December began with a trip back to the Philippines. Normally I don’t go there this time of year but there is a special occasion – an introductory orientation trip for a missionary new to Asia but not to the mission field. Rev. Dr. Walter Steele and his wife Robyn will be transitioning from the Africa Region to the Asia Region this coming summer. Their plan is to settle themselves in Baguio. Permanently. They plan to retire there at some point in the future. For now, Rev. Steele will teach at the seminary. His wife is completing deaconess coursework at Ft. Wayne.
This is literally a Godsend. The Lutheran Church in the Philippines (LCP) has requested the LCMS to help supply them with a new generation of faculty members for the Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS) in Baguio. An understandable and laudable request, but hardly a simple one to fulfill! Recruiting folks to the mission field is increasingly challenging as there are fewer and fewer available pastors and seminary students in the US. And to have someone suitable for teaching at a seminary is another level of hurdle. Thankfully, Rev. Steele has rich experience teaching and leading at the seminary in Africa and will bring that experience to his time serving as an LCMS educator deployed on behalf of the LCP.
So I met Rev. Steele in Manila for his first visit to the Philippines. He and his wife decided on the Philippines as a place to retire – sight unseen – due to his work experience with Filipinos during his Navy career. He admired their work ethic and friendly natures and knew it would be a hospitable place to consider for retirement. We met with President Antonio Reyes at the LCP headquarters in Manila, and then headed north to the seminary in Baguio.
We had the opportunity to worship at St. Stephen in Baguio, and Rev. Steele was asked to preach.
He looks pretty comfortable up there!
Afterwards he had time to meet some of the parishioners there as well as Rev. Felipe Ehican, the pastor at St. Stephen and president of his District.
The next week was spent at the seminary and exploring Baguio, trying to determine logistics for the move this summer. But the visit solidified for the Steeles’ that this was the right move to make, and they are being welcomed with open arms by both the LCP and the Southeast Asia Region of OIM. May the Holy Spirit ease their transition and bless the students at LTS and the members of the LCP as a whole with the academic experience, pastoral heart, and loving care of the Steeles!
Please pray for the Africa Region as they will need to fill in the considerable gap to be left by the Steeles’ departure. Pray for the Steeles as they complete their time in Africa, head back to the US for home service and deaconess coursework, and then navigate the intricacies of packing and moving their lives from Africa to the Philippines!
The Nelson Family Indonesia 