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Rev. Theo Kuster is a retired missionary living in Minneapolis, MN. He earned a Bachelor of Divinity from Bethany Lutheran Seminary, Mankato, MN, in 1962; a Master of Sacred Theology from Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, IN in 2002; a BA at the U of Minnesota in 1960 and an MA in Ibero American Studies from the U of Wisconsin in 1981. As pastor he served St. Paul's in Chicago, IL and St. Peter's near Goodhue MN. As missionary he worked in Peru, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Ghana West Africa, and Kazakhstan.
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In the 1960s Rev. David Luna, a pastor of some 20 years, and 13 Lutheran congregations in Mexico were finding themselves in disagreement with the doctrinal position of the then American Lutheran Church. Since the Luna group was heavily subsidized by the ALC, there was a reluctance to cut ties. At the same time an effort was made to find another US based church body to continue the subsidy program. In January of 1968 Rev. Robert Moldstad vacationed in Mexico and took the opportunity to visit Luna. Here are excerpts from his report: Part one; Part two. If anyone is interested, I have a complete five page report sent by R. Moldstad to the ELS Mission Board on January 18, 1968. The question was asked whether the ELS could use Luna and others in the projected ELS mission effort. Luna had taught at the Augsburg Theological Center. The Center was planned as a joint project, according to the Prospectus for Students, in conjunction with a Baptist mission, a local Episcopalian mission, and The Disciples of Christ. The planners envisioned a closer union and cooperation in the future. The Center was the clergy training site of the LCMS and CONCAP. Adolph Harstad and I visited this seminary on the exploratory trip.
Moldstad continued contact with Luna as he began an independent seminary in Mexico City during 1968. He also made contact with an ex-RC priest from Columbia. Some in the ELS thought bringing these men into the ELS would enhance the foreign mission program of the synod. Nothing came of these contacts.
In January 1968 while on the exploratory trip from La Paz, Bolivia, I wrote to Rev. Robert Gussick, asking for a visit on our way back to the USA. He was living in Guatemala City and answered quickly. This was the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship with one of the pioneers of LCMS Spanish missions. During the years we corresponded, attended meetings together, and ran into each other often. Together with Robert Moldstad, we later developed the use of large print for Spanish publications.
We were not able to meet on our way back. Gussick was very helpful, sending suggested reading list and later a letter applauding our selection of the Lima barriadas for our beginning work in Peru. We appreciated this contact.
Some of this correspondence during our exploratory trip was delivered via Rev. Tapani Ojasti, the LCMS missionary in San Jose, Costa Rica. The Ojasti mission and congregation were closed during the 1970s, and interestingly enough, no mention is made of the Costa Rica mission in current LCMS mission documentation.
In March of 1968 I wrote to Robert Anderson of the Peruvian Evangelical National Council reporting on our plans. I requested membership in the Council in order to expedite the paper work related to our visas, residence, shipping, etc.
He sent this reply. Thus started a long and worthwhile relationship. Getting visas and clearing up details and confusions. The Myrlie visa was first a confusion and then very late in coming All this kept us busy until week before we left the USA in July of 1968. Anderson was patient and without his help we would have been in a pickle. Only a last minute letter and reply and another and yet another until finally we could breath easy. A phone call on July 9th to the Peruvian Consulate in Chicago did the trick.
The correspondence brought us even closer to our leaving date. However, contacts were made and every detail cleared up in plenty of time. These were the days before mobil phones, FAX, email and the InterNet. We did everything with surface mail and landline telephone calls. Plus, this was the first time I had ever applied for a visa.
We used a New Orleans firm Missionary Expeditors to ship a dozen 55gal drums and a few trunks. These went out on June 20 and arrived safely in Lima. A slight confusion came up but was resolved in time.
As a mission we joined the Council. The Concilio wanted assurances that the ELS mission was legitimate. This took some last minute correspondence.
Note that at this stage, we had in mind the indigenous principles and the goal of establishing a Peruvian church. The mission was to be an experiment in non-dependency. With the blessings which would come from the preaching of the Word and the administration of the Sacraments, the Lord would shower upon His Peruvian Christians the resources which they would then use to organize and support a Lutheran Church in Peru. We were not wanting to establish a long term US controlled enterprize. Here are some notes from a book we found in 1966. Page one; Page two; Page three.