Taking up our cross....

We started our day by visiting the Martin Luther school for students pre-K to 8th grade. We learned that the school was started 30 years ago originally as a daycare mission project of the Martin Luther congregation during the dictatorship. In 1997 the school transitioned itself into a primary school adding a grade each year until they now have reached 8 grades. They have 250 students with approximately 80% of the them in the 'very vulnerable' category. They also serve students with special needs. While it is a private school, it is totally funded by the government. 

After lunch we visited the Congregation Martin Luther. Like the other Lutheran churches in Chile, it was founded by German immigrants. We met Veronica, Carlos, Vicar Andreas, Ullrich and the congregational president, Roland. Ullrich, who is in his late 70's, shared with us the history of their congregation but also his vision for a united Lutheran church once again. "It is necessary," he frankly stated, "in order for the church to continue it's mission in Chile."  Words of wisdom from a wise man.

Lastly, we visited another of the Martin Luther church's missions, a child care center in a very impoverished area, called, "Centro Communitario." It serves 130 children and it was started 37 years ago. You could see pride in the faces of the staff when they explained that there are several two and even three generations of families who have used the center. Like the other centers we have visited, they work closely with the families in this community. We were particularly touched when we sang first to the staff and then they sang back to us. ¡Muy bien! 

We have been so overwhelmed with the church's fight against past and present injustices here in Chile. It is truly a picture of discipleship that we all can learn from..... Jesus told the disciples, and I believe he is telling us even today, to "take up our cross" and follow Him. 

Que Dios los bendiga. (May God Bless you.)