October-November

2015
(special note on page 2)

888-THE LCMS www.lcms.org infocenter@lcms.org

News from Gail Ludvigson, serving the Lord in the Dominican Republic
Mission Churches, Part III
Licey

gail.ludvigson@lcmsintl.org

Deaconess Diary
Finding a New Rhythm
Strangely, one of the biggest challenges as a new missionary on
the field hasnt been learning Spanish or adjusting to Dominican
culture. Rather, its been finding a new rhythm for my Christian
life. Just as my daily routine has changed from my life in the U.S.,
so the routine of my worship and devotions has changed.

Church entrance

Three solas on altar parament

Congregation at worship

After over 7 months, praise God, I can

participate more fully in Sunday
worship (even saying the Lords
Prayer in Spanish by heart). However,
setting a daily routine has been hard.
My schedule is still very irregular. The
new chairs on the front porch invite
me to sit in the morning, drink coffee
and read the Psalms. This has been
such a joy that I hope to make it a
habit. Memory work is hard for me,
but Ive also set myself to learning
Luthers prayers in Spanish. Heres
the evening prayeryou may
recognize some of the words: Te doy
Front porch devotions
gracias, Padre celestial, por medio de
Jesucristo, tu amado Hijo, porque me has protegido durante esta noche
de todo mal y peligro, y te ruego que tambin durante este da me
guardes de pecados y de todo mal, para que te agrade todo mi obrar y
vivir; pues en tus manos me encomiendo a m mismo, mi cuerpo y mi
alma y todo lo que tengo. Tu santo ngel me acompae para que el
maligno no tenga ningn poder sobre m. Amn.

Memorial Day for Christians

Yban, a church leader, is studying
to be a pastor. Meanwhile, Pastors
Maita and Krey conduct worship,
assisted by Vicars Massey and
Fritz. Licey has a thriving
preschool, and U.S. short-term
teams are helping to construct a
new church building on nearby
land.

November 1 was All Saints Day, when we

remember those
whove gone before
us and look forward
to seeing them again
at the resurrection.
The time is near
come, Lord Jesus!
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In the Dominican Mountains

Visit to Jarabacoa

Missed Date: Trying to move the newsletter to a new format led

to a glitch. August-September was omitted to get back on track.
This issue has 3 pages to make up for it. Sorry for the mix-up!
Everything should be fixed in December.

My Duties Have Grown

Rio Yaque del Norte

Mis funciones han crecido. Youve

often asked what Im working on. All
the deaconesses meet every 2 weeks
in Pr. Kreys office in Santiago, and I
take minutes in English. Were
working on the very first Latin
America-Caribbean deaconess
conference scheduled for May 5-8,
2016. Women from 5 countries will
be invited to attend. At the
conference well offer the very first
Women of the early church
course in a new LAC deaconess
training program. After much reflection, Ive decided to write
Spanish materials for An Introduction to Pauls Letters, to be
taught by a Spanish-speaking instructor. The class will be the
foundation for longer courses on the books of Moses and Romans.

Special Gift
Road through the woods

Pena home on Avenida La Poza

When formal Spanish classes ended

in July, I wanted another way to
practice speaking. My teachers
friends live in this mountain town,
and she helped arrange a personal
immersion experience in their
home. I stayed with the Pena family
for 2 weeks in August, eating meals
with them and talking about all
kinds of subjects in Spanish. It was
much greener and cooler than
Santiago. I cant wait to go back.

Left to right: Pr. Mackey, Dcs. Mitchell, me, and 2 members

of Mission Committee

Grace Lutheran Church, Muncie, Indiana,

has given a special gift to the DR Lutheran
missionsix brass candlesticks. Were
hoping to find places for them in three of
our congregations. Getting them here was
a bit complicated but worth it. They will
greatly enhance worship, calling to mind
the candlesticks in Solomons Temple
(1 Kings 7) and the heavenly throne room
in Revelation 1.
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A Missionary Lament

Thanksgiving
Day
November
Give thanks
toisGod
for 26.
So lets focus our prayers on giving
Ask to
God
thanks
Godto
for
(1) all faithful, confessional
Lutheran pastors serving
churches in the U.S. and
abroad.
(2) the peaceful death of Nancy,
my mom for 20 years, who
fell asleep in Christ on
October 19.
(3) sixty-five years of blessing (I
was born on October 16 and
baptized on November 5).
(4) continuing recovery for Pr.
Richard Schuller of the Puerto
Rico mission.
(5) 10 years of loving service in
the DR mission by Dcs.
Danelle Putnam.
(6) the November visit of the
Bethesda Lutheran Ministries
team and their work for us in
the Santiago area and Santo
Domingo.
(7) my successful visit to
Michigan, Indiana and Ontario,
Canada in July and August.
(8) the anticipated arrival of the
Preus family in the DR in
December.
Learn about mission work
(9) the abundant spiritual gifts of
together
with your children or
the LAC team (I Cor. 12),
grandchildren.
Pay aWarrens
visit to gift
especially Blake
missionfriends.lcms.org
and
of administration.
check
Mission
(10)
theout
launch
of theFriends.
VDMA
There
are
games,
fun digital
recipes,
Spanish Lutheran
coloring
sheets,
andinmore...and
pastoral
library
Paraguay.
it's free!

This morning I awoke with an

inexpressible sadness. Whenever I
write this newsletter, I strive to find
positive things to share, but this
time I could think only of the
psalms of lamentationwhere the
psalmist complains to God. Its hard
Slough of Despair
to point to just one thing thats
(from Pilgrim's Progress)
bothering methe devils machinations, culture shock,
homesickness, extremely hot weather, physical ailments that Ive
never faced before, slow progress in understanding the language,
loneliness, disappointment, discouragement, envy, delays getting
residency papersthe list goes on.
Rom.15:4 says: whatever was written in former days was
written for our instruction, that through endurance andencouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. So I searched the
Bible for help. In Galatians Paul tells how he became a missionary.
After his conversion, he spent 3 years in Arabia before going to
Jerusalem for the first time and then on to Antioch where the
church called him to serve as a missionary. Pauls example shows
that what seems to be a long time of waiting is Gods plan. A pastor
counseled me to see this time of limbo with fresh eyes, watching
for times when the Lord uses me for His kingdom in some
unexpected way. This can reassure me that Im serving in my
missionary vocation even when my feelings tell me otherwise.

Help Us!
Were always on the lookout for no-cost theological materials in
Spanish. Ive had requests for the writings of the church fathers,
Luther on I Corinthians, and the Small Catechism in Spanish in
Braille. If you know of such materials, please get in touch with me.

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to

everyone, and especially to those who are of the
household of faith. (Gal 6:10 ESV)
Here are addresses to send gifts in support of my workyou may send
to either:
The Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod
P.O. Box 66861
St. Louis, MO 63166-6861

OR

Mission Central
40718 Highway E 16
Mapleton, IA 51034

Make checks payable to The Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod or

LCMS and write Ludvigson-Dominican Republic in the memo line.
You can also give a gift securely online at www.lcms.org/ludvigson.
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