Living Greek

Back in February, nine fellow WELS missionaries and I participated in a Greek instructors workshop conducted by Dr. Randall Buth and his daughter Sharon of the Biblical Language Center. They showed us the potential benefits of teaching Biblical Greek as a living language (not just a "book language") through the TPR and TPRS techniques.

TPR stands for "Total Physical Response" where students respond to commands that require physical movement. For example, the instructor says, "κάθισον," and you sit down. The instructor says, "τι ποιεις?" (What are you doing?) and you respond "κάθημαι" (I'm sitting). You learn words by doing them rather than simply learning a vocabulary list.

TPRS stands for "Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling" where students read and tell stories--using props (a.k.a. toys) to help the hearers visualize the story--and then ask each other questions about the story. "τι εποιησεν η γυνη?" (What did the woman do?) "η γυνη εφαγεν την σταφυλην" (The woman ate the grapes).

Both of these techniques make learning fun and natural--the same way we learned our first language from our parents when we were kids! And it was all done in Greek without the need of translating into English. After just a few days, I found myself actually thinking in Greek. Now my goal is to pursue this approach further and incorporate it into my seminary classes so that Greek comes alive for our future pastors in Latin America.

Teaching Together

One of the joys of being on-site at a mission is to serve with the local ministry as needed.  Last January, the mission congregation in México asked me (Julia) to teach Sunday School to the 7-13 year-old children.  Since that time, our attendance has grown from one to six students.

This semester, there is a change in the classroom. Seminarian Dan and I are serving as a team to teach Sunday School class. Dan is currently studying to be a pastor at the IELC Mexican seminary.

 

The first couple months, I taught the majority of the class while Dan observed and helped as needed with projects and Spanish. Once in a while I stumble on a word that I just can't pronounce correctly or give a good explanation of something.  Dan swoops in and tells the children exactly what I am trying to say.

This month, we've reached the next teaching phase, where we divide the classroom activities into parts. I begin the class by introducing the theme for the day and teaching the Bible story interactively with the children using finger puppets. Then Dan reviews the Bible story with worksheets, projects, and memory work, taking attendance, and closing with prayer.  He's watched the way I do these things and now he is doing most of the things, but in his own way.  It is wonderful to see him teach the key points of the Bible stories and then apply it to our lives, especially the students' lives.

Next week, we will switch activities. Dan will begin the class by introducing the theme and teaching the Bible story with the finger puppets and I will lead the other activities. The following month, Dan will teach the entire class period, and I will be his helper.

Seminarian Luis is currently teaching the children ages 3-6 with Missionary Mike. Dan and Luis will switch classrooms next semester to gain experience working with a different age group.  They are both doing an excellent job and the children love them!

Colombia Teaching Trip

Since September, 2009, I have been serving many of our LATTE students with doctrine courses that I teach using the Internet. Two of the students from Colombia, Henry and Tonny, have finished the six online doctrine courses. I have 11 other students right now who are studying doctrine this way and are at various stages of completion: 5 from Colombia, 3 from Bolivia, 1 from Argentina, and 2 from the USA.

I still do some traveling to teach our LATTE students face to face. Right now I am in Medellín, Colombia, for one month, teaching St. Paul´s Letter to the Ephesians to Henry, Tonny, Raul (computer screen), and Jairo. We study at the church in Medellín, but Raul, who lives in Quibdo, Colombia, connects to Skype to study with us (see photo).

 

  Tonny, Henry, & Raul (computer screen)

 

Jairo

We hold the class every afternoon, after Tonny gets done with work in a jeans factory, Monday through Friday, from 3 - 6 PM. We are studying the six chapters in the original Greek, discussing it, and then applying it to our and our members´ lives. I also meet with Henry in the mornings from 9 - 12 AM to teach Christian Education, a class that deals with the way people learn and all the classes a pastor teaches.

My wife, Kay, accompanied me on this trip, to fellowship with the ladies and families of the congregation, La Santísima Trinidad, to encourage them in their work. Of course Kay also makes sure I get home cooked meals and clean laundry.

Keep this work and our students in your prayers.

Behind the Scenes

In the realm of WELS Latin American missions, LATTE exists as a separate "field" from the individual mission fields of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, etc.  We play a supportive role to the individual fields and national churches by assisting in the theological education of their church leaders.  So communication and coordination of plans is essential to our service.

A few weeks ago, I had the joy of participating in a three-day planning session for the ministry in Mexico. When discussing the local ministry, fellow LATTE Professor Larry and I could serve as consultants and sounding boards for various projects.  When discussing the seminary, we helped brainstorm ideas for recruiting future students, starting the new school year, and taking another step forward in the national church's development--offering workshops to prepare qualified national pastors to become seminary professors for the Mexican seminary.

As a LATTE missionary, I am not called to serve a specific congregation as their pastor. And I admit I miss teaching, preaching and administering the sacraments regularly to a particular flock.  But I truly enjoy being a part of the "behind the scenes" work of training and supporting the men the Lord provides to shepherd his people.  I pray our Savior will bless our future plans to turn them into present reality, as he knows best.

Teaching Sunday School

One of the many joys of being a missionary's wife is to help out with local ministry on the mission field.  In the past several months, when the regular Sunday school leader was out of town, I have served as back-up. What an important and fun role in sharing precious Bible stories with children!  It is a great way to review the stories for my own spiritual growth, but also develop creative ways to teach the stories along with simple project ideas for future leaders to continue. Often, missionaries struggle to find the balance of doing enough, but not too much. Modeling, assisting, and introducing ministry ideas, yet not establishing something that the national church leaders and members will not be able to maintain.

This Sunday, one of the Sunday school students was so excited to recite a Bible passage to me that she had memorized throughout the week.  A priceless moment I will continue to treasure!

May God bless your service, as you find opportunities to share God's Word with others!

Trip to Santa Cruz

When the national church here in Bolivia asked us to come to live in Bolivia and work with them, they had a number of purposes in mind for us.  One was to help them become a truly confessional church body.  Another thing they want me to do is visit some of the outlying areas where there are congregations that are part of the national church.  

During these visits our intention is to see how these congregations are doing doctrinally and also see if there might be some potential students who could be trained for ministry.

Recently we made our first trip to one of these congregations that is located in the city of Santa Cruz.  We found that the congregation has a fairly large property, but the congregation itself is quite small.  

It is made up of women and children and is led by a woman named Margarita.  Margarita welcomed us warmly and was very appreciative of the doctrine we had come to share with her.

She told us that she wishes the national church could send a pastor who could work full time at evangelism and teaching the Word to those whom the Holy Spirit gathers.  That is something the national church will be considering in the near future.