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Bombaro family – Latvia – August 2019

Sophia and I just returned from the Eurasia Missionary Retreat in Odessa, Ukraine, where LCMS and our Alliance Missionaries were enriched by daily Matins and Vespers and the Divine Service on Friday. I (Pastor John Bombaro) was the keynote speaker, giving nine one-hour lectures on how the gospel mission of the first three centuries of Christianity parallels the challenges we face today.
Sixteen year-old Sophia Bombaro led the Vacation Bible School, moving her group from the story of creation to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The evenings were enriching times of conversation over local food. Our partner church, the Ukrainian Evangelical Lutheran Church, provided hospitality, accommodation, and hosted the retreat.
Three days were spent in Riga with leaders of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church planning a strategic vision of how to best train future pastors and church leaders in Scandinavia and the Baltic region.
There were many opportunities to present, discuss and promote the gospel both formally and informally. One memorable conversation with a young Lebanese man, in his mid-20s, named Saeed from a family in which his father is a Muslim and his mother a Christian, asked about which faith he should make his own. We shared with him the news that Jesus is the world’s rightful King and is in charge — not Allah, and that Jesus is a promise-making, promise-keepling Lord (unlike Allah). We parted way with him saying that he would go back to reading the Bible to understand more about Jesus. Pray that Saeed’s heart would be taken captive by the truth and love of Christ.
Thank you for all that you do to support work like this. To God be the glory and to you many, many thanks.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Pastor John Bombaro
LCMS Missionary to Riga, Latvia

Pastor John addressing the Eurasia missionaries
Part of the group poses in front of the Lutheran Conference Center in Odessa.
Outstanding sermons proclaimed the Gospel each morning and evening.
Sophia and Esther talking about the sweet things of Christ our Lord.