Bishop David deFreeseBishop Dave deFreese
Nebraska Synod, ELCA

Jesus said to them: “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21)

The 10 o’clock news just about did me in last night. With machine gun precision, the newscaster’s rapid fire litany of tragedy spewed forth unrelentingly:

  • a 15-year-old boy standing at a bus stop killed by a drive-by shooting
  • a 21-year-old man who was run over by unwanted visitors at a party, senselessly died
  • a 54-year old real estate mogul was sentenced after his fifth D.U.I.
  • a seven-year-old girl was molested at the shopping mall … and on and on.

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Pastor Martin RussellPastor Martin Russell
Assistant to the Bishop
Nebraska Synod, ELCA

An English author once observed “Death was Nature’s way of telling you to slow down.” One could easily say “Lent is the Church’s way of telling you to slow down.” This first Sunday in Lent we slow down to encounter the temptations faced by Jesus in Luke’s gospel. I am indebted to Richard Rohr (Radical Grace: Daily Meditations) for the ways in which he reminds me that all of us face the same three temptations as Jesus did.

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The school bell rings and children rush to the flagpole. There they meet the volunteer of the day for the “walking carpool” from the elementary school to Our Savior Lutheran Church’s “Front Porch” building in Wayne.

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The earthquake in Haiti shook North Platte.

Members of First Evangelical Lutheran Church felt the shock and responded with a “Hearts for Haiti” Prime Rib dinner on February 12. As a result, First Evangelical will be sending $4,943 to ELCA Disaster Relief.

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Lisa KrammeLisa Kramme
Director of Faith Formation
Nebraska Synod, ELCA

It’s another busy week. (Aren’t they all?) And although it can be a budget-buster, we’ll probably go out to grab a quick bite to eat tonight before our kids’ evening activities begin. Sometimes running into a fast food spot seems like a real necessity, but here’s what I’ve found—eating quickly at various restaurants around town may FILL ME UP, but a meal at home with my family around our table is where I get FED.

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Midland nursing studentsIn mid-January, six Midland Lutheran College nursing students “invaded” Machame Lutheran Hospital for a week, experiencing healthcare in a resource poor environment.

They assisted at deliveries, started IVs, scrubbed for surgery, did compound wound cleanings, assisted in the HIV-AIDS treatment clinic and more. They also had a blood pressure clinic at Nkwarungo Lutheran Parish where more than 40 individuals with high blood pressure were referred for care. Machame Lutheran Hospital is one of three hospitals run by our companion synod, the Northern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania.

Visits to local rural markets, schools and an orphanage were part of their introduction to Tanzanian life. The students were surprised at how welcoming the Africans were, strangers or friends. They appreciated being able to build one-on-one relationships with their sister Tanzanian nurses and especially enjoyed being hosted for dinners in their homes.

The students came as part of their interterm international experience.

“It was cool to learn nursing in a different environment where they don’t have the resources. You have to prioritize differently. But they also do less documenting and have more time with their patients,” said Megan Black of Elkhorn.

“This has changed my whole perspective on healthcare and how much we take for granted…like even having enough gloves and gauze and not wasting anything,“ shared Sara Crane of Omaha.

“Being in Tanzania is an eye opener about everything. I will never look at life the same, even little things like drinking tap water or toilet paper,” Brianna Hemminger of Lincoln.

“The Tanzanians have taught us something about the spiritual element of care and the importance of faith in healing,” said Professor Anne Larson.

The students expressed their thanks to Machame Lutheran Hospital for allowing them to come and to Bob Kasworm of Alegent Health for his help with arrangements. They also were appreciative of the support they received from people at home.

This was the second visit by Midland Lutheran nursing students, the first having taken place in 2008.

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David Wunsch and Kate Lawler serve as missionaries for the ELCA in Argentina.

Dear Friends:

Argentina missionariesA couple of days ago our family boarded a plane from Boston to Buenos Aires and our two and half month home assignment came to an end. As we now reflect on what this time back in the United States has meant to us, the image of the medieval pilgrimage comes to mind. Medieval pilgrims usually set out toward a specific destination in light of a particular event. They traveled to be eyewitnesses of sacred events and places. They went seeking first-hand knowledge and experiences of a particular way God can “break into” human lives and transform us for God’s own purposes. In our case the destination has been into the heart and hearths of your congregations and homes. The event has been the celebration of our shared faith in Christ and our connection through global mission.

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As baptized members of the body of Christ, we gratefully confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. We boldly proclaim the gospel as the Word of God. We clearly recognize the gifts that God has first given us through grace, and we joyfully accept our role and responsibility as stewards.

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