Additional Work in Bolivia

One of LATTE's jobs is to visit Spanish speaking churches that request our help. One such request came from the Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (FIEL), in Bolivia. FIEL has 10 congregations and about 500 members scattered throughout the country. Although founded in 1938 by a Lutheran group, FIEL has also been served by missionaries from various Reformed denominations.

LATTE visited Bolivia last May to talk to FIEL's leaders and assess needs. They asked us to return to help instruct its leaders in Biblical, Lutheran doctrine and practice. LATTE accepted the invitation and the undersigned will make a visit November 5 - 22. He will teach a course on basic doctrine, one on fellowship, and another on law and gospel. FIEL reports that 50 pastors and leaders have signed up for the courses.

Pray that the Lord will bless this work!

(Posted by Lorenzo)

Weekend Family Retreat in Yauco

This past weekend Marlene and I were privileged to attend the Puerto Rican national church's annual retreat. It was a very spiritually uplifting time for both of us. We participated in four very good Bible studies (shown in photo), two given by our LATTE students here. The worship service on Sunday was a delight. I especially like all the hymn-singing we did. Our thanks to the Evangelical Confessional Lutheran Church of Puerto Rico for the invitation. Fellowship is another of the great blessings we enjoy from our loving Lord Jesus.


(Posted by Professor Larry)

excuses with apology

Sorry to be so long between blogs. The internet has been off at the apartment here in Puerto Rico for the last three days. But I guess "having to" go to Starbucks to use the internet isn't all bad. :-)

Tropical Classroom

Latte professors not only teach in many different countries, but also in many different kinds of classrooms. Here Eligio receives instruction on the book of Romans in his back roofed-over patio. The heat normally doesn't get too bad until the third and fourth hours of our studies. But I haven't yet resorted to the hammock.

(Posted by Professor Larry)

LATTE teaching in Colombia

Sometimes we as Christians become dismayed when we see how the beautiful truths of Scripture are twisted and even blatantly denied in many heterodox church denominations. As He always does, however, the Lord can use the worst of situations to bring great blessings. For example, sometimes He uses the ever-more blatant false teachings in a church body as a wake-up call to some concerned Christians in that church body. One of the highlights on both of our last two LATTE visits to Colombia was our contacts with a seminarian from a heterodox church body who had finally become fed up with the false teachings that are openly being proclaimed in his church. He began searching for a church that really teaches what the Bible says. He found WELS on the internet and was put in contact with our congregation leader in Bogotá. On both of our last two LATTE trips to Colombia this young man attended the seminary classes that we gave as an observer and very much liked what he saw. He is now planning to leave his former church body and join our congregation in Bogotá. He has also expressed a desire to continue his seminary training with us. We thank the Lord for turning evil into good.

(posted by Professor Philip)

Sunday faithfulness

Yesterday we had the privilege of hearing God’s word from Pastor Sergio in Guayama, PR. We heard about faithfulness from St. Paul’s second letter to Timothy. He tells us how he wants to see his friend and student “so that I may be filled with joy.” Faithfulness does that. It fills others with joy. There is joy in a laborer for the Lord when he sees faithfulness demonstrated in one of his spiritual children. There is even greater joy when we see the faithfulness demonstrated by our loving Savior in his redemptive work and in his precious promises to us. “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)

Murphy's Law

Murphy’s Laws know no boundaries. I haven’t studied them lately, but one that sounds like it would be in the Manual and universal: If anything can upset your routine, it will. Just when you thought you would have water and electric power to do the laundry, the power goes off. Just when you are ready to press “print” for tomorrow’s Bible study, work sheet or bulletin, no lights! Not so bad if you have battery backup; at least the refrigerator might be working, but not all appliances can be connected to that system. Oh well, stay flexible; the power may return by morning before you leave for services.

(posted by R. Martens)

A special day every week

Sunday today! The Lord’s day. Today’s gospel reading reminded me of the importance of our regularly being in our God’s house to hear his word. It isn’t the special events or shows or even miracles that bring about faith in the heart. “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets (God’s written word), they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:31). It’s also a good reminder of the importance of the work we do as LATTE professors, teaching others to communicate and teach that powerful word of God.

(Posted by Professor Larry)

Freddy Antonio Aquino

Freddy Aquino is a young man studying at our seminary in the Dominican Republic. Raised in the Pentecostal church, he was studying at a Nazarene institute when he met Julio, another of our seminary students, back in 2002. Through Julio, Freddy studied the Bible and was confirmed in the Christian faith in 2003. He immediately began Bible Institute (pre-sem) studies, which he finished in early 2006.

As an example of his love for the Gospel and desire to share its life-saving power with others, Freddy left his job and "comfort zone" of family and friends in San Pedro and moved with his wife Elizabet and infant son Freilin to Santiago (where they didn't know anyone) to attend our seminary. It was a major change in their life, but they have settled in and enjoy the support of their "new" family, fellow Christians in the seminary and local congregation.

We pray for the Lord's blessings on Freddy's growth in the Word, his service to God's people and his family's joy and contentment.

Exercise

“Physical training is of some value,…” One of the interesting and sometimes challenging aspects of travel is to establish or maintain an adequate exercise routine “away from home.” Not every house has an exercise mat or free weights under the bed or an exercise bike on the premises. For a warmup we prefer a minimum 30 minute walk before 7 a.m. allowing enough time to breakfast and shower before the 15-minute drive to the classroom. Sunrise varies not only with the season but also with the latitude, so we are happy to have found a route along tree-lined streets through the neighborhood under street lights with a minimum of hazards like parked cars blocking the sidewalk, holes in the street or menacing dogs. Before 7 a.m. car exhaust fumes are minimal and other walkers, joggers, and street sweepers return a pleasant “buenos días” along with the mocking birds, mourning doves, sparrows and a few other unidentified species. The Lord is good!

(Posted by R. Martens)

Seminarian, family man, policeman

Eliigo is one of the seminary students taught by our LATTE professors. Eligio leads a very busy life; as a father and husband his family responsibilities are many. But his full-time employment is that of a police sergeant in charge of the night shift at his police station. In spite of that already busy life, Eligio is studying seminary classes nearly full-time. He has scheduled his classes for four hours each morning. You can imagine the stress that he has placed himself under. Please pray for Eligio and his efforts to prepare himself to serve the Puerto Rican national church as pastor.


(Posted by Professor Larry)