David and Radka Fiala serve as missionaries in Slovakia, where they teach English and Christian education classes, lead and mentor youth in Bible studies and service projects, and oversee and support long-term missionaries across Eastern Europe.

Born in DuPage County, Illinois, David received a Bachelor of Arts degree in theology from Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska. Radka was born in Brezno, Slovakia. She also attended Concordia University, Seward, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education. David and Radka have a son, Vasek, and a daughter, Emma.

Please pray that God would bless David and Radka and the other members of their team and grant them perseverance as they serve. Pray that the God would bless the relationships that they develop and that the people in Slovakia would come to know their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And finally, David and Radka share, “We give thanks for all the people that God used to help us in our ministry and that encourage us day by day.”

Rev. Claude and Rhoda Houge are based in Kenya, but work throughout East Africa, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Sudan. Claude serves as the area facilitator for East Africa and works with national church partners in supervising regional Mission Training Centers (MTCs) in the various countries. The MTC model has proven to be particularly effective in Africa, where the church is expanding more quickly than leaders can be trained. MTCs help equip national church leaders to serve as church planters among their own people and as missionaries to neighboring people groups. Rhoda is the business manager for the East Africa field, as well as the volunteer coordinator, assisting with mission visitors to East Africa.

From 1998 to 2003 the Houges worked with LCMS World Mission in Ghana. Claude previously served in the LCMS as a teacher, lay minister, and pastor in Nebraska, Ohio, and California. Both Claude and Rhoda are graduates of Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, where Rhoda also earned a master's degree. They were missionaries with Lutheran Bible Translators for 10 years.

The Houges invite you to be partners with them in reaching the lost in East Africa with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray that the Holy Spirit blesses the training of new leaders and the extension of the Lord's Kingdom!

Fungchatou and Kalia Lo serve in Indonesia, where they work in partnership with LCMS World Relief and Human Care to care for the people in Banda Aceh by helping meet their basic needs in the areas of housing, economic development, social welfare, and education.

Fungchatou and Kalia were both born in Laos. Fungchatou earned bachelor's and master's degrees in social work at the University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse and Madison, respectively, as well as a doctorate in urban studies from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He also received his Ordination Certificate from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. Fungchatou previously served the Hmong members of Grace Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, as the Hmong Mission Facilitator for North America Mission, and as the director for Hmong Mission Society's Thailand Hmong Mission project. He also taught as a professor of social work at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh and St. John's University prior to accepting a call to this ministry.

Kalia graduated from the University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse, with bachelor's aand master's degrees in school and community health education. She is an active member of the LWML and enjoys supporting Fungchatou in his ministry. Fungchatou and Kalia have a daughter, Gaozong.

Please pray for the Lo family as they serve the people of Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Pray that they would make wise and caring decisions as they reach out to the Indonesia people with post-tsumani needs. Ask God to protect them and provide them with faithful supporters. Thank God that the Los have answered His call to serve in Indonesia!

Tim and Heida Norton serve the LCMS as evangelistic missionaries to the Maninka people in Guinea, West Africa. The Maninka are a widespread people group found throughout West Africa. They are the second largest ethnic group in Guinea with 2 million people. Many continue to practice their traditional beliefs of spirit worship. Less than one percent identify themselves as Christian, and as such, they are an unreached people group.

In 2003, after language training, the Nortons moved to a city in northern Guinea, to start church planting. Tim works in small villages outside the city, teaching literacy and the oral presentation of the Bible. Ten villages have participated in these oral presentations. The Nortons also work with forming local leaders who have taken on some of the responsibilities of evangelism in the area. A large future project will be translating Luther's small catechism and other materials into the local language.

Tim was born in Long Beach, California. His father served as a pastor and his mother as a teacher in the LCMS. Tim graduated from Concordia University in Portland, Oregon, with Director of Christian Education (DCE) certification. Heidi (Muhly) was raised in Lodi, California, where she attended St. Peter Lutheran Church. She graduated from Concordia University in Portland with a degree in elementary education.

Pray that the Gospel will reach the Maninka people through the mission team's oral presentation of the Scriptures. Pray especially for the young leaders of the emerging church, that they would be able to hold fast to their faith amidst persecution. Pray for the translation of key materials, so that the local leaders will be well equipped to carry out God's mission. Pray also for peace and political stability in the entire region.

Sharon Owens serves the Lord in Macau as the director of the Macau outreach team. Sharon's main responsibilities include providing leadership, vision, and administration of the English center and outreach work, which assists the existing Lutheran Church-Hong Kong Synod congregation, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, located in Macau. She is also responsible for the orientation, training, and supervision of long- and short-term volunteer English teachers who carry out the goals to plant seeds, love people to Christ, and equip others to share that love.

Macau, the Las Vegas of the Orient, is home to 550,000 local residents and 28,000 immigrant contract workers, all whom reside in a land area of less than 13 square miles. Buddhism and ancestor worship are the major religions. Macau is developing quickly as new casinos and hotels flood the city to keep up with the rapid tourism growth.

Born in Cudahy, Wisconsin, Sharon's home congregation is St. John Lutheran Church in Cudahy. She previously served in campus ministry as director of International Student Ministry in the Nebraska District of the LCMS. Sharon is a Director of Christian Education (DCE).

Sharon asks that we pray for her continued studies in the Mandarin language, her leadership skills, a hedge of spiritual protection around her, good health, and a lot of energy to carry on the work. Pray that the Lord would also bless and protect her daughter, Joanna.

Thank the Lord for the joy Sharon has in this service--working with the volunteers, watching the Holy Spirit bring Chinese people to faith, watching others grow spiritually and emotionally, and being part of a diverse culture.

Al was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of North Dakota. Eileen is a Nebraska native and holds a degree in vocational nursing. Their home congregation is Christ Lutheran Church in Neepawa, Manitoba, Canada.

Pray for Al and Eileen as they serve the Lord in Cambodia. They ask specifically for prayers regarding their personal health and safety, so they may give their best effort to the Cambodian people. Also, thank God for giving the Turners gifts with which they can work and witness among others. Finally, pray that the Lord would raise up other believers to partner with them in their service through prayers, encouragement, and financial support.