Contrary to popular belief [and what may or may not have been communicated on the summer calendar], there IS iNTERSECT this weekend, Sunday September 5. iN the Gym from 630-8p. Hope you can make it!
OH and sign up for the oneday Cluster Kickoff!
Aug
16
Don’t forget there is no iNTERSECT coming up this Sunday 8/22. Parents are invited to iNTERSECT on the following Sunday, 8/29.
You will also be able to sign up for the cluster kickoff this Sunday and next at the foyer table. There will be more details coming soon!
Aug
9
The Denver Team is on track to arrive back at the Bethel Activity Center by 6p.
Aug
9
The El Salvador Team is home! The Denver Team is on the road today and expects to be home around 5 or 6p. Mark your calendar to be @ iNTERSECT this Sunday, August 15 from 6:30-8p in the gym. It will be a Ministry Trip Recap night with stories and challenges from all the trips this summer.
Aug
6
Our drive to Denver went very well with no major problems. Van bingo was a big success. I was overjoyed to hear very little complaining about being placed in certain vans and about not being with friends. I know from experience that van bingo is not always the easiest and most enjoyable thing, but the students were great about it. We had a lot of great conversation and we were able to get to know people we hadn’t talked to yet and make new friends. It is amazing to see how friendships are forming and relationships are growing.
When we arrived in Denver, we found that our sleeping quarters were going to be very tight and there weren’t enough beds for everyone to sleep on. The girls were great; some ladies volunteered to share their bed so that no one would have to sleep on the floor. I love seeing this selfless attitude in our group, and it embodies the Philippians 2 mindset of considering others better than ourselves. The mindset of Philippians 2 has been very evident throughout this whole trip.
On Wednesday, we really started the ministry part of the trip. After two long days of driving, we finally made it to Denver and we were ready to begin reaching out to the people of Denver and making connections. We started the trip by going to a Colorado Rockies baseball game. As we walked from where we were staying to the game, we were asked to observe the people and society around us. It was very evident to us that there is a gap in society between those who have money and those who don’t have money. As leaders, we encouraged the students to look everyone in the eye as we passed and to say hello. It was interesting to see how many people chose not to make eye contact and ignored us as we walked past. When we asked the students how it felt to be ignored, they said that it was hurtful and they felt dejected. I don’t think a lot of the students knew the impact of ignoring some one on the street till they had been ignored themselves. It was definitely a good lesson for them. On the other hand, when some one would make eye contact and say hello back, it would brighten their day. Through this, I think that the students have learned the importance of acknowledging people when they see some one, and they have seen how it can make a difference in a person’s attitude.
On Thursday, we sent people to the Denver Rescue Mission to serve food at 5:15 in the morning. We were only able to send about eight people to serve. I was amazed to see how many people volunteered for this opportunity even though it was super early in the morning. The students on this trip have a servant’s heart and a great attitude about everything. They are always asking the leaders what is going on next and how they can help. As a leader, it makes leading a lot easier when people are willing to do anything and everything. Although I wasn’t able to go to the Denver Rescue Mission, I heard some amazing stories. The students loved going there and they were overjoyed to be able to help.
Later in the day, we sent some people out to deliver sandwiches to people who looked like they were hungry. This was a great opportunity to pull students out of their comfort zone and ask them to interact with people they wouldn’t normally interact with. It was great to hear students see some one sitting by the street and say “hey, can we go talk to that person? Let’s go!” The students really had a heart for the people they were giving sandwiches to. They were also willing to give up their time to listen to people’s stories, and they didn’t shy away from people. The students didn’t have the attitude of “hey, let’s give out our sandwiches as fast as we can, so we can get back to the house and hang out.” The students had a genuine heart for the people.
On Thursday night, we went out on a prayer walk through Denver led by Walter, a Denver native. We stopped at different places and heard the stories of those places. Students were asked to pray at each of the different places we stopped. I was really encouraged to hear the students praying and pouring out their hearts to God. I know that as a young person, it can feel awkward to pray in large groups but these students didn’t let that stop them.
Our afternoons have included sandwich outreaches and sanding a deck. The students have shown servants hearts on the deck, in particular. We don’t have power tools, the temperature has been in the nineties, and overall progress has been slow. Despite all of this, there has been no complaining. The students have, without prompting, chosen to view it as a time to enjoy a group activity, as well as serve at a great ministry.
Thanks for all your prayer and support.
Aug
6
Kicking it with Jimmy as we learn about Denver on our scavenger hunt.
Out on a sandwich outreach
On our prayer walk with Walter.
The team on the steps of the Capitol.
Blessed to start our mornings with a little taste of heaven…a French Press! Praise The LORD!
Random pics from Denver.
Aug
6
Hello!
Highlights:
-Classes almost doubled, now that vacation is in full swing
-Allora was able to share her testimony
-In the afternoon, the team was able to work clearing a hill, planting some seeds, and clearing trash from the property
-More time was spent interacting with the members of the church as they worked together on the property, and played some soccer as well.
Prayer requests:
-Tomorrow is our last day working VBS
-We will be having the “graduation” ceremony in the evening. Please pray that the parents of the kids will be able to attend. That the rain will not fall hard, so the ground does not get too wet, and prevent the meeting, or parents from attending.
-May God prepare the hearts of those who will be attending and bless the seeds that will be planted there
Gracias!
El Salvador Team 2010
Aug
5
Hola!
Day 5 was our second day of VBS at the church. Things went very well. The team is beginning to feel more comfortable as faces become more familiar each day. We relived Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem as the crowds waved palm branches and sang Hosanna!
In the afternoon, we visited a refugee camp! A large community that lived at the base of a volcano was displaced about 4 years ago, when the volcano began emitting toxic gases. Since they have been displaced, they live in very poor conditions. La Familia de la Fe has visited this community many times over the years and built a relationship with many families. Today, about 100 kids gathered in their community center for songs, testimonies, a puppet show, crafts, and the sharing of Jesus’ love for them all. Mikayla was able to share her testimony.
Prayer requests:
-For our third day of VBS at the church to honor and glorify God
-The team will be doing some light construction work/landscaping on the church property. Pray the rain stays away so they are able to accomplish their goals.
-Praise God, everyone is doing well. Pray they continue to stay healthy.
Dios les bendiga!
Team El Salvador, 2010
Aug
4
A wonderful part of our adventure, pizza by the pound. A Colorado delicacy.
Hey, we did make it and had a great night of sleep to boot. This is our view!
