When we returned to the US two years ago for our first Home Service, there were obviously a lot of places and people we couldn’t spend enough time with. The nature of a short six weeks of time, when most everyone wants to see you on a Sunday morning, necessitates a rotation of sorts. Some… Continue reading A Peace-Full Sunday
Category: Current Events
Wet Wedding
So it rained this afternoon. And even when it rains, it’s jaw-droppingly gorgeous in this corner of God’s creation! Fortunately we could expand the use of the dinner tent to include the wedding itself. The dinner that followed was delicious, and we were excited to be with the happy couple on their big day!
First Santa Barbara Engagements
Our family lived just a few months shy of eleven years in Santa Barbara. It defined our children’s youth, and remains a truly unique and magical place. The climate and the human contributions to the landscape remain breathtaking to us even after years apart. And at the heart of all of this magic is the… Continue reading First Santa Barbara Engagements
Transitioning to Santa Barbara
Today Gena and I headed northwards through Los Angeles, arriving at the Bob Hope International Airport in Burbank, where we picked up the kids who flew in from Phoenix. Los Angeles is a massive city, and while LAX is an internationally known airport, it’s also a nightmare to get in and out of due to… Continue reading Transitioning to Santa Barbara
Christ Lutheran Church ~ Costa Mesa, CA
Our first joint Home Service visit was to Christ Lutheran Church located in Costa Mesa, California. Our visit here was initiated by Gena’s life-long family friend, Mary Scott. We were blessed to be able to talk with several people in between the two worship services led by Rev. Drew Ross. As is often the case,… Continue reading Christ Lutheran Church ~ Costa Mesa, CA
Hitting the Trail
Gena and I left this morning for a solid 5-week trip through the Southwest, Northwest and Midwest of the US for our Home Service. The flight from Phoenix to Santa Ana will set us up for a nearly 2-week road trip from Irvine to Santa Barbara, before we take our next flight from Santa Barbara… Continue reading Hitting the Trail
First Home Service Visit – Grace Lutheran ~ Henderson, NV
This past weekend I launched Home Service activities officially with a solo visit to the folks at Grace Lutheran in Henderson, NV. While we aren’t able to visit every congregation we’d like to on every Home Service, Grace has been a regular spot for me to visit and this time they were as welcoming and… Continue reading First Home Service Visit – Grace Lutheran ~ Henderson, NV
Building Relationships
As my role has evolved over the last four years in Asia from a roaming theological educator to a manager, I’ve grown in my appreciation for what it takes to be the Church overseas. It seems like a simple thing, right? Pack up, move to a new country and start sharing the Gospel. Sure, culture… Continue reading Building Relationships
Foro Day 2
For the second day of this Foro we took to the roads. Literally. The LCP provided us with a van to carry our group members northwards five hours to the city of Baguio, where the Lutheran Theological Seminary (LCP) sits enshrined in pine trees and general loveliness. The company was pretty good on the drive.… Continue reading Foro Day 2
Foro Day 1
Foros are supposed to bring partner organizations together with LCMS OIM and partner church leadership to hear about the goals and strategies of the partner church, and then to determine how partner organizations might be able to bring resources to bear to assist in achieving those goals. The partner church drives everything. However for this… Continue reading Foro Day 1
The Nelson Family Indonesia 