LATTE continues training in the Dominican Republic

On Wednesday and Thursday of last week I traveled to the Dominican Republic with Pastor Robert Smith, the new chairman of the Administrative Committee for Latin America. We met with Missionary Professor Phil and the men with whom he is working there, training them for ministry. As you will have seen from previous blogs, the budget crunch in the WELS almost lost us Phil's position and we wanted to speak with him and his students to assure them of our continued support and of their professor's continued presence with them to finish their seminary training. The second picture shows student-pastor Alex speaking with Prof. Philip about the progress on the work on their new church property. Look for more pictures of this trip in the coming days.

(Posted by Larry)

By God's grace and power, LATTE is spared from a cut in manpower

The LATTE team has some very good news to report today. During the last two days our administrative committee for Latin America has been meeting to deal with the effect of the budgetary cuts that are effecting our Synod. I had previously blogged that Prof. Philip was being withdrawn from our team and from his work in the Dominican Republic. While that was the official news from headquarters, it apparently was premature. We have just been informed by our committee that our Latin American mission work will continue to focus on theological education (the preparation of national workers) in our mission churches and sister churches in Latin America. Therefore LATTE will be able to continue with our four remaining professors. We are indeed grateful to a loving and all-powerful God.

To be able to make this work, the committee has had to withdraw our last missionary from Brazil. We know how difficult this will be for the Brazilian national church, and pray God to strengthen them to continue to teach and preach His word there. LATTE will be helping them as we are able with occasional visits to teach and encourage.

We are comforted and strenghtened by the fact that although human plans falter and change, our good Lord's plan for our eternal salvation never changes. He is good indeed.

Flu Slowdown

The flu has caused many small changes to life in Mexico in the last week and a half. Many people of nearly all professions are worried and have been wearing surgical masks when they go out of their homes. But while many businesses, all schools, most government offices were closed in the Mexican government's attempt to stop the new flu strain from spreading, seminary classes continued almost normally here in Torreon. Our only concession to the flu scare was to start classes an hour late so the students didn't have to take the city buses during rush hour when they would be crowded. God has been good to us, so far no flu, and not even any confirmed cases here in Torreon yet.