LCMS World Mission Blog

Playground Construction

“The ministry in Kyrgyzstan is multifaceted and growing! One important aspect of ministry in Kyrgyzstan is caring for children. The church in Kyrgyzstan, along with our mission staff, would like to have playgrounds built beside several churches in Kyrgyzstan. These playgrounds will attract children and their families to the church property, where the pastors and church members can interact with them to build relationships. This project has a goal of not only building personal relationships, but also building trust in the community. Congregational teams can help make this dream a reality. A congregation will first raise the funds to purchase the playground equipment locally. The churches are requesting slides, carousels, swings, basketball hoops and volleyball nets—something for everyone! The congregation will then send a team of people to Kyrgyzstan to work side-by-side with the local church members and leadership to build the playground! We pray your congregation will prayerfully consider this tangible way to make an eternal difference. ”

Medical Van

“Short-term missionaries aid the medical work on the 53-foot mobile medical/dental trailer, which has been in service since 1999. The medical van travels from village to village every two to three months. The staff consists of two dentists, one dental hygienist, a nurse/lab tech, a pediatrician, a gynecologist, an eye glass technician and an evangelist. The van provides free care for children from birth to age 16, women of child-bearing age and eye glasses for adults. At the end of each visit to the van, our evangelist speaks with every person about God’s grace. God has used this ministry in wonderful ways in the past years to show people His care of their body and spirit. Come join the national workers to increase and uplift this effort.”

Homeschool Teacher

“What is hospitality? Poverty? The people here welcome you with smiles, sharing their bread, offering you a steaming cup of tea. Will they have enough left over for their supper later? Perhaps.

These are important life lessons. But Noah and Kayla also need to learn some of the more mundane subjects, too. As you teach reading, history and geography, learn the true meaning of hospitality in the midst of poverty. Show them Christ as you share their life, their world.”

For more information, contact an LCMS World Mission placement counselor at 1-800-433-3954 or mission.recruitment@lcms.org. To learn about how you can serve the Lord around the world, visit www.lcmsworldmission.org/searchopps.

God knows us and what we need. He sent his Son, Jesus, to earth, so that we may have life, and have it to the full. Through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection, our relationship with God is restored and we have life. LCMS World Mission’s GEO and short-term programs focus on building relationships and sharing the Gospel with people through those relationships, as well as connecting locals to career personnel and national churches to continue building relationships. The people touched by GEO individuals and short-term teams need the same thing we all do: true life in Christ.  By serving for 1-2 years or even two weeks, you can help our career personnel and national churches in their efforts to introduce people to a true life in Christ.