Missions

Rev. Dan McMiller is in the Domican Republic (DR) March 2-9, 2010, to assist in theological education, confirmation classes and preaching for relief to missionary Rev. Ted Krey. The mission team is helping with Haiti relief.

The day was mostly spent visiting with the missionaries regarding the work and future plans. Walter Ries and I drove and walked around the city a little bit in the afternoon. His wife, Ana is studying business administration full time in the Catholic University of Santiago, and so daily she goes to school both in the afternoon and early evening.

After Pastor Ted Krey fell ill to a parasite so also did his wife Rebecca. Ana and Pastor Walter Ries watched 11-month-old Esther Krey on Monday for several hours while Ted took Rebecca to a clinic.

Rev. Dan McMiller is in the Domican Republic (DR) March 2-9, 2010, to assist in theological education, confirmation classes and preaching for relief to missionary Rev. Ted Krey. The mission team is helping with Haiti relief.

Saturday morning we arrived at the mission center in Santiago by 8:30 a.m. Pastors Ted Krey and Walter Ries went to pick some people up. 24 attended. We had nearly 3 hours of lectures by Dr. Lange in the morning and then a two-hour siesta at the office. The members simply sat and enjoyed the time together while some of us went on a walk. Eduardo washed the missionaries’ cars.

I translated half the morning and Pastor Krey translated the other. All three missionaries helped find the right synonyms for a rich use of the English language by Pastor Lange.

Rev. Dan McMiller is in the Domican Republic (DR) March 2-9, 2010, to assist in theological education, confirmation classes and preaching for relief to missionary Rev. Ted Krey. The mission team is helping with Haiti relief.

Thursday was a long day, so Friday was a chance to recharge the battery. Walter and I studied in the morning and in the late morning I went on a 6 mile run.

It has been overcast and cool - mid 70s. Within a quarter mile in this city of a million I took a corner around a high brick wall in a nice neighborhood and just about ran into the rear end of a very large cow which was chomping on someone's garbage.

Rev. Dan McMiller is in the Domican Republic (DR) March 2-9, 2010, to assist in theological education, confirmation classes and preaching for relief to missionary Rev. Ted Krey. The mission team is helping with Haiti relief.

Yesterday morning Walter had a class with a student preparing for the ministry: Ramon Abreu. They studied a translation of Klug's book on church and ministry for two hours. I participated in the instruction, but mainly listened.

Ramon has a degree in computer programming. He and his family (wife and three children) were brought to the Lutheran Church by Willy Gaspar the Dentist who is a Vicar in Santo Domingo and has a church in his home (Las Americas).

Rev. Dan McMiller is in the Domican Republic (DR) March 2-9, 2010, to assist in theological education, confirmation classes and preaching for relief to missionary Rev. Ted Krey. The mission team is helping with Haiti relief.

Last night we had Confirmation class with 15 people outside Edward's home near Palmar Arriba. There were chairs for about 8. Others sat on stumps or the protruding foundation of Edward's humble house and one couple stood the entire hour.

The house is smaller than a one car garage. Edward is about 20. He is a leader. He is not well educated but he has authority in the neighborhood. He was married in the young mission and had his baby baptized there. He likely will not become a pastor, but he loves the church and his support is a great example to a lot of young men.

Rev. Dan McMiller is in the Domican Republic (DR) March 2-9, 2010, to assist in theological education, confirmation classes and preaching for relief to missionary Rev. Ted Krey. The mission team is helping with Haiti relief.

In Palmar Arriba today we had class with 50 baseball players at a ball field.

As we pulled up to the baseball field outside of left center, all the teenagers left their spots in the infield, outfield and the shade of the dugouts and sat down in the hot concrete stands in the sun. By the time Rev. Walter Ries and I walked over there, they were silent and sat perfectly attentive for the 20-minute sermon/devotion on the Lord's Supper.

New Year’s resolutions! Just hearing people talk about theirs makes me think about all of the different things people resolve to change about their lives to make things better. With each New Year comes the desire to identify a part of our life that could use improving. Sometimes we achieve our goals, and other times we fall short. I decided it was time to think about my own resolution.

Since joining the South Wisconsin District as mission advocate about a year ago, I have had the opportunity to have a firsthand look at God’s work in action. Whether reaching the lost or helping those in need, God is truly at work and blessing our various District missions.

Last week we received the following encouraging note from Carolyn Blum, the SW District LWML president: "I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed this last issue (July/August 2007) of the South Wisconsin News. It's absolutely FILLED with articles on missions!..."

The South Wisconsin District supports over 30 different congregational and special ministries. Great change is occurring in Wisconsin in general and in our District in particular.