The Khmer Khronicle

Being almost to the end of May, we
here are in the hot humid, steamy most days,
season time. Folks go about their days as best
possible. They are already eagerly preparing for
the rainy season, as that’s the time of planting,
of nurturing the ground to give them a healthy
crop of rice for another year, to provide feed for
their animals, food for themselves, and maybe
earn an income.

English in Action
Pastor Ravy and I continue to teach these
eager learners of English. He also does Lutheran Hour ministry
radio broadcasting in the province, with what
I understand is a growing audience.
There is also a second group of older
students who are faithful in coming after dark
and the first class.
There are about 35 kiddos this term total.
And photos of Sundays. Each week our
numbers are growing in church. Such a
blessing. We have expanded our post
service activities to incorporate things that
they all can do.

You have to see this, click here

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March experiences on two continents

The Rivas serving in Guyana

Early in the morning of February 27, we arrived at GUYANA. As any move takes time to adapt to the new environment, to know how to move, where to buy things, how to interact with the new neighbors and even to the new climate of the place, we will be telling you how we are doing in all these things.

One of the challenges sofy had was adapting to school in Guyana, the first week was difficult because a different country, another language and even the weather, make her not want to be separated from us. It seemed like an excuse to go to kindergarten but now she is happy attending.

If you would like to read the details of their newsletter, click here

Tim and Beth Heiney serving in Guinea
Dear Friends,
This week the fasting month of Ramadan. Muslims all over the world will refrain from taking food or drink as well as
unclean deeds or thoughts from sun up until sundown for the entire next month.
During this time they are to focus on Allah through prayer and reading of Quran.
Meanwhile Christians around the world use
this time to ask the Lord Jesus to reveal Himself to those who are truly seeking the Truth. Please be in prayer these next weeks for those to whom we minister here as well
as the millions that don’t know Jesus!

Click here if you would like to read all the details.

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Worth is the Lamb who was slain

From Global Lutheran Outreach missionaries David and Luz Maria Ernst (serving in La Curamuca, Venezuela ):

More medicine from Chile
On March 5, 2023, we began distribution of another shipment of non-prescription medicines made possible by Global Outreach (GLO). During the initial years (2017-2020) of the GLO Venezuela Relief Project, many pharmaceutical companies had ceased operations in Venezuela, and local pharmacies had bare shelves. Volunteers collate the orders and prepare each shipment according to lists of needed prepared by participating Lutheran congregations in Venezuela. In addition to La Caramuca, medicines have been distributed in other locations, such as the cities of Barinas and Barquisimeto.

New cycle of deaconess formation begins
Once again Luz Maria is mentoring women who aspire to be deaconesses in our national church. Many of them have served the church for years in works of mercy and Christian education.  The seminary has extended its deaconess training program to nine Latin American countries, but Venezuela continues to have the largest enrollment with 28 women.

Click here to read the latest newsletter from the Ernst!

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The day arrived… we went to GUYANA

On February 2 we agreed with Brent from Global Lutheran Outreach to buy plane tickets to Guyana, and the departure date was February 26. That was how we began to say goodbye to our friends. The flight left at 1:40 p.m. of Guatemala and thus began our new adventure.

Our arrival

We arrived in Panama at 5 in the afternoon at the Tocumen airport.  Sarina Singh, administrator of Guyanisse Outreach, was waiting for us outside, to take us to the hotel and rest because at eleven in the morning a long trip awaited us to our new home in the Guyanesse Outreach building, which we arrived at around 3 in the afternoon, and thank God we found no traffic and everything went as planned, although it was a long trip, we made it now we serve God in Guyana.

Our challenges…

1) Adapt to the weather.

2) Learn the Guyanese Creole Language.

3) Know the value of things in Guyana so that they do not take advantage of us because we are foreigners.

4) Adapting the apartment where we live to feel like home takes a bit of time but the great advantage is that Guyanesse Outrech provided us with a lot of help to achieve this and with each passing day it feels more familiar.

If you would like to read more about the Rivas, click here

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Saddle up the burro for Bethlehem!

At last we began the preparation for our Lord’s birth and the mystery of the Incarnation! On Sunday, November 27, we lit the first candle on our Advent wreath. The Gospel reading appointed for the first Sunday of Advent according to the historic lectionary is Matthew 21:1-9. This is Matthew’s version of Jesus’ last entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Why jump ahead in the narrative? The Palm Sunday story is a fulfillment of the prophecy that the King would come in humility, on a mission of peace and reconciliation (Zechariah 9:9). But the King was born into this world in humility and with the announcement of “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14).

A thorn in the flesh

Between the first and second Sundays of Advent, I was hospitaled for a heart attack. I thank God for Luz Maria and her family, doctors and nurses in Barinas and fellow pastors of the Lutheran Church of Venezuela. The episode evidently resulted from psychological stress, high blood pressure and poor circulation.

Eduardo Garrido.
I was unconscious for most of my night in the hospital, but Luz Maria tells me that while I was in emergency, Sra. Blanca Aponte, the widow who live next door to the mission was brought in, also having suffered a heart attack. As I left the hospital, Eduardo Garrido was brought in for an appendicitis operation. Eduardo was baptized in our mission, but has yet to take first communion.
Please pray for all who suffer infirmities here with minimal resources.

And now a word from our sponsor

Thanks be to God, the costs of my medical treatment are covered by the excellent group health insurance plan provided by Global Lutheran Outreach (GLO). In many parts of the world, there has been an increased emphasis on the theological education of national church workers to carry on in the event that missionaries sent from the United States have to leave.

If you want to read all the details, Click here to read the latest newsletter from the Ernst

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Is it November 1st?

It is November 1st!
These past couple of months have been busy ones for us! Since our last newsletter we have had non-stop activities here in Guatemala, as well as an emergency trip that had me (Ben) fly to the US. So we have plenty of updates to share with you about our work and life, and I hope you enjoy them.

August
As stated in the previous newsletter, our church in Zacapa was celebrating their 75th anniversary this year. For the last Sunday in August, I got all my students together to play that Sunday as part of the service. They did an excellent job!

September
September is always a festive month in Guatemala because it is the month the country celebrates its independence. The end of the month brought a road trip to us musicians as we were invited to play for the anniversary service of the Lutheran church in Puerto Barrios (Scarletts home church).

October
The 1st of October is Children’s Day in Guatemala! So of course, church activities for the kids were planned for that weekend, as well as the weekend prior. Scarlett, being in charge of the Sunday school activities, planned the celebrations for two villages, La Trementina and El Maguey, and also the activity in the central church we serve in. Piñatas, balloons, candy, games and a pool were all part of the fun organized by Scarlett and many youth and members of the churches.

October 2nd brought sad news to my family as my grandfather, Edwin Mattson, was called to his heavenly home. It was a sad and difficult week, but we rejoice in knowing that Grampie is now in heaven and one day we will see him again.

On October 20th we celebrated Scarlett’s birthday!

Here in Zacapa the church celebrates the Reformation on the 31st, so yesterday evening we held our service accompanied by flutes and trumpets and followed by a snack and fellowship. Way to go Luther, 505 years!

You really need to read all this newsletter, so click here!

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It’s been a busy summer

Even during the summer, our Lord keeps working, and we to. Here we leave you the news in the field of some missionaries:

Joe and Viya (serving in Cambodia) are celebrating 5 years of ministry, click here to watch there video and here to read all the details in their newsletter

David and Luz María (serving in La Caramuca, Venezuela) have just finished their school year, after two years of absence due to the pandemic. They also had some trips and other graduations, so click here to read their newsletter.

Ben and Scarlett (serving in Zacapa, Guatemala) had to step out of the country, but the ministry and the music did not stop, click here to read their newsletter

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28 Degrees

From Global Lutheran Outreach missionaries Jim and Liisa Tino (Serving in Santiago, Chile)

28 degrees is the forecast for tonight’s overnight low temperature. It’s definitely winter here in Chile – winter in July. Not only that, but one of the coldest winters in recent memory, and certainly the coldest we have had during our eight years as missionaries in this country!
Even in summer, there are a lot of “winters” going on in our lives. Some pass through the seasons of life as expected – the Spring of new birth, the Summer of youth, the Fall of maturity, and the Winter of old age.

“I saw a picture on Facebook… where are you guys?”
We’ve been getting that question a lot lately, so this newsletter will be mostly about “Tino Family News”. Of course, ministry is still going on as well, so there’s a lot to share!

As you probably recall, we have been trying to wrap up our ministry in Chile for at least six months now! There are a few major factors in this decision. First, we feel the need to be closer to family so we can lend a hand with some pressing family concerns. Also, Jim’s role as director of Global Lutheran Outreach continues to require more time and travel. Finally, we feel that the church here in Santiago has matured enough to enable a successful transition to new leadership. So, our plan was to leave Chile during the first half of the year. But as the saying goes, “We plan; God laughs”. (I think that’s a saying! If not, it is now.)

In April, Liisa traveled to be with daughter Gabi and husband Daniel in Phoenix for the birth of their third child, a daughter! Kaylee Marie Sipp was born on April 14.

In May, Liisa travelled to Michigan to spend six weeks with Jim’s parents and to lend a hand.

While Liisa was in Michigan, Jim’s duties took him to several places. First, he represented the Lutheran Church of Chile at a Symposium in the Dominican Republic. The Symposium was convened to introduce the new Himnario Luterano (Spanish Lutheran Hymnal), which has been over a decade in the making.  Also in the Dominican Republic, we celebrated the graduation from seminary of several new students, one of whom is from Chile. The new graduate – Rafael and his wife Jamielynn – will be serving their vicarage in Chile as soon as they can secure the proper visas.

Next, Jim’s duties took him to Guyana to accompany new GLO missionary Victor Rivas on his “initial field visit”. Victor, wife Belen, and daughter Sophia are from Guatemala and are currently raising support for their ministry, with the goal of deploying to Guyana in early 2023.

When the gathering was over, Jim returned to Chile in mid-June to continue the ministry while Liisa traveled to New Hampshire to spend some time with her parents, family, and friends.

Next week, Jim and Liisa will both be traveling to Florida for the annual GLO board meeting (and some grandparent time!). After the meeting, they are scheduled to attend the annual Hispanic Ministry Conference in Orlando where they will continue to promote the work of Global Lutheran Outreach. At the conclusion of the conference, they will return to Santiago in time to lead worship again on August 7th.

Click here to read the latest newsletter from the Tino!

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Rainy days and Sundays

From Global Lutheran Outreach missionaries David and Luz Maria Ernst (serving in La Curamuca, Venezuela ):

As I grew up in a Midwestern U.S. farming community, I learned to expect a special prayer for spring rain on Rogate Sunday, the fifth Sunday after Easter. This seemed just common sense, since April to May was the time for tillage and planting of spring crops. Many years later I learned this was a vestige of a tradition dating back to 470 A.D.

True meaning of the rainbow.

The farmer’s prayer typically is for just enough rain at just the right time to assure a bountiful harvest. In Venezuela the Rogate Sunday petition often is to hold off a little on the rain. We live on the western plains, where there difference between the dry and rainy seasons is especially sharp. During the rainy season, the prairie turns into a network of wetlands and the cowboys who work the region’s large ranches often wear rubber-soled boots.

April and May of this year have proved true to form for us, with many days of torrential rain and strong winds. More frequent, prolonged power outages probably are a result of this and we are grateful for our solar panels and a pedal-powered emergency backup system, courtesy of K-Tor.

Celebrating Mother’s Day and Luz Maria’s birthday.
Friday, May 27, was the day after the actual Ascension Day (40 days after Easter, but we celebrated the Ascension on Sunday, May 29). That is when we began, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, a series of consultations with pregnant women of the community, offering them moral support and advice. An opening devotion is my responsiblity, and I began with prayer on meditation on classic pro-natalist texts. That is to say, texts which explain that children are a blessing from God, life begins at conception and all human life is precious to God at all states of development.

Project Miracle of Life.
Our lives belong to God by the order of creation. As He directly formed Adam from the dust of the earth and breathed life into him, He gives the gift of life to all people using human parents as His instruments. That is why the first of all commandments in Scripture is “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it, have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:27). Marriage was instituted by God before the fall of Adam and Eve into sin, and procreation was to result from God’s blessing.
Every new life also belongs to God by the order of redemption, because Christ died for the sins of all human beings.

Click here to read the latest newsletter from the Ernst! 

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May news from Ben and Scarlett

From Global Lutheran Outreach missionaries Ben and Scarlett Tino (Serving in Zacapa, Guatemala)

The last two months have been exciting ones for the both of us in Zacapa. The group consisted of 2 flutes, 2 trumpets, piano, guitar, cajon, and 2 singers. This was a much larger group then what would normally be seen on any given Sunday. With 9 advanced students we now have a rotation of 3-4 musicians playing each Sunday.

Scarlett has been busy leading the Sunday School programs in our church in Zacapa and in two nearby villages where we have mission churches. Scarlett has brought back to life the kids program in the village of La Trementina after more than 2 years of inactivity. For Easter she coordinated and Easter egg hunt for the kids, something which they had never done. I got to hide the eggs! Scarlett has also been an encouragement for the youth group in motivating them and creating an enjoyable atmosphere when they all get together. And her beautiful voice has also been a blessing for me as she joins us musicians in leading the congregation in worship.

During my work week from Tuesday through Sunday, I teach about 20 private lessons. Some lessons are in groups of 2 or 3, but most are one-on-one classes. Now that many of my students are advancing as far as reading basic chords and developing a good ear, I have began teaching almost all my students to read music. One of my newest students, is Antonio. Antonio is nephew to the Lutheran Pastor in the nearby city of Gualán (45 min drive). Musically talented does not only mean having a good ear or being naturally gifted, but having the proper discipline to practice on your own, something that I express to ALL my students. I thank Pastor Luis for seeing that in his nephew and bringing him to lessons. Click here to watch him play!

Click here to read the latest newsletter from Ben and Scarlett Tino

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