Living overseas is a fascinating thing in nearly every respect – historically, culturally, linguistically, logistically. You learn so much more than you ever anticipated, and you’d better learn it, because your continued viability overseas depends on you learning and following some very specific rules. Passports get you in and out of your home country. In… Continue reading International Life and the Joy of Visas
Category: Vocation
Retreat – Day 1
We began again with breakfast at the Old Latin School. Have I mentioned that German breakfasts are THE BEST BREAKFASTS IN THE WORLD?!?!? I became convinced of this while visiting friends over 20 years ago in Ulm, and I’ve never changed my mind – or had reason to even consider changing it. Don’t get me… Continue reading Retreat – Day 1
Meetings – Day 2
We concluded our leadership meetings today. We didn’t finish everything on the agenda – ha! – but we did finish the time we had allotted to do so. More work to be done in the future, but good still has been done. Good news includes we are finishing the year almost exactly on budget target,… Continue reading Meetings – Day 2
Meetings – Day 1
It doesn’t feel like Sunday, yet it is. We had worship this morning which was very good, and normally that would help anchor my sense of time and date. But we’ve been so many places in the last nearly three months that even this is not enough to fully secure my sense of time. Breakfast… Continue reading Meetings – Day 1
En Route to Wittenberg
Gena and I will leave this evening for Wittenberg, Germany, where we’ll join the entire Asia team for our annual gathering. It will be a time of learning and discussion and fellowship. There will also be two intensive days of leadership meetings beforehand that include five of the Asia team plus our interim Regional Director… Continue reading En Route to Wittenberg
It Is Finished
We brought our home service to a conclusion yesterday with Crown of Life Lutheran Church in Sun City West, Arizona. Relatively in our old back yard of Phoenix, Crown of Life have been partnering with us since we first began in 2021, and it was a great note to conclude a fantastic home service with.… Continue reading It Is Finished
Last, But Not Least
The last stop on our Midwestern tour, and the last stop of our busy travel saga that started April 18, was Grace Lutheran in Oak Creek, WI. We were blessed to visit with them five years ago as we were just starting our preparations for deployment overseas, and they’ve remained gracious partners and friends all… Continue reading Last, But Not Least
Our Savior, Excelsior
This morning we visited with Our Savior Lutheran Church in Excelsior, Minnesota, a suburb of western Minneapolis. We were able to visit with them mid-week two years ago, and they have been faithful partners so we made sure we could be there on a Sunday this time. I had the honor of preaching on Pentecost… Continue reading Our Savior, Excelsior
Mission Central
It was a light journey from Des Moines to Mission Central. Just a couple of hours through the greening fields and pastures. Corn is just coming in. Temperatures are increasing. Strong rains visited the Midwest a week ago, but the people here seem OK with it, knowing the corn is in the ground, and most… Continue reading Mission Central
Empty Nests & New Friends
Sometimes it doesn’t work to gather with a congregation interested in a visit. Sundays are, of course, popular days. Midweek days are much more difficult as pastors and congregational leaders worry there won’t be a big enough crowd to justify a visit. We’ve learned over time that the number of people present is a secondary… Continue reading Empty Nests & New Friends
The Nelson Family Indonesia 