October 30th, 2017
Amy writes: Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
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Hi, my name is Amy Ling. I am the wife of the newly elected President of the Church Council, Kenneth Ling. My husband is a full-blooded Estonian and I am his American wife - a melting pot of culture.
Kenneth is the only child of elderly parents. Our first few years of marriage were spent taking care of them till they passed. I learned much about the Estonian culture and the Lutheran Church from my in-laws. I even travelled to Estonia with my then fiancée and his father. I was fascinated to see Estonia and learn of its culture which goes back much further than in the USA. The tours we took gave us a rich history of the country that my husband's parents were born in. Did you know that 95% of Estonians are Lutheran? Well they are. I tried to learn the language but my tongue always got in the way.
Reverand Thomas Vaga Bishop came to the Estonian Lutheran Church of Lakewood in August of 1987. He has been pastor here ever since. He realized sometime after his arrival that many Estonians in the community had American spouses who did not speak the Estonian language. He began to have services in English the third Sunday of every month. He wanted the spouses to attend the church and learn its rich history. I was one who attended this service with my husband at my side.
I tell you all of this because as the years went by, attendance at both the Estonian and English services grew less and less. I realize this was due in part to members getting old and not being able to drive, sickness and death. But unlike me, I feel many had children and grandchildren and that these children and grandchildren would be blessed to learn of their rich culture and religion if they would only attend services. The services are now only twice a month - the second and fourth Sunday of every month. They are about an hour long and are spoken in both Estonian and English. That is not a lot of time to give and visit the Lord in His house when He is with you every day and all day long.
