Well, it's about time I write about the Lutheran Womens Mission Society (LWMS) Rally in Ocala. I told about the laughs on the way there and back but not about the content of the theme. "Special Ministries" was the full theme, and we heard a report from the pastor in charge of this regarding the ministry to prisons, campuses, visually/hearing impaired, among others. The focus that day was ministry to the military, and in particular, those in the war zones.
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Our speaker, Pastor Ziemer, was cute little guy with a heart for the warriors, both here in the USA as well as those deployed. More than once he got teared up when talking about what the soldiers and sailors endure, the separation from their families, their hunger for the Word. He told stories about plans being made for special worship for his WELS guys and them bringing their friends, only to have to abbreviate the worship or cancel all together because of a mission. A different, opposite mission than his.
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Pastor Ziemer has to keep top secret his locations, his travel plans, when he has been "over there" or when he plans to return. It is considered a "black operation" and must be kept so for safety and military reasons. When he takes a photo, it cannot be panoramic or show any type of identification of a camp, location, or country. He stays usually in Kuwait City and has been escorted out of the country by our government (soldiers) for his own safety, but not willingly, because he still had some souls to serve. My eyes were red-rimmed by the time he was finished. His passion for the military and those he serves was evident, and he begged for our prayers for all in harm's way.
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The work he does is not funded by the Synod, and each trip costs approximately $6000. Where does the money come from? One major source is donations from the OWLS!!! My mom is part of this group, as were my in-laws, the Organization of WELS Lutheran Seniors, with their offerings dedicated to support our ministry to the WELS and others serving in the war zone and elsewhere. Another major contributor is the LWMS, and his bosses felt it so valuable for him to come speak to our Rally that a man from Synod came down to cover for him at his home congregation in Fayetteville, NC.
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One of those with whom Pastor Z. works closely is Mark Vance, who is a former member of Good Shepherd and was my Elder for several years---poor guy! I really put that guy through the ringer with my troubles. His wife, Dawn, and daughter, who is my friend, Tarren were also supportive during the loss of Timmy and then my marriage. Tarren married my friend, Pete, and so the circle widens. Mark's mom was at the Rally and it was absolutely delightful to see her again, as she is recovering after breast cancer. Ruth is now a blond, quite a different look from her normally red hair. We write to each other now and again via e-mail but it was wonderful to actually give a real live hug instead of only wishing her one!
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At the beginning of the Rally was a devotion by Pastor Lemke, who serves at Living Hope, Ocala. He was originally from Morrison, in Manitowoc County, WI. He had been on a cruise with some friends who joined a fun group out of Winona, MN, last summer-----none other than Judy and JerBear!!!! What a small, small world! He is a great speaker and I wish his devotion would have lasted longer, but we had business to attend to before the Guest Speaker.
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The devotional hymn we sang was selected stanzas from "Abide with Me" including the one which provokes tears: "Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes, shine through the gloom and point me to the skies. Heaven's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee; in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me." Janet glanced to her left and saw my tears so she held my hand as she sang. These types of songs simply prompt the tears, as I so long to see what those gone ahead of us get to see in the presence of the Lord....
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I digress: During the break for lunch, Pastor Lemke was dashing about setting up chairs and pouring water and being the perfect host, etc. I did manage to corner him for a moment to speak to him about the Ruserts and the trip to Alaska last year. I told him about Judy's cancer and her successful surgery and he was relieved to hear the news. Then, he said he wished he had more time to spend with Jerry and talk about engines. What? Talk about engines?? I guess Jerry and he connected over the subject of some type of engine in the design or thought-phase, and Pastor liked what Jerry had to say about it. I am blown away by my friend, Judy, and he is interested in talking about engines------well, I guess.......
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Oh, I am just chuckling here about the talk about Barney and His Friends in Washington DC, all in a lather about the AIG bonuses and such. The guys doing the imitations are just a hoot, and I am certain his party is so proud to have him be their spokesman to the nation. Yikes! This is truly a 'what is this world coming to?' time in our history, with slobbering Barney at the mike!
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Sunday I spoke at church with a visiting professor from Martin Luther College who brought me greetings from Alice, a member at my home church, First German. When the prof. was a practice teacher many moons ago, he lived with Alice and her hubby, and has remained close to her over the years. He is also a friend of Judy R.'s and I told him about the breast cancer. John told me he went to see her when he was up in Winona recently but that was the weekend she was away with her kids at the Dells, at the indoor waterpark in the middle of winter!!! He said he left her a gift or a card and hoped she would get it. John served as her principal when Judy still taught. It's a small world in the WELS.....
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.......which brings me to the little song we sang in the afternoon session at the Rally. Someone wrote a song to the tune of "It's a Small World" from Disney, but the lyrics are about the WELS. You can't swing a cat without making some kind of connection in our Synod and the song goes on to point that out. I am not sure I can repeat it verbatim but part of it goes on this order: "and the organists son is at the sem, the pastor's wife's father was in school your father's kid brother....". You get the picture. It turns into a "who beget whom" session, like it did with John Minch and Pastor Lemke!
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Oh, I almost forgot to mention how Pastor Z. has men training to serve as lay leaders in the war zone, to conduct a modified worship when the civilian chaplains are not available. Because the men have enough to carry and do not wish to haul a hymnal with them, many have taken to memorizing some hymns so they can sing during their makeshift worship. Imagine that! And we are sometimes told our Sunday school kids cannot memorize hymns. I will bet many of these soldiers are glad they did! When he travels to the stationary camps, he has a mess of hymnals that he takes with him, donated by a church in none other than Manitowoc, WI! He pointed right at me when he said that! His uncle, Augie, was wounded 17 times during WWII and kept in the fight. After the war he worked the rest of his life at Dick Brothers Bakery in Manitowoc, WI!!! You can't swing a cat..........
