LTS students enjoy warm cloths given to them from a church in Southern CA
Dear friends in Christ,
FLUEGGE NEWS UPDATE
Greetings from Pretoria, South Africa. While it’s summer for most of you in the north(ern hemisphere), it’s winter for those of us in the south(ern hemisphere). “Hot” and “cold” are always somewhat relative. I’ve seen West African students dawn winter ski coats at 65F and visitors from the US with sweat-drenched shirts at 80F…. For the moment, though, we’re cold with it reaching freezing at night. Lots of thanks, then, go to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Goleta, CA for collecting and making warm clothes for us and the seminary students. Thanks! (See the attached photo.)
Teaching at Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS). Friday, June 18, was the last day of final exams at the Lutheran Theological Seminary. The first semester of the 2010 academic year is officially over, though I have many tests and papers to grade. Some of the students have returned home, others are visiting with Lutheran congregations in South Africa, and still others are hunkering down at the seminary, while trying to survive the cold. Thanks for your prayers. And please continue to pray. Classes start up again on July 19.
Football (soccer, for those from the U.S.) World Cup in South Africa. Our semester break is longer this year than usual as the South Africa government has recommended that all schools take off for the World Cup. It is hard to explain how much having the world’s biggest sports event here has influenced South African life. It is HUGE…something that folks in the U.S. would have difficulty imagining. With the hosting of the World Cup, South Africa has been given an opportunity to re-define itself in the world’s eyes (after years of apartheid) and, in many ways, re-define all of Africa. From what I hear, it seems it is doing an excellent job in terms of hospitality, organization, spirit, etc. On any given day, one can hear “Vuvuselas” resounding throughout the town. Oh the “vuvusela.” The blaring noise from these long, slim, plastic trumpets, which originated in South Africa, dominates the atmosphere of the stadiums during soccer games has now become part of soccer life. As I write this, both Bafana Bafana (the South African team) and the U.S. team have been eliminated, but that has not dampened our spirit. AYOBA! (a cry of celebration, though I’m not sure of its true meaning or origin…).
Doctoral studies at the University of Pretoria. I’ve been accepted into the pre-doctoral program at the University of Pretoria in the area of Church History with the goal of studying the history of theological education. How has the church trained its pastors in the past…always with an eye towards how should we train them in the future? What this means now for me, however, is spending hours a day studying Latin and German (while everyone else is one break!).
Brass Band Fest in Wartburg, South Africa (not in Germany). June 11-13 was spent in Wartburg, South Africa, a small farming town with a huge Lutheran Church about six hours south-west of Pretoria. In that small town we enjoyed the German Lutheran synod’s youth and brass festival (the German Lutheran Synod is the FELSISA – Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa). Yes, the Germans in South Africa have their own synod and everything is done in German (though this may change soon). This means that the weekend in Wartburg was done entirely in German. The youth (at least the girls) dressed in their “German” garb, did German dances, and played German games. It was a real eye-opening, cultural experience for us Americans of German descent (cf. the name Fluegge). I’m used to learning about African cultures in Africa. Learning about old German cultures in Africa was a new experience for me. We also stayed with the Weber family in Wartburg whose hospitality was incredible.
Kids’ school. The kids are enjoying the break and bemoaning the fact that school starts up again in two weeks.
PLEASE PRAY WITH US:
Thank God for all of those who have so generously and sacrificially given to support our ministry and for those who continue to support us as we be about His work in Africa.
Pray that the Lord guide and grant me strength and wisdom balancing between work, studies, and family as I begin pursuing PhD studies at the University of Pretoria.
Pray that God build up in us an understanding and appreciation for this new culture as well as a love and passion for the people among whom we live and those with whom we will be working.
Crime is very high in South Africa. Please pray for God’s divine protection over us – that he keep us safe from theft, robbery, hi-jacking, etc.
Please also do not forget to keep praying for the CLET in Togo – especially for Dr. Dongo, the Director, but also for the students and staff there.
Please pray weekly (or daily!) for the following students at LTS – that God would transform them throughout this year into faithful and effective pastors for His church (we’ve added a few):
Upper Class Beginning Class
Geoffrey Thokane Skosane (South Africa) Daniel Fitebo (Ethiopia)
Alex Macharia Ambani (Kenya) Benjamin Kaumba (Zambia)
Boitumelo Magosinyana (South Africa) Christian Straeuli (South Africa)
Eric Gbotoe (Liberia) Simon Ishaya (Nigeria)
Enoch MacBen (Uganda) Ashenafi Desta (Ethiopia)
Madara Eboro (Nigeria) Thulani Hadebe (South Africa)
Gemah Ballah (Liberia) Matthew Tokpah (Liberia)
Peter Anibati Abia (Sudan) Isaac Madonsela (South Africa)
Ipeleng Makoka (South Africa) Christoph Weber (South Africa)
Balihikya Johnson (Uganda) Dennis Borbor (Liberia)
Odoo James Okello (Uganda) Nokukhanya Shabalala (South Africa – this girl is part of the deaconess program)
Peter Maganda (Uganda)
Frank Kainerugaba (Uganda)
Waako York (Uganda)
Will you please post these names on the fridge, next to the bed, etc., and pray for them with us? In addition to these two classes, there are also students in the “Advanced Program” already out in the field who come back twice a year to LTS to attend short courses. I don’t have the names for all of these students, but please also pray for this program and the students.
ABOUT US: We (along with our five children) have served with LCMS World Mission since 1998 in Togo, West Africa where I taught at the Centre Luthérien d’Etudes Théologiques, a seminary that trains pastors for Lutheran churches throughout French-speaking Africa. We recently accepted a call to continue serving as missionaries in South Africa where I currently teach at the Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS) in Pretoria and work with Lutheran churches throughout Africa to help develop their pastoral training programs. Please visit our websites to learn more about us: www.flueggefamily.com or www.revglennfluegge.com.
SUPPORT US: Susan and I greatly appreciate your help in making our ministry in Africa possible. LCMS WM missionaries are now responsible for raising 100% of our own support. Your ongoing support assures us of God’s provision on a regular basis.
The purpose of this update is to keep you informed. We do not wish to clutter up your inbox. If you receive this email more than once or wish to no longer receive these updates, kindly send us a note. Thanks.
The peace of the Lord be with you,
Glenn Fluegge
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Rev. Glenn Fluegge, MDiv, MS Education
LCMS World Mission
Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane
Pretoria, South Africa
Tel/Fax: +27 12 368 1751
Cel: +27 72 163 3171
www.revglennfluegge.com
Ce n’est plus moi qui vis, mais c’est Christ qui vit en moi… Gal 2:20
