When "Us-Them" Becomes a New "We"

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written by Jarrett Meek, Executive Director 

What happens when the "us and them" mentality of service gives way to a new "we" where friendship is genuine and serving is done side by side?  Amazing things!  On Saturday night the Lord put an exclamation point on the last 18 months of hard work that Mission Adelante's Latino ministry has done toward developing a new multicultural leadership team.  This leadership team, called EQUIPOS, is made up of several sub-teams and is an integrated mix of leaders who are emerging from within our own community.  This shift from "us serving them", to "we're all serving together" has created a beautiful sense of community and a new "we"!

On Saturday evening, the events team spread their wings as they hosted our annual Christmas party for the first time.  Cynthia Acosta, from Mexico, led the team, and the party took on a uniquely Latino feel.  Community members, English students, and volunteers brought food, and the buffet line was filled with delicious dishes.  The Mexican folkloric dance group, "Fiesta Mexicana" performed for an hour, showing off spectacularly colored dresses and beautifully choreographed dances from different regions in Mexico.  The evening continued with awards for our Kids Adelante and ESL participants.  And, just when everybody thought things were winding down, Jaime Soriano, our very own DJ, put on the Latin dance music, and a dance party emerged that included Cuban Salsa music and even a line dance done to the Spanish version of Achy Breaky Heart. 

Besides being the funnest party our Latino ministry has ever hosted, it embodied many of our core values.  We celebrated culture, relationships were interdependent, community leaders were empowered, and we did it together in the name of Jesus!

Developing Leaders in the Way of Jesus

written by Kristen Maxwell, Director of Bhutanese Kids Ministries

Jesus was the greatest leader of all time, and most times his leadership was not in front of a crowd, but in service to others.  At Mission Adelante, we value developing leaders in the way of Jesus.  One way we are doing that is through our Leaders in Training (LIT) after-school leadership development and tutoring program.  As a part of LIT, a select group of students are invested in deeply, hear the Gospel proclaimed, and are challenged to put feet on it and live it out in their lives.  Recently, we challenged our Bhutanese Leaders in Training group to do just that. 

We presented the kids with two needs we saw in our community:

  1. St.Paul’s Food Pantry, located just down 18th street, where we serve on a monthly basis, was running low on food.
  2. Mission Adelante set the God sized goal of raising $250,000 for the launch of Adelante Thrift.

How could they as members of our community respond to this need? 

The LIT kids decided on doing a food drive for St.Paul’s and a Coin Drive to raise money for Adelante Thrift.  They put together fliers and collection containers, and presented their goal to the Bhutanese ESL volunteers and Bhutanese Kids Club volunteers to spread the word about the food drive, and shared with their peers at Kids Club to promote the Coin Drive.  Many volunteers complimented the students on their confidence in sharing in front of a group of English speaking adults, when the students aren’t 100% sure of their English skills.

It was amazing to see the results of their service projects.  The kids more than met their goals!  They had hoped to collect 100 items for St.Paul's and $50 for Adelante Thrift. They were able to collect over 200 items for St.Paul’s and $181 for the launch of Adelante Thrift.  At Mission Adelante, we are in the business of developing leaders, and it is exciting to think of a generation of servant leaders serving their community in a mighty way! 

IN OTHER NEWS:

  • All Bhutanese English students and conversation partners went to Crown center together last week. It was a great way to share some of our city and Christmas culture with our friends. (LT)
  • We are excited to be rewarding all of our Leaders in Training with a shopping trip to our Mission Adelante store (set up in our chapel) this week.  The kids have earned money throughout the semester by maintaining good grades, displaying good behavior, and staying organized, that they’re excited to spend! Thank you to all of you that brought items to make the store possible.

IMPORTANT DATES:

  • Latino Christmas Party: Saturday, December 14.  Please join us at  Bethany Community Center (1120 Central Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66102).  We’ll begin with a pot-luck meal at 3:30, enjoy a Mexican dance performance, celebrate participants’ accomplishments from the trimester, and end with a dance. Everyone is invited! Please invite anyone you know who is interested in learning more about Mission Adelante or possibly volunteering in the future!
  • Bhutanese Christmas Party: Saturday, December 14 from 4:00-8:00.  Mission Adelante (22 S. 18th Street, Kansas City, KS 66102).  Everyone is invited! Please invite anyone you know who is interested in learning more about Mission Adelante or possibly volunteering in the future!      
  • Office Closed: Thursday, December 25-Thursday, January 1: Mission Adelante office closed.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Innovators in Training

written by Hannah Hume, Bhutanese Teens Ministry Coordinator 

Innovation is a core value at Mission Adelante. Refugee and immigrant families must innovate in order to succeed. When you come to a new country, you are facing a new culture, new problems, new value systems and structures. The ability to adapt, to problem solve and innovate is necessary for new families to thrive in America.    

Problem solving and innovation is something that we work hard to teach to teenagers in our weekly programs. Once a month at Mission Adelante, Bhutanese teens plan and host an outreach program for their peers. During the month Mission Adelante staff and volunteers work closely with students as they plan the event. We give them space to plan something that is exciting to them and that they feel will meet the felt needs of their peer community.

As they plan they often run into problems. It can be tempting as adults when problems arise or when we see a potential problem looming to want to smooth things over for the students. However, we work hard to step back and allow the students to solve the problem for themselves in an appropriate way. Then, later, we can coach the students through how to avoid that problem in the future or think of ways they can handle it next time. They often learn important lessons from getting the chance to innovate and succeed, to try and fail in controlled and safe environments. Lessons that help them gain confidence, take ownership, grow in leadership and develop skills needed to succeed in school, future jobs, and life.

Last week, at the monthly Teens Club, students self organized themselves to bring food to the event. Someone signed up to bring paper plates, but failed to do so. So, when it came time to eat there were no plates to put the food on. The teens however quickly innovated a solution. They took the pizza boxes and tore them into squares to use as makeshift plates. Simple. Creative. What do teens learn from eating off of torn up pizza boxes you may ask? I talked to several teens afterwards and here were some of the things they said:

“If someone isn’t responsible to do their job, even if its small, it makes it harder for everyone. It’s important to do your job well.”

“We need to plan better, next time and remind people of what their jobs are, so they don’t forget”.

“When we work together we can fix the problems.”

These are lessons I’m betting many employers and school teachers would say are valuable. I’m excited to watch these students learn and grow and innovate! Who knows, maybe they will be the ones to innovate solutions to the bigger, grander problems in our world someday!

Innovate away teens!

 

IN OTHER NEWS:

  • Our Leaders in Training family will be celebrating the hard work of the kids by going to Great Wolf Lodge this weekend.  30 kids and 15 adults will be playing, learning, and having fun to reward the kids for working so hard.

CURRENT NEEDS:

  • We are having a work day to insulate the house rehab this Saturday, December 6th from 9am to 4:00 pm.  Please let Sarah know if you would like to help, even for just part of the day.  We are nearly ready for the professional sheet rockers next week, but we need to get the house insulated this weekend to be able to proceed.  Email sarahw@missionadelante.org to RSVP or for more information.
  • Our Leaders in Training program has a “Mission Adelante Money Store” at the end of each trimester.  In the store students money they have earned doing extra work, and exhibiting behavior above and beyond what is expected of them to buy small prizes.  Our students have done an amazing job this year, and we are in need of more items.  We are in need of small toys and prizes of interest to 8-12 year old students by Tuesday December 9th.  If you are interested in helping please contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org or Megan McDermott at meganm@missionadelante.org

IMPORTANT DATES:

  • The Latino Outreach and Bhutanese Outreach Fall Trimester Parties are on Saturday, December 13th at 4pm. 

A Prayer Walk

Written by Jenny Dunn, Bhutanese ESL Coordinator

Have you ever been prayed over? Wasn’t it just so encouraging to know that someone found you important enough to bring you before their god? Every day, we have the chance to pray for people.  Often times, this is the least offensive way to tell people about our God and how powerful He is.

A couple weekends ago, the Bhutanese ESL volunteers came together and prayed over our neighborhood. We walked the streets and prayed the houses and the people that live in them, the schools and the kids that attend them, sickness, and the barriers that keep people from knowing our God.

As we walked, we saw some of our Bhutanese friends and told them what we were doing. We then prayed over them. They have been suffering from sickness in their house; we prayed that God would heal them.

The other day, I heard an old story that increased my boldness to pray. One of our couple friends had been told back in Nepal that they would be unable to have any children.  This was very disappointing to this woman. One day, one of our friends visited them; she had been sick for a few days with a cold, so our friend prayed that Jesus would heal her cold. Not one month later, she found out that she was pregnant.  That prayer was so memorable to the family that one month later the husband was convinced that God had given them their baby because of it.

I think about the prayers that we pray over our friends and how much more He can do than we can even think, imagine, or dream up.  O Jesus, let us be people of prayer with faith that only You give.

PRAYER NEEDS:

  • Several new Bhutanese refugee families arrived last month and are attending English classes. Please pray they adjust well to life in Kansas City and that they feel welcomed by our community.
  • Pray for our kids to find constructive things to do with their time over school breaks.

CURRENT NEEDS:

  • Leaders in Training, our after school tutoring program, is in need of individually packed snacks. Costco and Sam’s Club are great places to pick some up!  If you can provide some snacks contact Kristen Maxwell at Kristenm@missionadelante.org.

IMPORTANT DATES:

  • Fall break: Tuesday, November 25-Saturday, November 29 No programs. Happy Thanksgiving! 

Beautiful Chaos

Written by Gary Pauley, Latino Outreach Director

House church is different from a traditional church service with a full nursery, a staffed children's program, and a stage. It can be a bit chaotic, a little loud, and not always punctual. It has been quite an eye opener for me, as someone who has pastored with a full staff and an equipped stage for a long time!

I have been thinking how much this must have been like the early church. No doubt there were kids everywhere. Sunday school didn't come around until the 19th century. Scripture says they were meeting in homes. First century homes in Israel typically also housed animals. The church was growing fast--new believers everywhere. I can really picture the chaos. A kind of beautiful chaos.

At our house church meeting last week, a visiting man shared that he was blessed to be attending and that he had never known people like this who loved one another this way. He wasn't worried about the kids, the noise, or the schedule, but he was impressed about what binds us all together.

I was thinking how so much ministry really takes place in chaotic contexts. Paul's plans were constantly interrupted, altered, or changed altogether...and he kept going. The earliest days of the church were marked by persecution and opposition. Increasing persecution and doctrinal corruption were the backdrop of rapid expansion of the Jesus movement in later years. Chaos and progress. God working in spite of the turmoil.

Sundays are awesome. God is at work in our community. It's wonderful to think how he uses you and us together to accomplish the beautiful things He does.

IN OTHER NEWS:

  • Our Latino Equipos (Team) met this week and we are beginning to plan for our trimester party in December.  We are looking forward to a celebration filled with food, family, dancing, awards, and fellowship. 

PRAYER NEEDS:

  • Please pray for our Latino teens, specifically our girls, as they are facing hard times.

CURRENT NEEDS:

  • There is a Bhutanese family that is in need of 2 twin mattresses, a queen mattress, and a kitchen table with chairs. If you would be interested in donating any of these items, please contact Drew Hammond at drewh@missionadelante.org .
  • Leaders in Training is in need of snacks for after-school!  We are looking for individually wrapped healthy snacks.  If you or your small group would like to help provide these snacks, email Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org
  • There is a need for 4 floor space heaters for two different families in our community. if you would be interested in helping out please contact Molly Merrick at mollym@missionadelante.org
  • Resource center in need of gently-used children's books. Kindergarten through sixth grade reading level range . Trying to get ready for distribution on Dec 2 and 4 as we partner with a kids ministries. If you are able to help please contact Molly Merrick at molllym@missionadelante.org 

IMPORTANT DATES:

  • Fall break: Tuesday, November 25-Saturday, November 29 No programs. Happy Thanksgiving! 

Placing Books into the Hands of Kids

Written by Megan McDermott

Can you remember the very first book that you fell in love with? It was that book with the well-worn cover and the dog-eared pages that you read over and over.  For me, it was The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.  I remember being so touched by the love that the tree had for her “boy.”  Over the years, wandering through book stores, I have often stumbled upon this familiar childhood memory.  To this day, I love sitting down and reading that book.  I even had the opportunity to read it to a few of the girls that I disciple, sharing the love of my favorite book with them.

For many of the kids in our community the presence of books in the home is not a reality.   According to Susan Neuman in Changing the Odds for Children at Risk, 2009, "In middle class neighborhoods there are about thirteen book titles for every child. By contrast, in neighborhoods of lower socioeconomic status, there is only one book title for every 300 children."

How do we address the lack of literature in the homes of our children?  At Mission Adelante, we believe that urban, multicultural ministry requires fresh ideas and new approaches.  We promote a culture of innovation that encourages creative solutions for unique circumstances.  A fresh idea took root as we thought about how get books in to the homes of the children.

Last Wednesday we had our first book distribution!  We decided to start small with our Leaders in Training and focus on getting three books into the hands of each of the thirty kids.  It was so much fun to watch the kids dig through the bins of books, choosing titles that spoke to them.  From Diary of a Wimpy Kid to a Jackie Robinson biography, the books that we had collected went directly into the hands of the children.  We are excited about our next book distribution in December to bless all one hundred of the children that attend our Outreach Bible Studies.  Our hope is that, just as The Giving Tree was the first step in my love of literature, the children of our community will develop a passion for reading.  After all, don’t we all deserve to find that one book that touches our heart and instantly transports us back to our childhood?  If you would like to provide gently-used children's books in the Kindergarten through sixth grade reading level range for distribution, please visit http://www.missionadelante.org/serviceprojects/ for more information.

In other news:

  • Some of our staff members participated with our Bhutanese friends recently in a popular Nepali festival during which they go house-to-house caroling. Several Bhutanese friends expressed how special it was for them to see Americans learning about and participating with them in their Nepali traditions.
  • Our level 1 Latino ESL class has a record number of students and volunteers participating this trimester!

Prayer needs:

  • Please pray for two marriages in our Latino community that are currently going through significant struggles.
  • Please pray for many Bhutanese English students who suffer from chronic pain.
  • Pray for the Holy Spirit's leading as we choose goals and plan for 2015.

Current needs:

  • Compact fluorescent light bulbs for use in our facility. Contact sarahw@missionadelante.org
  • A Bhutanese family from our community is in need of a crib for their new son. If you are able to provide a crib, please contact Drew Hammond at drewh@missionadelante.org.
  • Bhutanese LIT is still in need of a few more Thursday mentors.  If you would like more information contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org.
  • LIT is in need of individually packed, healthy snacks. Please contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org.

Important dates:

  • Fall break: Tuesday, November 25-Saturday, November 29 No programs. Happy Thanksgiving!

Announcing Adelante Thrift!

Adelante Thrift will be located at 3720 State Ave in our KCK neighborhood. And it's really close to I-635!

written by Kristen Allen and Jarrett Meek

After many months of planning and site searching, we are thrilled to introduce you to Adelante Thrift, a sustainable community development project of Mission Adelante.  We're excited to announce that we've signed a lease for an 18,000 sq. ft. space at 3720 State Avenue, and with that key milestone under our belt, we can begin the countdown to opening the doors to this new endeavor in the first quarter of 2015!  

Adelante Thrift is more than a thrift store, it is an opportunity to transform our community in a sustainable way.  Our job readiness program through Adelante Thrift  will  provide job opportunities and equip people with the skills they need to obtain employment and be successful in the workplace. Volunteers from our neighborhood and across the city will have an opportunity to serve in a variety of ways as a part of a dynamic team.  And, proceeds from the store will go to help fund ministry in our neighborhood.  We are excited to see how generosity will help transform a community! 

Now that we have secured a space, there is a lot of work to be done, including raising startup capital, building out the space, securing donated inventory, developing systems, recruiting volunteers, and hiring staff.  Here a three ways you can get involved:

Donate Items:  

Start saving up your clothing, furniture, electronics, and other housewares.  We’ll start accepting donations in early 2015 (not long after Christmas!).  We’ll let you know when we’re ready!

Volunteer:

We will need an army of volunteers to help us get our space ready, and then to help sort, price, and stock items.  There are perfect volunteer opportunities for families, church groups, or businesses!

Contribute Financially:  

Our year-end fundraising campaign this year is focused on raising money to launch Adelante Thrift!  Our launch need is $250,000, and the Lord has already provided commitments for $138,300.  We invite you to be part of this innovative community development initiative!  This is an “invest once” opportunity.  Once this project is up and going, it will be self-sustaining and will provide income for other ministry projects.  That’s return on investment!  Please visit our give page at www.missionadelante.org/give to learn how to contribute.

 

We can’t wait to welcome you into our store, help you find a bargain, and change your treasures into community transformation!.  Learn more about donating items and volunteering at www.adelantethrift.com.

A Great Loss and a Great Legacy

written by Drew Hammond, Bhutanese Outreach Logistic Coordinator

To the family of Mon Maya Rai,

We are saddened by your loss. In this time we wanted to take a moment to thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives and the life that your mother and grandmother, Mon Maya, lived. She was a heroic woman of great passion and love for you. We loved her deeply and have had two main feelings when we think of her.

The first is how sad we are. She is no longer with us in this world and we will miss her frequently. She was a light to us, and a great encouragement. Every week when we met for fellowship, she was sure to be there, singing to The Lord and certainly interjecting her own wisdom into the middle of the teaching. Our fellowships will never be the same without her and we will miss her greatly in those times.

Our second feeling is opposite of the first, it is our joy for her. She is now free from her suffering. We know how deeply she loved Lord Jesus and know how she believed in His saving grace and love. In John 14:1-4 Jesus says: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Fathers house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be with me where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” So we know that Mon Maya is with Lord Jesus now in the house of God. And we know that Mon Maya knew the way because she talked about Him all the time.

We know that your mother was proud of all of you. When she looked at you, she was happy with the legacy she was leaving behind. And we know that she hoped that all of you will find the same love that she found in Jesus.

We are so thankful for everyone in the Rai family. Thank you so much for welcoming us into your homes, your lives, and your family. We are honored to have known Mon Maya and been close with her. She was like a mother and grandmother to all of us on staff at Mission Adelante. The memories we have of her we will all keep in our hearts forever.

We love your family,

The Bhutanese Team of Mission Adelante

English Class at the "K"

By Lauren Timberlake, Bhutanese ESL Director

About a month ago, we took twenty-five Bhutanese English students and volunteers to the Royals game together. It was the first time to go to a game for many students--most had not even heard of baseball before. Everyone had a great time huddling together in the stands and learning about a new sport. We admired the stadium, ate peanuts and popcorn, clapped and cheered together. When I watch people from such different backgrounds have that much fun together, it’s easy to see Jesus in it. We are thankful for volunteers and students who want to be friends inside and outside the classroom. And what a year to experience Kansas City baseball---go Royals!

In other news:

  • Our level 1 Latino ESL class has a record number of students and volunteers participating this trimester!
  • The  Latino Leaders in Training (LIT) kids are excited to engage in enrichment activities every Wednesday. The interactive activities have included healthy cooking, culturally-based art projects, and even some drumming.

Prayer needs:

  • Please pray for two marriages in our Latino community that are currently going through significant struggles.
  • Please pray that our negotiations on the lease for our Thrift Store location would be finalized and the lease signed this week!
  • Please pray for many Bhutanese English students who suffer from chronic pain.

Current needs:

  • Compact fluorescent light bulbs for use in our facility.

Important dates:

  • Get-acquainted Days: Thursdays, October 16 & 23, 6:30-8:30  Have you wondered what all goes on around here on a typical evening of programming?  Here's your opportunity to come and see for yourself!  Come on up to 22 S. 18th Street, Kansas City, KS 66102.  Please note, the Bhutanese Get-acquainted Day on October 21 has been cancelled due to a festival that will be celebrated by our community that day.

Loving People from Other Places

By Gary Pauley, Latino Outreach Director

I am new at Mission Adelante, and my first trimester of ESL has been quite an experience. The class is full and we have an abundance of volunteers from all over the city. It is an amazing thing to watch unfold.

About our third week into the trimester a lady showed up asking to sign up for English level one. The class was full, and I was about to explain to her that she might have to wait for another trimester. She spoke no English and seemed...exhausted.

"We are new here," she told me. "I have five children and I speak no English. I don't think I can do this without being able to speak to anyone."

I asked her how the transition was going, and how she felt. She began to cry. "It's very hard," she said. I got the idea that there had been many hardships along the way.

We explain to our volunteers that they are not just volunteering to coach someone in English. They are finding connections to new people from other places, and God has a purpose in it all. We encourage our amazing volunteers to cultivate friendships and show the love of Christ in any way they can.

Someone will have that opportunity with this struggling lady. We found room for her in the English class.

In Other News:

  • The Latino Leaders in Training Program had fun taking learning on the road last Saturday! We took a field trip to the Ernie Miller Nature Center to go hiking and continue our studies on nature and conservation.  Then we finished the day off with a Halloween party.

  • Developing young talent!  Our Latino worship team has become a beautiful, cross-cultural mix of people of different ages and from different places. Our bass player, drummer (age 11), and two vocalist are from Mexico.  Our lead vocalist, pianist, and flautist (age 13) are from Cuba.  And our two guitarists (one a former missionary to Mexico and the other age 14) are from the U.S.

Prayer needs:

  • Please be praying as the Bhutanese community celebrates many festivals this month.

  • Please pray for a member of our community whose mother is very sick in Cuba.

  • Please pray for the Lord to strengthen leaders from our community who are taking on new roles.

  • Praise God with us for the way he has created a sense of family in our house churches.

  • Please pray for our Thrift Store lease negotiations to be finalized soon!

Current needs: volunteers

  • Bhutanese LIT is looking for people to commit to being weekly mentors from 4:00-6:00 on Thursday afternoons!  If you are interested, or would like more information, please contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org.

  • Kids Club is growing!  Last week we had 23 kids under the age of 6, and need to add a new Kids Club group!  To add a new group, we need more mentors!  If you like to work with the under-6 set and have Tuesday nights free to serve, contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org.

Important dates:

  • Get-acquainted Days: Tuesday, October 14 (Bhutanese)/Thursdays, October 16 & 23, 6:30-8:30  Have you wondered what all goes on around here on a typical evening of programming?  Here's your opportunity to come and see for yourself!  Come on up to 22 S. 18th Street, Kansas City, KS 66102.  Please note, the Bhutanese Get-acquainted Day on October 21 has been cancelled due to a festival that will be celebrated by our community that day.  If you want to check out our Bhutanese outreach, we hope you can make it on the 14th!

The God at Work in the Lives of our Friends

Written by Holly Stetler

Most of us know the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Daniel's friends who found themselves under the rule and authority of King Nebuchanezzer. The three men refused to bow down to an idol made by the king and were about to face their death in a fiery furnace because of it. They refused because they knew and worshiped the one true God that had recently helped them become some of the strongest and smartest men in the king's household. They served King Nebuchanezzer but they were not going to disobey their true king by abandoning the most important commandment. This was the story we shared with our friends at kids club this Tuesday and it was amazing to share what the power of the one true God helped these friends overcome: death!

Sometimes it is hard to get through to kids. Actually, let me rephrase that. It is ALWAYS hard to get through to kids. This story is about three friends who literally walked around in fire and did not even get burned! This story shows us the infinite power of God and how well he cares for those who follow him! However, most of the kids hearing the story didn't seem to be amazed! They recited the story back to me, and most said they probably would have tried to run away if this had happened to them, but it was just a story to them.

I felt discouraged in the moment, but I’m thankful that these aren’t just stories. I’m thankful that God is both powerful and loving. I’m thankful that every week I have a moment here and a moment there with my little friends to share about his unending love. I’m thankful that just like God's intervention on behalf of Daniel’s friends, he is the one who must, too, intervene in the lives of my little friends. I want them to know our Lord and Savior. I want them to feel his unending love and know the hope he brings even when things seem impossible.

I was humbled, and remembered that it is not me, but the Holy Spirit, who will pierce their hearts. I remembered that we are called to communicate the gospel with clarity and compassion through our words and our lives and let God do the rest. Will you pray with me that these children will know his truth? That one day they will hear this story and be in awe that the almighty God loves, cares for and protects his children? May He continue to break through to their hearts!

In other news:

  • Megan and Iris, one of our summer interns, traveled to the CCDA (Christian Community Development Association) National Conference last week in North Carolina.   It was a great time of refreshment, networking, and growth.
  • Bhutanese ESL students showed Tuesday night that they are mastering the citizenship material. We are thankful for the many volunteers who have invested in their learning and pray each student will eventually reach his or her goal of passing the citizenship exam interview.

Current needs:

  • We are looking for an affordable and reliable snow-removal service to plow our parking lot this winter.  If you have any recommendations, please email Sarah at sarahw@missionadelante.org.
  • The Bhutanese Leaders in Training program is looking for Thursday mentors!  We need 3 more people to help with homework and enrichment activities from 4:00-6:15pm on Thursdays!  To come check it out, contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org.
  • A Bhutanese family from our community recently moved and their new house lacks a refrigerator. If you are able to provide a refrigerator, please contact Drew Hammond at drewh@missionadelante.org.

Important dates:

  • Get-acquainted Days: Tuesdays, October 14 & 21 (Bhutanese)/Thursdays, October 16 & 23, 6:30-8:30  Have you wondered what all goes on around here on a typical evening of programming?  Here's your opportunity to come and see for yourself!  Come on up to 22 S. 18th Street, Kansas City, KS 66102.

Turning the World Upside Down

By Hannah Hume, Bhutanese Teens Ministry Coordinator

At Mission Adelante we envision a growing multicultural community of disciples making disciples. This vision is the at the core of everything we do and how we do it. We believe that expanding God's kingdom through the transformation of individual lives is at the heart of God's call for us and is the only way to see lasting change in ourselves, our communities, our cities, and our world.

 As a Kansas City, Kansas resident I often get an front-row seat to the hard and broken aspects of the city. Drugs, domestic violence, bigotry, and unjust systems abound. It can be overwhelming at times. However, I know there is hope. I don't find this hope in government programs, or changing laws, or hungry bellies fed. Laws can always change again, and those who were hungry will be hungry again tomorrow. I find hope in stories of lives transformed, like Narbu.

A couple of weeks ago I sat with 19 year old Narbu in his living room while he shared his concern for many of the young men in our community, and his desire to see them know Jesus and have their lives transformed. Why is this young man so concerned about his peers? Because a few years ago, Narbu himself was in a gang. However, through a series of miraculous events, his Hindu family came to know Jesus. Narbu was exposed to the good news of Jesus as well, and responded with his own personal commitment of faith.  Narbu turned his back on gang life, and is now newly married and an avid participant in a house church and in our teens ministry here at Mission Adelante. He dreams of ministering to and seeing young men from similar backgrounds as his escape their current lives and embrace the full life Jesus offers.

Narbu's is just one of a number of stories like this. Jesus offers good news--not just eternal security, but an invitation to have full life today, and to participate in bringing full life to those around us. When we talk about making disciples, our aim is not to clean people up morally, or to teach a Bible class. Rather, it is to display a daily walk with Jesus that affects every area of our lives and calls others to walk with us, like Paul described in 1 Corinthians when he wrote, "Follow me, as I follow Christ."

I dream of the day when the Mission Adelante community is accused of "turning the world upside down" like Jesus' followers in Acts 17:6 (ESV).  Care to join us?

Prayer needs:

  • Please pray for Mon Maya Rai, the matriarch of one of our Bhutanese house churches, as she continues to struggle with health problems, and for the community surrounding her.

Current needs:

  • Bhutanese LIT is currently in need of 3 Thursday mentors to serve from 4:00-6:15 on Thursday afternoons.  If you are interested in joining our team, please contact Kristen Maxwell at Kristenm@missionadelante.org.

Important dates:

  • Get-acquainted Days: Tuesdays, October 14 & 21 (Bhutanese)/Thursdays, October 16 & 23, 6:30-8:30  Have you wondered what all goes on around here on a typical evening of programming?  Here's your opportunity to come and see for yourself!  Come on up to 22 S. 18th Street, Kansas City, KS 66102.

Becoming Found Together

By Drew Hammond, Bhutanese Ministry Logistics Coordinator

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their possessions and property and were sharing with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

Acts 2:42-47 is a great passage. It is one of the first accounts of people gathering together after Jesus was resurrected and ascended to be with the Father.  It’s passages like these that gives inspiration for our vision at Mission Adelante. “We envision a growing multicultural community of disciples making disciples, where immigrants and others are thriving and using our gifts together to transform our neighborhood and the world for the glory of Jesus Christ.” That statement can be played out in a number of ways, through our various programs. For the Bhutanese Teens Ministry, it looks like what happened last night with the launch of our new trimester.

We gathered in the home of one of our staff members with a team of volunteers and invited a group of 6 Bhutanese students to come and meet with us. These students all come from a Hindu or Buddhist background, and are people with whom we have been sharing life. They have all voiced interest in learning more about Jesus and how to follow Him as Lord. In response to their persistent interest, we gathered them together to mimic what we see in Acts 2:42-47, and to become a spiritual family, devoting ourselves to Jesus.

To start off, we spent some time getting to know each other and shedding tears brought on by the spicy Nepali snack we were enjoying. We moved into a time of worship, singing in both Nepali and English.  The teaching time was focused on two passages: Genesis 3:9 and Acts 2:42-47. The focus of Genesis 3:9 was to draw out what it means for us as individuals to be people who choose to be found by God, through the work of Jesus, as He calls for all of us. Then we brought it together by reading Acts as our statement of how we do that together, become a spiritual family. We ended by sharing prayer needs and praises and by praying for those things, some in Nepali and some in English.

Even on our first time bringing this group of people together, we had a sense of awe. Will you pray with us? Pray that many signs and wonders would take place in our lives. Pray for vision and clarity around who needs to be added to this group of people. And especially pray that we would increasingly become of one mind as we worship Jesus as Lord, and learn what it means to follow Him together.

In other news:

  • Both our Latino Leaders in Training (LIT) program and our Bhutanese Leaders in Training (LIT) program launched this week, with 12 and 18 students, respectively! They're energetic and ready for a new year of learning and growing together. We are super excited to spend this school year pouring into these kids and their families.
  • The Bhutanese outreach had a great trimester launch on Tuesday night!  Many kids and English students were present, and it went smoothly. The Latino outreach launches tonight. Please pray for the ways God wants to work during this new trimester.
  • Five community members shared their stories at our volunteer training on Saturday.  Our immigrant community has taken more ownership in training incoming volunteers in the last year.
  • Gary Pauley has officially begun working part-time at Mission Adelante overseeing our Latino ESL program as he continues to raise funds to come on full time as our Latino Ministries Director.  We’re excited to have Gary on board!
  • Some of our staff members, volunteers, and participants were able to enjoy interesting experiences last week! Twenty five students and volunteers from Bhutanese English class went to a Royals game together. It was a first for many of them, and a great way to connect relationally outside of class. Additionally, a group of 15 Bhutanese teens and volunteers went to see The Blue Man Group at Starlight Theater. They had a lot of fun dancing and laughing!

Prayer needs:

  • Please pray for the recovery of several staff members who are ill with the respiratory virus that is going around.
  • Please pray for new students and volunteers to make significant relational connections over the next few weeks.
  • Please pray for the last steps in our lease negotiations for a site for Adelante Thrift.
  • Please pray for our our High School students that are beginning their Senior year. Senior year is a crucial and busy time for students and many of them have expressed feeling overwhelmed already with homework and preparations for graduation and beyond.

Current needs:

  • Bhutanese LIT still needs----- mentors to help with homework and enrichment activities on THURSDAY afternoons from 4:00-6:30.  Please contact Kristen Maxwell if you are interested in helping out at kristenm@missionadelante.org.

Important Dates:

  • September 24: No Latino LIT

Connecting to Culture

By Jenny Dunn, Bhutanese ESL Coordinator

A couple Saturdays ago, the Bhutanese volunteers and team had a chance to celebrate our students and the end of yet another trimester of classes. The summer parties are always a special time; they're our most low key parties but are always filled with lots of American culture with the picnic and lawn games as well as Bhutanese-Nepali culture with lots of singing and dancing.

This summer, we had an opportunity to have two outstanding Bhutanese interns, one of who is an excellent dancer. He teamed up with one of our volunteers and choreographed a Hindi dance for a group of us Americans to perform at the party.  We started practicing a month and a half in advance; we wanted the first American dance to be unforgettable. And it was!  It was fun and unforgettable for the dancers as well as for our friends in the audience.

Here are a couple pictures from the "historical party," as said by one of our Bhutanese friends.

In other news:

  • We’re negotiating the lease for Adelante Thrift and starting to pull together the team to help launch sustainable community development in our community. Interested in serving on our Adelante Thrift Action Team? Join us at the next Volunteer Orientation and Training on September 13 (see below for details) or email Matt at mattt@missionadelante.org.
  • We are having an amazing time with our Cuban family! Five members of the RAICES ("Roots") ministry team are visiting for about two weeks. We have had a lot of great relational time as well as intentional ministry time.  The RAICES team will join the Latino community on our retreat this weekend, where we will be learning about praising God in a variety of contexts.

Prayer needs:

  • Pray for our fall trimester planning process. Pray for volunteers, students and kids to be drawn to our programs. Pray that hearts are soft and ready to respond to God’s leading.

Current needs:

  • Volunteers for our Fall Trimester, beginning the week of September 15:
    • Monday-Thursday afternoons: 20 volunteers to serve one afternoon a week at Leaders In Training, our after-school tutoring and character development program for a select group of 8-13 year old Bhutanese and Latino students.  Contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org or Megan McDermott at meganm@missionadelante.org.
    • Tuesday evenings: 8 volunteers to serve at Kids Club, our outreach Bible study for 1-13 year old Bhutanese kids.  Contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org.
    • Thursday evenings:
      • Volunteer conversation partners for our Adult ESL classes.  Contact Morgan Ham at morganh@missionadelante.org.
      • 5 volunteers to serve at Kids Adelante, our outreach Bible study for 5-12 year old Latino kids.  Contact Megan McDermott at meganm@missionadelante.org.
  • We are making progress on the house rehab and Christ Community Church has been partnering with us every step of the way.  They are organizing work days this Saturday, August 30 and next Saturday, September 6th starting at 9:00.  We will be installing siding, caulking windows, repairing the porch, and painting.  Email Sarah at sarahw@missionadelante.org for more information or to sign up to help.
  • LIT has been gifted tablets to use with LIT this school year.  We are in need of cases to protect the tablets.  If you would like to donate one, check out our Wishlist: LIT Wishlist.  If you have questions please contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org or Megan McDermott at meganm@Missionadelante.org.

Important dates:

  • Volunteer Orientation & Training: Saturday, September 13, 9:00-12:30 All volunteers should attend this training once at the beginning of serving with Mission Adelante. It's also a great way for someone to become familiar with Mission Adelante's ministry. If you or someone you know is interested in finding out more about what we do, and about our volunteer opportunities, please plan to attend/encourage him or her to plan on attending this informative training, and to contact Morgan at morganh@missionadelante.org for all the details.
  • All Volunteer Huddle & Dessert: Monday, September 15, 6:30 p.m. We encourage everyone that will be volunteering with us during our fall trimester to attend so we can prepare for a great launch. 
  • Fall trimester programs launch: Week of September 15

From Barbie Dolls to High Heels: A Coming-of-Age Celebration!

By Megan McDermott, Latino Children's Ministry Director

One of the best parts of sharing life with the community of Mission Adelante is that we are privileged to be invited into milestone celebrations. We love embracing the uniqueness of the different cultures that we serve and celebrating that culture right alongside our friends!  

Within the Latino culture, one of the most important days in the life of a young Latina woman is when she turns fifteen years old.  This milestone, also known as the Quinceanera, occurs when a young girl is presented to her community as a young woman. Before the eyes of friends and family, she receives her last doll, dances a special waltz with her father, and exchanges flat shoes for a "grown up" pair of high heels.  All of this symbolizes the transformation and celebration of  a little girl becoming a woman.  I was blessed to be invited to the quinceanera of a young woman that I have known for many years.

I met Gissel seven years ago when I began serving at Mission Adelante.  At the time she was eight years old and had this very sweet spark of innocence in her.  She has always had a very special place in my heart because of her inherent goodness, compassion for others, and her tenacious spirit.  As she has matured, she has grown up participating in our outreach Bible study, our after-school tutoring program, our teens program, and recently gained admittance to Bishop Ward, one of the best hig schools in Kansas City!  God has blessed us with the opportunity to walk with her and her entire family.  

We have seen the importance of planting the seeds of Christ early in the life of a child and how, when tended over the years, those seeds can grow into strong saplings.  Watching Gissel walk up to the altar with her parents on the day of the quinceanera was a strong reminder to me of God's goodness and faithfulness. Investing in the children of our community requires time, patience, and faith that God is in control.  As I looked at this beautiful young woman, remembering her when she was so young, I found myself praising God for how He has lovingly guided her over the years.  I am excited to see where He will lead her!

In other news:

  • We relaunched one of our Latino House churches this weekend.  It was exciting to see some members reconnect who had been absent for a long time.
  • We are excited to welcome our Cuban family, Raices ("Roots"), as they arrive in Kansas City for ten days.  We are looking forward to fellowship, laughter, fun, and the Lord to continue uniting our ministries to spread the Gospel.

Prayer needs:

  • The RAICES team from Cuba will be in Kansas City for 2 weeks!  Please pray that their visit will be fruitful, that there would be mutual learning between our community and theirs.
  • Please pray for Adelante Thrift while we work through the lease for our location.
  • Continue to pray for members of our community looking for work. Pray for good pay and healthy work environments.
  • Please pray for the health of one of our dear friends in the Bhutanese Community, Mon Maya, as she has been sick for several months.
  • The family members of one of our Cuban community members just received visas to join him in Kansas City after a four year wait. Please pray for the Lord to guide them through all that immigration to the US entails, and to provide for their needs as they settle here.

Current needs:

  • Volunteers for our Fall Trimester, beginning the week of September 15:
    • Monday-Thursday afternoons: 20 volunteers to serve one afternoon a week at Leaders In Training, our after-school tutoring and character development program for a select group of 8-13 year old Bhutanese and Latino students.  Contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org or Megan McDermott at meganm@missionadelante.org.
    • Tuesday evenings: 8 volunteers to serve at Kids Club, our outreach Bible study for 1-13 year old Bhutanese kids.  Contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org.
    • Thursday evenings:
      • Volunteer conversation partners for our Adult ESL classes.  Contact Morgan Ham at morganh@missionadelante.org.
      • 5 volunteers to serve at Kids Adelante, our outreach Bible study for 5-12 year old Latino kids.  Contact Megan McDermott at meganm@missionadelante.org.
      • LIT has been gifted tablets to use with LIT this school year.  We are in need of cases to protect the tablets.  If you would like to donate one, check out our Wishlist:  LIT Wishlist  If you have questions please contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org or Megan McDermott at meganm@Missionadelante.org
      • The RG Asian store is expanding their store to include a restaurant. They are currently in need of a few small tables and chairs.  Please contact David Stetler at davids@missionadelante.org.  
      • We are making steady progress on the house rehab, and will soon need appliances.  Please contact Sarah at sarahw@missionadelante.org if you are able to donate an electric range/oven, washer, electric dryer, or dishwasher.
      • We want to re-open our resource center well-stocked with food baskets.  Check out this link  http://www.missionadelante.org/serviceprojects/  or contact Molly Merrick at mollym@missionadelante.org for more information about how to get involved.

Important dates:

  • Volunteer Orientation & Training: Saturday, September 13, 9:00-12:30 All volunteers should attend this training once at the beginning of serving with Mission Adelante. It's also a great way for someone to become familiar with Mission Adelante's ministry. If you or someone you know is interested in finding out more about what we do, and about our volunteer opportunities, please plan to attend/encourage him or her to plan on attending this informative training, and to contact Morgan at morganh@missionadelante.org for all the details.
  • All Volunteer Huddle & Dessert: Monday, September 15, 6:30 p.m. We encourage everyone that will be volunteering with us during our fall trimester to attend so we can prepare for a great launch. 
  • Fall trimester programs launch: Week of September 15

Adelante Thrift Experiences Breakthrough

Written by Kristen Allen, Community Development Director

Our journey towards sustainable community development has been a long one. In December of 2012, the Adelante Thrift Board met for the first time to move forward with plans for a thrift store that provides jobs, job training, and generates revenue for future community development initiatives. We’ve prayed, we’ve planned, and we’ve practiced patience while we wait for God to move and show us a clear path or a clear no. It has been challenging, but has also helped to refine our thrift board and solidify our vision.

After walking a twenty month path, we felt that July 31, 2014, would be the final day for Adelante Thrift to secure a space or feel confident that God had said “not now” for this ministry. At the beginning of July we submitted a final offer for a space we had investigated and the entire board felt peace that we had surrendered this to God and we would move forward according to what was revealed during the final month.

We have a talented Adelante Thrift board who knows business and desires for this ministry to succeed. It might have been easy for us to try and force through the process and make something happen just to see something come of our efforts. We could have changed communities. We could have tried to take a space that didn’t meet our criteria. Instead, we did what may have been the hardest path and that was surrendering to God and staying true to what we believed was the best vision for this project and our community.

Seven days before our deadline, we experienced our first victory when the landlord responded favorably to our final offer. Five days later, we received our 501(c)3 designation from the IRS that we had been waiting for since May of 2013. We had previously been told that our application had been passed on for further review and would require additional development, so we feel these two items coming so close to our deadline could only be described as breakthrough.

We are currently negotiating our lease for the former Hollywood Video at 38th and State. Please continue to pray for us. Ideally we would have the lease signed by the end of this month and then would immediately start fundraising and construction. We look forward to sharing more news from Adelante Thrift and until then we are praising God for showing us His perfect timing.

If you are interested in helping to move Adelante Thrift forward, fill out an

interest form

to join the Adelante Thrift Action Team to help launch sustainable community development in our community.

Back to School Blessings

Written by Kristen Maxwell, 

Bhutanese Children's Ministry Director

Time flies when you are having fun, and this summer at Mission Adelante we had lots of fun!   It is hard to believe that we are looking at another school year. 

This past week we had the chance to outfit around 130 kids and 50 teens with backpacks and the supplies that they need to go back to school.

 Thank you to our partners at Christ Church Anglican and Heartland Community Church for supplying the backpacks and supplies!  They are a huge blessing to our community!

 As we outfit our kids, and send them on their way will you join us in praying for them?  Pray that they would have a good start to the school year.  Pray that they would make good friends, who help them to make good choices.  Pray that God would gift them with the knowledge they need to do well academically.  Pray that they would come to know more about Christ this school year, and remember the lessons they learned, and the fun they had this summer.  

In other news:

  • Last week Galilee Learning Center, a collaborative ministry effort between several Chin (from Burma) churches, wrapped up their first summer program at Mission Adelante. Please pray for the teachers and leaders of GLC who have started planning for a school year program. It is exciting for Mission Adelante to continue partnering with GLC to dream of this next phase for their ministry.
  • The first Internship Mission Adelante has ever done with Bhutanese and Latino interns together came to a close on a Sunday after a intern retreat where interns swam, played, worshipped and reflected on what God has done in and through them this Summer. Thank you to everyone who partnered with our Interns through prayer and financial support. It was a challenging and joy filled summer where everyone grew and learned a lot!
  • Baptism!  Last Sunday night we baptized four members of our Latino community!  Those who were baptized included: Yuri and Natalhy, both from Cuba, along with Charlie and Lucy Meek.

Prayer needs:

  • Please for the wife and children of one of our Latino community members.  They will be having an immigrant visa interview in Havana, Cuba later this month.  Pray that their visa would be approved.
  • Please pray for our summer interns to find longer term roles in our community now that the internship is over.
  • Please pray for depth of community and a passion for God’s word in our house churches.

Current needs:

  • We were blessed with 5 new tablets to use in our Leaders in Training program!  We have put together an Amazon wishlist of items to outfit our new tablets for use, and included a few more technology needs on it.  Check out the wish list here:  LIT Technology Wish List -  If you have questions contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org or Megan McDermott at meganm@missionadelante.org.

Important dates:

  • Bhutanese Summer Party--Saturday, August 9 at 4:00 at Wyandotte County Lake Park, 91st and Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, KS 66109.  After entering the park you'll come to a fork in the road; go left and continue to Shelter #6.  Please bring a dish to share and stay for the awards and cultural presentation!
  • Latino Summer Party--Sunday, August 10 at 5:00 at Wyandotte County Lake Park, 91st and Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, KS 66109.  After entering the park you'll come to a fork in the road; go left and continue to Shelters #8 &10.  Please note, these are different shelters than the large shelter where the party has been held in previous years.  Dress casually and bring a dish to share, lawn chairs and/or a picnic blanket.

The Joy of Belonging

When refugees come to America, they are country-less. Many do not have passports or citizenship to any nation. Others have fled persecution and danger from their homeland. They do not belong anywhere, and that is a very difficult place to be. Refugees can apply for permanent resident status (a green card) after living here 12 months, but they cannot apply to become citizens for five years. It is not an automatic process.

by Lauren Timberlake, Bhutanese ESL Coordinator

Some of the Bhutanese families in Kansas City have reached that 5-year mark now. I have heard a few proud stories of passing the exam and beaming smiles telling me they are glad to be officially American. Our friend Ram Rai was interviewed by KSHB41 at his naturalization ceremony a few months ago. You can

watch the video here

.

Ram Rai just after his naturalization ceremony in March.

The citizenship exam is not easy. Applicants must answer many detailed questions about themselves, read and write basic sentences in English, and be prepared to answer any of 100 possible questions about U.S. history and civics. Imagine how hard that would be if you had very little or no education or had never used English before moving here.

The Bhutanese community offers classes to practice these skills every Saturday and Sunday evening. People go both days and study at home during the week. Since January, Mission Adelante English classes have offered citizenship prep as well. Because we have so many volunteer conversation partners, we are uniquely situated to help students practice the reading, writing, and personal information sections of the exam. We incorporate these skills into all levels of classes, so students will be as prepared as possible to pass this incredibly important exam.

Last night, a former English student shared her recent citizenship experience with the Level 1 class. It gave them hope to achieve what often feels like an impossible task.

The joy of belonging--of having a homeland--is contagious. It’s hard to keep a straight face when you watch someone talk about their accomplishment. Citizenship gives refugees great dignity. Please pray for refugees who are working hard to pass their exam, and for the relationships created as students and conversation partners work together towards that goal.

Laxmi celebrated her recent citizenship with us at English class.

Other News

  • A few staff members have been working on secret cultural performance (sshhh!) for the Bhutanese trimester party. They are led by two talented teachers: our intern Ram Gurung and volunteer Dani Hammond. Come celebrate with us and see the surprise at the party on August 9th!

Prayer Needs

  • Please pray for the adults, kids, and teens that Mission Adelante staff and volunteers have been investing in this summer. Pray that God will bear much fruit from time spent together.

Current Needs

  • We were blessed with 5 new tablets to use in our Leaders in Training program!  We have put together an Amazon wishlist of items to outfit our new tablets for use, and included a few more technology needs on it.  Check out the wish list here:  LIT Technology Wish List -  If you have questions contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org or Megan McDermott at meganm@missionadelatne.org
  • Looking for a fun way to make a big impact in the fall? Want to pour into the future leaders of our community? Our relational and fun after-school tutoring and character development program, Leaders in Training, is currently looking for volunteers.   Contact Megan at meganm@missionadelante.org if you are interested!
  • We are exploring the idea of starting a First Lego League team with our Bhutanese Leaders in Training program.  If you have any experience with the First Lego League program, or starting a team, please contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org.

Important Dates

  • Bhutanese Summer Party--Saturday, August 9 at 4:00 at Wyandotte County Lake Park, 91st and Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, KS 66109.  After entering the park you'll come to a fork in the road; go left and continue to Shelter #6.  Please bring a dish to share and stay for the awards and cultural presentation!
  • Latino Summer Party--Sunday, August 10 at 5:00 at Wyandotte County Lake Park, 91st and Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, KS 66109.  After entering the park you'll come to a fork in the road; go left and continue to Shelters #8 &10.  Please note, these are different shelters than the large shelter where the party has been held in previous years.  Dress casually and bring a dish to share, lawn chairs and/or a picnic blanket.

Summer of Blessing

Often times near the end of leading an intense internship it is easy to look back and see only the challenges. It’s times like these that I try to do the harder task of looking back and thinking about the good things that have happened and the blessings I have received. This open letter is a reflection of the biggest blessing I have received over the course of leading this internship.

Ram and Prabin,

At the beginning of the summer, I knew that by the end we would have had many adventures together. Some of them would be really fun and exciting, and some of them would be really challenging. Varying from sharing meals and seeing movies together, to struggling through our seemingly never-ending Tuesdays.

What I didn’t know was the deep bond and brotherhood we would have together, the immense sense of pride I would feel for you in the growth of your heart, and the amount of honor I feel to be alongside two amazing young men who are the forerunners of their community.

You have amazed me and the rest of the Mission Adelante community with your passion and commitment. The ways I’ve seen you grow are far beyond what I hoped for and imagined when we dreamed of interns from the Bhutanese community.

I hope and pray that you don’t let the things that you have learned and experienced this summer sit stagnant, but that you keep moving forward towards the goal, running the race without shame or fear. Everything that you have done and learned is of much more importance than any of us understand yet, but I encourage you to keep strong and don’t stop moving. You would not have been accepted to do this internship if it weren’t known that you could strive for the best and accomplish it.

Mission Adelante's vision says,

“We believe effective ministry is relational at its core. And, when relationships are interdependent, learning is mutual, serving is reciprocal, and friendship is life-giving.”

I believe this to be true and I believe that at the end of the summer I will be able to look back and see all that we learned together; I will be able to see that you served me as much if not more, than I served you; I will see the sincere friendship and deep brotherhood.

I am blessed to be in the presence of such great leaders who are stepping out in front of their community to learn and serve.

With the deepest of brotherly love, and the highest sense of honor,

Drew Hammond

Current needs:

  • Leaders in Training, our after-school leadership development and tutoring program, is getting excited about technology!  We are currently looking for tablets that are in new, or very good condition to be used for learning activities during the 2014-2015 school year. If you have one you would like to donate please contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org or Megan McDermott at meganm@missionadelante.org.
  • Looking for a fun way to make a big impact in the fall? Want to pour into the future leaders of our community?   Our relational and fun after-school tutoring and character development program, Leaders in Training, is currently looking for volunteers.  Contact Megan at meganm@missionadelante.org if you are interested!

Important dates:

  • Bhutanese Summer Party--Saturday, August 9 at 4:00 at Wyandotte County Lake Park, 91st and Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, KS 66109. After entering the park you'll come to a fork in the road; go left and continue to Shelter #6. Please bring a dish to share and stay for the awards and cultural presentation!
  • Latino Summer Party--Sunday, August 10 at 5:00 at Wyandotte County Lake Park, 91st and Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, KS 66109. After entering the park you'll come to a fork in the road; go left and continue to Shelters #8 &10. Please note, these are different shelters than the large shelter where the party has been held in previous years. Dress casually and bring a dish to share, lawn chairs and/or a picnic blanket.