FLUEGGE NEWS UPDATE

Visitors help at the LTS: We are in the last week of the third quarter here at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Pretoria, South Africa.  I’ve been busy teaching Greek Grammar, Advanced Greek Readings, and Survey of New Testament to students from all over Africa (South Africa, Sudan, Liberia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, etc.). What a blessing it was to have not a few visitors come out and help us from different corners of the world:

1. LCMS World Relief helps the LTS set up a deaconess program. Deaconess Grace Rao, from LCMS World Relief, visited LTS to teach and help set up a program that will eventually train deaconesses for Lutheran churches throughout Africa.  See the attached photo.  In many churches throughout Africa, women are most active members and, hence, form the “backbone” of the congregation. We pray that this deaconess program will continue to develop and become a great blessing to the church in Africa.
2. Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO sends out prof. Dr. William Schumacher joined us for two weeks offering a much needed course on “Luther and the Reformation.” Dr. Schumacher has also been called by LCMS World Mission to work part-time in Africa as “theological education facilitator” helping to coordinate Lutheran theological education throughout the continent.
3. Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, IN. Dr. Charles Gieschen came out for his first time to teach a course on the Gospel of John using the original Greek text. It was nice to get to know Charles. He left and thirty minutes later we picked up Prof John Pless who led a two-week course for the Advanced Program on “Luther’s Pastoral Theology.” This is John’s third year coming out.  It was nice to see him again.
4. The Lutheran Theological Seminary in Oberusel, Germany. Dr. habil. Werner Klän joined us for seven weeks this time around teaching on Luther and the Formula of Concord. He also taught a course at the University of Pretoria on the Post-Reformation Era of the Church. There is a very real possibility that he will actually move permanently to South Africa to become the Lutheran Chair and full professor at the neighboring University of Pretoria. If this happens (and please pray with us that it will – we are currently awaiting official documents from the University), Lutheran churches all throughout Africa will have a place on the African continent to pursue post-graduate studies in theology.

LCSA Pastors’ Convention. This last week, Aug 31-Sep 2, was the pastors’ convention for the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa – one of the partner churches of the LTS. I attended the conference in order to get to know better the context in which the pastors I train will be doing their ministries. Presenters included Dr. Klan and Prof John Pless. A topic of particular interest to me was the attempt to begin “dealing with the past” – based on a paper presented by Dr. Klan (who was very involved in helping the Lutheran churches in Germany deal with their own past and the atrocities of the Nazi regime). Post-apartheid South Africa is now in the process of reconciliation.  This also goes for the Lutheran churches. For example, the FELSISA is by far a predominantly “white” Lutheran church while the LCSA is a predominantly “black” Lutheran church – they are in fellowship with one another, as well as with the LTS, but exist as completely separate institutions. The hope is to look into the past in order to bring about genuine repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation for the future. This will take courage for all involved.

2010-2011 academic year begins at the CLET. The Lutheran Center for Theological Studies in Togo, where we formerly worked for ten years, just began their academic year with 21 students from all over French-speaking Africa. I am very much looking forward to joining them in June 2011 to teach a course on “Early Church History.” Please continue to pray for the Dr. Dongo, the staff, and the students.

Post-graduate studies. The pre-preparatory work continues as I spend about 20 hours a week studying Latin (with the brave pastor of our congregation here in Pretoria – thanks Pastor Axel!). Next will be German. Much thanks to Dr. Werner Klan who has continually supported me through my struggles to find a focus. I continue to pray that he becomes the Lutheran chair at the University of Pretoria so he can be my official supervisor. Because our life is not busy enough, Susan has also decided and I’ve supported her decision full-heartedly to pursue a Master in Education from Concordia University Nebraska. You can never learn enough.

Pastor and Mrs. Ebel (Susan’s parents) to come visit the LTS in 2011. I’ve asked and they have accepted the challenge to come out to the LTS for at least six months in 2011. Rev. Ebel will be acting as a sort of “chaplain” for the seminary, as well as doing some teaching. Pray with us that they can raise the necessary funds and complete all of the formalities for an easy transition. It will be nice to have “family” with us for an extended period of time. We really, really, really miss this.   

PLEASE PRAY WITH US:

• Thank God for those whom God has raised up to support our ministry and His work in Africa. God takes care of us through you.
• Thank the Lord for those who came to help us at the LTS. It is such a blessing. Pray for Susan’s parents’ visit in 2011.
• Thank God for the LTS and continue to pray for the staff and the students (see previous updates for list) as we begin the 4^th quarter on Sept 21.
• Pray that Dr. Klan will be the Lutheran Chair at the University of Pretoria.
• Thank the Lord for the important work of that the CLET does and pray for the work of the CLET – for Dr. Dongo, the rest of the staff, and the students and their wives and families during this new academic year.
• Pray for our continued acclimation to our new work and life in South Africa and continued protection from crime (the crime rate is quite high in South Africa).

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.  As we begin our life and work in South Africa, we continue to need your support. There are many ways to support us:

• Give a gift easily using the secure online giving link: www.lcms.org?7705.
• 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

LCSA Pastors' Convention

Werner Klan

The idea behind all this is to be able to share the work that God has called us to here in Africa in the easiest possible way for everyone. We will share news about the happenings with Lutheran Theological education in Africa, Glenn’s doctoral studies, news on the family, and three of our children will post blogs once or twice a month just to share their own perspective.

Greetings, once again, from Pretoria-

WOHOO!!!  The grade 6 Science Expo is finished!  At the beginning of the school year Abigail was told she needed to pick a project for a Science Expo that would be happening at the end of August.   There was much debate in this family as to what she was going to do.  I am not one for anything Science and so gave suggestions that would be easy to do with items that would be easy to find.  Glenn just wanted to do chickens, which was fine by me as long as he helped Abigail.  That didn’t go over to well so Abby took one of my easy, boring ideas and ran with it.  Ok, she sort of crawled very slowly with it.  The last two weeks she has been working hard on her project and if it could have gone wrong it did.

Which battery will last the longest?  That was Abby’s question for her expo.  She started out with a cheap flashlight and 4 different types of batteries.  The duracel batteries burned out the light bulb on her flashlight and started to smell and leak.  So, I bought her another flashlight of the same brand.  Once again all the other batteries were fine but the duracel wrecked the flashlight.  We thought maybe this was due to the fact that she was using an energizer brand flashlight so I bought her another cheap brand flashlight.  No luck.  Those duracel batteries wrecked the flashlight.  If that wasn’t enough Abigail would forget to keep track of her flashlight and the light would go out and she wouldn’t know when it happened or how long it had been out so she was always having to start over from the beginning. I was getting tired of always having to buy new batteries.  Then Glenn came up with the brilliant idea of having four flashlights all going at the same time plus one extra with a maglite (or a really expensive good lightbulb from a really good expensive flashlight) lightbulb to see what the duracel batteries would do.  This time everything went well except for the pictures she had taken with my camera.  For some reason they were deleted.  We are not sure who the culprit was but Abby had to retake her pictures, after the experiment was all over.  So, which battery does last the longest.  That would be energizer.  Even with the good lightbulb the duracel batteries went out after four hours while the energizer batteries lasted about 6 hours.  The other batteries Abby used were Eveready and PNP (store brand).  The energizer battery does out last, or shall I say out shine, all other batteries, according to Abby’s experiment.

On the day of the Expo Abby had to give a “speech” to those who were evaluating the projects.  In other words, she needed to “sell” her project.  She did not do too well on this.  Her project was well done but her speech needed some work.  She even had to give her speech to grade 6 parents on the night of the Expo who also evaluated her.  She needed someone next to her giving her advice on her to “sell” her project and not be “shy”.  Glenn had gone with her but he was too busy walking around evaluating everyone else’s projects.  However, we are very proud of Abigail because she put the time and effort in and did a great job.  I included a picture of Abby and her Science Expo.

I am feeling the freedom.   In order to not have Eliana “cry out” as an infant I substituted nursing with a sippy cup full of milk.  For over a year I would get up about every two hours and give Eliana a cup with milk in it.  I didn’t “ween” her from this earlier because of all the changes that were happening in her life.  I knew she and I both would need for her to have this comfort.  However, we have been stable for 9 months now and it was time.  But, it was not just the milk in the middle of the night that was taken from her.  I also took away diapers.  For about 2 weeks I got up with her once to have her pee in the potty but now I don’t have to get up.  I don’t have to get up for milk, water or toilet.  It is a really nice, freeing feeling.  I am loving being diaper free, finally!

Some news about the work side of this family.  The LTS (Lutheran Theological Seminary in Pretoria) hosted women for a deaconess program that was done by Grace Rao and sponsored by Lutheran World Relief and Human Care.  It was a two week intensive and from what I understand the women worked hard, read, wrote papers, and were taught how to do an exegesis on a passage of scripture.  It was an intense learning experience for everyone.  Also, Professor John Pless from Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne was here teaching a two week course for the advanced students.  I included pictures with the letter plus Glenn posted something on our website (www.flueggefamily.com)

Other tidbits of information.  Samuel is at his first dance tonight.  I hope he is having a good time.  Glenn left today (Aug. 31) for a pastors conference and I am not exactly sure where it is being held.  I don’t have enough information for you at this time.  I am sure he will post something on the blog when he gets back.  Caleb has his robotics competition this weekend and Sunday is the first day of my Bible Study.  Also, on the 28th of Aug. we attended another game night.  This time it was not at our house.  Glenn won two games of Settler of Cattan and so is still lord.  Someone needs to beat him.  \”/  Jesse’s teacher is really proud of him because he can do 96 piece puzzles now.  At the beginning of the year he cried if he had to do even a 5 piece puzzle.  Go Jesse!  I do believe I have come the end of what I can remember to share.  Happy Fall.  I hope you all enjoy the cooler weather as I am thoroughly enjoying the warmer weather on my side of the world.  Also, I did read through this letter but it is late and I am tired so I know I have left out words and for that I apologize.

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

Greetings once again from Pretoria-

Street Braai.  Thats what they call it when all of the people on a street get together for a barbecue.  Despite the cold our street came together for a street braai.  Our street is not all that big so organizing one of these is not a huge ordeal.  We, the Fluegge family, attended the street braai because we wanted to get to know our neighbors.  It was a good thing we went.  We were the first tenants of our house to attend the Om de Berg street braai and it made impression on those who have been living on this street for generations.  Also, we now know that we have excellent neighbors with whom we can call if the need arises.  I was, also, the only one who made any sort of dessert and the chocolate peanut butter bars were a huge hit.  So thankful for those american chocolate chips.

The street braai was held on Fri. 30, July.  The very next night we held a game night at our place.  The story behind this game night is quite interesting but I will not bore you with those details.  We had quite a few show up with lots of yummy, healthy finger foods to munch on and fun games to play.  Most of the participants played Mexican Train dominoes.  However, I was able to talk a few into a game of Settlers of Catan.  I think I was able to get a few addicted to the game.  It helped that Glenn was shut out at the very beginning and could do nothing the entire game which meant that one of the newbies won.  Winning always makes one want to play again.  The winner was our boss, Mike Rodewald.  For the next two weeks Mike called Glenn squire as he was lord.  Game night was such a huge success that we have one planned for the end of Aug and another one the beginning of Oct.  Looking forward to more fun and fellowship.

The following weekend was a long weekend because of a public holiday so on Sunday, Aug. 8 we went to the home of Gerry and Carmela Weber for dinner.  We brought Settlers of Catan so we could play again. \”/  The kids played their computer games, watched t.v., listened to music, and had a good time being together.  The adults talked and played.  Because of all the talking the game took over 4 hours with Glenn being the ultimate winner.  We can no longer call him squire Glenn which is too bad.  Despite the fact that Glenn won we had a good time and I am reminded how well God takes care of his children even through fellow children/believers.  Gerry and Carmela Weber are good people and I am thankful God has put them in my life.

This past Sunday, 15, Aug., was the opening ceremony for the inter-crawfordian sports festival.  There happens to be more than one Crawford in the country of South Africa.  Every year they come together for a sports festival.  This is the year for Crawford, Pretoria to host the event.  On Sunday the whole school (Crawford Pretoria that is) assembled to put on the the opening ceremony for the sports festival.  Glenn took video and I threw it altogether in a 10 minute presentation so that one can view each of the Fluegge children who participated.  In order to view this “master piece” one has to go to the Youtube cite where it is published.   I am also going to post it on our blog. I am hoping to work on shorter clips to put on facebook for those who really need to Samuel “dance”.

Just in case anyone is wondering none of the Fluegge children are participating in the sports festival.  I’m still trying to figure out how things work here.  I know Glenn would have it all figured out by now because he is so good with things like that.  However, I am still learning.  Next year?  Caleb is, however, participating in the World Olympiad Robotics Competition in Sept.  We will go and show him our support.

Have a great week.

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

I wanted to share with you a series of short videos put together by Dr. Dongo Lussambu, Director of the Lutheran Center for Theological Studies (CLET) in Togo, WEST AFRICA. The videos are of graduation day at the CLET this past June 2010.  The students that you see are from Lutheran Churches all over French speaking Africa – Guinea, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, and Congo-Brazzaville. The series of videos is called “Victory after Calvary.”

As many of you know, Susan and I served as missionaries for over ten years at this Lutheran seminary in Togo.  Both Dr. Dongo and the seminary hold a special place in our hearts. As I watched the videos, I realized once again how important the work of the CLET is in French-speaking Africa.  I also realized how much we miss it.  Please continue to pray for the CLET.

Thanks, Dr. Dongo, for sharing!  Enjoy!

And others….

By the way, the CLET – AFRIQUE is also on Facebook (and you can access all of the videos on their Facebook page).

Peace,

Glenn Fluegge
________________________
Rev. Glenn Fluegge, MDiv, MS Education
LCMS World Mission
Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane
Pretoria, South Africa

This is the mission banner at Christ the Redeemer Lutheran church in Tulsa, OK. They are one of our supporters! The banner includes material bought while we were still living in Togo. Thanks Christ the Redeemer. The banner is beautiful!