23/07: Park Ave Fest Fundraiser!
August 2nd and August 3rd!
Mark 'em down!
All day Saturday (8-6) we will be doing our Annual Park Ave Fest Parking Fundraiser!
We will charge $5 per car.
We will hand out water bottles with Asbury First Youth Mission info!
Sunday After Service we will be running the fundraiser as well from 11 - 4
Ready to sign up for this fun day of fundraising?
Post a comment as your RSVP!
Can Parents help? You bet!
What's involved? smiling, directing to the back parking lot, smiling, taking their money and handing them a water bottle, smiling, saying thank you for supporting Asbury First's Youth Mission Trips!
Any prep work that needs to be done? We'll need to hang posters in the morning along east ave.
Someone will need to get the coffee.
We'll need to label the bottles with our info (glue-sticking a label on the water bottle is all it takes!)
But really, this event is more fun and hanging out with each other than anything else.
Full day? Yes! We'd love to have all-day volunteers!
Can't commit a full day? Post the times that you can make it!
Thanks!!!!
Phil
Mark 'em down!
All day Saturday (8-6) we will be doing our Annual Park Ave Fest Parking Fundraiser!
We will charge $5 per car.
We will hand out water bottles with Asbury First Youth Mission info!
Sunday After Service we will be running the fundraiser as well from 11 - 4
Ready to sign up for this fun day of fundraising?
Post a comment as your RSVP!
Can Parents help? You bet!
What's involved? smiling, directing to the back parking lot, smiling, taking their money and handing them a water bottle, smiling, saying thank you for supporting Asbury First's Youth Mission Trips!
Any prep work that needs to be done? We'll need to hang posters in the morning along east ave.
Someone will need to get the coffee.
We'll need to label the bottles with our info (glue-sticking a label on the water bottle is all it takes!)
But really, this event is more fun and hanging out with each other than anything else.
Full day? Yes! We'd love to have all-day volunteers!
Can't commit a full day? Post the times that you can make it!
Thanks!!!!
Phil
12/07: Mission Trip Reunion Party
Hi! We're all going to get back together next Sunday July 20th - at the Behnk's House from 4-8! Thanks Nancy and Dave!
Missioners and their families are invited!
I need RSVPs ASAP
TO RSVP AND SIGN UP for FOOD: please post a comment to this blog as your RSVP and what you are planning on bringing!
Everyone needs to bring something! Thanks in advance!
Come back to this post for directions and finalized times:
Suggested items that are needed:
RSVP by Wednesday 16th! This will help us figure out how many tables and chairs to bring
Missioners and their families are invited!
I need RSVPs ASAP
TO RSVP AND SIGN UP for FOOD: please post a comment to this blog as your RSVP and what you are planning on bringing!
Everyone needs to bring something! Thanks in advance!
Come back to this post for directions and finalized times:
Suggested items that are needed:
- pasta / green salad /other salad
- fruit salad
- main dish (burgers/hots)
- dessert
- drink
- chips/dips
RSVP by Wednesday 16th! This will help us figure out how many tables and chairs to bring
12/07: Now that we've been home...
How many of you miss Nicaragua?
How many of you have paused a moment before purchasing something?
How many of you have questioned why we're not doing more?
How many of you are questioning whether we did enough?
If you have felt any of these emotions, I'm with you. All of these feelings keep crashing and receding like the waves on our Beach.
I can't stop thinking of José and how it only costs $50/month for him to go to college. $50/month to eventually move him out of a lifetime of sweatshop work... to move his future family out of a lifetime of sweatshop work.
I smile when I think of Omar. His gentle spirit and his deep desire to come to the states. His dream to become an airline pilot can be reached at $150 per flight hour. Your donations to his tip will help him reach that goal.
I firmly believe that we did exactly what we set out to do! We recognized their accomplishments! We worked alongside of the people of Chacocente. We learned that being Human Beings not Human Doings was the mission...
We slowed down
We fit into the groove of Nicaraguan work
We took the time to play with the children
We celebrated with them
We sang and danced with them
We cried with them
We prayed with them
Here's our challenge: Our mission of recognition has begun... do we let it end or do we "let it grow"?
What can we do to keep the mission going?
What are you willing to do to continue the support... the practical recognition of their striving to make a better world for their children?
Post comments and let us know what else we can do... I have some ideas, but I would love to know yours!
How many of you have paused a moment before purchasing something?
How many of you have questioned why we're not doing more?
How many of you are questioning whether we did enough?
If you have felt any of these emotions, I'm with you. All of these feelings keep crashing and receding like the waves on our Beach.
I can't stop thinking of José and how it only costs $50/month for him to go to college. $50/month to eventually move him out of a lifetime of sweatshop work... to move his future family out of a lifetime of sweatshop work.
I smile when I think of Omar. His gentle spirit and his deep desire to come to the states. His dream to become an airline pilot can be reached at $150 per flight hour. Your donations to his tip will help him reach that goal.
I firmly believe that we did exactly what we set out to do! We recognized their accomplishments! We worked alongside of the people of Chacocente. We learned that being Human Beings not Human Doings was the mission...
We slowed down
We fit into the groove of Nicaraguan work
We took the time to play with the children
We celebrated with them
We sang and danced with them
We cried with them
We prayed with them
Here's our challenge: Our mission of recognition has begun... do we let it end or do we "let it grow"?
What can we do to keep the mission going?
What are you willing to do to continue the support... the practical recognition of their striving to make a better world for their children?
Post comments and let us know what else we can do... I have some ideas, but I would love to know yours!
VIEW THE PHOTO ALBUM FOR WEDNESDAY HERE
I am happy to report that we are all well!
Talk about two hot days!
Wednesday afternoon some of us started showing signs of sickness so we instituted a day of Sabbath yesterday.
Throughout the past day and a half 15 of us have shown symptoms of either a virus or traveler's diarrhea. We are thankful for the efforts of Robyn, Larry, and Margaret for getting us on the mend. We've all taken our cipro meds to kill any kind of stomach bug. And again, I am glad to report we are all doing well.
We stayed at MEFEL and completed a few service projects (painting the outside of the Garage, the inside of the Chapel and we started a mural project). Staying cool and relaxed seemed to be just the trick.
We're getting ready to go to the dump. Please keep us in your prayers that the experience leads us to recognizing the hand of God in the lives of the people of Project Chacocente.
We will then move to the beach for a time to re-energize before two more days of wise work.
I am happy to report that we are all well!
Talk about two hot days!
Wednesday afternoon some of us started showing signs of sickness so we instituted a day of Sabbath yesterday.
Throughout the past day and a half 15 of us have shown symptoms of either a virus or traveler's diarrhea. We are thankful for the efforts of Robyn, Larry, and Margaret for getting us on the mend. We've all taken our cipro meds to kill any kind of stomach bug. And again, I am glad to report we are all doing well.
We stayed at MEFEL and completed a few service projects (painting the outside of the Garage, the inside of the Chapel and we started a mural project). Staying cool and relaxed seemed to be just the trick.
We're getting ready to go to the dump. Please keep us in your prayers that the experience leads us to recognizing the hand of God in the lives of the people of Project Chacocente.
We will then move to the beach for a time to re-energize before two more days of wise work.
02/07: Wednesday Morning Update
VIEW a PHOTO ALBUM of OUR FIRST WORK DAY PICTURES
Our first work day went extremely well!
Breakfast was First Rate. Fresh fruit (mangoes, white pineapple, and watermelon) with sausage and pancakes and the best plantains ever!
We piled onto the schoolbus and traveled the 45 minutes to Chacocente.
As we pulled in, the families were waiting to greet us. We were treated as if we were family members coming home from a long journey.
After a series of tearful hugs and holas! we moved into the center of the project.
The schoolchildren came out and formed lines by grade for presentation. They sang their national anthem for us. (watch the video here)
They then asked us to sing for them the US National Anthem.
Soon after, we broke into workgroups. 8 groups of 4 youth went to different areas: 4 were assigned to construction... 3 assigned to painting, and 1 group assigned to field work.
The weather was on our side throughout the day and the afternoon rain was certainly refreshing.
Oh... we had a lunch to beat all "to-go" lunches... MEFEL brought us taco salad! Some of us found the bench and some of the found the ground to be an inviting place to sit!
When it was time to leave for the day plenty of mananas were shared and we watched as one of the young boys raced the bus as we drove away.
We came back to MEFEL and rested. A dinner of chicken and rice with plantains and fresh fruit was so refreshing and delicious!
For our evening meditation and devotion we recapped the day in prayer... reflecting on the emotions and areas where we sensed God's presence throughout the day!
Keep us in your prayers as we venture out into work day #2!
Our first work day went extremely well!
Breakfast was First Rate. Fresh fruit (mangoes, white pineapple, and watermelon) with sausage and pancakes and the best plantains ever!
We piled onto the schoolbus and traveled the 45 minutes to Chacocente.
As we pulled in, the families were waiting to greet us. We were treated as if we were family members coming home from a long journey.
After a series of tearful hugs and holas! we moved into the center of the project.
The schoolchildren came out and formed lines by grade for presentation. They sang their national anthem for us. (watch the video here)
They then asked us to sing for them the US National Anthem.
Soon after, we broke into workgroups. 8 groups of 4 youth went to different areas: 4 were assigned to construction... 3 assigned to painting, and 1 group assigned to field work.
The weather was on our side throughout the day and the afternoon rain was certainly refreshing.
Oh... we had a lunch to beat all "to-go" lunches... MEFEL brought us taco salad! Some of us found the bench and some of the found the ground to be an inviting place to sit!
When it was time to leave for the day plenty of mananas were shared and we watched as one of the young boys raced the bus as we drove away.
We came back to MEFEL and rested. A dinner of chicken and rice with plantains and fresh fruit was so refreshing and delicious!
For our evening meditation and devotion we recapped the day in prayer... reflecting on the emotions and areas where we sensed God's presence throughout the day!
Keep us in your prayers as we venture out into work day #2!
01/07: Tuesday Morning Update
How phenomenal is our accommodations! We arrived safely last night at 7:30 Nicaragua Time (2 hours behind NY) and were hospitably escorted to the MEFFEL conference center! As you can see in the images below that our trip was full of beauty! We had a touch and go situation at the Delta counter in the morning (it took forever to get us all checked in!) But once we were all on board, from that point it was absolutely smooth sailing!
The Atlanta airport was a great time to relax and prepare! We completed our prayer partner letters (many of you can expect them to arrive during this week... (unfortunately, we did not have enough envelopes so some may be delayed... but we thank you SO much for your prayers!)
When we arrived, we were greeted so warmly by our hosts, Omar, Ronnie, Ashley! (pictures forthcoming) There was a mix of energy and exhaustion. We had a brief orientation, got to our rooms and crashed!
We awoke to the sun rising with a rich blue sky and the hymn "For the Beauty of the Earth" keeps singing in my heart! Oh... it was 5:30am and it felt like a full night's sleep!
This early start, enjoying the coolness of the morning, has set the stage for a beautiful mission trip!
The Atlanta airport was a great time to relax and prepare! We completed our prayer partner letters (many of you can expect them to arrive during this week... (unfortunately, we did not have enough envelopes so some may be delayed... but we thank you SO much for your prayers!)
When we arrived, we were greeted so warmly by our hosts, Omar, Ronnie, Ashley! (pictures forthcoming) There was a mix of energy and exhaustion. We had a brief orientation, got to our rooms and crashed!
We awoke to the sun rising with a rich blue sky and the hymn "For the Beauty of the Earth" keeps singing in my heart! Oh... it was 5:30am and it felt like a full night's sleep!
This early start, enjoying the coolness of the morning, has set the stage for a beautiful mission trip!
Well this is the first of the blogs for this week! I'm so excited! Bags are packed and everything is printed out! I'm looking forward to the trip so much. I think we're going to have a lot of fun in the Atlanta Airport... I'll sign off for now!
