Servant-Hearted Molly

written by Jarrett Meek

I've known Molly Merrick since she was a child at Heartland Community Church. As she grew into her teenage years she could often be found in the children's ministry classrooms serving as a volunteer. Her heart of service began early and is genuinely the legacy of her servant-hearted mom, Marcia, whom many of you know.

Molly's involvement with Mission Adelante began as a volunteer in the winter of 2008. By Spring she realized that God was fulfilling her heart for missions right here in the immigrant mission field in our own backyard. She moved to our neighborhood and joined our team as a summer intern. Molly's journey continued adelante (forward) through the year, and by January of 2009 she had joined our staff in a more permanent capacity as a ministry aide, on a part-time basis.

As a Ministry Aide Molly has made a significant contribution to our ministry in many ways. Her role includes hands-on help with our Leaders-in-Training program for kids, organizing our Resource Center, and generally helping keep our ship afloat. Molly's love for kids, her heart for helping people in need, and her humble heart to pitch in wherever she may be needed have all found robust expression through her role with Mission Adelante.

As I have observed Molly over the past two years, I has witnessed a young woman who has gained self-confidence, begun to find her wings, and has followed the leading of Jesus to make an impact in the lives of others for His glory. I am proud of Molly and thankful for the way Jesus has called and used her in our our lives and in the lives of those we serve.

In other news:
  • We're in the early stages of planning a knitting and weaving co-op to help the Bhutanese refugee women in our neighborhood begin to generate income for their families.
  • Nineteen volunteers began the lower level of our Spanish class last night with four volunteers continuing to the upper level, and four Hispanic volunteers helped Jarrett teach. We're very excited about so much interest being shown by volunteers in becoming effective at cross-cultural ministry.
  • Leaders-In-Training students and volunteers celebrated accomplishments with two of their own students yesterday: Odalis earned her first "A" on a math test, and Gaby brought three awards to show off that she had received at school including one for academic improvement and two for good citizenship. These kinds of improvements are the gratification that our L.I.T. tutors find so rewarding!
  • L.I.T. students will hold a Bake Sale at the Mission Adelante facility next Thursday, February 4 at 8:30 p.m. Proceeds will be donated to World Vision for their earthquake relief effort in Haiti.
  • The Mission Adelante facility is undergoing significant transformation as all-star volunteer and renovation manager James McClure and his crew of skilled volunteers have spent every Saturday this month here working. Last Saturday kitchen cabinets and counter-tops were installed and doors were hung throughout the second floor.
Prayer needs:
  • Praise God with us for providing a couple of more volunteers for the Thursday morning ESL class at M.E. Pearson Elementary School.
  • Also, praise God for bringing several of the new ESL students to Worship for the first time last Sunday evening.
  • Please pray for a Hispanic woman in our community who courageously left her job after suffering workplace abuse and sexual harassment over the course of a few years. Pray for God to allow her to find a new job where she'll be respected.
  • Megan McDermott is expecting as many as 25 Hispanic teenagers tomorrow evening for the first Teens Adelante meeting. Please pray that they won't be hindered from coming and that they'll find an atmosphere of acceptance and honesty. Also, pray for volunteers to have wisdom, patience, and flexibility.
Current needs:
  • A refrigerator for the newly constructed kitchen on the second floor of our facility.
  • Paper towels
Upcoming dates:
  • Saturday morning, February 27: Adelante Missions Institute presents Kirk Ogden, Director of South American Missions for a seminar on cross-cultural ministry. Look for more details soon!
  • Thursday, March 18: Spring break. No evening activities.

Mission Adelante Launches a New Pilot Project!


Bhutanese Outreach Pilot Launch from Jarrett on Vimeo.

It's not English, and it's definitely not Spanish! Nepali is the language spoken by the Bhutanese refugees that are being relocated to our neighborhood after years of living in refugee camps on the border of India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Mission Adelante has officially begun a pilot project to reach out to this cultural group and to determine if what we do best can be easily reproduced to reach immigrants from other places besides Latin America.

After months of prayer and preparation, a new ministry project was finally born last night at Mission Adelante. A fresh group of volunteers representing five churches has formed under our newest staff member, David Stetler, and last night they launched the Bhutanese version of our English-as-a-second-language and Kids Adelante programs. With about 23 adult participants and as many children, the ministry was instantly viable. A small army of ESL volunteers led by Justin Berger from the Gathering Network and Lauren Timberlake from Hillcrest Covenant Church launched an English program for adults that looks very much like our program for Hispanics. In the other wing of our building, Bhutanese kids with names that we could hardly pronounce demonstrated that kids are kids, by engaging in fun games, skits, songs, and small group activities. David Stetler, Rachel Yeargin, and several more committed volunteers corralled the kids and began to smother them with the love of Christ, something we pray will till the soil of their hearts in preparation for God's word to be planted there.

Although the new programs for the Bhutanese refugees are held on a different night than our programs targeting Latinos, Guadalupe, an Hispanic graduate from our ESL program, was intrigued by this new group of neighbors and showed up to help in the English teaching effort. This melding of cultural groups is something we're not pushing, but cautiously hoping for, recognizing that only God can create the kind of unity that has allowed different churches to serve together, and will someday see people from every tribe, tongue, people and nation worshiping Jesus together in heaven.

As we continue to explore this new opportunity God has opened up to us, we have seen His provision in many ways, including the financial support necessary to hire David Stetler and the volunteer participation needed to run these new programs according to our ministry values. God is also providing solutions to unique challenges associated with this ministry such as transportation for the Bhutanese participants, most of whom do not drive. Please pray with us as we take the next steps on this exciting journey!

In other news:
  • Mission Adelante is planning our first missions training trip to Costa Rica in mid May to further equip volunteers and staff in cross-cultural ministry.
  • Our faith community has met together for Sunday Worship six weeks in a row since transitioning away from in-home small groups. It has been a positive change, as the continuity of gathering all together has allowed the community to become even more tightly-knit. Thanks for helping us pray for this favorable outcome!
Prayer needs:
  • Three Hispanic men from our community and a staff member were able to help a single mother-of-three move in only four hours, without a u-haul. The family has temporarily moved in with relatives while they look for affordable housing. Also, the mother is expecting her fourth child in mid February. Please pray for strength and an extra measure of faith during this stressful season for this woman who has become dear to us.
  • Pray for God to arrange a sustainable solution for transporting Bhutanese adults and children to our outreach programs every Tuesday evening. Very few of the adults of this immigrant population know how to drive.
  • Please pray for God's blessing upon the launch of the Hispanic outreach programs, including adult ESL and Kids Adelante, tomorrow.
  • Financial limitations often keep families from being able to come to worship events. Pray for God to make a way for them to come when they don't think they'll be able.
Current needs:
  • Baby blankets for newly arrived Bhutanese families.
  • A family of five that has been faithfully involved in our worship community for over a year continues to experience transportation problems. Their only car has been broken down for almost two weeks and seems to need extensive repairs that are unaffordable. If you have a used vehicle that you would be able to donate to their family, please contact Jarrett at jarrettm@missionadelante.org.
Upcoming dates:
  • Thursday, January 21: Spring trimester begins, including Adult ESL classes and Kids Adelante
  • Thursday, March 18: Spring break--no ESL classes or Kids Adelante.

The Joy of Being a Child

written by Megan McDermott

When I first began volunteering at Mission Adelante, I was struck by how different the kids were in comparison to others I had worked with. I noticed that although on the surface they were children, there was an edge to each of them. For some that edge came from the responsibility of having to help raise their sisters and brothers at a very young age. For some it was because of the loss of family or friends due to violence or prison. For others, it was simply the environment of the inner city that too often forces the kids to grow up too quickly in order to survive. That is why the trip to Great Wolf Lodge with the LIT (Leaders in Training) kids was such a significant time of joy!

After much anticipation, December 18 came too slowly for many of our kids. Complete with three water slides, a huge water park, Jacuzzis, basket ball hoops in the pool, and a lazy river to float down, Great Wolf was a world away from the “norm” that the kids experience each day. It seemed that for the first time in a long while, I saw the carefree nature of the kids return. They were able to play, laugh, and joke together in a way that I have rarely seen. I think they felt free enough to leave their “edge” at the door and be kids again! I pray that God enables us to continue to provide opportunities to let the children know the joy of being a kid and are allowed the freedom to have a child-like faith.

In other news:
  • We're praising God for His provision for our ministry. Generous year-end giving met our goal and gave us a great boost going into the new year.
  • Last week thieves struck again at Mission Adelante. This time our new security doors and alarm system stopped them in their tracks. However, they were able to get into our garage and get away with some tools and building materials.
  • We saw the greatest turnout of new volunteers yet at our Volunteer Orientation last Saturday morning! This was much in part to the attendance of the whole Bhutanese Outreach Pilot volunteer team.
  • We launched the newest form of our discipleship program, Trios, at the Worship Celebration Sunday evening. Dividing our whole community into groups of three provides the opportunity for more deeper, more personal, and more intentional fellowship.
Prayer needs:
  • The Bhutanese Outreach Pilot Program launched on Tuesday evening with adult English class registration and kids club registration. Please pray for the Lord's guidance and blessing upon this brand new outreach to the Bhutanese refugees that continue to be placed in KCK.
  • Please pray for a strong start to the Trios discipleship strategy. Pray that all our community members would be excited to meet together, as well as consistent.
  • Registration for our Hispanic outreach programs is this evening. Please pray for the Lord to allow to come all those whom He's chosen. Also, please pray for the accommodation of all our volunteers into the correct role as we make final preparations to launch the programs next week.
Current needs:
  • A family of five that has been faithfully involved in our worship community for over a year is experiencing transportation problems. Their only car has been broken down for almost two weeks and seems to need extensive repairs. If you have a used vehicle that you would be able to donate to their family or if you have mechanical expertise and would consider repairing their car, please contact Jarrett at jarrettm@missionadelante.org.
Important upcoming dates:
  • Monday, January 18 at 6:30 p.m. at The Mission: Volunteer Team Meeting.
  • Thursday, January 21: Spring trimester launch--ESL classes and Kids Adelante.

Christmas Party Paradoxes




Mission Adelante's annual Christmas party is one of my favorite events of the year. Last weekend did not disappoint as over 250 people converged on the Bethany Community Center and shared an evening of fun, food, and festivities. It is such an energizing and unique event on so many levels that it is fun to try to describe it in a paragraph or two.

English and Spanish mix to share life and "Convivir". There aren't many places in the world where distinct cultures come together like this for fellowship. The food gives us another paradox: Latin American immigrants forming long lines to fill their plates with Chinese food from a bountiful buffet. Christian unity shines as volunteers from nearly 15 different churches in the city come to play a part in the production or just to be together. Kids who struggle to survive in the dog-eat-dog social context of the urban core sing "Lord I Lift your Name on High" and receive accolades for memorizing Bible verses and demonstrating characteristics like "Servant Heart". And, to add a strange and beautiful twist to the paradoxical event, live Jazz music of the caliber you might expect to hear at an upscale wedding rings through the crowd of poverty-level and below immigrants. And in all of this, the name of Jesus and the miracle of His incarnation is preached.

A special thank you to all who played a part in this beautiful event! What a fitting end to a great ministry trimester!

Morgan Ham: A Faithful Team-Player

written by Jarrett Meek

Morgan and Felipe were looking for a bilingual Pastor to help in their wedding ceremony. By God's providence I had recently arrived from Bolivia and met Felipe who was studying through Heartland's Ministry Apprenticeship Program. So God brought us together in this unlikely way and the Hams became part of the team of volunteers who founded Mission Adelante in 2005.

Morgan began her volunteer tenure with Mission Adelante as our primary level one ESL instructor. Her clear spoken manner of teaching made it easy for students to understand her, and her heart for Hispanic people shone through just as clearly. As Morgan taught that first ESL class around our dining room table, her husband Felipe was in the basement hanging out with a handful of kids who would become the first kids of Kids Adelante.

These days Morgan works in our office 12 hours/week as our Executive Assistant. Her objective way of thinking, her commitment to excellence and her diligent faithfulness make her a highly effective assistant. But her positive attitude, her ownership of our ministry vision and her long-term dedication make her an invaluable member of our staff team. We love Morgan and Felipe and are very thankful for their ministry and friendship as a part of Mission Adelante.

In other news:
  • We're in the early planning stage of a Mission Trip for volunteers to Costa Rica in May 2010. If you're interested, please contact Jarrett.
  • About 30 volunteers from Mill Creek Church, Christ Community Church, and Church of the Resurrection had fun slinging paint at the walls in the Kids Adelante room and the second floor of our building on Saturday. They were a great help and the building keeps looking better and better each step of the way of the renovation.
  • The women of the Mission Adelante community enjoyed an afternoon of fellowship at our Women's Christmas Tea on Saturday afternoon. Jarrett and Jason graciously entertained the kids while the women enjoyed conversation, finger foods, an encouraging message, and a Christmas craft.
  • The two in-home Bible studies both concluded their season of meeting together as small groups with well-attended dinners on Sunday evening. Beginning this Sunday we're transitioning to weekly worship services.
Prayer needs:
  • Pray for a smooth transition to weekly worship services to be held every Sunday evening at the Mission, and that our faith community would become even more tightly-bound through the increased frequency of meeting together.
  • Pray for God to bear fruit through Jarrett and Jason's pursuit of several families that are on the verge of becoming committed members of our community.
  • Please continue to pray for the pregnant mother in our community that is presently facing a myriad of trials. She has become a single mother through events of the past couple of weeks, and desperately needs the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Current needs:
  • ESL volunteers for morning and evening classes to begin in January. For more information, please contact Jason.
  • L.I.T. volunteers for weekday afternoons beginning in January. For more information, please contact Megan.
Important upcoming dates:
  • Thursday, December 10: Last day of ESL and Kids Adelante. Activities resume Thursday, January 21.
  • Saturday, December 12, 6:00 p.m. @ Bethany Community Center: Christmas Party. Please come and help us celebrate the accomplishments of our ESL, Kids Adelante, and L.I.T. students this trimester and honor volunteers with sustained service. Bethany Community Center is located on Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas (66102) between 11th and 12th Streets, behind the fire station.

Reflections on Gang Violence in Our Neighborhood


Last Monday I attended my first funeral in our neighborhood; a 27 year old victim of gang violence. As I listened to the Latino pastor speak words of hope to the family, as I listened to the members of that evangelical congregation consoling the young man's mother, as I caught an uncomfortable glimpse of the lifeless shell of a person left in the casket, I shuddered to think that one day I might be called upon to perform a ceremony in such a painful situation for one of the members of the Mission Adelante community. Lord may it never be!

This kind of situation is not a frequent occurence in our area, but any frequency is too often to accept. And, this time it hit too close to home. The victim's family is very close with a Mission Adelante family whom I accompanied to the funeral.

Gang "tags" or graffiti have been on the rise in our area over the last several months; a sign that the activity is increasing. When the former principle of ME Pearson elementary school came to speak to our staff, he shocked us when he said that recruiting to junior gangs begins as early as third grade and that serious pressure begins in fifth grade as middle school gang members return to their old grade schools to recruit kids they knew the year before.

We're in a battle for the hearts and souls of these kiddos, and it's a high stakes endeavor. I am more aware than ever that we must reach these kids when they're still reachable, before they go to middle school. The volunteers who've been serving in our Kids Adelante and Leaders-in-training ministries are on the front lines of this battle, ministering to kids while they're still "kids". Their efforts are made in the safe context of an established program with kids who will soon be facing the wolves. God, please use us in the lives of these young ones. Draw and call them to yourself now before they are drawn away by violent forces. Protect their hearts and keep them in you for eternity!

In other news:
  • One L.I.T. student that doesn't have a home computer will be chosen to receive a computer that was recently donated to the Mission. It will be a valuable tool for that student while completing homework.
  • The women of our faith community are looking forward a Christmas Tea this Saturday afternoon. While the women enjoy fellowship with one another, the men will be caring for the children!
  • More than half of the 12 L.I.T. students have earned the privilege of a pizza and movie party at Megan McDermott's house this Saturday. The party is a reward for diligently using an agenda to keep track of school assignments during the semester.
Prayer needs:
  • Please continue to pray for strength for the pregnant mother in our community that we described last week. She continues to cope with financial difficulty, the imprisonment of a brother and the serious illness of a sister, and her husband has now become absent from their home as well. Please pray that she will truly receive the Holy Spirit's comfort.
  • Pray for Juan, whom we've known for several years, and who seems to be getting closer and closer to entering into a relationship with Christ.
  • Pray for an ESL student that will soon return to Mexico to complete the required paperwork with the U.S. Consulate there for American residency. Pray for safety while she's away and that the process will be completed as quickly as possible.
Current needs:
  • Diapers, all sizes and any size package, for distribution through our Resource Center.
Upcoming dates:
  • Thursday, December 10: Last day of ESL and Kids Adelante. Activities resume Thursday, January 21.
  • Saturday, December 12, 6:00 p.m. @ Bethany Community Center: Christmas Party. Please come and help us celebrate the accomplishments of our ESL, Kids Adelante, and L.I.T. students this trimester and honor volunteers with sustained service.

Giving Thanks for Jason's Partnership

My friendship with Jason Schoff began back in early 2005 when he and Megan came to our home for dinner to talk about a vision that was emerging in our hearts to launch an urban mission to Hispanic immigrants. We shared stories about each of our experiences as missionaries in Latin American countries, ours in Bolivia and Jason's in Uruguay. The evening ended with the four of us standing together praying for God's vision to be born in us and for His guidance as we walked in territory we had never before known. None of us knew how God would answer those prayers or what Mission Adelante would become four years later.

Since that first meeting Jason has proven himself to be both a faithful friend as well as a competent ministry partner. Beginning as a volunteer during his last year of seminary, Jason and Megan drove to our neighborhood multiple times each week to be part of the early stages of our ministry community. After graduation, Jason began the fundraising process and joined our staff as the Director of English Outreach, a role that focused on running our strategic "English as a Second Language" program, but included much more.

As I reflect upon Jason's impact in the Mission Adelante community over the past four years I think immediately of the breadth of scope and ownership that Jason has in Mission Adelante. He not only sees needs in his own focus area, but also engages across the scope of our ministry. From leading a home-based Bible study and discipling individual men, to overseeing our Resource Center and organizing outings for the men in our community, Jason's impact has been felt in the lives of volunteers, interns, apprentices and of course immigrants.

Of all the qualities that Jason possesses, the one that is likely the most important is his love and dependence on God through prayer. "Prayer walks" in the neighborhood, impromptu prayer sessions before challenging meetings, and a heart-felt sincerity in his prayer-life give evidence to Jason's belief that the critical work of ministry is indeed prayer, especially in an urban context where spiritual enemies are brazenly opposing every effort we make.

As I consider what I am thankful for this season, Jason Schoff's partnership in ministry is one of the most important things. Check our Jason's blog to read updates or to see his recent update video.

In other news:
  • Megan M. and LIT student Nayeli enjoyed their visit to the Teen Bible Study at The Hope Center last week and gleaned good ideas for our own Teen Bible Study, which Megan hopes to begin within the next year. Please join us in praying that God will arrange all the logistics for its launch.
  • The servant team from our faith community met on Sunday morning to plan for some changes and improvements next year.
  • Our four staff members residing in KCK are looking forward to the social time they'll get to share with friends and ministry supporters this Saturday at their Open Houses.
  • Painting Day at Mission Adelante-December 5th from 9am-1pm. We need volunteers! Let us know if you'd like to come!
Prayer needs:
  • Pray for calming of the escalating gang violence in our immediate neighborhood, and for the protection of staff and community members and their families.
  • Please pray for strength for a pregnant mother in our community who is coping with financial difficulty, marital strife, the imprisonment of a brother and serious illness of a sister. Please pray that she will truly receive the Holy Sprit's comfort.
Current needs:
  • Kids winter coats, new or gently used, for distribution through our Resource Center.
  • Brown paper grocery sacks for the resource center. Volunteers: next time you buy groceries, why not ask for "paper" at the checkout and then bring the sacks with you the next time you come to the Mission?
Upcoming dates:
  • Thursday, November 26: Midterm break. Happy Thanksgiving!
  • Monday, November 30, 6:30 p.m.: Volunteer Team Meeting

Thankful for Megan's Ministry

by Jarrett Meek

It didn't take long after meeting Megan McDermott to realize that she had unique gifts, abilities and passions for working with inner-city Latino kids. Her experience as a teacher gave her a good handle on managing kid-dynamics. Her love for Christ served as the source of her love for the kids. And, her study-abroad experiences in Costa Rica had instilled in her a passion for building cross-cultural relationships with Latino people. We soon learned also that another critical element was also present: God's calling.

It came as no surprise to me, as our missionary team went around the circle last weekend mentioning the most impacting things God has done this year in Mission Adelante, that Megan coming on board as the Director of Kids Adelante was at the top of the list. In a very short period of time she has assumed the leadership role in a thriving and dynamic ministry that includes about 60 kids in a weekly outreach Bible study, 12 in a three-day-a-week leadership training program, and employs over 25 volunteers on a weekly basis.

Megan's capacity as a leader has been proven quickly. Her ability to manage multiple programs, relate with kids and their parents, and coordinate the efforts of volunteer teams is very strong. But these abilities only scratch the surface of Megan's impact. Working with inner city kids who are often hard to love requires a special perseverance, patience, and vision; perseverance to stay encouraged in light of ongoing crises and disappointments, patience to wait for God to work in the lives of kids in His timing, and vision to see beyond current circumstances to what these kids could become. Megan possesses all of these qualities, and one more: love for the kids. Even as Megan diligently fulfills her leadership responsibilities, she continues to demonstrate a faithful love for each child as an individual, often taking them out for ice cream for their birthdays and finding other ways to spend special time with them.

The kids, the staff, and the volunteer team of Mission Adelante are very proud of Megan and extremely blessed by her ministry in our community. To read stories and updates from Megan or to check out her recent video update, visit her blog.

In other news:
  • Our annual Missionary Team retreat last weekend was a fruitful time of reflection, evaluation, and brainstorming, especially on the topics of developing close relationships and discipleship within our church community.
  • Jarrett visited the K-State chapter of Ichthus student ministry last Thursday to recruit for our 2010 summer internship.
  • Thanks to generous donations from Christ Community Churches in Leawood and Olathe we have a majority of the winter coats, hats and gloves to meet the needs of neighborhood families this winter.
  • Megan McDermott and 13-year-old Nayeli, an LIT student, will visit the Hope Center tomorrow on the East Side of KC, MO to observe their Teen Bible Study as we consider how to expand Kids Adelante to continue to meet the needs of our growing kids.
Prayer needs:
  • Everardo and Laura are ESL students that visited our Worship Celebration for the first time on Sunday evening. Please pray that the connections they made there will give them a desire to return this week.
  • Join with us in praying that God will stir the hearts of people to engage in the spring trimester as new volunteers, both in the Hispanic and Bhutanese outreaches.
  • Pray for God's direction for David Stetler and his team's strategic planning for the Bhutanese ministry. They will launch their pilot ESL classes and kids ministry in January.
Current needs:
  • Volunteers to spend a couple of hours this week or next week sorting clothes in our Resource Center. Please call Molly Merrick at 913-961-2984 to line up your time.
  • Brown paper grocery bags for resource distribution.
Important upcoming dates:
  • Thursday, November 26: Midterm break. Happy Thanksgiving!
  • Monday, November 30 at 6:30 p.m.: All Volunteer Team Meeting

Halloween in Our Urban Neighborhood

Halloween is not my favorite holiday. But, it is one of my favorite things about living in Kansas City, Kansas. Our neighbors (not our Hispanic ones), go over the top with houses decorated, spooky music blaring into the street, and even live performances in their front yards. Kids come from all over our area and converge to trick-or-treat on 17th Street. It is a unique urban experience that you have to see to believe.

This year all the excitement produced some interesting opportunities among our Mission Adelante families. After meeting as a group at our home, parents and kids took to the streets together to enjoy a beautiful fall evening. Kids ran, asked for candy, sometimes remembered to say thank you, shook in their boots before sinister looking old homes, and had an overall great time being kids. Parents did their best to keep track of their black-clad, sugar-loaded offspring as they ran in and out of crowds of people (we even lost little Felipe Leyva for a while). After about an hour of chaos and over stimulus, the group returned to our home to count their booty and enjoy some dessert together.

Beyond all the hoopla, the highlight of the evening for me came when our group of Hispanic adults and kids stopped for a time at the Stetler home on 17th Street, where a clan of bewildered Bhutanese refugees had gathered to absorb this bizarre cultural experience. We were invited in and got to witness our Hispanic friends trying to interact for the first time with the Bhutanese refugees our ministry is beginning to befriend. As I observed Leticia making a great effort to converse with a Bhutanese lady, I noticed how similar they seemed. Their experience as immigrants unites them. And, I was struck by the fact that their only common language was English. Neither one could speak the native tongue of the other, so they were forced to communicate in English. From this first encounter I couldn't help but think down the road a ways and wonder if someday they would be worshiping Jesus together too.

In other news:
  • Our Resource Center continues to be open each Saturday morning so that neighborhood families in need can choose the donated items that would be useful to them. Molly Merrick is among the various people that staff this avenue of outreach, and one of her favorite aspects of the ministry is blessing each family that comes through by praying for them individually.
  • ESL volunteers are making a huge impact in students' lives this trimester by finding ways to spend time with them outside of class. One attended a birthday party while others have gone out to lunch or dinner together.
Prayer needs:
  • We're taking advantage of the opportunity to talk to the LIT students about sexual purity in a two-part conversation. Please pray for God to grant discernment and wisdom to the adults as they educate and advise the pre-teens.
  • The Missionary team will have a planning retreat this weekend to strategize and prepare for 2010. Please pray for God's guidance for the process.
  • We'll have our November Worship Celebration this Sunday evening. Please pray for current students and their families to have the courage to come for the first time.
Current needs:
  • Brown paper grocery sacks for the resource center. Volunteers: next time you buy groceries, why not ask for "paper" at the checkout and then bring the sacks with you the next time you come to the Mission?
  • Diapers sizes 4 and 5. Even small packages and generic brands are appreciated!
  • Two twin-size matresses to accompany bed frames that have already been donated.
Important upcoming dates:
  • Thursday, November 26: Midterm break. Happy Thanksgiving!
  • Monday, November 30 @ 6:30 p.m.: All Volunteer Meeting

First Steps for the Bhutanese Outreach Project

Last Tuesday evening it was raining and cold; the perfect night to launch a new ministry initiative! David Stetler and about 10 volunteers gathered for the first team meeting of the Bhutanese outreach project team. For those of you who haven't heard, Mission Adelante is launching a pilot outreach to Bhutanese refugees in our target neighborhood. This initiative will not only address the needs of another immigrant group in our area, but will also allow us to test the transferability of our ministry model to other peoples. Read More.

Volunteers from four different churches were present with at least one thing in common; a heart for the Bhutanese. Some have already had some experiences reaching out to them through ESL and other means. While others were there to learn more. This trimester they will focus on observing and learning Mission Adelante's core outreach programs with a plan to launch ESL and Kids programs in January.

In Other News:
  • Jason will travel to Cincinnati tomorrow with staff from The Hope Center attend the annual Christian Community Development Association conference and glean lessons from other urban ministries around the U.S.
  • Mission Adelante is saying, "goodbye" to volunteer Thiago deAgostino as he moves back to his native Brazil this week.
  • We're thankful for a new Kids Adelante volunteer named Adam, who is focusing all of his attention on one of our most at-risk preteen boys.
Prayer needs:
  • Please join us in sustained prayer for a kid named Eduardo who is struggling with a pattern of making detrimental choices.
  • Pray for momentum for our volunteers and participants to continue strong over the mid-trimester hump.
  • Pray for good health for our staff, volunteers, participants, and all families now that we're in the "cold and flu season."
  • We're praising God for the favor he's given Megan McDermott with potential financial supporters and asking for him to give her more of the same as she continues to schedule meetings.
Current needs:
  • Diapers sizes 3,4, and 5--any quantity--for distribution through our Resource Center.
  • Winter clothes, i.e. long-sleeved tops and warm pants, for distribution through our Resource Center.
  • A case of white copy paper for office use.

Fishing for Fishermen

Christ coined the phrase "fishers of men." The very encouragement he gave to his disciples was to cast out their nets, not for actual fish but for men. Too often, men come through our doors for only a trimester before work, sports, or other engagements steal them away from us. Therefore the relational window quickly closes right before our eyes. This past weekend we cast our relational nets out to men in our English classes and our church community.

Thanks to the help of one ESL volunteers, Mike Anderson, we planned a fishing trip to grab hold of these relationships and make the most of them. Fifteen men, kids, and volunteers jumped on a bus with us to a private fishing pond in Spring Hill. Our group spent the bulk of the day there fishing, eating, and enjoying conversation together. We rejoiced in the opportunity to connect with three men from our ESL classes and grow deeper with four men from our Adelante church community.

We literally cast the invitational net weekly to Hispanic men, women and children through serving, sharing life together, and holistic evangelism. However, there are few times that we can leave our neighborhood together and share life. Pray with us that this trip opens the doors for more opportunities to share Christ's story at work in us!

In other news:
  • Alberto and Graciela are committed members of our faith community that are also on their way to becoming American citizens. Jason has begun studying with them weekly for their upcoming American history and civics exam.
  • We have begun to include preteens and teens ages 12 and up in our home-based Bible studies. Until now they had been with the younger kids for our children's ministry. We're excited to see how their participation in the Bible Studies will impact the groups as a whole as well as them individually.
  • Just three weeks into this academic year of Leaders In Training, a strong bond of friendship has formed among the 12 students chosen to participate.
Prayer needs:
  • This Sunday evening our whole community will gather for a worship celebration at our facility. Please pray that the momentum we gathered during late summer will still be evident. Also, we'll invite the new class of ESL students to come, so pray that many will accept our invitation and come.
  • We're concerned about two families in our faith community that have become involved in a business operated by a pyramid model. Please continue to pray that the demands of the business won't draw them away from fellowship with our community.
Current needs:
  • Two flat screen computer monitors. One is for Megan, Kids Adelante Director, because her current monitor flickers off and back on every few seconds. The other is for use by the Leaders In Training students.
  • A sofa and skillets for distribution to families in need through our resource center.

Sovereign Grace in the Lives of Immigrants

The "perseverance of the saints" is the phrase Theologians use to describe the sovereign power of God to preserve the faith of those who belong to Him, thus keeping their eternal salvation secure despite the many struggles and temptations they may experience in their lives. Many of us find great comfort in the truth that we are both drawn to God by His grace and kept in him by that same sovereign power. John 10: 27-29 affirm this truth.

27"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29"My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

At times over the past few years I have been tempted to doubt God's preserving power in the lives of immigrants who we've seen stumble and fall and fade away after having received Christ. Their volatile lives, their difficulties, and their transient situation present significant barriers to consistency in the pursuit of Christ. But, time and time again my belief in the sovereignty of God's grace has been renewed as we've seen God bring them back around.

Mario and Veronica are a great example of this. Nearly three years ago now they received Christ during one of our home-based Bible studies, but difficulties of every kind have frequently caused them to disappear for long periods of time from their involvement in Mission Adelante. This week I am thinking back over the past four months and am in awe at the way God has been working in their lives. Their consistent participation and pursuit of Christ has been at an unprecedented level despite a host of challenges they have faced during this time. Just when I had written them off, God brought them back around with a renewed authenticity and commitment to following Him.

If you are wondering what to pray for Mission Adelante this week, please pray for the sovereign keeping power of God to reign in the lives of the immigrants we're reaching.

In other news:
  • An average of 60 kids have come to the first two Thursday evening Kids Adelante outreach Bible studies of the fall trimester, which makes for a very strong start.
  • Thirteen adult students have already memorized a short version of the story of Adam and Eve in English during the first two weeks of the level 2 ESL class. Bible stories are great material for language learning!
  • About 110 mostly brand new pairs of soccer cleats and other athletic shoes were donated to Mission Adelante after being collected at a youth soccer league drive led by Shawn Alexander. We'll distribute them to neighborhood kids who participate in our annual soccer camp next summer.
Prayer needs:
  • We're concerned about two families in our faith community that have become involved in a business operated by a pyramid model. Please join us in praying that the demands of the business won't draw them away from fellowship with our community.
  • Please pray for Megan McDermott to carve out the time to continue cultivating relationships with several kids that have become disconnected from Kids Adelante.
  • The men in our faith community and ESL program have been invited to a fishing event this Saturday. This is the first time for an outreach event specifically targeted to attract men to our community. Please pray for God to allow them to connect well with one another and desire to plug into our faith community.
Current needs:
  • Two flat screen computer monitors. One is for Megan, Kids Adelante Director, because her current monitor flickers off and back on every few seconds. The other is for use by the Leaders In Training students.
  • Skillets, diapers sizes 3-5, and baby wipes for distribution through our Resource Center.

Leaders In Training Lift-off!

A new class of "Leaders In Training" began the ministry year last Monday at Mission Adelante in our much anticipated LIT launch. Several returning students along with a handful of new ones will be joining us three days a week for tutoring, spiritual mentoring, and character development. This intensive leadership development group is designed to invest heavily in the students who demonstrate the most diligence and character as potential leaders among their peers.

We have observed that immigrant kids in our urban neighborhood are playing against the odds. By the time they reach middle school most of them have been recruited by gangs or have friends who are in them. Our goal is the raise up a group of kids from an early age who love God, have strong Christian character, and who can influence their peers for good rather than succumb the peer pressure that's all around them. It's a tall order, but we know that God is all powerful and can use our investment to change their lives and help them beat the odds.

Please pray with us for the new class of LIT students. Pray for a strong start and a solid commitment. You are sure to hear more about them individually and as a group over the next several months.

In other news:
  • Dave Stetler and three volunteers hosted five Bhutanese refugees for their first English class in our facility this afternoon. We're excited to watch their first steps toward becoming a holistic ministry to the Bhutanese population in Kansas City! (For more on the topic, see the following post!)
  • Last week was Launch Week for our fall trimester! Twenty-four adults enrolled for the ESL Level 1 class, and we have high hopes for all the summer ESL students to return for upper level classes this fall.
  • Kids Adelante had a huge group-59 kids on Thursday night for the trimester launch.
  • Saturday morning, September 12, about 25 kids and a few parents marched with Megan McDermott and other staff and volunteers in the Central Avenue parade. It turned out to be a great way to reconnect with many past students and acquaintances who were spectators along the parade route.
  • Sam Masters, a missionary in Cordoba, Argentina and our summer intern, Becky Masters', dad preached at our worship celebration on Sunday, September 13. Our community really enjoyed having him and his wife as guests and hearing Sam's message.
Prayer needs:
  • Please pray for all the new folks who are becoming involved in our programs for the first time this fall to come with an openness to God.
  • Pray for relational unity among the members of our faith community.
  • Please pray for God to provide a few more Kids Adelante volunteers to kick-off the trimester fully staffed.
  • Pray for Dave & Holly Stetler as they focus on building their volunteer team and raising funds for the Bhutanese Outreach Project.
Current needs:
  • Two flat screen computer monitors

A New Opportunity for Mission Adelante


Dear Friends,

I’m excited to fill you in on a new opportunity that God has opened up for Mission Adelante. Our Board of Overseers has approved a 16 month pilot outreach project to another ethnic group in our neighborhood: Bhutanese refugees. While we had not envisioned attempting to reach immigrant groups beyond Hispanics, the circumstances and timing of this opportunity made it seem like a God-given opening to test the transferability of our ministry model and to serve another group of people who need the compassion of Christ and His gospel of grace.

Several factors have come together over the past three months to convince us that we should move forward with this pilot project. At the heart of these factors is a called leader/couple (David and Holly Stetler-pictured here) with a compatible ministry vision, a commitment to moving to the neighborhood, support from a sending church, the need and desire for coaching and infrastructure, and a handful of volunteers who are already engaged in ministry to the Bhutanese. We believe that Mission Adelante can offer a lot to Dave and Holly and to their heart to reach Bhutanese immigrants by providing proven ministry models, infrastructure, a relational support network in the neighborhood, and ongoing coaching. They will become full members of our missionary team.

For Mission Adelante this represents an opportunity to test the reproducibility of our ministry vision and core strategies. This fall Dave and his emerging team will focus on fundraising, team building, contact work, observing, learning, and planning, with an aim to launch pilot programs in January (God-willing). As they prepare to launch this project, the goal is to reproduce, but also to contextualize the best of Mission Adelante in order to reach a new people group.

The very nature of a pilot is experimental. In other words, we don’t know what parts of this project will succeed, or if the idea of reaching other people groups beyond Hispanics will eventually become an ongoing part of our ministry vision or not. However, we are excited to discover the answers to these questions and believe that God has given us the right context in which to explore them. I invite you to enter into this process with us through prayer this fall and over the next 16 months. I am certain that wherever God leads us will be exciting.

In His Grace,

Jarrett Meek

Executive Director, Mission Adelante, Inc.

The Power of an Invitation


When you first meet nine-year-old Gaby, you immediately notice her smile and gentle eyes. She has an infectious energy about her that reminds you what it was like to be nine years old, questioning and exploring everything about the world around you.

As Gaby has grown over the last trimester, we have seen her become more attentive and excited to attend the Kids Adelante Outreach Bible Study, often encouraging her brother and sister to attend. Her love for the Lord and her desire to know Him made the decision to invite her to join LIT (Leaders in Training) a very easy one. However, the power of that invitation gave Gaby the confidence to step out as a leader because she realized that we believed in her!

Since that invitation, Gaby has consistently been praying over her family's dinner, even though her siblings often tease her mercilessly for it. At a recent garage sale fundraiser, she desired to step up and be the cajera, or cashier, simply because she wanted to help. This past Saturday at the resource center, Gaby saw the opportunity to volunteer again with the donations being handed out. She saw a need and met it. Without anyone even asking her; she very naturally began to serve.

Many of our kids battle against the societal norm that to love and serve the Lord isn't "cool." We teach them about God's love for them at LIT and the Outreach Bible Study, but when they walk out our doors, the world often paints a far harsher reality that contradicts this truth. Gaby is just one of the fourteen children that will be participating in LIT this year. How incredible it will be to continue to see our younger generations stand up and claim the truth of God's love and passion for their lives!

In other news:
  • The L.I.T. volunteer team is nearly staffed! The ten volunteers met last week for training. L.I.T. begins Monday, September 14.
  • During our break between trimesters, our staff is preparing and recruiting for the upcoming trimester, which begins September 17.
  • Our facility is becoming much more comfortable and inviting thanks to the interior design and decorating of one generous volunteer!
Prayer needs:
  • Please pray for God to give clarity about his will to volunteers that are considering joining our team for the first time or returning for another trimester this fall.
  • Pray for our whole faith community to be encouraged by five consecutive Sundays together in worship celebrations, and praise God for four ongoing volunteers to rotate leading the Sunday evening kids Bible study.
  • Pray for God to allow local public school principles to accept Megan McDermott's efforts to meet them for the sake of supporting the L.I.T. students to the fullest extent possible.
Current needs:
  • People or small groups to provide light, healthy meals weekly for the 14 L.I.T. students on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday afternoons throughout the academic year.
  • baby wipes to make available in our resource center
  • Help paint at Mission Adelante with your small group or church on 8/22, 8/29, and 9/12. Contact jarrettm@missionadelante.org to help!
Important upcoming dates:
  • Volunteer Orientation and Training: Saturday, September 5, 9:00 - 1:00
  • All Volunteer Team Meeting: Monday, September 14, 6:30 - 8:30

Backpacks Provide a Fresh Start


Can you remember the first day of school each year and all of the excitement that inevitably came with it? For me, the last few weeks of summer were always filled with anxious discussions about teachers, classmates, schedules, and of course, the all-important backpack. However, as we now know, it was the supplies that filled our backpacks that helped each of us begin the school year on the right foot.
As the summer began, we prayed that God would inspire local churches to partner with us in reaching out to our neighborhood kids. We were blown away as volunteers and local churches came together and donated more than eighty backpacks!! In addition, each backpack was packed with all the pencils, paper, rulers, erasers, and other supplies that each child would need to start the school year. Most of the backpacks were so heavy that the littlest kids couldn't even carry them!
Each child left Kids Adelante last Thursday armed to tackle a brand new school year, knowing that people around the city cared about them. When the kids experience compassion and generosity, they see God's love through others' actions. They recognize that the God they have been learning about all trimester loves them so deeply that he provided a blessing that will see them through the school year. Thank you to those of you who gave your time, finances, and hearts to remind the children of Kids Adelante of their worth in God's eyes.
In other news:
  • There was a great turnout at our End-of-trimester Party on Sunday afternoon with over 200 people in attendance! It was held in a large outdoor pavilion overlooking Wyandotte County Lake, where we grilled burgers and recognized program participants and volunteers.
  • A record number of adult students completed the level one ESL class this summer with 21 of the original 24 taking the final exam. We owe this success much in part to our faithful volunteer conversation partners!
  • We're thankful that God continues to provide new volunteers for our programs each trimester. If you're interested in volunteering, we have a spot for you! To find out about opportunities in the kids' ministry, e-mail Megan McDermott at meganm@missionadelante.org. For opportunities in the ESL program and the Resource Center, e-mail Jason Schoff at jasons@missionadelante.org.
  • This is Megan M.'s final week with the pre-teen and teenage girls in their Purity Bible Study. Megan has rejoiced as the girls have discovered their self-worth in Christ.
  • The next five weeks are a break between trimesters. ESL and Kids Adelante programs resume on September 17. All volunteers, please mark your calendar for the Volunteer Team Meeting on Monday evening, September 14.

Prayer needs:

  • During out break from programs, our focus shifts to our Sunday evening worship services, called Celebrations. Please pray that people who first learned about our ministry at the party last Sunday will be interested in investigating our faith community.
  • Kansas City, Kansas schools begin this Monday, August 17. Please pray for kids to be exited for a good school year.
  • Please pray for Alberto, who is beginning training to prepare him to preach his first sermon at Celebration on September 13. He will be the first Hispanic from our own community to give a message.

Current needs:

  • dining room chairs
  • a microwave
  • a washer and dryer
  • pasta
  • baby wipes, all for distribution to needy families through our Resource Center

Important upcoming dates:

  • Saturday, September 5 @ 9:00: Volunteer Orientation & Training. All volunteers should attend this orientation at least once, preferably at the beginning of volunteering.
  • Monday, September 14 @ 6:30: All Volunteer Team Meeting
  • Thursday, September 17: Fall trimester begins; Thursday evening programs resume

Reflection on the Summer Internship

By Becky Masters

The past six weeks with Mission Adelante have flown by faster than I thought possible. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the ESL classes and other ministries I have participated in. The biggest thing I learned was how to minister to adults, a big change from working exclusively with children. I was often out of my comfort zone, making visits and teaching adults, but I was able to establish connections with a handful of ladies from the level-three class.

Working in the level-three English class was one of the biggest highlights during the internship. It was a small class, but full of energy and fun. All of the students worked hard to learn the language. Most of the energy came from a student named Raquel. She kept everyone on their toes. Raquel is a quick learner. She is smart and fast, and does not wait for other people to answer; she shouts out the answers with enthusiasm.

At the end of class a week ago, we played a version of Jeopardy. Raquel gave the opposing team no chance to even attempt an answer. It took the other group a couple of rounds to jump in and score any points, but it made them all get into the game. They had to be more attentive and work harder. Raquel, along with the other ladies in the class, welcomed me and made me feel comfortable whether in class or enjoying limeades after class. It was a joy to teach and spend time with her and the group.

Even though I have only seen a glimpse of these ladies' lives, I have seen enough to know that there is a need for God's love. Six weeks are not enough to make a huge impact, but it is a start. I still have a lot to learn, but I was able to help plant seeds in some cases and water them in others. I am still too close to see all the fruit that is going to come from this internship, but I know that God has been working in me and in others. I am looking forward to seeing what God is going to reveal.

In other news:
  • The Mission Adelante staff team enjoyed a retreat last week together with families from Heartland Community Church at the Ozark Family Adventure. It was both an effective team-builder and a relaxing get-away for all of us.
  • We have seen a huge response to our request for backpacks and school supplies for the kids in our neighborhood! We especially want to thank Matt Alexander and Joy Shiner for organizing drives at church and among friends, and for delivering a carload each!
  • We were encouraged last Saturday as our faith community was mobilized to help meet the needs of one member by organizing a car wash and garage sale fundraiser with minimal staff involvement.

Prayer needs:

  • Pedro and Imelda, a neighborhood couple, have recently begun attending our Bible study. Please pray for God to give them a hunger to know Him and draw them to Himself.
  • Please continue to pray for God to bring additional volunteers with a heart to serve kids in Kids Adelante and Leaders In Training.
  • Pray for ESL students and volunteers to maintain their momentum during the upcoming five-week break.
  • Pray for Becky as she concludes her summer internship with us and transitions back to her role as a resident assistant at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg.

Current needs:

  • Volunteers for Adult English classes and LIT tutors beginning in September. If you're interested in being and English conversation partner, please e-mail Jason at jasons@missionadelante.org. If you're interested in tutoring kids weekday afternoons, please e-mail Megan at meganm@missionadelante.org.
  • A trailer for transporting large items to ministry events.
  • A flat screen computer monitor
  • A microwave, washer, and dryer for families in our community
  • Infant formula to make available through our Resource Center.

Important upcoming dates:

  • Sunday, August 9: Trimester-end Party at Wyandotte County Lake Park: Beach shelter. 4:00--free time, 6:30--dinner, 7:30--program. All are welcome!
  • Monday, August 10 - Wednesday, September 16: Break between trimesters

Selecting Kids for “Leaders-In-Training”

Do you remember how you felt when you received the call from your first employer and heard, “You’re Hired!”? As you read this article this afternoon (Tuesday), Megan McDermott and Jarrett Meek will be visiting the homes of seven kids, giving them the news that they have been selected to be in our Leaders-In-Training (LIT) program.

Seven kids from last year’s pilot group along with the seven new kids have made the invite list by demonstrating diligence and positive leadership characteristics in our Thursday night Outreach Bible Study and other contexts. As these kids grow up in our urban neighborhood, we will invest in their development so that, instead of succumbing to the negative influences of their peers, they can be leaders who influence others to follow Christ.

Please pray with us as you read this that the kids we invite along with their parents will recognize the unique value of this opportunity. Pray that they will accept the invitation and begin the year with soft and teachable hearts. And, please pray that God would raise up additional volunteers tutors to help with the program.

In other news:
  • Alberto led one of the home Bible study groups on Sunday evening for the second time and did a good job preparing and leading.
  • Molly Drake and Rachel Nighswonger took the kids from their Kids Adelante group to the zoo on Sunday afternoon.
  • We've begun using a new format with the kids on Sunday evenings to help them engage more in studying the Word. It's a smaller group than Thursday evenings, which is good for discussion.
  • Megan McDermott and Maria Rentas' housewarming party last Saturday evening drew and enormous crowd and provided a nice atmosphere for most of our community to connect and socialize as well as get acquainted with some new folks.

Prayer needs:

  • Praise God with us! Eduardo, one of the community kids most at-risk of gang involvement, has recently shown signs of change in his attitude and behavior. His family has also had more consistant attendance at worship and Bible studies lately.
  • Please pray for depth in the preteen girls' purity Bible study and Sunday evening Bible studies.

Current needs:

  • Volunteers for Adult English classes and LIT tutors beginning in September. If you're interested in being an English conversation partner, please e-mail Jason at jasons@missionadelante.org. If you're interested in tutoring kids in the afternoons, please e-mail Megan at meganm@missionadelante.org.
  • A trailer for transporting large items to ministry events
  • A portable CD player "boom box" for use with the kids on Sunday nights
  • A washer and dryer for a family in our community
  • A flat screen computer monitor
  • Diapers, sizes 5, 4, and 3. Diapers are one of the most sought-after items in our Resource Center and seem to fly off the shelves as fast as they're donated.

Important upcoming dates:

  • Monday, August 3 @ 6:30 p.m. Volunteer Team Meeting at the Mission
  • Sunday, August 9: Trimester-end Party

Urban Missions through the Eyes of Youth

Youth groups from 3 churches have participated this summer in mini-mission trips to the Mission Adelante neighborhood. Amber Donoho, from Shoal Creek Community church wrote the following reflections about her experience helping to lead one of the Kids' Club activities in a local park.

Reflections by Amber Donoho
"At first when I get to the building I have a dinner sandwich and I'm so nervous. I don't know what to really expect when I get there. Two ladies come in to the room and explain to us what we are doing and it surprises me. I knew we were coming there to see kids and play soccer and things like that, but I didn't know we were actually talking to them in English and singing songs. I became a little more nervous when the lady said some of the children might be scared of us or not talk any English at all. When we loaded up in the cars to go to the park I prayed for God to free all of my worries and I will be myself. I also prayed to magically remember the few years I had played soccer. I knew that these younger kids are going to look up to us and know that we are friends to them not enemies.

"When I get to the park there are just a few people there. I start getting butterflies again about how I'm going to converse with these children. So I hang with my friends for a little bit and start drawing with chalk with a little girl named Jasmine. It was fun to see her smile. After that we went to split off into our groups of activities. I was assigned to be in the soccer group and I realized these kids are really good at soccer. It was so fun to watch the kids play soccer with smiles on their faces. The effort they put into it is so great that it takes their minds off of everything else that goes on in their lives. When they got hurt by the soccer ball they didn't even flinch, but I guess they have be tougher to live here.

"Later on, we all went to the shaded corner of the park to sing "Big House". It was so fun because I knew all the words and I got to teach the hand signs. When I'm up there I feel happy and energetic. When the kids started catching on I felt so happy and worth something in these kids' lives. When you look down into each of the kid's eyes, you see a little glimmer of something that makes your heart heavy with feeling. You can't help but go home, cry, and feel like, " Wow, have I really made that much of a difference?" It's mind boggling to know that these kids will remember these few days of happiness. That God is really there for them no matter what and nothing can change that. I also know that I can never forget these memories as long as I live because this journey has brought me closer to God than I have been in a long time. So, I thank this program for changing my life and others."

In other news:
  • "Thank you" to the 22 Heartland Community Church interns that spent the day last Saturday painting the recently sheet rocked walls in our facility!
  • Mission Adelante staff were encouraged to spend about four days last week with Brandon Martin and three others from "The Bridge Hispanic Ministry" in Hickory, North Carolina. They came to observe our outreach strategies and learn from our experiences.
  • Our Resource Center is overflowing with items available to community families in need! We're normally open each Saturday morning for people to come and select items they can use. We had our best turnout yet last Saturday morning when about ten families benefited from donated goods, several of whom inquired about volunteering as a way to give back.

Prayer needs:

  • Tomorrow Megan M. and six preteen neighborhood girls will resume the Purity Bible study they met for last summer. Please pray for the girls to participate with authenticity and to go deep in the study.
  • Please pray for God to raise up more volunteers for the Leaders In Training program during the upcoming school year, and to continue to develop our worship team by inspiring members of our community to become involved.
  • Pray for Alberto, who has been a part of our community for about a year and a half and shows potential for church leadership. Jarrett and Jason are beginning to equip him to preach at our worship celebration, with a goal of preaching his first sermon in September.

Current needs:

  • We're collecting school supplies to distribute to about 60 community kids in August. It would be most helpful for backpacks to come already stocked with all the supplies an elementary school student will need. Those items are listed below. Could you organize a "Backpack Drive" for your church or group?

BACKPACK
500 sheets wide lined notebook paper
5 wide lined spiral notebooks
4 glue sticks (keep in package)
1 - 8 oz. bottle Elmer's glue (no blue glue)
1 small zippered bag for pencils
1 pkg. erasable pens (blue or black)
5 pocket folders
1 box colored pencils
1 ruler
2 "Sharpie" markers
2 pkgs. 3 x 5 index cards
1 red felt tip pen
1 pkg. #2 pencils
2 boxes crayons (24)
1 pair small scissors

  • A portable CD player "boom box" for use with the kids on Sunday nights
  • A washer and dryer for a family in our community

Important upcoming dates:

  • Monday, August 3 @ 6:30 p.m. Volunteer Team Meeting at the Mission
  • Sunday, August 9: Trimester-end Party