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September 2018
The Wood Family in SouthEast Asia
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From the First Day until Now
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the Gospel from the fist day until now” (Philippians 1:53-5).
Kali and I have thought often of these words of thankfulness from the Apostle Paul. Are there more appropriate words than these to open our first newsletter? We give thanks to God for you our first day supporters.
Christ Jesus has shown us His power and glory throughout these first few weeks of network building. As we seek partners in the Gospel Jesus is truly at work in our lives and through His church. He has called us into this ministry. He continues to keep us safe in our travels. He continues to raise up a network of support for us. He does all this through you, His people, our partners in the Gospel. Thank you!
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2,500 miles, that is about how far we have traveled in our network building efforts. Much of our time has been spent on the Avenue of the Saints, a 563 mile long highway that connects Saint Louis, Missouri and Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Hour after hour on the road we pass by sign after sign: The Avenue of the Saints. The truth of these words first dawned on Kali. We are on more than a highway between Saint Louis and Saint Paul. We are on a highway to the saints of God who will be partners in ministry.
Traveling the Avenue of the Saints we see the excitement for the Gospel that God has given to His people. Whether it be Sunday services, midweek Bible studies, or a casual conversation over lunch the saints that we have met are quick to support and partner with the ministry in Indonesia.
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The Lord sees fit that these saints become the avenue of ministry with our partners in Indonesia! Our avenue to Indonesia will be through the prayer, encouragement, and financial support of the saints that partner with us.
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Partner with Us!
Partner with us and join the Avenue of the Saints! Listen. Pray. Tell. Give.
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Tell
- Talk with your friends about our ministry in Indonesia
- Help us connect with your local school, LWML,mission board, or congregation.
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Pray
- Safe travels
- Health
- Smooth Transition
- Support Raising
- Joy and Energy
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Give
- Visit www.lcms.org/wood for info on partnering financially
- Or call Mission Central:
712-882-1029
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“Baptism now saves you”
(1 Peter 3:21)
The Lord blessed us with a Sunday presentation at Peace Lutheran Church in Robbinsdale, Minnesota where Matthew was baptized on April 24, 1984.
What a blessing to return to the place, the very font, which God used to adopt Matthew into the family of God and promise him eternal life!
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Picture with the Boss
While we were in Iowa over the week of August 19th we had the opportunity to visit Mission Central and “get our picture taken with the boss”. Jesus and His love for the entire world is front and center at Mission Central. Whether it’s at the Creation Theater, the Worship Center or the fellowship hall Jesus is truly the Boss!
A great way to describe this place is “worth visiting!” and not just for missionaries and their families. Anyone with an appreciation for the Lord’s work across the world will benefit from a visit to Mission Central.
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Indonesia Fast Facts
- Independence: Aug. 17, 1945
- Population: 260 million
- 742 living languages
- Lingua Franca: Bahasa Indonesia
- 17,504 Islands
- 735,358 sq. miles
- Popular sports: Badminton & Soccer
- Largest Religion: Islam (87%)
- Christianity 10% of population
- Home to Orangutans
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Kids Corner
The new call to serve in Indonesia brought changes for our family. Kali began homeschooling Laurel for kindergarten. This is a new adventure for them both! Laurel loves the flexibility, travel of network building, field trips, and her teacher. We have all especially loved our time at state fairs in Wisconsin and Iowa.
We have also been blessed to spend time with extended family. Laurel and Eleanor saw all of their cousins over the last couple weeks. We spent Labor Day at Papa & Grandma Wood’s cabin in central Minnesota.
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Connections: from Kali
Support raising has been full of reconnecting with home churches, previous Seminary classmates, and friends who have moved away.
On a retired farm in the middle of Iowa the Lord blessed us with an unexpected reconnection. You may know this place as Mission Central, where we were privileged to present our ministry in Indonesia on August 22nd.
Before our presentation, Gary Theis introduced some individuals present that evening. He told the story of Ruth who traveled all the way from Sioux City, IA. A flicker of recognition sparked in my head. Ruth from Sioux City. That sounded familiar. Why did I know that name?
After our presentation a sweet older lady came up to me with a smile on her face and asked, “Do you remember me?” Finally being able to see her face I recognized her in an instant. “Of course, you worked in Macau with me!” I responded.
Eleven years ago Ruth and I worked side by side in Macau, a Special Administration Region of China, at an LCMS English Center. We served the Lord together for the 2 months that Ruth was there during my two year tenure.
Afterwards I continued to ponder how the Lord brings people into our lives. The Lord brought Ruth into my life over a decade ago and brought her back into our lives now. Throughout this support raising journey the Lord will continue to reconnect us with many old acquaintances and friends, as well as connect us with new friends who will walk alongside us as we serve the Lord in Indonesia. We cannot do this journey alone and we look forward to meeting our new partners in His service.
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Travel Schedule:*
- Sept. 12: Chapel at
Redeemer Christian Academy
- Sept. 16: Sunday Services at
Redeemer, Wayzata, MN
- Sept. 22: Festival Pot Luck at
Peace, West Bend, IA
- Sept. 23: Mission Sunday at
Immanuel, Lotts Creek, IA
- Oct. 7: Sunday Services at
Good Shepherd, Roanoke, VA
- Oct. 10: Wednesday Service at
St. John, Lynchburg, VA
- Oct. 14: Sunday Services at
St. Paul’s, Mechanicsville, VA
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In the Next Issue:
- Introducing the Indonesia Christian Lutheran Church (GKLI)
- Partnership and ministry in Indonesia?
- Highlights from September
- AND MORE!
*Travel Schedule does not include midweek Bible studies or congregational group meetings.
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