What does it mean to be a Lutheran?

I just got back from a year representing Saint Andrew Lutheran Church as a missionary in Argentina. The ELCA program, known as Young Adults in Global Mission, sends young people to spend time with communities in other parts of the world. My placement was at a small Lutheran church about an hour from the downtown Buenos Aires, where I helped out with youth activities such as First Communion and Confirmation classes. That job was entirely more difficult and also a lot more fun than I had anticipated, and of course the best part was getting to know the kids, their families, and their stories.

I also worked in the church’s central office where I learned about the Argentine church’s numerous service projects throughout the country. This position also gave me the opportunity to visit several project sites to meet the people, share mate (a bitter green tea) and write about my experiences on an English-language blog. All in all, this was an amazing mission year.

For as special as my projects were, however, they were only part of my life in Argentina. When I wasn’t at work, I was hanging out with friends, or buying groceries, or staying in touch with family. Wherever I went, people would usually ask me where I was from and what I was doing here. When I explained that I was with the Lutheran church, many gave me a quizzical look: “You mean Mormon?” many would ask. Growing up in Midwestern America, everyone knows what Lutherans are. In Latin America, however, where the majority of people are Roman Catholic, all of the protestant faiths sort of get grouped together in people's collective consciousness-—Mormons, Pentecostals, Adventists, and yes, Lutherans. And so many times over the course of the year, I had to explain what it means to be a Lutheran. I had never had to do this before, but it proved to be a very worthwhile task. It forced me to look inward and “rediscover” the core tenets of my own faith: namely, God’s overflowing love and forgiveness, and Christ’s invitation to join together in communion with one another. Thus as I shared my faith with others, my own faith was strengthened and deepened as a result.

As Christians, we are part of a global communion of believers—the Body of Christ, as Paul liked to call it. To everyone who supported me--whether in prayer, communications, or financially--I cannot thank you enough. And based on the power of my experience, I also invite you to examine and rediscover your faith by sharing it with others. After all, you don’t have to leave the country to be a missionary!