We observed Ascension Day on Sunday, May 17, 2026, and we were pleased to have as visitors, Luz Maria’s brother, Robert Henriquez and his wife, Fanny Yamilet Ibarra Vielma.
St. Matthew does not describe the Ascension of Christ, but Mark 16:14-18; Luke 24:36-49; and Acts 1:1-11 link the Great Commission with the Ascension. So I emphasized this missional imperative by explaining the symbolism of the Jerusalem Cross, a large Greek cross flanked by four smaller crosses: First in Jerusalem, then to the four corners of the earth. (The Jerusalem Cross is the emblem of the Lutheran Church of Venezuela’s Juan de Frías Theological Institute.)
donation of study Bibles
We received a donation of eight needed study Bibles from an unexpected source: The Roman Catholic diocese of Barinas. The Bibles were published by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation and are bound together with Luther’s Small Catecism! Also included are a biblical glossary, maps and lists of suggested Bible verses for daily reading and special occasions. Luz Maria’s nephew, Roamird Castillo, learned the diocese was doing some housecleaning and wanted to get rid of them. So he obtained permission to take them for us.
Remember in prayer Rita Zapata
We continue to pray for Rita Zapata, who was taken to Barquisimeto (about three hours north of here) for cancer treatment. Rita joined our mission by affirmation of faith on January 11, 2020. She attends our Sunday morning service when staying with her sister, Sotera, in La Caramuca, and Corpus Christi Lutheran Church in Barinas with her son, Eliezer Montoya. Rita is the grandmother of Aaron, Oriana and Elias Montoya who were all confirmed at our mission, but now live with their mother, Yepci, in Lima, Peru.
Venezuelans graduate from seminary
Concordia El Reformador Seminary was opened in 2017 in the Dominican Republic, and serves Spanish speakers in Latin America and the Caribbean region. Commencement ceremonies were held May 29, 2026, and several Venezuelans received diplomas. Jesús Barceló of Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela, graduated from the residential seminary program and is eligible for a call. Edgar Coronado, pastor of La Fortaleza (Fortress) Lutheran Church and Mission Cagua in Maracay, Venezuela, completed the Formación Pastoral Hispanoamérica program, which provides continuing education for ordained pastors. Two Venezuelan women completed the deaconess training program and received certificates in absentia. These were Etamarys Rengifo of Cristo Vencedor (Christus Victor) Lutheran Church in La Pica, Monagas state, who was mentored by Luz Maria; and Yepci Santana, Luz Maria’s daughter, who once taught in our preschool. Oriana Montoya, Yepci’s daughter, already graduated from the deaconess program and both mother and daughter teach in the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod-sponsored preschool program in Lima, Peru.
Baptized members in the afterschool program
Luz Maria’s afterschool tutoring program continues to advance. We purchased a new electric fan for better ventilation and maintenance work done on the plumbing. All the student have shown improvement in their grades, but two that have shown notable progress in the last few months are Sandro Deonel Pérez and Juan Diego Rodriquez. Sandro Deonel was baptized at our mission on December 15, 2019, while his father, Sandro Pérez, was confirmed here on October 31, 2008. Juan Diego was baptized at our mission on December 15, 2019.
