Intensive Reformation History Course

By Pastor Walter Ries, Jr.

We were privileged to have Pastor Milton Hofstetter from Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Buenos Aires, Argentina, come and give a course on Reformation history to our seminarians during the last weekend of February. This is one of two courses that our men receive in person from the seminary professors in Argentina. Lively discussion was had by all and highlights of the course were the conversations on the theology of the cross and how our Lord speaks clearly and plainly to us even today through His Word. We give thanks to our Lord for the faithful teachings received from our sister church in Argentina and pray that our Lord would give our professors strength and love to continue to teach us here.

Volunteer groups Transform School

By Pastor Ted Krey

At the beginning of March, a volunteer group of 14 people from 5 congregations in the South Wisconsin District joined us to aid in the building of the playground of our Concordia School. On Sunday, they treated us to some good old-fashioned fun as they invited the whole community of Palmar Arriba to join them for an afternoon of square dancing. Yep, square dancing in Spanish!! Then, Monday to Wednesday saw the group build and install four teeter totters and a huge concrete slab for volleyball and basketball. How they worked and how delighted our school children are words cannot tell, but sore bodies did and yet and the delighted smiles of the children made up for it all! On Thursday, Pastor Walter Ries, Jr. led the school and group in a dedication of the new play area.

Already plans are underway to use the playground for opportunities to have joint catechism classes and volleyball leagues for youth and men.

At the end of March, a volunteer group from Spokane, WA, came. Their work focused on painting the entire school and repairing the roof. Needless to say, the school looks absolutely amazing! We were very pleased to have several members of this team back as they were here last year as well. We give thanks to our Lord for the love of the volunteers, the Kellers, and many back home who have made this possible.

If you or your church would like to find a way to support this mission, please contact drlutheranmission@gmail.com

Lenten Service at Concordia School

By Pastor Walter Ries, Jr.

On Friday, March 2nd, our Concordia School children gathered for their Lenten service in which they recited Bible verses and hymns from memory to over 300 people. they sang ‘Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted’, ‘Christ the Life of all the Living’ and two liturgical songs, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’ and ‘Lamb of God’. Six short meditations of Law and Gospel interspersed the service allowing the assembled to meditate on the life of Christ flawlessly lived in love towards us and faithfulness to our Heavenly Father. The entire school body concluded the service by reciting from memory Isaiah 53:1-7, of the life of our Lord poured out in love on all the cross on behalf of all humanity.

Mission Partners Meet

By Pastor Ted Krey

During the first weekend in March, we were blessed to have our mission partners from South Wisconsin District, Bethesda, Lutheran World Relief and Human Care, and LCMS Mission join us for our bi-annual two-day meeting.

One of the highlights was the approval to use remaining funds from our Concordia Publishing House VBS offerings for the purchase of a property in Licey and the building of a church! We are thrilled that our mission in Licey will have a place of mercy to baptize, teach, preach and tell others of their sin, the need for repentance, and forgiveness found in Jesus! Some items which were approved to be explored are the founding of a deaconess school, a medical clinic, and the future plans of establishing a rehabilitation center in Santiago to serve people with disabilities.

Estefani’s Big Step

In January, it was a cold winter night. Winter in the Dominican means that it can get as cold as 60 degrees at night! Brrrr! Many of our church members chose to stay at home rather than brave the blustery, chilly evening. I went the two blocks from the church in my van to pick up the 6 children from our orphanage for divine service in Palmar Arriba. Out of the house came Moises, Randy, Ramona, Francis, and Junior. It was dark and I didn’t see Estefani. So, I left the children in the van and went to the house asking about Estefani. Ariel said, “Pastor, I think she is in the van.” I said, “No, I didn’t see her go past me in the wheelchair.” Ariel responded, “Pastor, she didn’t use the wheelchair, she walked out.” That is exactly what had happened. I had seen Estefani, but I had not seen her because she had no wheelchair! Estefani is learning through therapy and Christian love that it is ok to live without her disability and be simply whom God the Father has called her to be, His beloved daughter, through baptism and the faith that He has given her!

Would that we all could see each other in faith without the sin and parameters we place on each other and simply love and forgive as Christ has done for us! Give thanks together with us for Estefani’s continued growth as the Father’s precious child, and for each child that has been commended into our care in the orphanage.

The Story of Pastor Willy Gaspar

By Pastor Walter Ries, Jr.

Pastor Willy Gaspar has a most interesting story to tell of how he became a pastor. When Pastor Ries, Jr. was to be installed in the Dominican Republic, 6 years ago on a hotel lawn in Santiago, it was Willy and several other men who appeared from Santo Domingo, 160 km away, just as the service was about to begin. He asked if there was a Lutheran pastor who was to be installed, and the 6 church representatives said, yes, it was to happen right now!. The men asked if they could observe and the answer was, of course! Thus began a relationship in which Willy studies the catechism, became a member, studied theology classes for 5 years, was colloquized by the Argentinean Lutheran Seminary in February 2011, and ordained in March 2011.

After the earthquake in Haiti, Pastor Gaspar was asked by LCMS World Relief and Human Care to become the project manager of our projects in Haiti. Since that time, in just the past two years, three clinics, a Lutheran Villa of 27 homes, a church, seminary, and guest house have been established. In addition, on this side of the border, his church was built last year by the Kellers, volunteer teams, and local support. The congregation, “Amigos de Cristo” serves as a gathering place for all to grow in their faith weekly, with Sunday School, two catechism classes, and Divine Service.

Pastor Gaspar has a dental clinic in his home where he treats patients on the weekends. He speaks Spanish, Creole, French and English. His wife, Santa, leads Sunday School and is actively involved in the church. Together, they have two beautiful girls, Yeandra and Estefani. We give thanks to our Lord for the Gaspar family and how Christ uses his people for great good in serving and loving our neighbor both through the preaching of His Word and in love towards our neighbor.

The Story of Kissayris Gebhard

By Pastor Ted Krey

One of our very dear leaders is our school principal at Concordia Lutheran School – Miss Kissayris Gebhard (pictured here with the teachers at Concordia Lutheran School). Kissayris was confirmed in the Lutheran faith three years ago this coming July. She was introduced to Pastor Ries, Jr. through a friend who was studying Romans with him while she was concluding her university studies. While the friend is no longer in church, Kissayris studied the catechism, and later Basic Christian Doctrine, and became the first Lutheran confirmed in our Santiago mission. Today, Kissayris is the principal of 120 children at our Lutheran school in the village of Palmar Arriba. This is our second year of operations, and her second year as principal. Every morning, she leads the teachers in devotions, using Portals of Prayer, and prays for the teachers, their families, and for their vocation as teachers. Pastor Ries, Jr. leads a catechism class in her mother’s home every Tuesday night with her mother, sister, one of our teachers and neighbors in attendance, and now they are also attending church as well. We give thanks to God for Kissayris and the love that the Lord has given to her in living out her life in Christ for the well-being of others! Please pray for Kissayris, her family, and the school!