Monday, December 12, 2022

Christmas Greetings from Steve & Alene



Here is the link for the Bible in One Year app and to receive the daily emails:



Saturday, July 30, 2022

Passing of Alene's Mom

Dear loving family and friends,     

 

We want to share with you that Alene's mother, Lillian (Lil) Kudela, is now free from this world and passed peacefully to the eternal embrace of her Lord Jesus on Monday, July 25th. She and her family were extremely grateful for the in-home care and support provided by the John C. Fremont Hospital Hospice team. We praise God that Alene and her father, Al, were with Lil at home in Mariposa, California when she passed. 

 


We are grateful that we had shared precious times with Al & Lil in recent months since we transitioned to California in December 2021, including a celebration of Lil's 90th birthday with family in March, and Al & Lil's 70th wedding anniversary in July. 

A celebration of the life of Lil Kudela will be held at McCay Hall in Catheys Valley (2820 Hwy 140) at 10am on Saturday, August 6th. Colorful, casual attire is encouraged for the celebration, including Lil's favorite colors of pink and wine! The family requests that in lieu of flowers or other gifts, donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church or Manna House, both in Mariposa.


The full obituary for Lillian Kudela is attached below. 


Lil's absence will be deeply felt. 

We are so grateful for your love and prayers.

 

In Christ's love and peace,


Steve & Alene Burgert




Monday, April 25, 2022

Time to Say Thank You and Easter Blessings - Spring 2022

 

Sunday      June 5th, 9am     Calvary Lutheran Church

                                                                                1011 N Compton St, Post Falls ID 


We'd love to connect with you!

Easter blessings!

In Christ's love,
Steve & Alene

Saturday, February 26, 2022

Putting Down New Roots

To our precious Partners and Friends - 

 

We bring you greetings from our new home community of Mariposa, California - one of several mountain towns in the Sierra Nevada range, near Yosemite National Park in (roughly) the center of the state.

 

As anticipated, we are in a season of being “transplanted” - putting down new roots even as we process letting go of relationships, ministries, and work patterns that were so much a part of service in Kenya. We have been welcomed in our new church and community. Having family nearby is an additional blessing, and renewing relationships has been a joyful process, especially as COVID-19 restrictions are diminishing.

 

Even as we enjoy our homecoming, we are often surprised by “reverse culture shock” moments and have had to come to grips with new technology, pandemic after-effects, cultural expressions, generational issues, and political upheavals which are coloring our re-entry into a formerly familiar national landscape.

 

We are grateful for the years in an unfamiliar culture and country, and the opportunities we had to grow in our faith. 

Our prayers are that we would not lose what we gained through those experiences: 

o  Increased trust in the Good Shepherd when the path is unclear

o  Grace to live with less - possessions, status, and personal comforts

o  Expanded capacity for compassion, and 

o  Greater willingness to see Jesus in others who are not like us - and may not even like us!

 

We are also thankful beyond words for your support during our 12 years of service in Kenya. Attendance at one of our presentations, a thoughtful email or Christmas card, a phone call or zoom chat or generous donation made at just the right time or in response to a plea for help, prayers and even some visits to Kenya - all greatly blessed us in ways that you (and we) will probably never fully appreciate until the books are opened in heaven. Please be assured of the inestimable and eternal value of your partnership with us, even if circumstances will not allow us to express this to you face-to-face. It is our sincere and fervent prayer that the Lord will shower His great favor upon you and your loved ones. 

 

While we gratefully release you from commitments to fund our mission by the end of April, we will not officially retire from WGM until July 2022, so that we have time to share final thanks through mail and visits. Beyond our retirement date, we will continue to have a ministry account with WGM through which future donations can be made towards support of future needs, including opportunities to network or make short visits back to Tenwek to give missionaries there a break. We will cherish your continued friendship, communications, and prayers when you think of us. 

 

In His love and fellowship 

Steve and Alene                                                     

 

FYI: You are welcome to contribute to our ministry as well as

Tenwek Hospital’s ongoing projects and urgent needs via the links below:

www.wgm.org/burgert

www.wgm.org/project/tenwek-donate

www.wgm.org/project/tenwek-chaplaincy-scholarships