At Trinity’s Childcare Center, we believe childhood is a precious time of wonder and discovery. Our caring, Christ-centered staff provides a safe and joyful environment where children build foundational skills, explore their world, and experience the love of Jesus each day.

Connecting children to Jesus. Nurturing the wonder of childhood.

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Through Trinity’s Christ for Africa mission auction, Trinity supports a number of African countries and ministries. Funds go to support the work of several ongoing mission efforts in several African countries, as well as Milwaukee-based ministries that serve the needs of African immigrants.

Mission Support of Africa

Trinity’s Christ for Africa mission auction raises funds to support several missions in Africa, as well as a Milwaukee-based ministry that serves the needs of African immigrants.

In the past fifteen years, our auction has raised over $791,000.  Money raised from this event has purchased malaria-preventing mosquito nets, dug wells for clean drinking water, financed Lutheran school building projects, supported the reconciliation of street children with their families, provided basic needs for the imprisoned, provided catechisms and Bibles for distribution – and most importantly supported the work of African missionaries as they share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  To God be the glory!

DONATE TO THE GENERAL CFA FUND

For donations more than $5,000 please make a check payable to Trinity Lutheran Church
Memo Line | CFA: FILL IN THE MISSION OF YOUR CHOICE

Learn About Our Missionaries

• Capstone Ministries – Western Kenya
• Bethany Asabe – Nigeria
• Peter Kelm Memorial Lutheran School – Ghana
• International Lutheran Church of Zion – Milwaukee & Congo
• Armor of God International School – Nigeria

Trinity supports the Karenni Community (Burmese refugees) in a variety of ways.

Ministering to the Karenni Community

Trinity supports the Karenni people (Burmese refugees) in a variety of ways.  These include:

• Welcoming Karenni students in our school
• Offering the Karenni community opportunities for worship services, Sunday School and English classes at Chapel of the Cross
• Designating a portion of Trinity’s 175th Anniversary Campaign to fund the translation of the Old Testament in the Kayah language
• Encouraging and funding the higher level education of a Karenni college student who desires to become an LCMS pastor

A Karenni Chronicle

BY JOANNE KRUSE, ERIKA DEGNER, AND TERRY SCHOESSOW

In the spring of 2008. Pastor Peter Kelm brought a “Mission Opportunity” to the Trinity Lutheran Freistadt Church Council: helping the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service resettle Burmese Refugees into the Milwaukee area. Various meetings followed, especially with the Human Care Board. We learned much about the needs of the people, specifically those from the state in Burma named “Karenni.” It was decided that Trinity-Freistadt would help co-sponsor one family with Lutheran Social Services.What began as sponsoring one family, has grown to a ministry to more than 100 Karenni living in Milwaukee, a bilingual worship services at Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church, English lessons, Sunday School and tutoring, along with nearly 40 children boarding an early morning bus each to attend Trinity Lutheran School.The Karenni Ministry is truly an example of Trinity Lutheran Freistadt members Growing in His Word, Serving in His World, and Joining in His Mission… Together.

Many Helping Hands

The family would receive $50 per month per adult family member and $10 per child per week for three months from LSS, plus rent for three months. They would also receive Badger Health Care and some W-2 money. The goal was to have the father employed within three months of their arrival. Liability insurance for volunteer drivers was also included. The family would have to begin paying back the loan from the U.S. Government for their airfares six months after their arrival. Generous monetary donations were, and continue to be, important to this mission. Trinity held two Sunday door offerings, and several “Weekly Coffee Hours” were given specifically to the family at first, then later to the Karenni Mission. The Human Care Board, Bible Study groups, Seniors, Historical Society, and individuals made donations. Lenten Supper offerings were also added to the pot. A checking account was set up in their names. In addition, the family’s clothing sizes were listed in the bulletin, and the Trinity congregation was extremely generous in providing regular clothing as well as winter clothing for everyone. In addition, car seats appeared. The family was allowed to pre-shop the church rummage sale in April as well.After that, the work of the congregation began in earnest, and started collecting household goods and making volunteer lists for transportation of supplies and people. A washer, dryer, beds, bedding, living room furniture, television were among the donations. The church applied and was accepted into the relocation program to assist the Karenni family.  Trinity had to wait for a specific arrival date before it could find an apartment to lease. The church was notified in early February 2009 that the family was coming on the 25th of that month.  In two weeks, generous volunteers found an apartment, cleaned and furnished it with basic supplies. A young family volunteered to house them for the first few nights until they could settle into the apartment.“I picked up the first Karenni family to arrive in Milwaukee, the Khu Matio family, from Mitchell International Airport on Ash Wednesday in February 2009. A Kayah speaking social worker and I met Khu Matio, the 22 year-old dad; Kye Meh, his slightly older wife, and their four and one-year-old daughters. The LSS social worker explained what was happening, and then left. It was a very quiet 25-mile ride from the airport to Germantown in the February darkness, with snow piles on either side of the freeway. We couldn’t really communicate, but I kept thinking how incredibly scary this trip would be. It was beyond my comprehension to think of being in the jungles of Thailand one day, and less than 48 hours later, be riding with this very white middle-aged lady into this very cold, dark night.“The Saturday after they arrived, several people met at the new apartment on Milwaukee’s northeast side with the Khu Matio family to settle them in and have them sign the lease. That day was very difficult. We understood why, as we tried to imagine being asked to sign a paper as detailed as a lease agreement in a foreign language.“We spent quite a bit of time together during the next weeks and months. I helped with some initial English lessons on a weekly basis. As spring came, we also went on outings – to a nature center, the beach, and out for ice cream. During one early memorable time, I drove past the Omega Hills landfill site. As I drove, I knew I should have taken a different route, because it would be hard to explain. Sure enough, Khu Matio looked out and exclaimed, “mountains!” (rhyming with rain). The Karenni state is quite mountainous, and he was homesick for them. I really hated to disappoint him, but didn’t want him looking forward to a future trip in the “mountains.” I was at a loss for words other than “no mountains” until I got to Robert’s Frozen Custard. I pushed open the swinging door on the wastebasket containers, showed them the trash, and said “mountains made of this.” You should have seen their faces!”

Navigating the System

“I was available to take the family to many, many appointments during the first few months. We went to Maximus (Milwaukee Job Center Central), the W-2 agency, to get bus passes, to the bank to open a checking account, for doctor appointments for immunizations and physicals. This is in addition to obtaining Social Security cards, Medical Care Cards, and state ID cards. LSS was very helpful in navigating the “system.” The social workers there gave lots of advice on various contacts for the government agencies and health care. I also rode the bus routes with them to show them how.” ~ Joanne

“During our visits, we worked on English, and also how to navigate the “system.” They would bring household items to us to ask their names and sometimes their uses. The daily mail and school papers also arrived on our laps, so we could sort out the furniture ads or nonessential school mail, explain what papers to sign, and return conference papers. They learned how to jot appointments down on the calendar we posted on their refrigerator. Khu Matio also learned how to write a check.” ~ Terry

“Communication was constantly a challenge. They knew the alphabet, “hello,” “please,” “good-bye,” “thank you,” and could count. We used a lot of gestures, children’s picture dictionaries, and Richard Scarry’s Word Book. I made charts for basic vocabulary to help them. I printed different fruits, the numbers so they could copy them to write checks, and general terms. We also made trips to Maximus, the bank and the stores.” ~ Erika

“I reviewed pictures of people that they knew from Trinity and looked at their family photos, too as we learned words for husband, wife, daughter, uncle, etc. Their photos had banana trees in the background.” ~ Joanne

LSS provided English classes of different levels as well as information on basic living skills, jobs, and interviews. Khu Matio was able to find employment with a temporary agency to work at a factory fairly quickly. That was good, because besides taking over normal living expenses, refugees are required to reimburse the U.S. government for their airfare beginning six months after their arrival.“When urgent matters came up, or when the ideas were too big for our limited communication, it was very helpful to be able to use e-mail. Khu Matio’s older brother Luis and sister-in-law Mubi were very fluent in English and still lived in Thailand. Once we got their e-mail, we could ask a question, and they in turn would call Khu Matio and explain. Khu Matio and Kye Meh would do the same when they had a question for us. “Certain topics were “untranslatable,” no matter what the system. For example, twice a year, at the beginning and end of Daylight Savings Time, we now laugh with Kye Meh as we remember our difficulty in explaining the concept to her the first time. It was less than two months after their arrival, so there was no way to really tell them about this strange custom. Terry finally went into the kitchen and turned the clock ahead, much to their consternation. She tried to explain, but failed, knowing that they must have thought she was the strangest person in the world. The next day, Joanne found the clocks turned back to their original times, so she repeated the process. Eventually they caught on that, for whatever reason, this was the way it was.“About this time we met Ellen and Pat, two retired social workers from Milwaukee who were going to visit the family’s old refugee camp in Thailand. When they returned, they were able to update us on the status of the family who remained there. Ellen and Pat joined us through the next few years at family birthday parties, helped connect Maria with educational resources in Milwaukee, and found an outlet for Lusia to sell her weaving.” ~ Erika

“Between us, we also showed them how to better function in Wisconsin society and culture: we went for walks to the local park, and to Asian food stores, Lake Michigan, the zoo, trick-or-treating, and the Domes. It was interesting to note a comment from Khu Matio during the visit to the tropical Dome. “Oh, that is a leem tree! We use that for medicine and food in refugee camp.” ~ Joanne

“Throughout our work with “our” family on 27th St., phone calls with questions or requests for help became routine. “What do you do when the tornado siren sounds?” ‘Toilet won’t flush.” “Why no power here? We always pay bill.” “What are storm windows?” With lots of phone calls and e-mails between us, one family member or another would drive down to help solve the problem. ~ Erika, Joanne, Terry

“I searched out a school, took them to the Central Office to register the oldest girl, helped fill out the paperwork for free lunch, and took the family for a tour at the school. On the first day, I watched in amazement as that spunky five-year-old jumped on a big yellow bus all alone when it pulled up in front of her house. I then drove to join her in class for the first part of her day. The Milwaukee Public Schools, and specifically Silver Spring School, has gone out of its way to be helpful and accommodating. Even when that school did not have a formal ESL program, they created support for Than Myan and the rest of the children as they joined her at school. They also provided an excellent well-rounded education for the last four years.” ~ Terry

In August that year, Trinity found out that the rest of Khu Matio’s family: his parents, sister and her baby, and six-year-old brother had been cleared to come to the U.S. They had been on the waiting list for over three years. Although they could be placed anywhere in the country, they were hopeful that they will be placed near Milwaukee to be reunited as a family. Trinity learned that “our” families were Christian, with little or no English skills, but with a strong employment history. They had lived in the refugee camp in Thailand for over 15 years, since the adults were small children. (Trinity would later learn that the “Mom” of the family, Kye Meh, left the Karenni state in Burma with a much older brother when she was seven – about 1992. She never saw her parents again.) “Once we learned they were actually coming to the area, and were sponsored by the International Institute, we were able to ask the congregation for clothing and more household items for the next arrivals. They arrived on schedule. Eventually, congregational volunteers helped get the rest of this family settled into the same duplex. The oldest sister, Maria, proved to be as fluent in English as Khu Matio kept telling us she was, so the communication issue improved immensely after their arrival. The first family was also able to help them navigate “the system,” but we again were involved in frequent trips to obtain cards, transport to medical appointments, etc. Now, anywhere we wanted to go with the whole family involved at least two cars, lots of coordination, and FOUR car seats!“A highlight that fall was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving when I invited the three women to come to my house so I could guide them in making a traditional dinner. The rest of the family arrived in time to attend the Trinity-Freistadt evening Thanksgiving service, then returned home. Discoveries from that dinner: turkey and pumpkin pie are tasty; there is NOT always room for Jell-O!” ~ Terry

“From Christmas to Easter and summer picnics, the three Trinity families described here took turns hosting several other events a year with the Khu Matio families. We also shared other cultural traditions throughout the year: school Valentines, Easter egg dying and hunts, the Fourth of July, pumpkin carving, the Folk Fair, children’s birthday parties, and Christmas tree decorating. We also went to Open Houses and Conferences for the children.“During the next two years, until several of our friends learned to drive and bought cars, we coordinated our efforts to get them to church on the major holidays. A special evening for all of us happened in April of 2010, when Kye Meh chose to be baptized. The rest of the family had been baptized at the refugee camp or sometime earlier, but as the only in-law, she never had the opportunity.

Growing Karenni Outreach

“In the three years that followed, we have watched with wonder and amazement as about 100 Karenni people have joined “our” family in Milwaukee. Many of them moved into a cluster of apartments on the south side. This has led to a greater Christian outreach and a new mission field. I was privileged to be present when Pastor Kelm conducted the first bilingual service in one of those apartments. The furniture had been removed from the living room, and over 70 Karenni crowded into this small room to hear the word of God!After about six months, this ministry grew into a formal weekly church service at Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church, with volunteers providing English as a Second Language lessons and Sunday School after church.” ~ Terry

The Jug of Oil Did Not Run Dry

“One last memory, however, makes me wonder whether God intervened directly with a family where money is always tight. Everyone living in Wisconsin is familiar with the long heating season and the need to purchase fuel in a timely manner. In the case of oil heat, this can be several times a season. Over one year after the second half of the family moved in, Maria called on a Saturday night to ask if I knew whom to call to order oil, because the gauge on the very normal-sized tank in the basement was showing a fill was needed. I asked her whom they called the last time. She answered that they had NEVER had it filled! This was so hard to believe, I quizzed them to see if perhaps there was another heat source I didn’t know about, or if the very helpful landlords had filled it, etc. No. It had not been filled since they moved in. I had been in the house many times; I knew they were using heat. Eventually, we came up a plan to get the oil delivered and all was well.” ~ Terry

Customs

• Karenni do not use “first names” and “last names.” Therefore, they say “Khu Matio,” or “Beh Meh” not just “Khu” or “Beh” every time.
• Women do not take their husband’s names upon marriage.
• Many females have “Meh” in the last half of their names; many males have “Reh,” so one cannot assume that everyone with Reh is related.
• They count birthdays as many other Asians do: you are “one” when you are born.
• The families we are familiar with sleep with one whole family in one room. They did not choose to use cribs. Babies sleep with their moms.

Observations

• Like many immigrants, the children we work with are very eager to learn, and are doing very well in school. Although the parents don’t always know WHAT to do with class assignments, they very much want their children to do the right thing.
• The older children have now been in school for six years, some have graduated and attend Milwaukee Lutheran High School.
• They are an extremely polite people. We heard, and continue to hear, “thank you.” Toddlers are taught to say, “thank you” from the time they can speak in Kayah. No matter what, they are always appreciative for our efforts.
• They like living in Wisconsin, although they could do without winter.
• We also confirmed that we all have very patient husbands.
• And, once again, we are reminded that God is at work through our efforts on Earth.

Connect

Connect with the Karenni Lutheran Church of Milwaukee on Facebook

Through Daniel’s ministry, the ripple effect will continue for generations as the Word of God is preached in the Karenni language.

Christ’s Call Continues

We call it a ripple effect.  A single event leads to another, to another, to another, like ripples on a pond.

We are in the middle of a ripple effect that began with the death and resurrection of Jesus, and that will continue until the day when people from every nation will be gathered before the throne of Christ.

In the last decade, Trinity has quietly been part of one of the great ministry stories in the LC-MS.  In 2009, one family of refugees from the war-torn country of Myanmar resettled in Milwaukee.  This was the first family from the Karenni ethnic group to make their home in our city, but they were soon joined by hundreds of others.  Daniel Reh, called Su Reh when he arrived with his family, was among them.

In addition to physical and social needs, many of these people had a spiritual hunger.  Members of our congregation responded.  Church services, Bible studies, Sunday School, English and citizenship lessons were all offered and well attended.  Daniel came to faith in Jesus through those Sunday afternoons at Lutheran Chapel of the Cross.  The ripple effect was in progress.

Baptisms. Confirmations. New citizens. Graduations. Jobs. Homeownership. There was much room for celebration. But the language barrier was always difficult, and the Karenni congregation began to experience challenges for which the English-speaking pastors were ill-equipped to respond.  Daniel saw that need and felt the call to help minister to his people.  The ripple effect continued.

Daniel began preparing for pastoral ministry at Concordia and will complete his seminary studies in the spring of 2022.  He will then return to Trinity for his vicarage and then his call into pastoral ministry.  Through his ministry, the ripple effect will continue for generations as the Word of God is preached in the Karenni language.

You can be a part of this ripple effect!  We are raising $260,000, which will provide for the first three years of Daniel’s ministry.  And, there is good news!  Trinity’s endowment will match $2 for every $1 given before December 31st. Your gift will have a triple impact as we work together to bring the Gospel to the Karenni people.

Thank you for supporting the growth of God’s kingdom through your prayers and support!

At Trinity, we believe college is more than academics — it’s a season of deep formation, discovery, and calling. As CUW students, you bring energy, talent, and a heart for service that strengthens our church, school, and childcare ministries. We’re honored to walk alongside you during this chapter of your journey.

Whether you’re looking to worship, volunteer, complete clinical hours, find flexible childcare jobs, or connect through Bible study and retreats — there’s a place for you here. Trinity offers a vibrant, welcoming community where your gifts are valued and your faith can flourish.

This isn’t just a church you can attend — it’s a community you can belong to, serve with, and grow in. From Sunday School classrooms to service projects, music to maintenance, CUW students are woven into the life of our ministry. And while you’re serving others, we’re here to pour into you — through meaningful relationships, mentoring, and opportunities to be refreshed in God’s Word.

So whether you’re seeking purpose, people, or just a place to land between classes — you’ve found it. Welcome to Trinity. We can’t wait to connect with you.

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