Services in Spanish Broadcast from Oulu, Finland and Bible Camp Day 2

In Quito, nine people gathered for the first ever Finnish to Spanish translated services broadcast from Oulu, Finland. The services started at 10 am Quito time or 5 pm Oulu time. Believers also gathered in Riobamba and Guayaquil to listen.

The Oulu RY arranged for a Sunday 5 pm service to be broadcast in Spanish.

 

Two of the guests arrived already at 9 am for the ten o'clock services. We listened to the songs and hymns of Zion for about fifteen minutes before the services started. They were very beautiful and comforting. It brought back memories of the times we have been at services in Finland.

It was an unusual and somewhat challenging experience for the Quito believers. It was the first time they heard a broadcast translated sermon. The voices of the speaker and translator could both be heard overlapping and competed with each other which made listening difficult.

Paty, Veronica, and Walt (l-r) await the start of the Spanish service broadcast.

 

During the service, Walt texted Jon Bloomquist requesting he in turn to forward the text to his contact in Oulu to see what could be done to improve the experience. A reply was returned quickly with the message that another sermon would be broadcast in Spanish within the hour and improvements would be tried. Ideally only the voice of the translator would be heard assuming it is not a side by side translation. Another big plus would be to broadcast the image of the speaker via Skype.

The believers of Quito were thankful for the service and one brother noted that the speaker was knowledgeable in both the Old and New Testaments. The Ecuadorians suggested Miguel could listen to English sermons using headphones and translate to the others. Walt promised to guide him to the LLC website where many live and archive sermons can be found. The intent is to provide services between the times of mission trips.

The Mite family sent a note of thanks from Guayaquil for the opportunity to listen to a Spanish sermon.

Message from the Mite family thanking for Internet Services.

 

Roughly translated: Greetings from Guayaquil: "God's peace, dear brothers, we give thanks to God for this blessing of being able to hear the services in Spanish, much thanks to those which made this possible. God bless you. Michael and Marianela Mite."

After lunch, which was chili, we gathered for our final Bible Camp lesson which was on the highpoints of the life of Martin Luther. There is much interest among the believers of Ecuador for knowledge of the history of the Lutheran Church and more about him as a person.

Diet of Worms (April 17-18, 1521)

 

Luther wouldn't recant his belief in salvation by faith alone, by grace alone, by the merits or Christ alone.

Coffee and sweets followed and then a heartfelt coffee table discussion. Walt asked if the believers thought there was a benefit from the three month mission trip he and Avis were making. They all answered yes. He asked for the specifics.

Teodoro stated the opening of the Word of God was one benefit. They gather to study the Word between services but often don't understand the meaning of what they are reading and trying to study. Another benefit was that Walt and Avis got to know the believers better and to be able to hear about their trials and temptations. Alex felt the job was incomplete however because Walt didn't get to know every believer personally because he served other congregations too and was often gone to Riobamba, Salinas, Guayaquil and so forth. Veronica said she had learned about serving from Avis' example because Avis serves much and doesn't complain. She recalled Avis saying "Welcome to the world of serving."

The Ecuadorians suggested that Walt and Avis could extend their stay or come back or that a minister could come for eight months to a year. Walt stated that we can also pray to God that an Ecuadorian brother or brothers could eventually be called to serve as a minister(s). An Ecuadorian will understand another Ecuadorian heart better. The LLC-SRK trips will still continue.

Walt also passed on the message from Jon Bloomquist in behalf of the LLC stating that prayers were being made in behalf of the newly appointed board and contact: Teodoro Hernandez, Michael Mite, Alex Panizo, and Milton Martinez as board members and Miguel Santana as the Ecuadorian Communication Contact.

One brother related his psalm of having unbelieving children. He had to stop and compose himself because the matter was so close to his heart. He also thanked God for having been married for fifty-one years. A sister related a similar pslam of her unbelieving child. Yet another brother related of his youth and study of the Bible and then because of unbelief he did not read the Bible for thirty years. Now he has come into faith and appreciates having a minister to explain the Bible. He will miss the Lampis.

Miguel said the Quito believers are planning a farewell gathering on Monday March 16.

Walt and Avis