The President and a Few of His Men

...and women! It was more than a few, too; this year's Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL) team, which included the president, Rev. Dr. Tom Egger, was quite possibly the largest I've hosted in LAC: 16 people. 

I'd like to say we did the usual slate of Mission Education activities, but there's really no such thing. Sure, there are some non-negotiables, but the field is a dynamic place. It was also the team leader's 3rd time, so Dana & I preserved some standbys while mixing in some new experiences. 

The team arrived into Puerto Plata. After helping get them settled and feeding them Bolivian food, I stuck around for evening prayer. 

One of our new experiences was hearing from congregational president Owen before church in Licey on Sunday - how he and his family came to know the Lutheran church, what his role involves, etc. 

The church presented Dr. Egger with one of its trademark wall crosses. 

A standby: grocery store scavenger hunt! Silly games with Erin might be a wee bit educational and no so silly after all...

The team's first full day ended with an Argentinian cookout and a hymn sing. 

Flat tire on the way to Kilometer 28. Notice no one's complaining: such is life in the DR. 

Danelle guided us through a Bible story activity like we used to do with new missionaries, volunteers, FOROs, etc. pre-COVID. Everything - the residents, the staff, the space - looked like it had undergone a refresh. We invited the current batch of new missionaries and seminarians and got a few takers. Pictured above (center) is Associate Regional Business Manager Jordan and below, seminarians Edwin (Bolivia) and Fernando (Cuba). 

Gavin and [nonverbal] Ángel sat peacefully on this bench nearly the entire time. 

Puppet show time! Team member Cathy and I played the sheep in the Parable of the Lost Sheep.

Tuesday was a national holiday, so the schedule was populated with things that'd be open regardless, like the botanical garden and cable car (above).

Impromptu lunchtime Bible study. Sancocho pairs well with Lutheran missiology.

Rev. Roberto Weber divided the MDiv students, deaconess students, and Dr. Egger into four groups, each led by a pastor or seminarian, for community home visits in Palmar that evening.

I was SO excited to see the Bible story skit's debut during Wednesday morning's Christian formation lesson in Palmar. CSL has developed a bit of a reputation for Academy Award winning dramas ;)

Does the pig mask give away that they'd selected The Parable of the Prodigal Son? 

I skedaddled soon after and to put the finishing touches on lunch while the team did a dance lesson. The fact that my house is set up to seat 24 family-style made my heart SO happy.

After lunch, we convened another standby: a deaconess panel. Three missionary deaconesses and one local deaconess (pictured, with me translating) shared the ins and outs of their vocation.

Gavin preached - in SPANISH! - at seminary chapel Thursday morning before we sat in on a regional team meeting and then made our way to Santo Domingo. I was WIPED by this point in the week, so there is no photographic evidence of performing the skit for the after school kids at Iglesia Luterana Pan de Vida OR eating Venezuelan cachapas. I went in search of some fake Nyquil that night and slept 10 hours. 

Four more performances awaited us Friday morning at the PUBLIC school across the street from the church. 

As with last year, the skit game was strong with an original refrain to reinforce the main message: even when we run away, God receives us in His house (the Church, and eventually, heaven!). 

Pastors Sergio and Josué took turns hammering home the Gospel with the kids with Q&A and a closing prayer.

Rain threw a wrench in the team's afternoon - and evening - plans. I Ubered back with a participant who had a medical situation (wait...you mean I get a NAP?!) and met back up with the group for an Italian feast - indoors instead of on the restaurant's rooftop terrace.

Did you notice I said "DANA & I" above? She took on an increasing amount of responsibility as the week wore on, handling multiple complex situations like a rock star. Eventually, she saw them off Saturday morning ALL on her own. I was up at 3:00 am for a 6:00 flight to Belize and the next major event in the perpetual string of major events that represents my normal. 

Until next time, blessings in Christ!