Michigan District All Pastors' Conference

This yearly conference is always informational and fun. After four years in the district, we now have familiar faces and enjoy meeting new ones. 

We started the "weekend" (A ministry family's weekend is never on the actual weekend) with a nice dinner with friends from Seminary. Coincidentally, they are also expecting a baby in February. After dinner we continued our fellowship by playing a game called Dominion. I think we might be hooked. 

Monday was a full day of sessions. The keynote speaker was Dr. John Kleinig. I skipped out on most of his sessions, because I didn't want to push myself too much. Sitting for long periods of time becomes painful these days.

Tuesday was another full day of sessions with more free time. Every year there is a separate lunch for wives. It is great to have some "girl time" and meet some new ladies. During free time there was a chance to participate in a servant event. We assisted in making food bags for Kids Against Hunger. We also played another round of Dominion before dinner.

It is great seeing everyone and every time, I vow to make it more than once year. Especially, with our friends who live an hour away or less. I hope and pray I have an agreeable 2 month old, so that I can attend the Katie Conference. Maybe I should bring a nanny? Hahaha.

The back of the lodge where we stayed.

God's Blessings,

Joshua and Stefani 

Christmas Letter 2011

Greetings from Team Ketelsen!

We have had quite the year here in Northern Michigan. There is never a dull moment in the ministry or our lives.

In the Spring, Joshua had a bit of a health scare. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital with extreme dizziness, a severe headache, tingling in his hands, and difficulty speaking. The emergency room had several theories about what was causing Joshua's symptoms, but his general practitioner concluded that it was a severe migraine caused by high-blood pressure and stress. He was put on blood pressure medication and a strict low sodium diet. He had a check up in November and the doctor is pleased with how the diet and medication are working.

Joshua completed his second year of ministry at Holy Cross and has settled into a nice routine. He proudly confirmed his first confirmation class in July, a group of seven teenagers. He also had six baptisms this past year that, surprisingly, consisted of more adults than infants. Joshua has built friendships with several pastors in the Onaway area and in his regional circuit, and looks forward to the regular camaraderie of his Onaway Ministerial Association meetings, circuit meetings, and district conferences.

Stefani has been busy working with Holy Cross' preschool. She currently sits on the recently created school board. The preschool also hired her part-time to take care of various paperwork and administrative issues. She has really enjoyed learning more about the administrative aspect of running a school. Stefani also keeps busy leading the 456ers (the 4th-6th grade youth group), hanging out with the Junior/Senior High kids, and volunteering in various other capacities.

This summer we went on two major trips with the youth group. In June, we took ten high school students to the Michigan District Senior High Youth Gathering on Mackinac Island. We heard some great music, speakers, and participated in a servant event helping clean a church in St. Ignace. In August, we headed to the campus of Concordia University Ann Arbor for the Michigan District Junior High Youth Gathering. We took nine junior high kids. Again, we heard some great bands, speakers, and participated in a servant event helping the Detroit Rescue Mission. It never gets old seeing so many teens worship together and serve others.

The summer was full of visitors at the “Ketelsen Inn”. Joshua's mother and sister, Sarah, came to experience an Onaway 4^th of July. In August, Stefani's parents took their vacation “Up North”. We were all able to explore parts of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan that we had never visited before, including the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point, Tahquamenon Falls, and the Soo Locks. September brought Joshua's aunt and uncle from Iowa and Stefani's Grandma and Grandpa Marrah. We always enjoy exploring Michigan with our guests, regardless of whether it is our old favorites or experiencing something new.

We want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

God's Blessings,

Joshua and Stefani

P.S. To keep up with us all year round check out our blog http://teamketelsen.blogspot.com. And to read some of the yummy low-sodium recipes we have come up with, check out Stefani's cooking blog at http://ketelsenkitchen.blogspot.com.

Stefani's Parents August 2011 Visit

Stefani's parents came for a visit/vacation. We were quite the Michigan explorers while they were here. 

The Monday of their visit everyone minus Joshua headed to Petoskey. We ate lunch at Grand Traverse Pie Company, picked up some wine at the Mackinaw Trail Winery store, bought T-shirts at the Life is Good store, and hung out at Bayfront Park. Joshua was then able to meet up with us and we headed to the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula. We had tastings at Peninsula Cellars and Chateau Grand Traverse. The tastings were free and the wine was quite good. When we were finished tasting we had dinner at our favorite Traverse City restaurant, Mackinaw Brewing Company. On the way back to Onaway we found the Largest Cherry Pie Plate in World.

Tasting wine at the Peninsula Cellars.

The crazy yummy apple wine we bought. 

The gorgeous view of the vineyard at Chateau Grand Traverse. 

This is in the book Weird Michigan. We had to find it!


Tuesday we headed to the Upper Peninsula (the U.P.) of Michigan. It was Stefani's parents first time crossing the Mackinac Bridge and going to the U.P.. We went to the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie. The boat tour of the locks was at the top of our "to do" list. When we finished will the tour we ate at Antlers. Antlers has gotten recommendations from people we know and various books. The food was quite good and the atmosphere was fun. 

We are on a boat!


Wednesday we headed back to the U.P.. We went to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Paradise, MI. The museum was pretty interesting. The Great Lakes has a long shipping history and with that comes some crazy wrecks. While we were there we had the opportunity to stick our toes in Lake Superior. Stefani has a life goal of dipping her toes in each of the five Great Lakes. So far she is three for five. We also had pastys in the U.P.. They are the insides of a pot pie with the outside of a calzone. (Click on the word "pastys" to find out more information.) After we explored the shipwreck museum we headed to Tahquamenon Falls. Seeing the falls has been something we have wanted to do for a while. We were happy to get the chance. 

Stefani's feet in Lake Superior.

Joshua's feet in Lake Superior.

The lighthouse at the shipwreck museum complex.

 Stefani eating her first pasty.

Joshua eating his first pasty.

Stefani's parents, Kelly and Ted, with Lake Superior in the background. It was super windy that day.

Stefani and Joshua with Lake Superior in the background. 

Tahquamenon Falls, these are the upper falls. Simply beautiful!

It was great visit. We really enjoyed the down time and getting to explore more of Michigan. Thanks Mom/Kelly and Dad/Ted!


God's Blessings,


Joshua and Stefani

North and East Pastors' Conference 2011

Joshua and Stefani took a "working vacation" to go to a conference on Drummond Island. It was Stefani's first time to cross the Mackinac Bridge and be in the Upper Peninsula. These conferences are a great time to learn and catch up with other Pastors and their wives.

The bridge up close and personal.

The view of Mackinac Island from the Bridge.

Bye Bye Lower Peninsula.

Thanks for the welcome!

Waiting for the car ferry to take us to Drummond Island.

Welcome to Drummond Island!

Welcome Michigan District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

The cabin we stayed in.

The sunset on our last night there.


If you enjoy the wilderness and can stand not having internet or cell service for extended periods of time then we would definitely recommend Drummond Island.

God's Blessings,

Joshua and Stefani

Michigan District Junior High Youth Gathering 2010

We recently attended the Michigan District Junior High Youth Gathering held on the campus of Concordia University Ann Arbor. We took 6 Youth. For many of them it was their first retreat. The theme was "All About Nothing". It was based on Romans 8:38-39: "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."  One powerful message!
We were kept busy the whole weekend. There was a carnival, mass events, a Servant Event, water games, a concert, a prayer walk, and family time. Our Servant Event was to work at a food pantry. We helped clean and sort food. For many of our kids this was the first time giving of their time this way.

Our group has the honor of making the banner for this event every year.

This Swen and Dean. They are two brothers that have an amazing ministry of singing, being silly, being serious, and connecting with kids. Aargh!

This is Pastor Bill Yonker. He is the Senior Pastor at Immanuel East Dundee, IL. He is dynamic and really holds the kids attention.

Here we are receiving our instructions for the Servant Event. The Pantry is part of the organization Feeding America.

Stefani doing some heavy lifting.

What a good looking group?! The Pantry was at 1 Carrot Way. Hence, the carrots.

We think everyone had a great time whether they showed it or not. (You know teenagers.) The adults enjoyed seeing God work in the Junior High kids. If we (adults) can guide them along the path they are on, THE Church (not just Lutherans) will be in good hands. So, please INVEST in your youth through prayer, your time, and/or finances. They are the future (insert Whitney Houston lyrics here). 


God's Blessings,


Joshua and Stefani