Update from the Caribbean

 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The one congregation of our fellowship and its pastor continue to reach out to the people of Santiago, Dominican Republic. 

  

HAITI

The humanitarian and gospel outreach work continues amongst the orphanages of Leogane and with a small congregation in Cap Haitian served by a Haitian pastor trained by LATTE in the Dominican Republic.

News from the Caribbean

Although the work is slow, the Lord continues to provide believers and to bless the work being done in various countries of the Spanish-speaking Caribbean through the efforts of national pastors and visiting teachers.

In the Dominican Republic (DR), a key component to the strategy is to involve national Lutherans in the formation and development of a national church body. A congregation in Santiago, DR is leading the efforts in that direction.

 Children of the Congregation

In many ways, the country of Haiti is worse off now than it was two years ago.  Over 350,000 more Haitians live in Port au Prince than before the earthquake.  Vodou permeates the entire culture.  Our missionary works with a Haitian national pastor who graduated from the LATTE program to do outreach to a small congregation in Cap Haitian and with almost 20 orphanages in Leogane not far from Port Au Prince.  A third pastor/trainer position is being considered for work in this country.

Update from the Caribbean

The Lord continues to provide believers and to bless the work being done in the Caribbean. A teaching trip was completed this October to one of the Spanish speaking countries with the objective to teach the Psalms and to do sermon text studies.

Dominican Republic

The Dominican mission field has experienced many great blessings in the first half of this year. The members and workers there are passionate about the gospel and have a great mindset for evangelism. The pastor in Santiago has been considered capable by two LATTE pastors of teaching seminary-level courses to his fellow Dominicans. The Dominican field receives no subsidy at the present.

Haiti

The Haitian outreach has also experienced tremendous blessings this year. The connections with Haitian orphanages have resulted in 62 orphans receiving saving faith through the washing of Holy Baptism. It is the hope that the current partnerships and other orphanage leaders can continue and even expand (with the hope of also reaching out to an additional area) so that more souls may be reached and may hear the gospel in a country where voodoo and other false practices are the norm.

LATTE's work focuses on Spanish-speaking countries plus Haiti. WELS also serves English-speaking countries of the Caribbean -- Antigua, Grenada, and St Lucia.

Committed to Serve

Seminarian Carlos serves a congregation in the Caribbean as a Student-Pastor. Currently, he receives his ministerial training by visiting LATTE Professors while continuing to serve his congregation of 41 members, of which four are children, 31 women, and 10 men. 

Student-Pastor Carlos & LATTE Professor Natán

Tell us about your congregation. 

I have a beautiful congregation named Gethsemane. Our worship services are at 10 am, and Bible studies are carried out three times a week. We also have a Bible institute with five students. The services are offered in the Pastor's house. We have a Board of Directors, with a President, Co-pastor, Secretary and Treasurer. Every December 25th we hold a special service with various activities. 

What are your goals or plans for the future? 

My plans and goals en the future are to establish a new congregation in a larger city, since I plan to reside there in the future, and thereby have a central house of the Lutheran Church in order to then establish new missions. All of this with the help of the Lord. 

How do you hope to serve? 

My plans for future service are to work full-time as a Pastor and relocate to the larger city, which is where right now there is a need to work with more effort. 

My favorite Bible passage: 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
-- John 3:16

Moros de Habichuela Negra - Black Beans & Rice

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Ingredients

• 3 cups rice
• 2 1/2 cups of black beans -- soaked overnight & boiled until really soft or canned 
• 3 cups hot water
• 2 garlic cloves -- minced
• 1 Tbsp cilantro
• 1/2 cup celery
• 3 Tbsp oregano
• 1 chicken bouillon cube
• 1/2 large onion
• Green peppers -- optional 
  
• 3 Tbsp Adobe (multi purpose Caribbean seasoning)
• Black pepper -- to taste
• Salt -- a few pinches to taste
• Canola oil -- to coat bottom of pan
• Olive oil -- to drizzle over rice once ready

Directions

1. Add canola oil to bottom of a heavy pan & heat oil on medium high heat
2. Add garlic, onions, chicken bouillon cube, salt, pepper, cilantro, celery & green peppers & saute until garlic & onion are tender (after oil is heated)
3. Add black beans (soft) and saute all together for about 5-6 minutes until the mixture begins to bubble (after garlic & onion are tender)
4. Taste the black bean mixture to adjust seasoning  -- add more salt or adobo if needed
5. Add rice & combine with the bean mixture (after seasoning is adjusted)
6. Stir together until rice & beans are well incorporated
7. Add hot water to rice & beans and stir (water should be about 1 inch above the rice mixture)
8. Bring to a simmer until the water meets the level of rice
9. Stir whole mixture once & then cover the pot
10. Lower heat to low and DO NOT OPEN THE POT OR STIR for 20 minutes
11. Uncover & drizzle some olive oil over rice mixture

 Recipe provided by congregation member in the Dominican Republic.

Motivated to Serve

Seminarian Eric serves two congregations and a remote group in the Caribbean as a Student-Pastor. Currently, he receives his ministerial training by visiting LATTE Professors while continuing to serve his congregation members. 

Why did you start training for the ministry?

The motive for me to begin training for the ministry is the desire to win souls for Jesus Christ.

Student-Pastor Eric

How are you currently serving?

In these moments, I attend to two congregations directly and to one group of brothers that are in another city be means of letters ("snail mail") and e-mail.

How are you using your seminary training now?

The classes have been key in the effectiveness of my ministry since they have given me the possibility of knowing how to distinguish between the law and the gospel in the Word of God, bringing sound doctrine to my brothers in the faith; also the ability to carry out a more effective evangelism program.

What are your goals or plans for the future?

The plans or goals for the future is to continue to win souls for the kingdom of God, as well as to be able to raise up congregations in other cities of my country for the glory of the Lord, for which it is of vital importance the Bible knowledge which our professor imparts with such excellence.

My favorite Bible passage is: 

"For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” - Romans 1:17.

Dedicated to Serve

Seminarian Carlos serves a congregation in the Caribbean as a Student-Pastor. Currently, he receives his ministerial training by visiting LATTE Professors while continuing to serve his congregation members as their called shepherd. 

How did I come into contact with the Lutheran Church?

"Towards the end of 2005, I met Pastor Frank who taught me to know the pure doctrine of the Bible, which I still take and share with many people. Motivated by the instructions I received, in 2008 I received the call to be a Student-Pastor. I continue to labor in this ministry with love and determination because there is no greater satisfaction than to serve the Lord every day. Among the plans we have for the future, the most important is to prepare ourselves more every day in the Word of God, preach it to every creature and thereby win souls for the Lord." 

LATTE Professor Natán & Student-Pastor Carlos

My favorite Bible passage is:

 “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." - Luke 10:2.

 

Work in Mexico & Theological Education

Mexico

God continues to bless and refine His church as they deal with challenges related to the ‘drug wars’ affecting significant portions of the country. During the past few months, the national church has begun outreach in a new region of the country (Costa Maya) and increased outreach in their home base of Torreón as well as in their new outreach effort in a new city. In the past 12 months mission work being done by nationals has spread from five regions to eight different regions in the country. LATTE continues to teach onsite  in México and offers online courses for a student in Puebla.

Seminary Training Throughout Latin America

The LATTE professors are continuing to carry out teaching according to the scheduled plan drawn up in September of 2010. Teaching trips have been made to Bolivia, the Caribbean, and Colombia. National churches were encouraged in their evangelism efforts and were provided with the theological education that they had requested. A plan for finalizing the seminary training of a student in the Dominican Republic and in Puerto Rico is still being formulated.

Work in the Caribbean

Dominican Republic

The Lord continues to bless the work being done presently among the members of the congregation in Moca, near Santiago. The Dominican believers and their LATTE Trained Pastors seem very energetic and passionate for the gospel and for sharing it with others. Although numbers are small in comparison to other mission fields, great outreach work is being done in this country. 

Haiti

Despite the many problems that face the country of Haiti presently, the Lord continues to work through pastors, like LATTE Graduate Pastor Rona, who have a strong desire to share the Word in its truth. The possibility of an orphanage could be a way to share the gospel with young souls.  Humanitarian aid efforts by WELS Christian Aid and Relief Committee  have created bridges to an orphanage association in Haiti.  Seven of nine orphanages visited invited our expatriate missionary and national pastor to work with them in providing a religious education to the orphanage directors, staffs, and children.  There are 12 more orphanages in the association yet to be visited.

Puerto Rico

The Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church of Puerto Rico, a World Mission field for over 40 years will formally ask at the convention to be recognized by WELS as an independent sister church.  Partnership with this independent Lutheran church will be maintained through regular contact with the Commission on Inter-Church Relations (CICR).  A former missionary to Puerto Rico, is the CICR’s current contact man for this ongoing partnership. LATTE continues training Seminary Student Eligio through online education. 

The ministerial training work continues to be done among the leaders and members in the various congregations throughout the Caribbean by LATTE.  As in past years, there are some government and cultural obstacles toward the work of the church. Despite these challenges, the Lord continues to provide believers and to bless the work being done in some countries.

Patacones/Tostones

Patacones (Colombian) or Tostones (Caribbean)

Ingredients:


• Plantain (ripe or green)
- 3 
• Oil
- 2 cups
• Salt - to taste

Directions: 

1. Peel plantains
2. Cut into 1” chunks
3. Fry them in hot oil (like you would for French fries) until golden
4. Remove from oil, drain on a paper towel
5. Smash the pieces flat to about 1/3 “ thick with something flat and heavy
• Colombia - we used a rock 
• The Caribbean - there is a special wood press 
• A heavy pan also works
6. Fry again in oil until golden brow
7. Drain and salt to taste

Makes 6 servings
Notes:
 

My children loved to have these as a snack.  Some prefer them with ripe plantain as they have a sweet taste, others like it prepared with green fruit.  

A New Start

It has been a little over a year since the last blog entry. Many changes have taken place in Latin America during that time.

Reduced budgets, increased online training, new mission fields, additional seminary students, seminary graduates, new congregations, diseases, relocation of seminary professors, increased security precautions, earthquakes, hurricanes, new members of the Latin America Administrative Committee-all of these have had an impact on the seminary training in Latin America.

But one thing has, does, and will always remain the same-God's Word and his promise. What a comfort we have and a privilege to share.

Join us as we go, tell, and train souls in Latin America to share God's Word following Jesus' Great Commission.

“ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:19-20

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.

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)

Not just seminary classes

LATTE professors don't only teach seminary classes and counsel students full time. Occasionally we get to preach a sermon and help out with the Sunday morning Bible class as well. Prof. Larry preaches on a Sunday morning in Humacao, Puerto Rico, where he is spending three months teaching seminary classes.


(Posted by Professor Larry)