A Faithful Servant Retires

Missionaries Mark, Lorenzo, Larry, Roger, & Ernie (1977)

Professor Larry and his wife Marlene began serving souls in world mission fields in 1977. Prof. Larry, Marlene, and their three children moved to Colombia where Larry led theological education and evangelism/church planting in the formative years of the mission work until 1983.

The family relocated to El Paso, Texas to train ministry leaders in Mexico from 1983 to 1990, with seminary students studying there as well as traveling into Mexico approximately ten days out of every month.

In 1990, Professor Larry accepted a call to Nigeria help establish a seminary for the national church, teach nine students, and train a national pastor to take over the direction of the seminary. He and Marlene served in Africa for three years.

Preaching in Mexico (2011)

They moved back to Latin America in 1993, when Prof. Larry accepted a call to train seminary students and assist with local ministries in Mexico until 2004. In 1995, he was additionally called to serve as field counselor for Mexico.

Mexico (2009)

Mission Team (2010)

Mission Team with Seminary Students (Christmas - 2010)

Mission Team (2012)


Serving Together (always)

For the past 11 years, Prof. Larry served as coordinator of LATTE, Latin American Traveling Theological Educators, based out of Mexico. He trained students in Bolivia, the Caribbean, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Some of the training took place during onsite teaching trips, while others were taught through online courses through the Internet. Prof. Larry also participated in several exploratory trips to visit contacts and research new mission starts.

Professor Lorenzo shares, "Larry has been zealous to train our national workers to 'rightly divide the Word of Truth' -- 2 Timothy 2:15."

Seminary Students from the Dominican Republic and Haiti (2008)

Pastoral Workshop in Mexico (2011)

Fellowship at a Pastoral Retreat in Mexico (2012)

Teaching in Colombia (2014)

We thank our gracious God for allowing Missionary Larry and Marlene to serve him faithfully in world missions for 37 years and wish them the Lord's richest blessings in retirement.

Gracias - Obrigado - Merci - Thank You

Professor Natán & Julia

It has been a privilege to serve as coordinator of this informative blog and share the mission work taking place in Latin America through the LATTE team and their students. I thank each LATTE member for this opportunity!

My first blog entry was New Start  posted in November - 2010.

We hope to continue this blog with occasional posts directly from each professor.  

You can also follow us on Twitter (@latteontheroad) or through our Facebook Page (Latin American Traveling Educators) for brief updates and activities.

Please keep the LATTE professors, students, and their families in your prayer in 2013 and beyond!

A Growing Mission

This Sunday, the mission Cristo Resucitado -- Resurrected Christ in México; received its first two members with over 50 people in attendance.  These two new confirmands,  Javier and Victor, have been studying the Bible and its teachings with local  Missionary Brad for the past year.

It has been amazing to watch the Holy Spirit work in their hearts.  Both began attending weekly Bible studies, then worship services regularly, and bringing their families to church activities.  Listening to their initial questions about God's Word transform into concrete affirmations of faith has been heart-warming.  Tears flowed down my face as I witnessed Javier and Victor confess their faith and take Holy Communion with our mission team.

This joyous event has also served as an encouragement to others who are taking instruction classes with Missionary Brad. Several expressed their excitement to become members of the congregation and want to continue to learn more about the Bible and its teachings.

It is neat to watch our church family grow and become active. Some invite friends and family to worship services, Bible studies, and fellowship activities. Some take ownership by providing snacks for after the worship service, cleaning and building maintenance, or donating items as needed.  Last week, a man brought a Christmas tree, this week someone else brought a stand for it, and this Sunday, multiple families brought Christmas decorations.

Being part of the congregation is one of the abundant blessings of serving on the LATTE team. The opportunity to share my faith and build relationships with fellow believers is an awesome privilege I will always cherish.

May God continue to bless the mission efforts in México and around the world.

Cristo Resucitado is located in México and began regular worship services in July, 2010.  The Lord has blessed the efforts of this mission in countless ways as mission workers share the good news of the Savior Jesus Christ with the souls in Léon.  Go to www.luteranosmexicanos.net and www.lutheransinmexico.com for more information on this mission.

Thanksgiving Blessings

LATTE gives thanks for the faithful service of its professors who travel far from home, stay in less than ideal circumstances and serve our Lord by training men to serve as leaders of their churches. 

Also for recent trips to the Carribean, Colombia, Bolivia and Brazil where we had the opportunity to carry out our calling with zealous and excited students who are eager to serve their Savior. 

Also for the new plan underway in Colombia to train even more nationals and to prepare one of them to fully participate in this training.

Between Borders

This month, Professor Natán and I departed our home in México to visit the Lutheran Church in Brazil. Our flight itinerary took us from México through Peru and then Bolivia to Brazil. While changing plans in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, the airline notified us of a problem with our Brazilian visas and would not allow us to board the plan. We were stuck between borders.

As it was 3:00 am on a Saturday morning, we had to wait until Monday morning to visit the local Brazilian Consulate. We did take advantage of the wait and visited some Inca ruins outside the city.

We met with an agent at the Brazilian Consulate as planned and filled out the initial paperwork for a new Brazilian Tourist visa.  The next step was to find a local photo studio to get passport-size photos taken and go to a specific bank to pay the fee to process the visa.  We returned to the Consulate with the photos and payment receipt from the bank.  After we answered a few more questions, the agent told us to return the following day.  We spent the afternoon making new travel arrangements with our stateside travel agent through the Internet via Skype and emailed our contacts in Brazil.

The next day, we went to the Consulate, reviewed the final documentation, signed a couple of papers, and left with new visas in hand. Our new Brazilian visas have a later expiration period as well as a longer maximum stay.

Our 3-hour layover in Bolivia turned into a 4-day adventure. We are thankful to God for his protection during this unexpected delay and that there was a Brazilian Consulate in Santa Cruz that processed ours visas so quickly.

Go to here for more details on this journey.

Trip to Apolo Update

(Update regarding previous post - "Man proposes - God disposes")

There was a strike in the city the day we returned.  The strikers started to block all the roads going in and out of the city at 5:30 a.m. just after we arrived.  If we had arrived a half an hour later, we would not have been able to enter La Paz and would have had to find someplace to stay outside the city until the strike was over.  The Lord is good!

Photo provided by www.netglobers.com.

¡Viva México!

September 16th is Independence Day in México!  Last year, Mexico celebrated its 200th anniversary.  Every year, many proud Mexicans celebrate their independence with family and friends with food, decoration, and fun!

Green - Hope, White - Unity, & Red - Blood of National Heroes

A few fun facts on how they celebrate .... 

The preparations

The planning can begin with handing out party invitations 2 weeks in advance. Other preparations include purchasing food and beverages, cooking, and setting up decorations along with tables and chairs.  

The decorations

Cardboard horns, hats, toys, streamers, balloons, flags are hung everywhere displaying green, white, and red. Costumes can range from charros (cowboys), indios (indians), adelitas (female soldiers from the Mexican Revolution) or chinas poblanas (a tradition dress of the Mexican Revolution era).  Accessories may include sombreros de paja (straw hats), paliacates (bandanas) or rebozos (shawls).

The meal

The meal can offer nachos, guacamole, refried beans, traditional sweets-mazapanes, cocadas (coconut sweets), and glorias (caramels with pecans) as appetizers followed by enchiladas, flautas, tostadas, and tacos.

The drinks

Beverages can include aguas frescas with tamarindo, jamaica, horchata or limón (lemon) in addition to some traditional drinks of tequila - margaritas, palomas (tequila and sour), and banderas (tequila, sangrita, & lemon juice). Micheladas are also popular. 

The music

Live music can often be heard from some marimberos (marimbas), drums, or mariachi.  A collection of ranchera, cumbias and corridos are common along with karaoke.

The games

Lotería, a game similar to bingo, is often played by all in addition to the traditional piñata full of candy.  Throughout the night, week, even month, fireworks will fill the sky.

The grito

Every year, the President of the United States of Mexico repeats the traditional cry for independence from the National Palace in the zócalo of Mexico City, around 11 pm on the eve (15th).  After shouting the names of independence heroes and the words, "Viva México" (Long live Mexico), he rings the bell, then waves the Mexican flag, and then sings the national anthem with a live audience of over a half a million people and many viewers watching it live on television or over the Internet. Many attend similar celebrations locally as their mayor or governor participates in the same tradition in the main plaza of many cities and towns throughout México.

The national symbols

Mexico's first flag was created in 1821 and has changed 8 times.  The current flag for Mexico was adopted in 1968 and made official in 1984. The seal has always been the same-the image of an eagle sitting on a nopal (a type of cactus) devouring a snake, which is from an aztec legend.  This signal lead them to establish the city of Tenochtitlan (present-day Mexico City). The national anthem was writtten in 1853 by González Bocanegra and the music by Jaime Nunó. It was officially released in 1854.
 

CELC

Pastor Robert Smith comments on his experience at the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC) held this past June 2011 in Minnesota, USA. Pastor Smith serves as the Liaison for LATTE and as the chairman for the WELS Administrative Committee for Latin America.

Pastor Smith Participating in a Small Group Discussion

At the CELC conference, I had the opportunity to join in worship services with our fellow Christians around the world. On Sunday morning, we had a worship service at the chapel on the campus of Bethany Lutheran College. This was a truly memorable experience. Each Scripture reading and prayer was read in a different language by men from different parts of the world. The hymns were accompanied by choirs and brass instruments. More than 400 voices joined in the singing.

Participants from Around the World
Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America

I believe that this worship service is a foretaste of the worship services we will have in heaven. It reminded me of the Bible passage from Revelation 7:

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

Participants from Latin America

Photos provided by Martin Luther College. 

Advancements Affect Mission Work

BRAZIL

Technology

How times have changed! What a wonderful tool the internet and Skype can be! Pastors in more remote areas are being trained using Skype and missionary families can talk daily with their relatives in the U.S. Yes, how times have changed!

Population

In Dourados, Brazil, some of the results of the 2010 census are being published in the media. These first results really underscore how times are changing in Brazil. For instance, the current population is 190,732,674. Brazil is a big country in area and population! But for the first time, the number of people above the age of 65 is more than the number of children below 5 years of age. Families are limiting themselves to 2 or 3 children, and many opt for just one child. What a contrast to just a few years ago when families of 7 or 8 children were common! What has brought about this change? Strange as it may seem, the changes are due to an increased standard of living for many people, and more education, as well as better health care which is extending life for many people.

Economy

Again, these are drastic changes. Whereas a decade ago 90% of the population earned less than $340 per capita per month, that number has now been reduced to 60%, thanks to aggressive government programs to reduce poverty and a stable economic climate. Brazil has an emerging middle class which understands that it is possible to have a decent life, free of economic misery, but it means limiting family size. These government programs also are only available to people whose children remain in school and where any adult who is still illiterate must also attend literacy classes at night. Meanwhile the government encourages employers to insist on an education in its employees. These days, you can't even be a sacker at a supermarket unless you have finished 8th grade.

The level of abject misery in the country of Brazil has dropped to only 16 million people. Abject misery is defined as a family who earns less than $44 per capita per month. And the present administration is trying hard to lower this type of economic misery in the country even more.

Education

Besides this, the government is opening more and more free courses for people to train for a profession. For instance, one of our congregation members, as a high school graduate, entered a one year free course for learning to sew, to make patterns and all about style and the marketing of clothing. Today, newly married, she has a good job in the clothing manufacturing industry, and the chance to attend more free courses to upgrade her skills.

What do all these advances mean for mission work?

Sad to say, the picture is not so rosy there. For one thing, Satan has used this new-found economic up-turn to tempt people to over-reach themselves. Credit cards appeared on the scene a number of years ago, and their abuse is also very common. As one of our church council members said, "People get themselves in over their heads with easy credit purchasing and then have to pay their bills and have no money for offerings." Actually, offerings are better than they used to be, mostly because all our members are working. But they are not nearly what they could be. Sound familiar? Satan knows how to use even the improvements in life to test us! And it is so easy for people to think that money will make them happy, and see less of a need for God in their lives.

Another thing is that many of the established churches are offering much more glitzy services - mega-churches are booming, and the Gospel bands and singers are making good money in all these churches. So people begin to desire to see this same level of "entertainment" in all churches. "Your church doesn't have a band?" is a not uncommon question. What need is there for the pure Gospel, if you can have not only a rousing, rhythm in church service, but picnics, special speakers, health care education, retreats, etc... Mission work is more difficult today than it was 20 years ago.

But, the Lord is still calling His own, and we are still His tools to spread the Word of salvation. And that Word will bear fruit, as the Holy Spirit works in hearts. There are still baptisms regularly, there are people in instruction to be confirmed, there are hearts willing to give their hard-earned money to the Lord, and God's people are still carrying His message to others around them. And we are all working together in this endeavor.

An adapted mission update from Retired Missionary Charlie and Beth continue to serve Igreja Luterana Brasileira – The Brazilian Lutheran Church as active volunteers, residing in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul.

Visas Approved

This month, we were able to pick up our one year resident visas after being in Bolivia for about two months. This visa will be valid for one year. After we had received the visa the agent informed us that we now need to apply for our carnet - a national ID card. This card must be obtained within 25 days. We submitted the papers the next day and should have the carnet by the end of this week.

We are very thankful for all the help we had from Dra. Zulema, the lawyer. With her guidance and Francisco's help, we were able to fulfill all the government's requirements to receive the visa. The Lord has been very gracious in providing kind and willing helpers.

New Trimester at Mexico Seminary

The seminary in México just began a new trimester.  LATTE Professor Natán continues to teach four days a week.  His schedule varies between 8:45 in the morning and 2:00 in the afternoon. He is currently teaching Homiletics, Pastoral Theology, New Testament Isagogics, and Reformation History. Most of these classes require additional preparation time for it is the first time he has taught some of these courses.

In additional to the onsite classes here in México, Prof. Natán also teaches a student in Puerto Rico through Skype two times a week. They try to maintain a regular schedule, but due to the nature of the student’s occupation, internet availability, and weather effecting utilities, often times classes are rescheduled.

As this is the second week of the new schedule, everyone is still in adjustment mode. What a privilege be a part of training reliable men to teach others the true Word of God. All praise and thanks to God!

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. – 2 Timothy 2:2

Note:  LATTE Professor Larry also teaches onsite at the seminary in México in additional to other online courses.

Papers Submitted

Yesterday we were able to submit the completed paperwork for our residence visas at Immigration here in La Paz, Bolivia. 

When we announced at our evening Bible class that we had gotten all the needed documents and that we had succeeded in submitting them at Immigration, the pastor of the congregation was shocked. He told us that the week before both he and the president of the national church had gone to the State department to see if the document that FIEL had to supply was ready. The document needed the signature of a particular government representative. A secretary there showed them a huge stack of papers all needing to be reviewed and signed by that same representative. Some of the documents in the stack had already been waiting for over two months to get the needed signature. Our document was on the bottom of the stack. She indicated that the government representative who was in charge of signing the documents did not want to do so because most of them were from church groups. What’s more, the man had been out of town for several days and she did not know when he would be back. She said that even after he got back we would probably have to wait two to three months to get our document signed. 

Missionary Philip & Francisco

That is why the pastor of the congregation was so surprised when we told him that we had gotten all the documents and had been able to submit them to Immigration that very afternoon. Today we found out how it happened. Francisco, the member of the congregation who has been helping us with our documents, told us that since the former government representative at the State department was not fulfilling his obligations very well, they had appointed a different man to take care of the backlog of paperwork. This new representative had gone through the entire stack of papers and signed all the ones needing signing all in one day! Sometimes the powerful hand of God works in very visible and even spectacular ways for the benefit of His children who are also His servants! We have now been told that our visas should be ready in about a week and a half. 

Thank you Lord, for your undeserved kindness and goodness! 

¡Muchas Gracias!

For the past four years, LATTE member Lorenzo has been making regular trips to La Paz, Bolivia.  He has been teaching doctrine courses to people who are interested in learning about Confessional Lutheranism.

Recently, LATTE member Philip was asked to move to La Paz, to live there and thus be able to work full time at the continued teaching of these leaders with the desire that they will soon be in full fellowship with the WELS.

The students who had attended Lorenzo’s classes for the past four years, gave him a warm farewell, thanking him for his dedication in the preparation and presentation of these classes and his patience in working them as they struggled between what they had learned in the past and the presentation of these truths as they are found in the Bible.

¡Muchas gracias professor!

Many thanks to Lorenzo for all his hard work here in La Paz.

To God be all the glory who gives His gifts and prepares servants to work in His kingdom.

Arrived Safely in Bolivia

Kathy and I have now arrived safely in La Paz, Bolivia.  Guillermo, the president of the church put us up in a small apartment that he owns until we can get a place of our own.  The apartment does not have internet service, however.  So I am writing this from the hotel where Missionary Lorenzo is staying. Guillermo promised that he would get us set up with internet service soon.  The apartment also does not have a phone.  We purchased a cheap cell phone, but still have to get it registered before we can use it.  

Our first day of activities include:

• Installing Wireless USB internet connection -- it is slow, but workable  

• Registering our cell phone

• Finding out that our residence visa paperwork will take at least one month to process

• Receiving a personal guia (guide) from Guillermo to accompany us on all our errands to receive our visa

• Meeting the lawyer who will be helping us get our visa

• Making copies of passports, getting photos taken, etc... for visa paperwork

• Meeting with the lawyer again to get started on obtaining the two required good conduct certificates for our visa

Missionary Philip and Kathy recently moved from Santiago, Dominican Republic. Learn more about our new mission in Bolivia at www.welsinbolivia.blogspot.com.

Remain Calm

"Place the oxygen mask over your nose and mouth. Breathe normally. Remain calm."

Anyone who has ever flown hears these words over and over again before the plane leaves the ground. But they are not the words you want to hear when the plane has reached cruising altitude.

On a recent flight, our plane had reached 25,000 feet and we were expecting the flight to go well when the pilot announced that the plane was losing pressure. The pilot started a steep decline and the oxygen masks fell out of the ceiling. As everyone worked at putting on the masks, the plane kept going down until we leveled out at 10,000 feet. After about 15 minutes we were allowed to take off the oxygen masks.


At that time, the man sitting next to me was visibly shaking. The first words he said were, "What if we had all died?" During the remaining portion of the flight I was able to tell him about the Savior. Jesus lived the perfect life we have not been able to live. He gives us that perfection which we have not earned and do not deserve. What happens to all the sins that we have already committed? Jesus paid for all of them with his innocent death on the cross. His perfect life and innocent death are all we need to enter heaven. And He gives them to us freely.

A frightening situation became the open door to talk to someone about the peace God gives us through faith in his Son Jesus. Now we do not need to fear death because we know what comes after this life ends. We can be calm, Jesus is there.

Missionary Philip and Kathy currently reside in the Dominican Republic.

Giving Thanks

As members of the LATTE team, we are thankful for the gifts of:

T echnology–communicating to students in countries where a professor isn’t on-site

H ealth- for both professors and students

A bility–of students to study and work in local congregations

N etwork–of fellow pastors and shared resources

K nowledge -of the truth found in Scripture alone

S avior- whose life, death, and resurrection gives us life eternal with his unconditional love

Sharing the joy!

When I was recently in the Dominican Republic I get to meet Tiny (Chiquito - below, on the right). Chiquito is the leader of a small group of Christians in Licey, just outside of Santiago. He was a member of Pastor Alex in Moca (in red shirt) who had taught him Bible Institute courses and trained him to serve the Lord's church. Alex's joy and enthusiasm is evident to all. And Chiquito has been infected with that same attitude. They are both evidence that Jesus' promises to be with us with his power and grace are being fulfilled. LATTE's goal of preparing pastors and leaders for the national churches we serve so that they can function independently is being met with people like Alex and Chiquito. Soli Deo gloria!

(Posted by Professor Larry)

Blessings experienced

In the lower photo are Pastor Freddy (right) of Santiago in the Dominican Republic and Juan. Juan is the leader of a small group of Christians (whose chapel is in the upper image) who were looking for someone to help them understand the Bible and to grow in their knowledge of God's Word and promises for them. Juan contacted Pastor Freddy and he agreed to study with Juan and his group. Juan and his group are nearly ready to join our Santiago congregation. Pastor Freddy is an example of what LATTE is trying to accomplish with our work of training nationals to be pastors and leaders of their churches. He has been trained by us so that he is now anxious and able to go out and teach and train others. God be praised.

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.