A Special Message from Justinkarieller.weebly.com/uploads/3/2/9/2/3292199/oct_nov_dec_newslett… · Formation of IELB CPD Local Team • Creation of the IELB´s Local Team Country

VOL 7 Q U A R T E R L Y N E W S L E T T E R DECEMBER 18, 2012

A Special Message from Justin

A TRIP TO PERU - IGLESIA LUTERANA EVANGÉLICA PERUANA

IELB SUNDAY SCHOOL PROFESSORS CAPACITATION

IELB NATIONAL PASTOR´S GATHERING

EL CHAIRO BOLIVIANOThe Bolivian Stew

ELCA Companion

Churches

South America

Bolivia IELB

Peru ILEP

Chile IELCH

Argentina-Uruguay IELU

Brazil IECLB

It is with great joy that I am able to share with you that...

I HAVE BEEN CALLED TO BE THE ELCA´S NEW REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE IN SOUTH AMERICA !

Following in the respectable footprints of my predecessors: David Wunsch and Kate Lawler, my new position with ELCA/GM will include: (1) relating to the ELCA´s companion churches and related organizations in South America; (2) relating to

mission personnel assigned to countries where I will work to accompanying them in their local adaptation with the companions; (3) assist the ELCA-GM Area Program Director for ...

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to better understand issues, challenges, and assets of companion churches/organizations; (4) collaborate with companion churches/organizations in their discernment for request of missionaries, grants, projects, national and international scholarships, etc.; (5) facilitate the companion synod and ELCA congregation partnerships with companion churches to better understand and develop healthy

relationships; (6) many other tasks and responsibilities.

REFLECTING ON THE NEW POSITIONAny time I approach a transition, especially in ministry when dealing with feeling called by God and the church, there is a significant amount of discernment, prayer, and conversations that influence my/our decision. While I feel there is a great learning curve with this position, I trust and hope in God´s faithful accompaniment, the leadership and vision of the LAC Area Program Director (my boss), and the constant support of Kari, Eber, our family, communities, and church.

A Special Message from Justin Continued...

JUSTIN IN LIMA, PERU VISITING THE ILEP AS PART OF HIS TRAINING AS THE NEW SOUTH AMERICA REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE

SUMMARYName: Rev. Justin E. Eller

Current City: La Paz, Bolivia

Current Ministry: Pastoral Educator & Trainer - Bolivian

Evangelical Lutheran Church

New City: Buenos Aires,

Argentina

New Ministry: ELCA

Regional Representative -

South America

Start Date: Summer 2013

(after US Home Assignment)

NUMBERS

Approx. number of days we´ll be on Home Assignment

in 2013

58Number of companion ELCA

synods I´ll work with

6Number of months in a year I´ll be traveling as Regional

Rep

10

October Activities• ELCA- Latin America and the

Caribbean (LAC) Team Skype

Meetings

• Teaching about “The United

Kingdom of 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings”

• Getting our new Bolivian I.D. Cards

• Teaching Confirmation Classes

• Facilitating a Liturgy Workshop with

IELB Youth at the Calamaya Center

• A Trip to Perú- ILEP

• A Dinner with Pastor Rebecca from

the Presbyterian Church- USA

• Beginning a Master´s Level Intensive

Class at the Bolivian Catholic University

• Work with the IELB on their

Projects and 2013 Budget

• Two Elementary School

Observations and one Sharing Between the Lutheran Institute

Teachers and a Catholic First Grade

Teacher

• Publishing an Article in the Magazine

Fe y Pueblo “The Royal Scandal: Power in the Lutheran Church”

• Visiting the “Cumbre” or Mountain

Top with Eber and his Adoption Buddy

• Coordination Meetings with Pastor President Emilio Aslla Flores

• Eber was a Dinosaur for Halloween

• Capacitating God´s People (CPD, acronym in Spanish) Project Grant

Work

• Translation for a Skype Conference-

IELB and Montana Synod

“For to us a child is born,    to us a son is given,    and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

SKYPE

AS MISSIONARIES IN A TECHNOLOGY-RICH, GLOBALIZED AGE, WE RELY ON THIS VIDEO CONFERENCING MEDIUM TO BUILD, MAINTAIN, AND STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LAC CHURCHES AND INSTITUTIONS. SKYPE ALSO HELPS US DEAL WITH HOMESICKNESS AND STAY CONNECTED WITH OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN THE U.S.

FE Y PUEBLO

JUSTIN´S ARTICLE, “THE ROYAL SCANDAL: POWER IN THE LUTHERAN CHURCH,” EXPLORES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POWER AND THE STRUGGLE DURING THE BIRTH OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH; POWER AND THE EMPOWERMENT OF THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM; AND POWER AND THE GOD WHO SUFFERS ON THE CROSS.

UCB

IN OCTOBER, I BEGAN MY FIRST DIPLOMADO OR INSTENSIVE MASTER´S LEVEL CLASS, “TEACHER FORMATION FOR SUPERIOR EDUCATION” AT THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY IN LA PAZ. THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR ME AND IT HAS BEEN NICE TO MEET NEW PEOPLE IN THE PROCESS.

PHOTOS FROM EBER

TOP LEFT: WE TOOK A TRIP TO THE “CUMBRE” OR TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN WHERE EBER STEPPED FOOT IN SNOW FOR THE FIRST TIME.

MIDDLE LEFT: ENJOYING THANKSGIVING DINNER WITH MAMI AT “GRANDMA” JUDITH´S HOUSE.

BOTTOM LEFT: FRIENDS MARISOL, ESTEBAN AND MARISA FROM CARANAVI STAYED WITH US FOR A FEW DAYS.

RIGHT TOP: HE WAS A DINOSAUR FOR HIS FIRST HALLOWEEN AND HAD QUITE A FEROCIOUS ROAR!

RIGHT BOTTOM: THIS IS WHAT HIS MORNING MOST EVERY MORNING LOOKS LIKE, LINING UP HIS CARS ON THE COUCH- HE ABSOLUTELY LOVES CARS!!

November Activities

• Day Long Workshop in Training New

Pastors for the IELB

• Skype Conference with the ILEP

• Consult with the IELB Commission

on the Pastoral Profile and Rules/ Norms for Ordination

• Theologian Network Lunch

• Workshop on Vatican II

• Sunday School Workshop for

Professors

• Publication and Presentation of the

IELB´s First Sunday School Book

• Recording of 81 Songs for the Sunday

School Book

• Photo Journalism UMAVIDA Network Contest on Poverty and

Development

• Our Congregation´s Anniversary

• LAC Theologian Dinner

• Santa Cruz- 8th National Encounter of Bolivian Theologians

• Thanksgiving with Friends

• Coordination Meetings with Pastor

President Emilio Aslla Flores

• Visit from Ana María Jara and the Formation of IELB CPD Local Team

• Creation of the IELB´s Local Team

Country Specific Plan for the CPD

Project

• CPD Skype Conference with the Mexican Lutheran Church (ILM) and

a CPD-LAC Team Skype Conference

• First “Productive Fair” for Women

Selling their Products from all over

Bolivia

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Luke 2:10

NEW PASTOR TRAINING

JUSTIN FACILITATED A WORKSHOP ON “WORD AND SACRAMENT” WITH A GROUP OF NEW IELB PASTORS WHO ARE BEGINNING THEIR THEOLOGICAL AND PASTORAL FORMATION. KEY TOPICS INCLUDED: IMPACTS OF THE LIVING WORD AND THE DANGERS OF RE-BAPTISM.

UMAVIDA NETWORK

ONE PHOTO FROM THE YOUTH PHOTO CONTEST ON POVERTY AND POLLUTION THAT I STILL REMEMBER WAS OF SHEEP THAT WERE GRAZING IN THE MIDDLE OF A TRASHY AREA. IF THEY EAT WHERE WE THROW OUR TRASH AND WE EAT THE SHEEP, HOW IS OUR HEALTH AFFECTED?

CHURCH ANNIVERSARY

OUR LITTLE CONGREGATION “MARTIN LUTHER” CELEBRATED THEIR 28TH ANNIVERSARY. THE LITURGY WAS BASED ON THE LIBERATION FOUND IN JESUS´ GOOD NEWS AND THE REFORMATION MOVEMENT. WITH MORE THAN 80 GUESTS, THERE WAS AN ENERGY THAT MOVED US ALL IN THE JOY OF CELEBRATION.

“SEÑOR, ENSÉÑANOS. . .” LC . 11 :1

This year, the four other co-authors of the new IELB Sunday School Book “Señor, enséñanos...” Lc.11:1 and I held

the first Sunday School workshop to capacitate Sunday School professors from La Paz and El Alto, Bolivia in new movements and methodologies in

Christian Education and how to adapt the book to meet their needs. Each co-author presented about his/her part of

the book and Sunday School professors shared ways they would contextualize the Sunday School lessons for their

context and group thinking about multiple intelligences and ages of the

students. The workshop was a big success and we have already planned to have a follow up workshop to continue

providing support, exchanging ideas and to discuss other areas of interest. We began with the La Paz / El Alto District because we all live in the area and we

wanted to start small, however, since the workshop, we have considered having a National Sunday School

Professor´s Capacitation next year to have even more participation and enrich our experience in the diversity of our

districts.

IELB Sunday School Professor´s Workshop

The IELB Local Team for the CPD project has been formed and a Country Specific Plan has been created based on

the IELB national church needs that involves deepening Christian education in the areas of development, service and Sunday School professor support.

The IELB also hopes to connect via Skype with the Local Team in Mexico (ILM) around the topic of liturgy and

share Christian educational resources via the project website. Below is a little bit about each person.

Erlini Tola Medina is an ordained pastor of the IELB and holds a Bachelor

´s Degree in Art. She is part of the musical group “Yatiyawi,” and dedicates a lot of time to working with youth

around the themes of art, music, the environment, family issues, etc.

Leticia Castro Martínez holds a

Bachelor´s degree in Linguistics and Languages with a specialty in Spanish. She has held various jobs within the

IELB and non-profit organizations working in event coordination, alphabetization and at present is a

Sunday School Professor in her congregation.

Maritza Castañeta is an ordained pastor of the IELB. She is the IELB National Women´s Coordinator, the

Latin American Council Women´s Coordinator, a Facilitator for the CEBIPAS program, and the Religion Professor of the Lutheran Institute in El

Alto, Bolivia.

ELCA´s Latin American and the Caribbean “Capacitating God´s People” (CPD) Project

IELB LOC AL TEAM

LETICIA CASTRO MARTÍNEZ

PASTOR ERLINI TOLA MEDINA

PASTOR MARITZA CASTAÑETA

ana maría jara from perú (ILEP) came to bolivia to help with the creation of the local team in bolivia and writing the csp.

December Activities

• Meeting with the Translator to Begin the Process for Publishing a Poetry Book

• Workshop on Liturgy and Sunday School Capacitation at the National Pastor´s Gathering

• Facilitating a Sunday School Capacitation at the National Women´s Gathering

• Vatican II Workshop with Fundación Jubileo

• Justin had his article, “The Lutheran Chairo in Bolivia” published in the Winter 2012 edition of the Lutheran Forum magazine

• Annual Review

• The Wedding of a Friend

• Finishing the Master´s Level Intensive Class

• Celebrating Christmas

“And being found in appearance as a man,    he humbled himself    by becoming obedient to death—        even death on a cross!Therefore God exalted him to the highest place    and gave him the name that is above every name,that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,    in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” Philippians 2:8-10

NATIONAL WOMEN´S

GATHERING

THIS YEAR, IN ADDITION TO THE ANNUAL EXPOSITION OF CRAFTS AND PRESENTATIONS, WE WERE ABLE TO PRESENT THE NEW IELB SUNDAY SCHOOL MATERIAL. ALSO VERY EXCITING, WAS A VISIT FROM ELIZABETH LARA COMING FROM COLOMBIA!

A WEDDING

OUR FRIEND NELIA WAS MARRIED ON DECEMBER 8TH. IN BOLIVIA, IT IS CONSIDERED GOOD LUCK FOR COUPLES TO GET MARRIED ON EVEN NUMBERED YEARS AND MONTHS, SO THE WEDDING CEREMONY WAS ACTUALLY VERY SHORT TO ACCOMMODATE OTHER COUPLES GETTING MARRIED AS WELL, ALTHOUGH THE WEDDING FESTIVITIES LASTED ALL DAY!

A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE

THIS CHRISTMAS WE SURPRISED OUR FAMILY IN NC BY COMING HOME FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. THIS WILL BE EBER´S FIRST CHRISTMAS WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY AND ONE THAT WE KNOW WILL BE ESPECIALLY MEMORABLE. THANKS BE TO GOD THAT WE COULD BE WITH OUR FAMILY DURING THIS SPECIAL TIME.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

From our family to yours we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New

Year! This 2012 year has been a great one, most especially for the arrival of our

son, Everette Josef Eller Fisher, but also in

the many ways that God has blessed us through our work and ministries. Thank

you for all of your prayers and accompaniment. Literally, we couldn´t do

what God has called us to without the

generous support of each and every one of you! May God bless you and fill your

lives and families with the hope that can only come from the birth of our Lord.

Love,

Kari, Justin and Eber

EBER HELPING PUT AN ORNAMENT ON OUR CHRISTMAS TREE!

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Justin just in .e l ler@elca .org

Kari [email protected], [email protected]

Justin, Kari, & Everette EllerCasilla de Correos 7408

La Paz - BoliviaSudamérica

EL CHAIRO BOLIVIANOThe Bolivian Stew

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