The Moment QUARTERLY ECHO

Transcription

1 Lutheran Women in Mission QUARTERLY ECHO Lutheran Women s Missionary League Nebraska South District Volume 39, No. 4 Winter 2013 Pub. No. (USPS ) Your Own Personal GPS How many of you have a GPS (Global Positioning System)? A GPS is a small unit (many have it on an app on their smart phone!) that can be programmed to direct you from where you are to where you want to go. We program in the address that we would like to go to and it acquires satellite help to plan the route. The most efficient map is shared, telling the route, turns, roads, etc to get where you plan to go. While you are following these directions, sometimes it is necessary to stop at a gas station or a rest stop, and you ultimately get off of your GPS planned road. When this happens, the friendly voice from the GPS will say Recalculating because you have gone off of the route that it says is the way for you to follow. The GPS then uses the satellites to adjust your route to get you to your intended address. We rely on it for help, but it is not perfect! Once in a while when you have your GPS operating, it will direct you to a place where there is a detour, a bridge out, or something else that wasn t planned on. Now let s say that GPS stands for the words God s Personal Spirit, and the route is your life. There are some parallels and some differences compared to the Global Positioning System. His plan takes us where we are to go, probably has several surprises (and occasionally a few rough spots), but the plan is always His plan. When there appears to be Recalculating from how we thought things would go, we know that He is right there with us, on every step, every mile, every wonderful place and also where it seems there is a bridge out or a detour. God s Personal Spirit always knows exactly where you are and knows the route that is just for you. Your route is distinctly your own, but your GPS is working! Even if we have a few direction changes, we know that nothing could every separate us from the love of God. To follow His route, please continually pray and read His word. Trust His guidance for your life. When a curve or a dead end comes up, remember that God s Personal Spirit is there to guide you through it. You are never alone. Make it your mission to tell others about your personal GPS. I pray that the Holy Spirit will lead others to Him through you, too. Be ready for where He takes you! He knows where you are, what is ahead and also where you are going. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11a It is with joy and humility that I serve as your District President. Linda Fees LWML NE South District President kfees@kearney.net *I was blessed to represent the LWML NE South District at the Lutheran Hour Ministries ROC (Regional Outreach Conference) in Omaha not long ago and I heard Rev. Dr. Robert Newton tell us about many things regarding Christianity and evangelism. This article comes from his interpretation of GPS and the concept is used with permission...linda Fees The Moment It happened at convention in Pittsburgh, PA. I had The Moment. I suppose I could say that there were several of them, but this is the one that was perhaps the most poignant for me. Iantha Scheiwe, Executive Director of Concordia Welfare and Education Foundation in Hong Kong spoke at a luncheon meeting and told of the international mission work she and her husband, Rev. Joel Scheiwe were doing. The pangs hit me again. You see, I used to travel. A lot. Both nationally and internationally. I love the excitement of going to new places, experiencing new cultures, meeting new people. I love those Moments. Of course, I always loved coming back home to what was most familiar to me as well: Nebraska. But as Iantha spoke of exotic locales and people, occasional danger mixed with the sharing of the Gospel, I found myself drifting off in the Moments of my past. Moments of excitement and strangeness of encountering new cultures during my travels that made me long once again for the opportunity to do more. Heck, just being in Pittsburgh, PA - a place I d never been before the convention - already had set the stage for my frame of mind. This got me thinking about all the reasons I wanted to change careers. To be a Pastor. Prior to going to seminary, I had visions of exotic locales, whispering the Gospel in house churches in hushed tones under the radar of oppressive governments, learning new languages and the like. Iantha s talk was reminding me of many of the reasons I wanted to do missions. In fact, it was on a mission trip to Port Au Prince, Haiti as a senior in High School when I first got the bug (both literally and figuratively speaking) to do International Missions. In 1987, I went with a group of youth and our vicar from Christ Lutheran in Lincoln, NE with the Haiti Lutheran Mission Society to teach VBS, paint the church and school, and to pour concrete in the floors at a mission school at Caradeux. I suppose it was on this trip that I had my first real Moment. But I denied it for years. Several years (and lots of business travel) later, I up and quit my job to go to seminary in St. Louis. Again, a strange new culture and place to understand, with new languages (Greek and Hebrew) to learn. It was exciting and new. I was assigned an accountability partner in my first year, Adefris Mekasha, an Ethiopian Journalist who came to St. Louis to learn to be a pastor like me. The visions of International Mission continued for me. Ultimately, though, I was called to be a pastor at St. Paul s Lutheran Church in Central City, NE. Now, I love Central City. I love continued on page 2

2 Page 2 continued from page 1 Nebraska. But somehow this didn t seem to be what I was thinking when I first got in to this. Nebraska was home. Nebraska was familiar - not exciting. Not new. It was where I grew up. Central City was our home away from home on the weekends. These were many of the same faces I d seen in worship before when we visited the church that I was now serving as pastor. This is where we return to Pittsburgh: Iantha was talking about her grandfather, a pastor who had always wanted to do international missions. But he couldn t. He wasn t called as an international missionary. Instead, he was called as a parish pastor. As she told the story, my heart and mind raced. This is ME, I thought to myself. I want to do missions! I am JUST LIKE her grandfather. With my wife sitting right beside me, I found myself having to choke back a little of the emotions that were welling in me. As I recall, Iantha went on to tell of how her Grandfather never did get to do international missions. He never traveled abroad, or even domestically for that matter. He just served faithfully where he was called. She told of his retirement dinner where several former members came to honor him. Members who, because of his zeal for missions became zealous themselves. Members who went on to become international missionaries returned to honor her grandfather for his influence in their mission work. She even credited her grandfather for her own interest in her life as an international missionary. He spent his whole career wishing he had done something different and all the while he missed out on the fact that God had him doing it all along. That s when The Moment hit me. My role as a pastor, my role as LWML junior counselor, my role as vacancy pastor in Aurora, my role as Grand Island circuit counselor, my role as husband of Amy, father of Cole, Anna, and Tate THIS IS MY MISSION FIELD. THIS IS WHERE GOD SEES FIT TO USE MY GIFTS. THIS IS MY MOMENT. Forgive me, Lord, for missing it. It isn t up to me to fix, change, or alter where God has placed me. Instead, it is to use the Moments He has given me in sacrifice to Him, all for the sake of the sacrifice He made for me in Christ. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them. (Romans ESV) Thank you ladies for allowing me to represent NE South District at the National Convention. Thank you Iantha for my Moment. Thank you God for the Good News of Jesus Christ who has won me for You through His sacrifice. Pastor Kevin McReynolds Junior Pastoral Counselor LWML NE South District District Convention Logo Design Needed Media and Marketing Chairman, Sharon Goertzen, is asking for logo designs for the upcoming Nebraska-South District Convention, September 12-13, The theme for the convention is Springs of Living Water based on Revelations 7:17a For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water. Please submit a color design to Goertzen by January 15, You may send your design by or mail to the address below. Any questions may be directed to her as well. The Board of Directors will choose the convention logo at their February 8, 2014 meeting. The committee looks forward to receiving numerous designs. Sharon Goertzen, Media & Mktg Chm 347 D Street Hampton, NE goertzen@hamilton.net District Mission Grant Paid to Lutheran Blind Mission A $4000 mission grant to Lutheran Blind Mission (LBM) has been paid. This grant assists in purchasing needed supplies of paper, spines and envelopes to complete production of large-print materials for visually-impaired individuals so that they too can see Jesus large-print editions of the Lutheran Witness and the Lutheran Digest are produced at the work center at the LCMS Nebraska District Office in Seward, Nebraska. As of July 1 of last year, Lutheran Blind Mission (LBM) unified with Lutheran Braille Workers (LBW) of Yucaipa CA. This was done to reduce the cost of Braille and Large Type production and to simplify the overall activities of the two ministries. We thank the Lord for your Mitey Mites to fund this project!

3 Special Gifts Fund Recipients Share Experiences The Special Gifts Fund has received applications from and helped fund four mission projects this year. Two recipients share their mission travels: Pamela Peters, St John, Seward was one of 12 people to visit the Yup ik people at Akiachak, Alaska for a one week VBS and basketball camp for the village children. Pamela shared: Our team members were changed by their week in the village. It was an amazing experience. One first team member felt they really connected with the children. It s really awesome to know you can reach them so quickly. The Seward group is already planning for their 2014 trip back to the Yup ik people. Stephanie Schroeder shared her experience to the Baltic States with Pastor John Reehl this summer: Russia was an amazing experience. I saw God use me in ways that I never would have imagined and teach me in ways that I never saw coming. She continued, When I signed up to come back for a second year, I had many goals. I wanted to be reunited with people, see progress in the projects that had been introduced to the group the year before, and to consider being a full-time missionary in Russia. As a future teacher, I had to wonder if Russia was in my future, or if short-term trips would be the maximum involvement. She went on to say that the orphanage director told her she could have a job there whenever she might want one. In closing she said, Your prayers are much appreciated, as I have no idea what God will have me do with that offer.i pray that God will lead and guide me wherever I go and that I may continually glorify Him in whatever I do. What astounding stories these young women have to tell. I would encourage any of your local societies or zones to contact them to speak to your group about their experiences. Please continue to support the Special Gifts Fund with your memorials, honorariums, estate gifts and most importantly with your prayers. We pray that God will continue to bless the projects we have funded. Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations. Matthew 28:19 Special Gifts Fund Marlene Knoerzer, Chairman Barb Batie & Mona Vitosh Page 3 Retreat Ingathering Great Success Something new this year for the District Retreat was to have an ingathering of items. The retreat committee selected Hope Harbor and the Crisis Center, both of Grand Island to be the recipients, with a few items being taken to Orphan Grain Train. Little did the recipients know that the gift giving to them from the LWML would be so huge. Despite the first time event, members of the LWML NE South District were very generous and kept the sorters, packers, and tally counters busy from Friday evening until Sunday morning. Ingathering items consisted of 358 various paper products, 79 diapers/diaper wipes, 28 kitchen/bath towels with hand soap, 564 tubes of toothpaste, 330 toothbrushes, 302 toilet bars of soap, and 458 other toiletry items such as shampoo, safety razors, nail clippers, etc. Plus, there were other items not on the list that arrived and were gifted to the chosen recipients listed above. The ingathering was collected, evenly distributed into boxes after being counted by the Leader Development Committee Chairman and her young teen LWML helpers (what a hair-raising experience that the young gals had of counting, sorting, and boxing!), and delivered to Hope Harbor and the Crisis Center. The grand total of all the items collected for the first-ever ingathering for the Retreat was 2,196!! That is pretty awesome ladies! The Lord has certainly blessed us with gifts to share with those around us in need whether here in NE or for those far away that the Orphan Grain Train touches. Thank you ladies for the sharing of your hearts and hands, as well as those gifts you brought! May the Lord bless each of you as we continue to Serve the Lord with Gladness! Human Care Committee Brenda Rasmussen, Chairman Pauline Neiderklein Greetings from the Christian Life Department It is hard to believe it has been almost three months since Retreat. Have you been Still? I hope you were able to stop by the LWML booth while at Retreat. We tried to have some new merchandise along with other current merchandise. I think LWML has created some beautiful items that would be great for gifts. If you would like to order some items for gifts, you can go to the LWML website s (lwml.org) shopping area and purchase anything you might need. If that doesn t work for you, suggest to your Zone President that she get one of the three suitcases that are available. These suitcases have a variety of items that would be available for sale at your Spring Workshop or Fall Rally. To get one of the suitcases, please contact Kathy Anderson, the Christian Life Committee Chairperson ( ). The Christian Life Department wishes you a very blessed Christmas. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased! Luke 2:14 Diane Johannes VP of Christian Life

4 Page 4 Need Another Retreat? Be still. Those two little words may never have the same meaning for the women who were blessed to attend the retreat last fall in Grand Island. So many times since that beautiful September weekend I have been brought back to the words of Deb Burma, Pastor Niedow, Pastor McReynolds, and so many others. Be still. Is it really so hard? Yes! It is! After I returned home from our little get away, I needed to tell myself to Be still numerous times. You see, the tomatoes finally started to ripen, band concessions needed my attention, my home and family needed their regular love and care, and my son needed help building a Pueblo Native American Indian home. (Did you know that takes 5 batches of homemade play-dough?) Before I knew it, I was knee deep in the same to-do lists I had hoped to be still through. I was not still, my friends. I was like a cat in a swimming pool! Not a very good sight to behold, I can tell you that much. What is a busy gal to do? Be still. Oh, how I wanted to go right back to Grand Island, call 200 of my closest NE South District LWML friends and bunker down in the Word. Unfortunately that is not how life works. Laundry needs to be done, high school sports go on (with the appropriate nachos and popcorn available in the concession stand), and play-dough Pueblos do need to be completed. My answer to this dilemma have a mini retreat! Do it every day. Being in the Word is something we strive to do daily. I ve started looking at this time with our Lord as my retreat. So, how are your mini-retreats going? I invite you to take some time off. Sit down, put your feet up, and get that Bible open on your lap. Follow a reading plan, use a devotion book, sing a hymn and then study the references for it. No matter how you choose to retreat from the hectic world, be sure to take some time to get away with Jesus. Our goal in the LWML is to Serve the Lord with Gladness. When we stay in the Word and walk with our Lord, it is much easier to be truly glad, and not just getting the job done. We Get to serve God s people. He has chosen us, in many and various ways. Retreat to God and His Word. Talk to Him and He will help you to be still. Katy Gifford VP Servant Resources Zones Host Fall Rallies Over 500 LWML members, pastors and guests attended 12 Zone Fall Rallies across the NE-South District LWML from October 5 to October 20. Each studied God s Word, heard district reports as well as a variety of mission speakers. Elections were held and offerings taken for specific causes. Praise God for willing workers in His harvest fields! The Beatrice Zone held its rally at Zion, Tobias with the theme You are to be my witnesses from Acts 1:8. Concordia Seward students, James and Rachel Peterson spoke of their mission trip to Russia with Pastor Reehl. VP Servant Resources, Katy Gifford gave the district report. Ingathering was items for the local food pantry. Jesus Heals from Psalm 102:2-3 served as Deshler Zone s Rally theme held at Faith, Hebron on October President Linda brings district geetings to zones. 13. Tabitha Burger, YWR and Lori Grummert, zone delegate to Pittsburgh told of their convention experiences. President Linda served as the district representative. The attendees brought health care items for OGT. Their Bible study centered on the word Heal. Each guest received an aloe vera plant as a reminder that God heals. St. Peter, Elk Creek hosted the Falls City Zone Fall Rally, October 12 with the theme, Be Still and Know that I am God from Psalm 46:10. VP Christian Life, Diane Johannes, gave the district report. Evelyn Boyd, zone delegate to the Pittsburgh convention also reported. Guest speaker, Brenda Rasmussen gave an illustrated report on her mission trip to Russia and the Baltics with Pastor Reehl. Human Care Chairman, Dorothy Symonsbergen led a scripture presentation on H-U-M-A-N C-A-R-E. Proclaiming the Good News based on Rom 10:14-15 was the theme for the Grand Island Zone Rally, at Zion, Worms, Tuesday, October 8. Rev James Fandrey of Grace Wood River spoke of the work of Lutheran Heritage Foundation, that translates not only the Bible but Luther s Small Catechism. President Linda Fees brought greetings from the district. Shawn Burkhardt, convention delegate, gave her report. A special treat was the Zion Lutheran School singing for the group during the morning session. Amid enthusiastic singing and praising God, the Hastings Zone held their rally October 6, at St. Paul, Kenesaw with the theme, Pray, Praise and Give Thanks from I Thess 5: Cassandra Thomsen told of her travels through the Rotary. The ingathering was school supplies for the Hastings Salvation Army. President Linda gave the district report. "Quenched by the Water" was the theme of Holdrege Zone's Rally at St John, Oxford, October 13. VP Human Care, Denise Hummel gave the district report and Sharon Jones, delegate to Pittsburgh, gave her convention report. Vicar Dan Wiese, Mt Calvary, Holdrege explained the Christian Charity Fund. A monetary offering was given to the Oxford Food Pantry and the zone treasury. The Kearney Zone Rally was hosted by Zion, North Shelton, October 12 with the theme, Harvesting Souls in Faith from Luke 10:2a. The district representative was Cassandra Thomsen, VP Communications. Other speakers included Donna King on her Mercy Medical Mission trip to Madagascar and Julia Prochaska, delegate to the Pittsburgh convention. 36 Mercy Kits were collected with extra supplies to be used to complete future kits. Immanuel, Eagle was the site of the Lincoln Zone Fall rally on October 6. Their theme came from Romans 10:17, So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Pastor Douglas Irmer was the speaker and VP Christian Life, Diane Johannes served as the district representative. Their featured speaker, Edie Noffke, spoke of the beginnings of Mercy Meals as an arm of the Orphan Grain Train at McCook Zone s Fall Rally, October 12, at St. Paul, rural Wauneta. The theme was I am the Bread of Life from John 6: President Linda gave the district report and Charlene Fichtner, zone delegate to Pittsburgh, gave her report. Ingathering offering was designated for a label maker at Wauneta s Mercy Meals packaging site. Lunch featured a sample of the Mercy Meal that is packaged for foreign countries and United States disaster areas. Following lunch, singing was led by the Retreat Musicians. Dr. Marvin Swan shared slides of their Lands of the Bible trip at the Ogallala Zone Rally, October 5 at St John s, Brule. President Linda served as the district representative. A cash offering for the Julesburg, CO Orphan Grain Train was collected. Seward Zone held its rally October 20 at Our Redeemer, Staplehurst. The theme centered on "Just try to Quench God's Love" from Song of Solomon 8:7a. Brenda Rasmussen spoke to the group on her mission trip to the Baltic States and Russia. An ingathering for items to the Friendship Home, a women and childrens crisis center in Lincoln, was conducted. President Linda brought greetings from the district. Ingathering of vitamins, lice shampoo, and medicinal supplies for Honduras was brought to St. Paul, Utica, for the October 13 York Zone Fall Rally. This was in response to speaker, Sue Sullivan s mission trip to Honduras. Katy Gifford, VP Servant Resources, served as the district representative. The hosts, St. Paul, Utica, embraced the theme, Love in Action from I John 3:18.

5 Be Still and Know What a great and much needed theme for the 2013 Nebraska South District LWML Retreat! As the 220 ladies in attendance at the Midtown Holiday Inn in Grand Island would all attest, it is sometimes hard to find quiet in the hustle and bustle of our world. So many things haggle for our attention and sometimes life throws us a curve ball like a loss of a job or sickness, or death of a loved one. Even just the everyday running of kids here and there, meetings at church, etc. leave us drained and unable to be still. But we were blessed by our keynote speaker Deb Burma and our counselors, Pastor Mike Niedow and Pastor Kevin McReynolds, as they reminded us that God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in times of trouble. The great I AM, Jesus, is in our boat and sometimes God calms the storm, but sometimes He is there to calm the child with the knowledge that He is God and He knows. When we are still and focus on Him, He helps us get to the other side despite the storm. During our Knowing God breakout sessions the ladies were able to glean insights into a more intimate prayer time, standing strong in the spiritual battles that we face each day, finding peace in the midst of our finances, using our time wisely for the Lord, and quieting the voices in our heads. We thank the Lord for the presenters who were used by the Spirit to enrich our lives that weekend. Among the ladies who attended were 67 first timers and seven teens. We thank the teens for counting the 2,196 items that were brought for the Ingathering and given to Hope Harbor and to the Crisis Center in Grand Island. Thanks also to those who helped organize items, who helped to deliver them and to my awesome committee. Thanks for your hard work. Your servant hearts are a true reflection of Christ s love! What a weekend to Be Still and Know so we could get our buckets filled and have them overflow into the lives of others that they too may Be still and know that He is God! Peg Volzke, Chairman 2013 Retreat Committee Page 5 Editor s Note: It is our goal to have the Echoes at your society s mailing address around the first of December, March, June and September, at about the same time you receive The Quarterly. If you don t receive your Echoes by the 10th, please contact me at kchristner@bwtelcom.net or so that our staff can correct the situation. Last September several societies did not receive their Echoes in a timely manner, and we want to correct those situations as soon as possible. Every effort is made to mail them correctly and quickly, but sometimes unknowns creep into our efforts. Thanks so much, ladies, for your cooperation! LWML Nebraska South District Convention Younes Convention Center, Kearney, Nebraska September 12-13, 2014 Springs of Living Water For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water. Rev 7:17a Mission Project Proposals for are due January 15, 2014 Send to: Carolyn Rottman, VP Gospel Outreach 1107 N Platte Ave, Juniata, NE suzy8143@windstream.net Forms are available at lwmlnesouth.org District LWML Calendar Feb. 15, 2014 (snow date, Feb. 22) Board of Directors Meeting; Zion, Kearney, NE April 26, Executive Committee Meeting; Bethlehem, Ravenna June 21, Board of Directors Meeting; Trinity, Lexington Sept. 12, Pre-Convention BOD Meeting; Younes Conf. Center, Kearney, NE Sept , District Convention; Younes Conference Center, Kearney, NE Sept. 27, EC/Transition Meeting; TBD

6 Page 6 Be Still and Know that I am God Musicians lead us in singing. Pastor Kunze: Faith and Finance; The Missing Peace Time for a little R & R. Registration Time! Time to shop, too! Crafters got Talent! Hello! Thumbs Up! Nice to Know You. Now you use the hair dryer. Hands Up for the Lord! Pastor Volzke: On the Wings of a Dove

7 2013 Nebraska South District Retreat Page 7 Molly Dixon: T.I.M.E. Cindy Uden: The Reality of Spiritual Warfare Pastor Volzke: Meditation on the Attributes of God. Be Still. Tami Francik: Quieting the Voices in our Heads. Deb Burma: Holding Hands Nurturing Faith in our Children. Transporting ingathering items to recipients. Teens help count and pack ingathering items. Pastor Boring: Building Bridges in our Communities More counting, more packing! District Counselors lead our Sunday Worship Service. Thank you, Retreat Committee, for an insiring weekend! Great job, Ladies!

8 LWML Quarterly ECHO 4734 Avenue G. Kearney, NE Periodical Postage Paid Lutheran Women's Missionary League QUARTERLY ECHO (USPS: , ISSN: ) is published quarterly by the Lutheran Women's Missionary League, Nebraska South District, an auxiliary organization of the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod at 4734 Avenue G, Kearney, NE Printed by Morris Press, Kearney, NE Periodical class postage paid at Kearney, NE Postmaster send address changes to: QUARTERLY ECHO, 4734 Avenue G, KEARNEY, NE Nancy Newman Phone: (308) Deadline for next Echo....February 1, 2014 Please send news from your society to: Karen Christner PO Box 321 Wauneta, NE Address Service Requested Mission Grants Amount Nebraska South District LWML Student Scholarships 32,000 16, OGT Shipment to the Baltics 10,000 10,000 PAID Lutheran Blind Mission Production of Large Print Materials for Visually Impaired 4,000 4,000 At Ease Congregational Outreach 10,000 0 International (Partner Church) Graduate Student Support 10,000 0 at Concordia Seminary St. Louis His Kids Camp/ Respite Care Retreats 6,500 6,500 Haiti Replacement Vehicle 10,000 10,000 Operation Barnabas 8,000 0 Elementary/ High School Scholarships in NE 2,280 0 Math Curriculum for Jesus Our Savior Lutheran School (YWR) 2,220 2, TOTAL MISSION GOAL $95,000 $48,720 Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold! 95,000 90,000 85,000 80,000 75,000 70,000 65,000 60,000 55,000 50,000 45,000 40,000 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000