Posts by Susan:

    MOVIE – Ordination in Togo (Nov 26, 2011)

    December 1st, 2011

    Dear friends in Christ,

    Six days of traveling in planes and buses from the bustling city of Pretoria, South Africa to the remote village of Nano, Togo was nothing compared to the celebration this past Saturday, Nov 26. Five of my former students were ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry. Singing, worshipping, drumming, dancing, praising the Lord – What a privilege and honor it was to be present at such a special occasion, to be able to lay my hands on the heads of these former students and pray God’s blessing on their future ministries.

    It is impossible to capture the magnitude of such an event, but Susan has tried by putting together this video: http://youtu.be/4F1tuXrY8ps (Is it even possible to keep your foot from tapping as you listen to the African drums?)

    In the United States, such events take place quite often and the ceremony normally happens in the calling church. Here in Togo things are different. First, the ordination of pastors does not happen often. It is not easy to make it through the rather tedious study program of the Lutheran seminary in Togo and even more difficult to satisfy the requirements of the vicarage. Once this is done, a congregation must call the soon-to-be pastor and agree to support him. Then, it’s not done in private – rather the entire national church gathers together to celebrate the festive occasion with several pastors being ordained at the same time. All of the pastors come from all over to participate. God has called servants into His ministry and that’s worth celebrating. (Such widespread celebration is in itself a tool for evangelizing the surrounding community and helping congregation members understand the importance of supporting their pastors and the ministry).

    After a rather precarious ride in a fragile taxi (see the video!), we arrived at the public school in Nano (none of the churches would have big enough to hold the huge crowd) and the preparations began. I saw faces beaming as I took out the stoles and crosses and told them that these were gifts donated by many of you (the crosses had arrived in the mail the day before!). It felt good to share your kindness with these pastors, to see how much it was appreciated, and to tell them that these things were a token of your prayers on their behalf.

    The service started around 9:00 and ended somewhere around 2:00 – but who was keeping track of time anyway?  The ceremony was what mattered and could not be rushed. Church president Rev. Lamboni conducted the ordination liturgy and the candidates swore before God and all of us as witnesses their commitment to faithfully fulfill their ministries until their “heure dernière” (last hour). Each new pastor was “étolé” by a fellow pastor (the putting on of a pastoral stole).They then knelt and time was given to each of us to lay our hands on the head of each new pastor, recite a verse, and give a blessing. My verse to my former students was 2 Cor 3:5-6, for nothing worthwhile we do in the ministry comes from us – it is all from God. The ceremony was far from over. We were asked to give advice to the new pastors. As their former “prof,” I gave them two words – in Greek (just to keep them thinking!): “doulos” (slave of Christ) and “typos” (model of Christ) – both are biblical words that Paul uses to describe himself as God’s minister. But the ceremony was still not over. Now it was time for the church members to participate and show their appreciation to God for giving them these new pastors. One by one, each new pastor was called by name to stand in the middle of the huge assembly. Then, to the beat of drums and rhythm of singing, people lined up to give gifts, hug, and congratulate each new pastor. The air was full of dust from the dancing and celebrating. The ceremony closed with prayers and a final blessing after which we were graciously offered a plate of rice and goat meat.

    Please join with us in praying for these five new pastors and their ministries: Rev. Tchimbiandja Blaise, Rev. Tame Gothma, Rev. Nankobi Lari, Rev. Djatoite Likebongue, and Rev. Dabirsoa Jean-Lare. They were my students. What a blessing that I can now call them my brothers in the ministry.

    I want to sincerely thank you for your prayers and support that made this important trip possible. And a special thanks from me and all of the pastors of the Lutheran Church of Togo for those of you who donated crosses and stoles for this occasion. Not only were the five new pastors able to benefit from your kindness, but other pastors as well. I’ve tried to include some photos of it.

    The Lord bless and keep you,

    Glenn

     

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    Prayer Requests

    November 20th, 2011

    Dear friends in Christ,

    Please pray with us for the following two things:

    1) A fellow-worker and dear friend, Tim Heiney, has just recently been diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on one of his kidneys. Please pray with us that God will grant him healing and comfort. Tim and his wife, Beth, are long-time missionaries in Africa (over 25 years I believe). He is currently a missionary in Guinea working among Muslims and also Area Facilitator for French-speaking West Africa. They had just returned to Africa after a furlough in the states and now must return to the states so that Tim can receive proper care. The “cancer” word can cause uncertainty and fear, so we ask for comfort and assurance for their entire family and that God would guide the doctors and bring Tim back to full health so that he continue to do God’s work in Africa.

    2) Please also pray for my trip next week to Togo to attend the ordination of five former students. I will be leaving on Wednesday and returning on Tuesday of the following week. Pray for safe, hassle-free travel and that God use me to be an encouragement to our friends and co-workers in Togo. The entire seven day trip will consist of four days of travel by plane and two full days of bus travel and one day attending the ordination (six days of travel and one day of celebration!). Such is life of a missionary when working in rural Africa. Pray that God grant me strength and health.

    We are deeply grateful for your prayers right now, my friends.

    The Peace of the Lord be with you,

    Glenn

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    Fluegge Family Letter 17-Nov-2011

    November 19th, 2011

    Praise the Lord.  Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.  Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.  Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with the resounding cymbals.  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord!  Psalm 150

    Greetings from Pretoria-

    We haven’t been up to too much since I last wrote.  Jesse’s grade 00 class had it’s annual sports day.  The four different grade 00′s  competed against each other in several different races involving balls, sacks, spoons, potatoes, and water.  They also had a few tug-of-wars.  Jesse’s class won for the boys but came in second for the whole class tug-of-war.  He had fun and I had fun watching him.

    Abigail was given half-colors for swimming.  I still haven’t figured out the whole colors thing or why she was awarded half-colors.  One of these days it will all make sense to me.  She was also given the award for the most improved swimmer of the year.  I am really grateful to her swim coaches who saw fit to give her both awards.  I believe that she has done her best this year with swimming.  We have also put her in a swimming club.  At the moment this just means more hours in the pool with more help/instruction.  It also means more taxi driving for me.

    The grade 3′s had their annual spring concert.  I did not attend as I was busy attending another function.  Because of this I am not able to say anything about it.  Glenn did go and he took many pictures and video and from what I can gather the production had something to do with our wonderful planet.  Here is the link to some video footage on YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJSroXCgYSg hopefully that link works.  I will check it out to make sure.

    Glenn’s students came for dinner.  We did an American barbecue and had steak, baked potatoes, and salad.  I let Eboro (the student from Nigeria) use my keyboard and everyone sat around singing while we waited for the steak to cook.  It was fun and I am glad we did it.  The kids were really disappointed because I had made 3 different desserts and not a single one of them was left.

    One of Samuel’s friends invited Samuel to a resort for a weekend.  It was a birthday present from his parents.  That is right.  Four young teenage boys were let loose at a resort for three days.  They caused mischief and mayhem, had an amazing time and no one got hurt or in trouble.  I am thankful Samuel was able to have this time with his friends.

    Both Samuel and Abigail are in the middle of exams.  Please pray for them.  They need to be able to stay focused and remember all they have learned and studied so that they can do well on their end of the year exams.

    For now that is all my news.  Hopefully the next letter will be a bit more exciting.  We have less than 20 days before we head to CA.  Yes, I am counting the days.  The hours will come later.

    In Christ
    Susan Fluegge
    (Glenn, Samuel, Abigail, Caleb, Jesse, Eliana)

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    Fluegge Family Letter 27-Nov-2011

    October 27th, 2011

    1.  The will of God is always best and shall be done forever; and they who trust in Him are blest;  He will forsake them never.  He helps indeed in time of need;  He chastens with forbearing.  They who depend on God, their friend, shall not be left despairing.  2.  God is my comfort and my trust, my hope and life abiding;  and to His counsel, wise and just, I yield, in Him confiding.  The very hairs, His Word declares, upon my head He numbers.  By night and day God is my stay; He never sleeps nor slumbers.  3.  Lord, this I ask, o hear my plea, deny me not this favor: when Satan sorely troubles me, then do not let me waver.  O guard me well, my fear dispel, fulfill Your faithful saying:  all who believe by grace receive an answer to their praying.  4.  When life’s brief course on earth is run and I this world am leaving, grant me to say, “Your will be done,” Your faithful Word believing.  My dearest Friend, I now commend my soul into Your keeping;  from sin and hell, and death as well, by You the victory reaping.

    (lsb #758)

     

     

     

    Greetings from Pretoria,

     

    And the time flies and I wonder where it went.  And, then I wonder, what happened because I can’t really remember.  The days run together with the same monotonous routine.  I am so loving it.  I like routine and sameness and boring, boring, boring (even though it gives me nothing to write about).  However, amongst all this same boringness the Jacaranda’s are blooming adding splashes of beautiful purple to the sameness.  I find myself taking detours on school runs just to drive down the streets that are lined with blooming, purple Jacaranda’s.  I wish I could capture the amazing beauty of it all but I just haven’t managed it with my camera.  The pictures I attached to the end of this letter will have to suffice.

     

    To “spice” things up a bit in our life we took a quick, spontaneous trip to Kruger National Park to view African wildlife.  Thanks to some friends we had two tents so everyone had a place sleep, a plug in cooler/freezer to keep our meat from going bad (the cooler plugs into the car and runs on the cars battery so we had it plugged in while we were driving around )and some amazing binoculars so that we could see the wildlife that wasn’t on the side of the road.  Our goal was to see the big five (Elephants, rhino’s, lions, buffalo, and leopard) and so we did.  Most people don’t get to see a leopard and I had the opportunity to see two of them.  The first leopard we saw was just luck.  It was at the end of 6 hours on the road seeing the same old thing.  Up ahead there were a bunch of cars pulled over and people were pointing a tree.  We thought it was just another owl and were going to keep going but at the last minute Glenn decided to pull over and ask someone.  They pointed out a leopard sitting in a tree but could only be seen using binoculars.  We all took a  minute or to look through the binoculars at the behind of a leopard and thought the whole thing totally cool.  The other leopard siting was on our night drive.  We forked over the money and three of us went on a night drive which proved to be pretty boring with nothing to see until the end.  There on the side of the road was a leopard.  We could have reached over the side of the safari vehicle and touched it, thats how close we were.  Unfortunately, the leopard didn’t stick around long.  It was very irritated at being disturbed so it walked off into the bush.  I didn’t even have time to fetch my camera out of my jacket pocket.  

     

    Some of our other close encounters involved a giraffe, a hippo, and some rhinos.  Getting pretty bored with not finding anything Glenn decided to up the speed going from 20 kilometers an hour to 30.  Just after hitting top speed we passed by some thick trees and startled a giraffe that was going to cross the road.  We startled him and he startled us.  We were very lucky that we didn’t hit him.  A bit later we came up on a car just sitting in the middle of the road.  It was at a standstill because two rhinos were blocking the path.  They were just standing there, in the middle of road, staring down the car, daring it to go forward.  After about 10 minutes the car won the stare down and the rhinos headed off into the bush.  After the first leopard encounter we decided to call it a day and head back to camp.  We were not going to stop for any vehicle sitting on the side of road to see what they were viewing because we had seen all we cared to see.  Unfortunately, at one point a truck was stopped so Glenn slowed down to go past.  We were all looking at the side of the road at the monkeys we thought the truck had stopped for.  But, no, the truck had actually stopped because the people inside had spotted a hippo making its way through the bush.  Just as Glenn was about to pass the truck a hippo runs out of the bush onto the road and to the other side.  I’m not sure why the hippo had left the water  and gone so far into the bush but he was in a hurry to get back to the water.  

     

    We also watched a hyena “following” an impala and several other hyenas were told, in no uncertain terms, that they were not strong enough to take down a giraffe.  The giraffe made it clear he wasn’t worth their time so the hyenas just kept on walking.  We also saw two giraffes “fighting”.  We call it fighting but we aren’t sure.  It was more like some sort of weird neck dance with them butting heads every once in a while.  I guess there was a victor as one of the giraffes gave up and walked off to eat lunch.  

     

    Our Kruger adventure turned out well and everyone, including Glenn, had a good time.  On the way home we drove up and over the “mountains” through Graskop and ate at Harry’s pancakes.  I’m glad we took the extra hour  to go a different way because the scenery was amazing and we learned a little more about South Africa.

     

    On the family front, term 4 is under way.  Samuel is playing water polo, Abigail is swimming, Jesse does whatever the school will offer until 2pm when I pick up the other kids and Caleb is doing gymnastics and chess.  Glenn has two more weeks of classes (1 and a half by now) and exam weeks are coming up.  We have less than 6 weeks to go before we head back to the U.S. for some family time (and fundraising time).  We are counting down the days.

     

    In Christ

    Susan Fluegge

    (Glenn, Samuel, Abigail, Caleb, Jesse, Eliana)

     

     

     

     

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    Commemoration of Dr. Kreiss

    October 26th, 2011

    Dear friends in Christ,

    Yesterday morning I sat at my desk and wept. I do not cry often, but I could not help myself.

    I had just received news that Rev. Dr. Wilbert Kreiss had died during the night while attending the dedication of the Kiswahili translation of the Book of Concord in Tanzania. My heart is still torn. God has called home to himself his own child and for that I am joyful. But, my friends, I am deeply saddened that we have lost a great man – a man whom God used mightily in Africa to do so much for the Lutheran church on this continent.

    The reporter has written an article on Dr. Kreiss, former president of our Lutheran church partner in France. I encourage you to take a look at it: http://reporter.lcms.org/pages/rpage.asp?NavID=19344

    But I want to write a few lines from our perspective – from those of us in French-speaking Africa who are, in many respects, his “children.” We are his “children” because so many of us in French-speaking Africa have “grown up” in the Lutheran faith nurtured by him through his frequent visits and numerous writings. Only a few years ago, Dr. Kreiss led a seminar at the Lutheran Seminary in Togo. I was the Academic Dean at the time and felt deeply humbled and privileged to be able to introduce this man to group of around 30 pastors/vicars from all over French-speaking Africa. As I looked out at the pastors from all over Africa, I knew that all of them had been touched by Dr. Kreiss in some way. I introduced him as “Le Vieux” (the Old Man), a term of endearment and deep respect used by the younger ones to address their Elder (it is forbidden among the Moba in northern Togo for “children” to pronounce the name of their grandparents). He was and continues to be for us in Africa “le Grandpère” (the Grandpa) with his gleaming white hair and beard – a sure sign of wisdom for “you can’t buy white hair in the marketplace.”

    He was also our “Prof” – exceedingly wise in his understanding of theology. He wrote some 50 books, pamphlets and articles on every conceivable subject ranging from commentaries on individual books of the Bible to his multi-volume Dogmatics to a pastoral theology of marriage. Oh, how many times did we at the Lutheran Seminary in Togo seek out his wisdom as we taught our courses? Our students “grew up” on Kreiss’ wisdom and insight and his faithful commitment to a confessional Lutheran approach despite the liberal opposition from so many corners in the world both in France and in Africa. What amazes me most about our “Prof” was his deeply humble and selfless pastoral approach to writing. He wrote highly academic works such as his multi-volume Dogmatics, which in my opinion surpasses Pieper in its depth and width and applicability to our changing world, and at the same time wrote simplified TEE books for new Christians in Africa who often struggled with the foreign French language. He wrote commentaries on Romans, Philippians, Micah, etc. and at the same time could write an extremely insightful and valuable booklet on marriage which addresses the pressing issues facing our society today. He took the time to translate Luther’s catechism into simple French for those in Africa who might struggle with this foreign language. Our “Prof” did what most theologians nowadays have not been able to do – put back together a theology that has been fragmented and splintered into multiple separate disciplines (exegesis, systematics, historical, practical, etc.). I think he was able to do this because he was pastoral. He wrote not for himself and his own glory. He wrote so that others might come to know the way of salvation – that was his passion and it permeates his writing. He will continue to be our “Prof” for many generations to come.

    He was also a Pastor and wanted nothing more than to be called “Pastor.” He took a call even in retirement to a parish and continued his pastoral work. But he was also pastor to all of us in Africa. He was never too busy to answer a hastily written email from a perplexed professor or offer advice on a particularly difficult question. Up until the very end, he would often send me emails in reply to my prayer letters with kind and encouraging words. He knew the ministry – the sacrifices made and the difficulties faced – even when those things were hidden between the lines. And he knew that the real Lutheran way is the lonely way. And so he encouraged me to remain faithful to God and to the mission God has called me to. And I know that he did this for many other servants throughout Africa besides me. What is more, he was not a player of politics. I suppose he had grown beyond that and it made him a particularly encouraging friend, advisor, and pastor. I will miss our “Pastor” dearly.

    During his long years of service, Le Vieux, our “Prof” and our Pastor, made some 40 visits to Africa to strengthen the Lutheran Church on this continent. It is without doubt a tremendous hardship on Marguerite, his wife, and on his four daughters that he passed away so far from home. But in a certain way it is also telling that a man whom God used so mightily to build up His Church in Africa might die doing that very thing on the continent that owes so much to him and his ministry. Au revoir, cher Prof, nous te reverrons un jour!

    I have not written this to glorify a man and his works in this lifetime. I thank God that He kept Dr. Kreiss until the last moments of this life faithful to Him and to the ministry. I have written this so that we might together glorify God who so graciously gave us such a man and who so caringly nurtured our Lutheran church in Africa through him. The saints are not to be venerated, but they, their service, and their example are to be remembered. I therefore commemorate my “Prof” and pray earnestly that God might raise up others who will give of themselves so selflessly to the Church in Africa. Soli Deo Gloria.

    Glenn Fluegge

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    A Sermon by Pastor Fluegge

    September 26th, 2011

    Dear friends in Christ,

    This story comes from the testimony before the tribunal of one of the Hutu soldiers involved in the massacre:

    “It was 1994. The Hutus of Rwanda were massacring their fellow Tutsi countrymen. A group of Hutu soldiers comes up to the gate of a Catholic monastery, machetes in their hands. “All the Tutsi separate from the Hutu! We’re here to kill them!” At the same time they break down the gate. The Superior of the monastery approaches them. The soldiers tell him, “It’s simple, separate the Tutsi from the Hutu.” The monk replies, “Here there is neither Tutsi nor Hutu, but children of God.” …The last words of the monks were simple: “We have lived together, we will die together.” All of them were brutally hacked to death by the machetes of the soldiers and the monastery pillaged and ransacked.”

    There was a joint service this last Sunday in Pretoria, South Africa between the German-speaking congregation, St. Paul Lutheran, and the international English-speaking congregation, Evangelical Lutheran. I was asked to preach at the service. The above story was part of the introduction to the sermon on Mark 3:31-35 entitled: “Bound together by family ties higher than blood.”

    Several of those present at the service have asked us to share the sermon. We thought we might also share it with you. It’s aimed at (South) Africa, but relevant everywhere.

    Please click here to watch the sermon: http://gallery.me.com/susanfluegge#100382.

    If this link does not work, you can watch the sermon in two parts on YouTube:

    Part I: http://youtu.be/dYV1Aw_j93Y

    Part II: http://youtu.be/l173qOQpuns

    The video is “homemade,” but thanks to Susan, the “videographer,” for putting this together.

    Peace,

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    Fluegge Family Letter 25-Sept-2011

    September 25th, 2011

    For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you….anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.  Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free, but Christ is all and in all.  Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hears, to which indeed you were called in one body.  And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.   Colossians 3: 3a, 8-17

    Greetings-

    I’m on a roll.  This is my second letter this month.  (wohoo!  \”/)  I should be ironing, putting laundry away, cleaning up the kitchen, putting a drape back up in the boys’ room… I will get to those later.  We had a cold front move through here and I am back to wearing warm clothes in the house.  Hopefully the beautiful warm sun will be back for awhile to warm up my house so that I can once again wear shorts and sandals and open up windows to let in the smell of blooming flowers.

    Last week Caleb and I had an information meeting at Crawford (the school 3 of my children attend).  Caleb will be going into grade 4 in January 2012 and the staff at Crawford wanted to let us know about the changes that will be happening in conjunction with Caleb’s classes.  The first, and most important, is that Caleb will be part of the preparatory part of Crawford and no longer in primary school.  In the preparatory school the children do not have one teacher and one classroom.  Caleb is going to have to learn how to carry all of his books with him and change classes when the bell rings.  We were also given small “commercials” on the choices of classes that Caleb wants to take.  Like in high school, Caleb is going to choose option classes.  He will have the regular/compulsory English, Maths, Science, History, Phys Ed., Technology, Economics, Geography, Life Orientation, Info Skills, Class Art, Class Music, Computer Ed., and Drama classes but will have to choose 2 other classes to take.  Also, Afrikaans is compulsory but we are going to get him out of Afrikaans which means he will be taking French.  So, in addition to his 14 regular/compulsory classes he will be taking (because we have chosen already) options music (he will be learning keyboarding since that is the only instrument we own) and German.  Yay, I’m tired just thinking about it.  I’m not sure how Samuel and Abigail survived all this last year not knowing what was going on and everything being so new because I am still confused.

    Glenn and I were at Crawford on Thursday, Sept. 8 for Jesse’s grade 0 concert.  We took some video and pictures and published them to youtube.  ( http://youtu.be/TYAqFgYzuDg ) The concert was a time travel type of thing.  Each grade took a period in history and did some dancing/singing that was popular to their era.  Jesse’s class did a routine to “space” music because their era was when man first walked on the moon.  It was really, really cute.  My favorite part was watching a bunch of 5/6 year olds dancing to the YMCA song.

    My Crawfordians (Abigail, Caleb, Jesse) are on term break.  Term 3 ended, for them, on Sept. 23 and term 4 will begin Oct. 3.  So this next week they will be helping me spring clean parts of the house.  They aren’t looking forward to it.  Samuel’s term break is the following week.  His term 3 ends Sept. 30 and his term 4 begins Oct. 10.  During his break he will also help me with spring cleaning.  Hopefully I will have it all finished by the time his break is done.  Glenn is also on term break.  His break, however, is two weeks long.  He is looking forward to getting as much reading done as he can.

    We are also watching as many World Cup Rugby games as we can.  So far we have been able to watch the 3 U.S. games but the games are on in the morning here (because of the time change) and we have missed more than we have watched.  Hopefully we will be able to watch more now with the school breaks.

    Glenn gave the sermon during church on Sunday 18 Oct. and I managed to do an o.k. job of videoing it.  Glenn sent a message out earlier this week with an explanation of the sermon and the links for where I have published the video of the sermon. Here are the links for those of you who did not receive the message from Glenn. (I’m not sure who I have on my list that he does not.  Probably no one so sorry for the repeat.  \”/)

    MobileMe/Mac gallery:  http://gallery.me.com/susanfluegge#100382.

    Youtube Part I:  http://youtu.be/dYV1Aw_j93Y

    Youtube Part II:  http://youtu.be/l173qOQpuns

    Blessings on the upcoming week.

    In Christ

    Susan Fluegge

    (Glenn, Samuel, Abigail, Caleb, Jesse, Eliana)

     

     

     

     

     

     

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    Fluegge News Update (Sept 17, 2011)

    September 18th, 2011
    Dear friends in Christ,
     
     
    FLUEGGE NEWS UPDATE (please visit us at www.flueggefamily.com)
     
    A Request for Pastoral Stoles! We’ve just received word that five vicars from the Lutheran Church of Togo will be ordained towards the end of November 2011. All of these vicars were previous students of mine and one was even my “language helper” over ten years ago when I was learning Moba (in his home village of Sidik, I was called “Kombate-Mon” and became a quasi-member of his family, even building a straw-covered mud hut at his father’s place). This will be an important moment in the lives and ministries of these five men. Acquiring pastoral apparel is not a big deal in the states, but here in Africa it can be extremely expensive. This is especially the case with pastoral stoles. Do you or anyone or any church you know of have a pastoral stole that you would like to donate? We would like to give each of these new pastors at least one stole as a gift. Please let me know if you can help.
     
    Teaching at the LTS. We are half way through the second semester at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Pretoria , South Africa where I’m been asked to teach beginning, intermediate, and advanced Greek. Please continue to keep this seminary, the faculty, and the students in your prayers.
     
    The CLET begins academic year. Please continue to also keep the Lutheran Center for Theological Studies ( Togo , West Africa ) in your prayers as they have just started the first trimester. Dr. Dongo informs us that all is going well. I hope to visit them and teach sometime during this year. Please also keep this seminary in your prayers.
     
    Trip to the U.S. – Short, but Sweet. Every two years LCMS missionaries and their families return to the U.S. for two months of “home service.” Our home service will be Dec 9 – Jan 9 during which we plan to stay in southern California . We are looking forward to hopefully seeing at least some of you. Unfortunately, because of our children’s school schedules (we leave the night of their last day of classes and come back the day before their classes start!), we only have one month and that month is during Christmas time. And a week of that time will be spent in St. Louis ! This means that we will not be able to visit nearly as many of you as we would want. Please stay tuned for more details.   
     
    PhD work at the University of Pretoria continues. The focus is on post-Reformation clergy education which means I need to be able to read well in Latin and German. I’m working on both. But, oh, how I regret the curse of Babel ! Reading is coming along. I hope to submit a dissertation proposal within the next year. Keep this in your prayers.
     
    Article on Distance Education.  You may be interested to know that an article I wrote on Distance Education in Africa was recently published by the Journal of Adult Theological Education. You can access it at: www.equinoxjournals.com/JATE/issue/current.
     
     
    PLEASE PRAY WITH US:
     
    • Thank God for so many who have supported us in this work to which the Lord has called us in Africa .
    • Thank God for the LTS in South Africa and the CLET in Togo and please pray that God continue to bless both seminaries to become powerful tools for building up God’s Kingdom in Africa .
    • Please pray for safe travels to and from and during our time in the U.S. Pray that we use our short time in the states wisely to share what God is doing here with as many as possible.
    • Please pray for my language learning for the PhD and that I would find that particular research focus point on which to write the dissertation (my focus is still too broad…).
    • Please pray that God would grant us peace and patience as we do His work and continue to protect us from harm, danger, and crime in South Africa .  
     
     
    ABOUT US:  We (along with our five children) have served with LCMS World Mission since 1998 in Togo, West Africa where Glenn taught at the Centre Luthérien d’Etudes Théologiques, a seminary that trains pastors for Lutheran churches throughout French-speaking Africa.  In 2009, we accepted a call to continue serving as missionaries, but this time in South Africa where Glenn currently teaches at the Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS) in Pretoria and works with Lutheran churches throughout Africa to help develop their pastoral training programs. Please visit our website 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 (this was not the case in the past…), so we continue to need your help. There are many ways to support us:  
    • Give a gift easily using the secure online giving link: www.lcms.org/fluegge .
    • Give a gift using the attached “Prayer Card.”
    • Your ongoing support assures of God’s provision on a regular basis :
      • If you are an individual, please use the attached “Prayer Card.”
      • For your congregation, school, or a group within the congregation, please consider a “Together in Mission ” (TIM) partnership – please contact me for an “Adoption Form.

    The Peace of the Lord be with you,

    Glenn

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    Fluegge Family Letter 3-Sept.-2011

    September 3rd, 2011

    I lay my sins on Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God;  He bears them all and frees us from the accursed load.  I bring my guilt to Jesus to wash my crimson stains clean in His blood most precious till not a spot remains.  I lay my wants on Jesus; all fullness dwells in Him;  He heals all my diseases; my soul He does redeem.  I lay my griefs on Jesus, my burdens and my cares; He from them all releases; He all my sorrows shares.  I rest my soul on Jesus, this weary soul of mine; His right hand me embraces; I on His breast recline.  I love the name of Jesus, Immanuel, Christ, the Lord; like fragrance on the breezes His name abroad is poured.  (LSB #606)

     

    Peace-

     

    I realized that it has been almost two months since I last wrote this family letter.  This letter is always on my to do list but it’s at the bottom and I have never reached the bottom of my list.  Today I have moved it up a bit.  If the kitchen floor doesn’t get swept and mopped it’s not the end of the world.  Of course my family will disown me if I don’t take the time to wash and cut up the strawberries I bought at the farmer’s market today.

     

    It’s not a real letter if I don’t mention the weather so I might as well get that over with first.  It’s ok to just kinda skim this part.  I totally understand.  There is warmth!  I have taken off two of the quilts we had on the bed and I am no longer sleeping in a sleeping bag.  It is really nice to walk around outside in flip-flops and sandals.  It is still a bit chilly in the morning but just beautiful in the afternoon.  I am also enjoying the birds singing outside my window before 6 in the morning.  Flowers are beginning to adorn barren tree branches bringing color back into this part of the world.  In just one month the Jacaranda’s will be blooming and they are absolutely gorgeous.

     

    We said goodbye to my parents on July 23.  It was very sad to see them go.  We so enjoyed having family around. Eliana still quite grasp the fact that they are gone.  The other she insisted I pick up Grandma for coffee.  I tried to explain that they went “home”.  But for Eliana their real home is here and not in Montana.

     

    Rugby is over and Samuel is taking a break from sports.  Rugby was the first sport, in his life, that he has participated in, in such a serious way.  He really enjoyed it but needed a small break.  I think I have talked him into trying his hand at water polo during 4th term.  Now is the time for him to try new things and see what he likes and enjoys.  Caleb is still participating in a Cricket Academy and playing chess.  Abby is also not doing anything “extra” this term.  Swimming will start up again during 4th term.  Jesse is spending his “extra” time playing tennis and soccer.  He just loves to be active and doesn’t care what it is.  He even asks to hit the volleyball around with me every once in a while.  It’s a good thing he’s not above my level of play.  \”/  And, Eliana just continues to hang out with me.  I am loving every minute of it.  Don’t know what I am going to do next year when she is in school too.  Glenn is teaching at the LTS but he spends much of his time learning Latin and German and reading books on theological education throughout history and throughout the world.

     

    I threw together a small video clip of our time in Victoria Falls if you want to enjoy some of the sounds along with the sites.  ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0QlH5sAZjM ) I did not have pictures from Glenn and Samuel’s white water rafting trip down the Zambezi or Grandpa and Caleb’s canoe trip.  We had a really nice time.  It was a much needed divergence from life in Pretoria.  I also included a few pictures with this letter.

     

    It is official.  Our tickets have been bought.  On Dec. 9th we will be flying back to the U.S. to visit family, friends, churches, and supporters.  Or at least try to.  We have to be back in Pretoria Jan. 9th because of the beginning of the school year.  It’s not the best time of the year to be in the States but it is the only time that works for us.  We are so looking forward to it.

     

    Happy Labor Day Weekend!

     

    In Christ

    Susan Fluegge

    (Glenn, Samuel, Abigail, Caleb, Jesse, Eliana)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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    Prayer Letter/CLET “movie”

    August 7th, 2011

    Dear friends in Christ,

     

    I grew up on that powerful hymn “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus!” It was #451 in the ol’ red hymnal in the section entitled “Spiritual Warfare” and when you sang it you felt as if you were marching to battle – to a battle that had already been won. I’d always thought that that song should be put to drums. And for the first time I was privileged to hear that song sung…in French…to the rhythmic beat of African drums in class and at the recent graduation ceremonies at the Lutheran seminary in Togo (Centre Luthérien d’Etudes Théologiques). We want to share it with you. Check out this “movie” of the CLET that Susan put together: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GxcPUdpHZA

     

    That powerful hymn is actually Hymn #559 in the new Lutheran French hymnal from Canada (adapted/translated from the LSB): “Debout, Sainte Cohorte!” What we probably don’t pay much attention to in the United States is a blatant part of life here: Spiritual warfare, the fight against Satan and his minions, is part and parcel of African life. Susan and I learned this in a most abrupt way only a few weeks after having arrived and settled into our house in Dapaong, Togo so many years ago. Our house guard came to the house leading a two year old Samuel by the hand and called for me in a very troubled voice. With grave concern, he told me that he had caught Samuel playing around the corner at our neighbor’s house. What’s wrong with that? His reply: That neighbor is a sorceress who attacks and kills people at night. I found this hard to believe until I spoke with a well-respected and wise Christian who was also from our neighborhood. He affirmed what the guard had told us. Then I recalled that this is nothing new: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age…” (Eph 6).

     

    What an experience it was some twelve years later last month to sing this triumphant battle hymn with the students and their wives at the CLET – those same students who are preparing to become front line soldiers in this battle in Africa against the prince of darkness – and know that our Lord has won and leads us “from victory unto victory.” Throughout the two-week intensive course I led on “Early Church History” we sang it together several times. It seems to be a favorite of the students. They sang it for the last time together during the graduation service.

     

    Enjoy the “movie.” Enjoy the songs sung by the CLET Women’s Association! Understand the importance of what is happening in this seemingly mundane ceremony called graduation. They have gone through training and the Lord of the Harvest is now sending out His desperately needed workers into the fields of Africa…along with their wives who have also been trained. Please pray with us for these students, vicars, pastors, and their wives and families. Please also keep the CLET and its faculty and staff in your prayers and thoughts.

     

    You may also be interested in an album of photos taken during the recent trip to Togo: http://gallery.me.com/susanfluegge (see the album “CLET – 2011).

     

    Assured of our (His!) Victory,

     

     

    Glenn Fluegge

    ________________________

    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

    www.facebook.com/pages/Fluegge-Family-in-Africa/112878042061437

     

    Ce n’est plus moi qui vis, mais c’est Christ qui vit en moi… Gal 2:20

     

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