in Uganda

This is the text from an e-mail Kevin Olson sent out the day of the graduation:

The graduation was today (January 22, 2011) and it was a great day! It was held outdoors at the beautiful Itanda Falls. The day was great, with the students beaming out of their skin.

This was the first graduation of the Ambassador Institute…the first for this area of Uganda of any sort of big graduation event. Local leaders were invited to greet the people and approve of the event. Many of those leaders spoke frequently of their appreciation of doing something like this for their people and for this area. You could see and feel the students pride and self-confidence. Yet the event was very simple: held outside, the students rented their own gowns and the Ambassador Institute paid for the food. That was it.

It is so cool to see and hear the students speak with humble spirits, loving pastoral hearts and evangelistic spirits ready to go out serving the Lord in missions to their own people and beyond.

Missionaries Leave For the Field

Ministry Training Institute Students

This year’s MTI students have left for their respective fields. Jeremiah Jones, Kathryn Norris and Bryan Bohn have traveled to Brazil. Josiah Rolf is in Alaska (not pictured).

 

 

Short Term Assistants

 

 

Cassie Nash (pictured with her father) traveled to Haiti. Cassie will be working with an orphanage.

 

 

 

Jim and Cindy Lilly recently traveled to Ecuador. They will be learning the culture and doing some work in a church there.

Please keep these missionaries and all our AFLC missionaries in your prayers as they continue their work for the Kingdom!

Godfrey Uses Bible Story in Village Conflict

Greetings friends,

Godfrey, one of the students from the Jinja class, recently returned to his home village to bury his aunt. When he arrived, he found the village in an uproar as a child had recently died and the suspected murderer was the co-wife of the child's mother (the child's father had two wives). The village members had gathered and the tension was rising as they discussed murdering the woman for the terrible thing that she had done. Some of the crowd had already started collecting stones for stoning her.

Upon seeing the gravity of the situation, Godfrey prayed, “God, what am I to do? How can I save this woman?” Godfrey was quickly reminded of the story of Solomon he had heard from his MegaVoice (Bible and lesson recorder). Solomon was faced with a similar situation when two prostitutes came to him to settle their case. Both women claimed that the living child was hers and the dead one belonged to the other. Solomon suggested they kill the living one too, so that it would be even. The true mother had compassion for her son and pleaded with him not to kill the baby, but to give it to the other woman. Godfrey took out his MegaVoice and called some of the leaders together saying, “This is not the first time people have been faced with a situation like this. Come and hear how others handled the situation.” They began to listen to the story in their native Lusoga language. After the story was finished Godfrey advised them not to kill the woman, but to advise her. The tension in the room diffused and one by one the angry mob dispersed quietly. Godfrey stood amazed at the power of the Word of God which had saved a woman's life!

Lavon Bohling

Please pray for Mr.Lavon Bohling.    Lavon  has an  Aortic Aneurysm.  He will undergo further tests  on Monday and very possibly undergo  surgery soon thereafter. Lavon is Director of the AFLC FLAPS Ministry and also serves as assistant to Home Mission Director, Rev. Paul Nash.

Greetings from Erlend Straume

Dear friends,

I just want to give you an update on how my life is right now. Believe it or not, but I am actually in Brazil and have started to study the Portuguese language. I will start my official Portuguese study at the university here in the end of February.

When I came back to the Seminary last fall I did not know why the Lord had led me to the Seminary or what I should do after I graduated. I thought that the Lord could not use a man like me. But I started on the path to Brazil since that made sense in some way: I was interested in mission, I had felt an inner call or inner desire to serve as a missionary since high school, and I could work as a research scientist in the oil business there. If the Lord did not want me to go in this direction He would stop me, and I was almost certain that I would be stopped. But everything went faster and more smoothly than I expected. I applied at Portuguese study at the University of Curitiba and was accepted. I applied for 12 month student visa, it was authorized and I received it in the mail 3 weeks after I sent the application. I went back to Norway to sell my apartment there. I had a showing of it a Monday evening in the middle of January and the next day 1 pm it was sold for a price more than 10 % higher than the price it was advertised for. I moved out and the evening of the 1st of February I was on my way to Brazil. When I hear stories about other people who wait months and years for visa and are hindered by all kinds of issues, I wonder: Why did the Lord open the doors so wide open for me? The only thing I can do is thank God for what he has done.

This first week here I have heard many strong testimonies from youth who have grown up in broken homes without a father or with a father addicted to alcohol or drugs. Sin has ruined many lives here. I have started thinking that maybe the Lord wants me to serve in the discipleship of men, both young men and men who have ruined their lives with sin. I believe that if the men of a congregation or a society could live their lives in agreement with the Bible, everything will change. If the young men could learn how they should treat the young women, how they should take responsibility for their lives, and how they should avoid addiction to alcohol, drugs or anything else; then they would avoid many sorrows and wounds of sin later in life. But more important; if they get their assurance of salvation through the Word of God and learn seek the Word for their spiritual nourishment every day they will become a pillar in the temple of My God. They will become leaders that have little power in their selves, keep God’s Word and do not deny His Name. This humble biblical attitude towards faith and life in general is foreign for the macho man ideal of this world. However if the men of a church and a community could be changed to follow this Biblical lifestyle, I believe most of the other problems will be solved as a result of this and the Kingdom of God will grow.

I don’t have all the answers on how to do this, or even if this is what I am supposed to do here, but I pray that I could continue following God’s guidance in my life and that doors will be opened where I am supposed to serve.  I hope that you can continue praying for me regularly.

In His service,

Erlend

Daniel Isaías Paccha Olson

Darwin and Kirsten Paccha, AFLC members working in Ecuador,  joyfully announce the birth of their son, Daniel born on January 23, 2011! 

Here is what Darwin says of the delivery and birth: 

“What a blessing at how quickly things progressed! Even though the timing was a little difficult because we lacked sleep (which we know will be common from now on), we realized this timing was also a blessing because we were the only ones in the hospital in the delivery area with our doctors and nurses. Everyone helping seemed more relaxed and personal. We had another answer to prayer as Daniel was delivered. We discovered that he did not drop down into the pelvis because the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck and then around his body. Praise God for a long umbilical cord and protecting Daniel through the delivery.”

Darwin and Kirsten ask for your continued prayers:  “Pray for us as we learn to be a family with Daniel. Pray for our new schedule, emotions, and responsibilities. We are thankful for God’s answer to our prayers to have a family, and now we ask that you pray with us that we would be an example of a godly family to those around us as we continue our ministry in Ecuador.”

Darwin graduated from AFLTS and Kirsten from AFLBS!  Congratulations from all of us!

February Newsletter from Jonni Sliver

I confess to you now that “waiting” is not my favorite verb. On the other hand, there are blessings in the time between the “call” and the “go”.   Many are the people I have had the privilege of getting to know. So many of you who have invited me into you’re your homes, opened your hearts and encouraged me with everything from words and prayers to precious wooden tops made to bless little ones in Brazil (they are already in my suitcase!).

Over the last two months you have been praying for some of our girls.  Deisy (pictured here) is one. She has been a part of the Miriam Home for years as she faced a life rollercoaster. . .

Read more about Deisy and the rest of Jonni’s  newsletter here.

Greetings from Jacob O’Flanagan

Hello again everybody,

It's been a little while since my last update so this is a little bit of what's going on down here. The person who I was working with doing grounds keeping here at the Bible School and Seminary has moved up north and I am now in charge of keeping up the grounds here on campus.

It has already been three months that I have been in Brazil and go in next week to renew my visa. Portuguese is coming along well, and I am now able to manage fairly well, though I am still far from fluent to say the least.

The MTI students arrived in Brazil today and will spend some time with Paul and Becky Abel in the capitol city before coming up and staying here on campus for most of the remainder of their internship. I am enjoying the time here, and have been able to help a lot here on campus.

The things that I do during any given day range from feeding chickens to working in the garden, to mowing grass. It's not very complicated work, but it's work that needs to be done, which is why I am here. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support, and feel free to send me an email if you feel like it, I enjoy hearing from people back home.

God Bless,
Jacob

Missionary Death in Mexico

"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." Ps. 116:15

"Missionary Nancy Davis has gone to Heaven as a martyr…This afternoon, after 38 years of missionary service she paid the ultimate sacrifice." an online post read on Thursday after Mrs. Davis was killed on Wednesday, January 26.

AFLC missionary Todd Schierkolk has been in communication with World Missions giving us information on this incident.  Todd shared this link if you want to learn more about what happened and about the Davis’ ministry. Todd also shared that a Twila Paris song has been running through his mind after he heard about the situation.  The song is “He is No Fool” and is about missionaries Jim Elliot and Eric Liddell (Chariots of Fire fame). Here are the lyrics:

There once was a man born of high circumstance
Heir to advantage,
He had every chance to succeed
But light from the cross made his dreams appear small
And to their surprise he went far--from it all
For the love of his Savior, for one priceless jewel
They could not understand so they called him a fool

 

Chorus
He is no fool If he would choose
To give the thing he cannot keep
To buy what he can never lose
To see a treasure in one soul
That far outshines the brightest gold

He is no fool, He is no fool
He is no fool, He is no fool


There once was a boy who could run like the wind
Given to lead, every man was his friend at the line
But light from the cross made his race appear small
And to their amazement, he followed the call
For the love of his Savior, for one priceless jewel
They could not understand so they called him a fool
Show me the fool who abandons his life
To walk in the steps of our Lord Jesus Christ

We ask for fervent prayer cover for our own AFLC missionaries in this area of Mexico and all missionaries, and prayers for comfort for the family and friends of Nancy Davis. We stand on the promise of God that His Word will not return void but will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purposes for which He sent it. Amen and Amen.

Student Missions

Student missions will be leading another international outreach this year. The 2011 ministry will take place in Ecuador from July 24 to August 17. The team, led by Sam & Rachel Menge, will be working with Pastor Darwin & Kristen Paccha taking part in the Summer Youth Institute.

More information can be found on the AFLC Youth Website.

Trips to Brazil

A special support team will be traveling to Brazil March 11–30. Pastor Del Palmer, Paul Handsaker and Glenn Mork will lead risk assessment sessions on the field with the missionaries and national staff . The goal is to identify and reduce areas of risk and develop specific plans in case of a major problem.

Also in March Pastor Mark Olson will be the main speaker at the Bible Camp in Campo Mourao.

Pastors Connely Dyrud, Craig Johnson and Loiel Dyrud will also visit Brazil in mid March. Connely will be teaching seminars at the Bible School and Seminary in Campo Mourao. Loiel and Craig will be traveling and collecting information for a book that is being written on the AFLC’s history in Brazil.

The Lutheran Ambassador is on Facebook!

If you want to find out what the AFLC is all about, check out our monthly magazine, The Lutheran Ambassador…now on Facebook!  The January edition is about the Pious Life ~ A Spiritual Life Movement.

“Those that profess themselves to be Christ’s are known not only by what they say but also by what they practice.” ~Ignatius

You will find the various articles posted and when you click on the title of the article you will be able to read the entire article! 

In Pastor Jim Johnson’s article entitled Positively Pious, piety is described as “that movement among Lutherans that emphasizes the personal experience of salvation, Bible study, prayer, revival, missions.”  Check out the entire article for a better understanding of what it means to live out your Christian life to the fullest!

 

You will also find information about the various departments of the AFLC and be blessed by devotional articles.  If you would like to receive the Ambassador magazine through regular mail, go here to subscribe.

“Thought should be given to a more extensive use of the Word of God among us…The more at home the Word of God is among us, the more we shall bring about faith and its fruits.” ~Philip Jacob Spener in Pia Desideria

Jonni Sliver

Jonni is continuing to visit churches, share about the Miriam Infant Home and raise support as she waits for the release of her visa for Brazil.  They have now asked for her airline itinerary which seems to be the last step.  Pray that she will soon have her visa.

MTI Students

 

This year four MTI students will be supporting ministries in Brazil and Alaska.

 

Beginning in February Kathryn Norris, Jeremiah Jones and Bryan Bohl will be traveling to Brazil, taking part in the Cross Cultural Track. At the same time Josiah Rolf will join the AFLC ministry in Alaska to serve in the Aviation Track.

Missions Conference Videos Posted

Missionary Jonathan Abel from Brazil has been speaking at the annual Missions conference at AFLBS the past 3 days.  Sunday night he spoke on “The Mission”.  Monday night’s topic was “Do You Love God?”.  Pastor Abel also spoke at Tuesday morning chapel on the topic of “Tools That Work” using texts in Matthew and Romans.  Tuesday he spoke about “A Life That Impacts the World”.   Check out videos of these sessions here.  Please pray for the last sessions tonight and at chapel tomorrow morning that hearts may be open to God’s calling and seeds planted for future missionaries!

Jonathan and Tamba Abel have been serving AFLC World Missions in Brazil since 1992 and are currently serving a new work in Maringa in the state of Parana.  The family intends to begin a year long furlough in Spring of 2011.  For more information on the Abel family and how you an be praying for them click here.

AFLC Schools Mission Conference 2011

“Pray the Lord of the harvest that He would send forth laborers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:38

Participants at “The Mission~2011” have been blessed by Missionary Jonathan Abel from Brazil, Rev. Del Palmer, and Rev. Charles Lundquist the past two evenings.  It is not too late to come and be blessed and inspired to find the place God has for you to fulfill the Great Commission.

Rev. Jonathan Abel will be speaking again tonight at 7:30 pm, January 25th and Thursday, January 27th as well as at  AFLBS morning chapels those two days. 

Special Presentations will begin at 6:30 pm each of these evenings:   Tuesday - 25th: AFLC Short Term Missions / Ambassador Institute, Mr. Nathan Olson
Thursday - 27th: AFLC Home Missions, Mr. Lavon Bohling

Association Free Lutheran Schools Chapel
3120 E. Medicine Lake Blvd., Plymouth, MN 55441
For more information, please call 763.544.9501 or 877.23.AFLBS or email aflbs@aflc.org
Directions to our campus may be found on our website at www.aflbs.org

Missionary Candidates

Brent Raan and Emily Walker are now missionary candidates. They will be married on June 11, 2011 and Brent will attend AFLTS before they receive their call to the field.

Short Term Missions Assistants

Jim & Cindy Lilly will be making a short term trip to Ecuador in February, their first step as AFLC Missionaries. They have had a heart for missions for many years and planned to do part time ministry when Jim retired. The Lillys’ future plan is to be AFLC missionaries on loan to World Missions Prayer League working in Ecuador.

 

Cassie Nash has been accepted to work with an orphanage in Haiti. Her vision is to develop transitional homes for the young people leaving the orphanage and moving toward adult life. She is hoping to join the ministry in mid-February.

Hans Taner will be assisting Nate Jore in Uganda on a short term basis in the interim between AFLBS and more schooling. Hans’ heart desire is to follow God’s leading every step. Today he is praying for God to raise up a second man who will be able to partner with him in this endeavor.

Andrew Abel is serving in Brazil developing a promotional DVD for the various ministries being done in the country. This may develop into ongoing short term assignments to produce similar DVDs for each of our fields. Andrew will graduate from Northwestern College spring of 2011.

Jacob O’Flanagon is on short term assignment in Brazil. He arrived in December and will be serving on the Bible School campus in Campo Mourao until March. He is using his practical skills and servant heart to support the school with maintenance and ground keeping.

 

 

Nathan Olson, back from Brazil, is continuing his short term service.  He is developing material for the Ambassador Institute and fulfilling some final college requirements. Nathan’s next step will be to enter AFLTS this fall.

 

 

Jon Nelson has returned from short term service in Brazil and is at home in Kalispell MT. Jon is praying over several possibilities for future ministry including full time youth work and AFLTS.

 

 

Justo Pillman has taken a year or two off from mission service as he prepares for and marries Patricia Ballman (the wedding is planned for March, 19, 2011). They are seeking God’s direction; as they are pursuing a call to AFLC Missions but the field they will serve is still uncertain at this time.

Andy and Monica Coyle

The Coyles have accepted a missionary call and to be AFLC Missionaries on loan to Eastern European Missions Network. They will be teaching at the Bible School in Odesa, Ukraine

Ambassador Institute

Pastor Kevin Olson and Glenn Mork participated the first graduation of Uganda’s Ambassador Institute Class in Uganda. Led by Nate Jore, the students have now completed the certificate level and will be passing on what they have learned.

This year the Ambassador Institute will be providing supplemental pastoral training for AFLC pastors in India. Pastors Kevin Olson, Jim Rassmussen, Al Pinno will be among the teachers; bringing pastoral tools and encouragement to church leaders.

Jonathan and Tamba Abel

Jonathan will be the main speaker for the AFLBS World Missions Conference, Jan. 23-25, 27.  He will also share at AFLBS chapel services on Jan. 25th and 27th.

Jonathan and Tamba will also begin a year long furlough in the spring of 2011.

Paul and Becky Abel

Paul and Becky came home for an eight month furlough in 2010. They had a very full schedule, visiting many churches and returned to Brazil on December 27th.

Remember them in your prayers as they have very busy schedules in the days ahead.

Uganda

The AFLC and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Uganda have decided to work separately. The decision was made so that each can pursue their varying goals.

Seminary Missions Class

The Association Free Lutheran Seminary held classes on AFLC missions Jan 10-14.  The classes focused on the history and ministries of AFLC World Missions. The classes were taught by Del Palmer, Connely Dyrud, Kevin Olson, Jonni Sliver and others.

Tomasz & Miriam Chmiel

Tomasz & Miriam recently resigned from Eastern European Missions Network. That means they are no longer missionaries on loan with the AFLC. They are currently working with a new ministry called Josiah Venture and support can be sent to:

Josiah Venture

Acct # 82041

P.O. Box 4317

Wheaton Il, 60189

New Ambassador Institute Inquiry

The latest Ambassador Institute Inquiry is out.  It is formatted to be easily read and inserted into your church bulletin.

Click here to read.

Jacob O’Flanagan

I wanted to send off another update to every body and wish you all a happy new year. Thinking back a little bit it amazes me all the things that God has brought me through just in this last year alone.

I started off the year at Bible School finishing up my classes for MTI.

Then in February I went on my MTI internship to KAKN radio station in Naknek Alaska where I was able to work with Brian Davidson and Jeff Swanson. After I got back from Alaska I started talking with Del Palmer about going to Brazil and getting things started for that. I spent my summer working at Camp Phillips Scout Reservation, a Boy Scout camp about 20 minutes from my house. And in the fall I worked in a warehouse helping store the potato harvest, while finishing preparations to go to Brazil. And now, I have been in Brazil for about two months and God has been faithfully answering the prayers for energy, connections and language.

Thank you all for your prayers,

Happy 2011,

Jacob

Jonni Sliver–January Update

“The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Pr 16:9  Praise the Lord, He knows the beginning from the end and I can trust His end! Therefore if my plan and His direction take divergent paths - I will follow His lead!

“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” Pr. 21:1 If God directs kings and potentates, I can trust Him to lead . . .

Click here to read entire newsletter.