What We Believe [Devotional]
This week I'm thinking about what it means to be Lutheran. As I prepare to travel to Tacoma with the high school mission trip, and then to El Salvador to learn about the possiblity of partnering with...
View ArticleWe're here! [Tacoma 2012 - High School Mission Trip ]
We all arrived safely in Tacoma yesterday. We ate pizza, spent some time in our small groups and then off to bed in the PLU dorms, boys in one building and girls in another. Today we are attending...
View ArticleIt's Tuesday Night [Tacoma 2012 - High School Mission Trip ]
We are getting ready for bed after our third full day in Tacoma. On Sunday morning we got to sleep in a bit. After breakfast in the dining hall at PLU, we walked across the street to Trinity...
View ArticleLast Day of Service [Tacoma 2012 - High School Mission Trip ]
Friday morning - I can hardly believe it! The week has flown by and we are off today to our last day of service in Tacoma. Some of the sites have been favorites, and some have been less popular, but...
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Bread of Life [Devotional]
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” –Romans 8:26...
View ArticleOff to El Salvador [Devotional]
For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the...
View ArticleWe're here! [El Salvador with Family of Christ, 2012]
We have arrived in El Salvador and we are safely settled at Casa Concordia, the guest house of the Lutheran Church in El Salvador. Marta, Jill and I left Minneapolis this morning at 6:25 am and we...
View ArticleEsperanza-- Hope [El Salvador with Family of Christ, 2012]
Tonight's devotion was on "hope" or "Esperanza" --- where did we see hope today in El Salvador? Our day started by spending the morning at Hope House-- Casa Esperanza, the one shelter in San...
View ArticleSponsorship Party [El Salvador with Family of Christ, 2012]
Today we went to Spirit of Joy Church in a rural area about an hour from San Salvador. Pastor Matias and Pastora Martina welcomed us and children and their families started showing up by truckloads....
View ArticleHeading Home [El Salvador with Family of Christ, 2012]
Friday July 20, 2012 It’s Friday and we’re heading home. For the past few days there we’ve had limited internet access and busy days and nights. Most evenings ended with devotions with our small...
View ArticleTestimony [Devotional]
Jesus said, "Go and testify to what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought...
View ArticleResurrection [Devotional]
Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like...
View ArticleEl Salvador... stealing our hearts once again [El Salvador Thrivent Builds 2012]
The Thrivent Builds Teams have arrived safely at our hotel at Apaneca and are anxious to start our week of service work tomorrow! We worshiped at Bishop Gomez's church in San Salvador this morning,...
View ArticleNo Dumb Questions [Devotional]
Then the Jews began to complain about Jesus because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." They were saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How...
View ArticleBuilding Tomorrows [El Salvador Thrivent Builds 2012]
Here we are, nearing the middle of our week in El Salvador, and no one is talking about leaving. Instead the conversations center on our work in the Getsemani community: how high the bricks are...
View ArticleCommunity as we see it [El Salvador Thrivent Builds 2012]
Today we felt the effects of Hurricane Ernesto as rain pelted the roof of the Gethsemane Community Center during our lunch hour and into the afternoon. We were reminded of El Salvadoran flexibility,...
View ArticleA House for Milagro - submitted by Jerry Paulson [El Salvador Thrivent Builds...
Wednesday, August 8, 2012 We are in day three of our five day build. Our seven member multi-generational team is working together on a house for Milagro and her three children, Claudia (17), Benjamin...
View ArticleServing God with Zeal... and Playing Soccer [El Salvador Thrivent Builds 2012]
Today proved there are some things that transcend language barriers: love, laughter, friendship, soccer and serving God. After a busy morning working on the houses, everyone gathered together for a...
View ArticleA Visit to San Pablo Church [El Salvador Thrivent Builds 2012]
On Thursday afternoon, Ruth, Melanie and I had the opportunity to visit the San Pablo church near Santa Ana. We left the Getsemani community accompanied by Tania, the project manager from the Habitat...
View ArticleDisparities [Devotional]
...he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. Luke 1:53 Bitter Grounds is a story of inequality and injustice, of resiliency and strength, following three generations of...
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