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A retreat should be a retreat. That's Shauen's philosophy. For our family we have found the annual missionary retreat can carry us through the toughest of times and the greatest of challenges. In the past, the very anticipation of an upcoming retreat has given our family something to hold on to as many as six months before it happens. This year, the missionaries of Eastern and Southern Africa came together for five days of retreat in Livingstone, Zambia. We were hosted by a talented and compassionate team from St. Andrew's Lutheran Church of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The St. Andrew's team provided morning and evening devotions, worship, Communion, Bible Study, times of individual conversation, visiting, counseling, child care, and also provided a financial gift that allowed our team to visit the beautiful and majestic Victoria Falls.
Dividing Zambia from Zimbabwe is the great Zambezi River which cascades in Livingstone, Zambia over Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall in Africa. The falls can be viewed with significantly different perspectives from the Zambia side, the Zimbabwe side, and the bridge between the countries. We saw it all – and got thoroughly soaked in the Zambezi in the process. One evening we went for a sunset cruise on the Zambezi above the falls. We all enjoyed seeing the sun sink behind the river bend – all except Josiah who threw up about five minutes after we got on the large and stable riverboat and proceeded to throw up several times throughout the gentle cruise – which was not appreciated.
But by far the most refreshing, encouraging, rejuvenating, and impactful part of our time was being together, worship, visiting, and celebrating each other. Praise the Lord for this opportunity to retreat!
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International Lutheran Conference in Wittenberg
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This month Lutheran church leaders from around the world gathered in Wittenberg, Germany for an International Conference on Confessional Leadership in the 21st Century. In attendance were leaders from 41 countries representing some 23 million Lutherans. The conference featured the presentation of academic papers from around the world, visits to Reformation sites, and frank discussions of both the challenges and opportunities for the church in the West, East, and South.
The LCMS's Regional and Area Directors attended to serve as guides, interpreters, and support staff for the visitors – many of whom had never been to Europe, much less to the heart of the Protestant Reformation. We worshiped together in St. Mary's Church, where Martin Luther preached thousands of sermons. Beyond simply meandering through an empty church as a tourist, worshiping in this great cathedral with the exuberant sounds of “A Mighty Fortress” ringing forth from our accented voices, many of us wondered if Luther had any idea what things would look like today – either in the church or the culture.
Shauen took advantage of the opportunity to have instant access to so many of the bishops he serves from across Eastern and Southern Africa, co-workers in the LCMS, and heads of associate organizations. To even reach many of these leaders in their offices around the world would take months and significant resources but here, it was only a matter of inviting someone to lunch, dinner, or a walk. Praise the Lord for this opportunity to visit together.
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This summer the Trump family will set out on home service once again. With our home service schedule now dictated by Josiah's summer vacation calendar, we have had to drop the third month we used to add to our home service. Instead, this time we have only two months to make visits to family, friends, and supporters. Our current visits are scheduled for:
- Arcata, California
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Madison, Alabama
- Puyallup, Washington
- Sandy, Oregon
- Cape Girardeau, Missouri
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Brentwood, Missouri
- Seward, Nebraska
- Omaha, Nebraska
- Mapleton, Iowa
- Beemer, Nebraska
- Rupert, Idaho
- Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
We're still waiting for responses from a few pastors. Please pray for us as we travel! |
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Photos in Focus
Area Retreat - Zambia |
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Prayer Requests
For wisdom, discernment, and patience for Shauen and Krista in their work as spouses, parents, and missionaries
For the Trump family home-service travels this summer
For the church around the world that they may speak God's forgiveness into each culture |
In Praise
For our recent Area Retreat in Zambia
For the opportunities we see opening for the LCMS in Africa
For adorable children who ask of the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls, "Does it keep going all the time?" |
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Monday, May 25, 2015 at 2:11PM 
