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“Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the Lord; exult before him!”
(Psalm 68:4)
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I watched the south Sudanese women in their long blue robes sing at the front of the church while the sounds of drums beating kept the rhythm. The singing was distinct, the hymns spoke of Christ’s salvation and reminded me of when I had first heard singing such as this a few years ago on a trip to Kakuma Refugee camp in northern Kenya to visit a congregation of South Sudanese Lutherans.
However, this choir was part of a small group of believers meeting in the front of a Lutheran church in western Iowa. After three weeks of racing across the US to reconnect with congregations, I found myself comforted and pleasantly displaced to be among the familiar sounds and sights of African Christians–not in Africa, but in a quiet church in Sioux City.
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God provided the opportunity to stop by Mission Central before the end of John’s trip
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Knowing July through September would be busy for him as seminaries and schools would resume in Africa, John had a brief window in May/June this year for a quick trip stateside. Our home service in 2020 was cancelled due to covid travel restrictions, and in 2021, as travel remained limited, John made a solo trip to connect with supporting congregations, friends and family.
It was 2015 and 2017 since we had visited supporters in the eastern US and it was high on John’s list to spend time there. But how to visit so many with only 1 Sunday and some weekdays? God already had a plan and beautifully fit in evening potlucks, morning bible studies, home visits, and mission board meetings to spend one-on-one in-person time to share how the Lord has continued to share the Good News of Christ even during these interesting times.
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Three days of straight driving from Wyoming to Maryland in time to begin presentations in the eastern states.
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It happened that many churches were just reopening with in-person services and bible studies resuming in many parts of the US. Although his visits were brief, it was good to reconnect with congregations, and in some cases, visit newly supporting ones. We are very grateful for the support and warm welcomes offered that made this short trip such a blessing.
Although the news of the trip in May/June is written into our newsletter for December, we didn’t want to miss the opportunity to give our thanks to those who welcomed John’s visit and for your continued prayers and support over this past year. As some constraints have eased, it has been a blessing to travel again. May God grant you a Merry Christmas and much blessing in this coming year.
Merry Christmas,
The Wolf Family
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Visit to our home congregation and Sunday school of Hope in Aurora, Colorado
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South Sudan Connections
The South Sudanese that John had met in Iowa knew the pastor and many in the congregation that John had once visited in Kakuma Refugee camp.
Over the past years, LCMS and ELCK have supported church construction and seminary training to support fellow brothers and sisters in Christ within refugee camps in northern Kenya.
During 2021, four men who had completed seminary training were now ordained as pastors, with their church leadership visiting from South Sudan and Sudan.
While it is still unsafe to return to their homelands, these new pastors will continue to share Christ’s love and forgiveness bringing hope to many within during their patient sojourn in Kenya.
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Visits & Connections
Augsburg/ Overland Park KS
Grace/ Newton KS
Mt Olive/ Aurora CO
Hope/ Aurora CO
Shepherd of the Hills/ Centennial CO
Epiphany/ Castle Rock CO
St Luke’s/ Golden CO
Ascension/ Littleton CO
Beautiful Savior/ Broomfield CO
Mt Calvary/ Ft Lupton CO
Gloria Dei/ Greeley CO
St John’s/ Ft Collins CO
Faith/ Johnstown CO
Zion/ Douglas WY
Trinity/ Lexington Park MD
StAthenasia/ Vienna VA
Martini/ Baltimore MD
St Paul/ Hancock MD
Trinity/ Zanesville OH
Grace/ Columbus IN
Immanuel/ Seymour IN
Beautiful Savior/ Polk City IA
Mission Central/ Mapleton IA
Redeemer/ Sioux City IA
Immanuel & Trinity/ Janesville MN
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Images from Africa: Anna & Thad stuffed Christmas gift bags for the children at the Project 24 boarding facilities. The girls at one site, P24 Tumaini, read letters from their sponsors and cards crafted by Lutheran school children from the Midwest.
John had a another couple visits to Matongo seminary in western Kenya- to show our Alliance missionaries from Brazil and for further repairs on a missionary house.
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Wolf Cubs
Sean & Thad enjoy camping with friends along Lake Naivasha. There is an electric fence between Sean and the hippo. The boys enjoyed a tasty dinner of their catch from the lake.
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Prayer Requests
Safe travels for our missionaries and church leaders.
Safe travels as seminary students navigate international travel constraints, and wisdom and strength as they tends to their studies.
Recovery of communities in northern Kenya affected by an extended dry season.
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In Praise
Thanks for the Lord’s safe return of temporary visitors.
For the completion of a number of church roof projects in time for Christmas service.
For God’s healing for some African church leaders who were ill.
For the gifts from sponsors and safe travels of our P24 Director to deliver gift bags for Project 24 Children.
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Walking together with African churches takes many resources. We want to Thank and recognize some of the churches walking with us, including saints at: Bethlehem/Monterey CA; Holy Nativity/Baltimore MD; Holy Cross/O’Fallon MO; Immanuel in Alliance NE, Janesville MN, ABQ NM, Carlsbad NM, Eagle NE, Hankinson ND, Roswell NM, Santa Fe NM, Seymour IN, Parkers Prairie MN, Mayville, WI; Redeemer in Sioux City IA, ABQ NM, David City ME, Huntington Beach CA, Los Alamos NM, Redwood City CA, Bayside NY, Nashville TN, Richmond VA; Our Redeemer/ Glenrock WY; LeMars IA Zone LWML; Messiah Ladies Bible Study/Longmont CO; Cedar Hill Lutheran MO; Beautiful Savior in Polk City IA & Broomfield CO; Eternal Savior/Lafayette CO; Our Savior in Pagosa Springs CO, West Pueblo CO, & StPaul MN; and Lutheran Church of Our Savior/ Cupertino CA. (check our next newsletter for more supporting churches)
If you are not already, please prayerfully consider partnering with us via on-going support. You are an important part of our Mission team!
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Support Information. To support the LCMS through the work of the Wolf Family, please consider a recurring or one-time gift securely through one of the below Give Now buttons
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OR
Make checks payable to LCMS or Mission Central. Write “Wolf-Kenya” in memo to send a tax-deductible gift through one of the following:
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The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
P.O. Box 66861
St Louis MO 63166-6861
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Mission Central
40718 Highway E-16
Mapleton IA 51034
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Reach us in the field at:
(correspondence ONLY- no checks)
John Wolf Family
PO Box 22
Karen 00502 Kenya
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You have been subscribed to our newsletter because you either received previous newsletters, expressed an interest in this mission work, submitted your email through a sign-up sheet when we visited your church, a Mission Sender’s brochure, or in connection with a gift of support or prayer commitment.
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