Hello, I’m Leon Dück, 18 years old, and I’ve been a member of the Bielefeld Mennonite congregation since 2021; I attend the Baumheide branch.
There, in 2022, I was able to serve as a children’s group leader and join the youth group. I completed my A-levels in May of that year, and have now been serving God’s mission in Bolivia since mid-January 2023. I am serving as a teacher of German and maths at the Horizonte settlement, and am expected to take on a few roles within the youth group soon.
I have the privilege of being part of a Christian family, and so I’ve always been aware that one must be converted to go to heaven. I was able to do that as a young boy, but a real change in my life didn’t come until much later. It was only after I’d been attending baptism classes for a few weeks that I realised what it meant to be baptised, and that’s when I took that step. God only showed me what it means to be a Christian (or at least the vast majority of what I now know) last autumn, and so I was able to experience God’s grace.
The fact that God is gracious and has good intentions towards me was also demonstrated by the fact that I am now here in Bolivia. Shortly before the end of my A-levels, it was clear to me that going abroad was not an option for me, but I didn’t know what else to do, so I prayed. Over the following weeks, God clearly showed me that He wanted me to go abroad, and then guided my path here to Bolivia, to the Horizonte Colony.
As I’ve already mentioned, I’m now able to serve here at Colonia Horizonte as a teacher at the school, teaching German to Years 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 and 8, and also maths to Year 2, as this is my main class here – so I’m effectively their form tutor.
I’ve now been here in Bolivia for exactly one month and have already been able to see and experience so much that isn’t quite as I’d imagined. And even though one might have a little more luxury in Germany – and, above all, one’s family – I’m glad to be here. Anyone who’d like to be part of my work here in Bolivia is warmly invited to pray for it.
For God’s glory alone!
