Join us for a Seminar on August 17th- Mutuality: Deconstructing an "Us Serving Them" Mentality in Ministry-

By Jarrett Meek, Ministry Apprentice

When Mission Adelante first began, we had a passion for making disciples and a love for people from all places. However, an ingrained “us/them” mentality that unconsciously envisioned a privileged us serving a needy them hindered our efforts. Though our desire was to love our neighbor, this mentality undermined the dignity of our community members and manifested itself in segregated leadership structures that were inaccessible to our immigrant community members. In recent years, we have made great strides in tearing down the “us/them” mindset and working toward a “new we” where everyone is valued as a contributor and people from all places serve as volunteers and leaders at every level of our organization. It has been a beautiful and challenging journey!

We recognize that fostering mutuality in multicultural ministry is a continual learning process and an essential part of the discipleship of every volunteer and staff member in our ministry, whether born in the U.S. or another country. The "new we" is counter-cultural. It requires addressing internal and personal biases that are often unconscious. It challenges us to set aside our judgment of others and their culture. And especially for native-born Americans, it requires an openness to being challenged on subtle attitudes and actions, even when our intention was to serve and love others.

Continuing to learn about the importance of interdependent relationships and mutuality in ministry is crucial. Mission Adelante wants to equip all our constituents with the appropriate tools to succeed in our multicultural community and help one another understand what it means to develop reciprocal relationships in a ministry context. To this end, we have invited author and speaker Karen Gonzalez to lead a seminar called Mutuality: deconstructing an “us serving them” mentality in ministry. Join us on August 17th from 9 to 11 am - let's learn together! Register for the event below.

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Growing Up Through Mission Adelante

Ashley (second to the left) with other interns and apprentices at our last retreat for the summer.

Written by Ashley Delgado, Summer Intern

Good morning, good evening, or goodnight. I do not know when you are reading this but my name is Ashley Delgado, and I'm honored to write this article about my adventure with Mission Adelante. I remember the beginning of Mission Adelante. I was about 6 or 7 years old. It was at a house packed full of kids and parents. It reminded me of the movie Daddy Daycare. I was in Group 1 of Kids Adelante (a Bible study group for kids) which met in the basement. Throughout my time there I didn't understand who Jesus was because I was too young. As the days went by more kids began attending and the amount of space began decreasing. This meant it was time to expand. 

Mission Adelante transitioned from a house to a building. I don't remember much about this time because I was very quiet and shy. I did not make a lot of friends but the volunteers were very nice to me. They never made me feel alone and were there to cheer me up. In Kids Adelante, I learned many Bible stories. Even to this day I still recall them. As I got older, I began participating in an after school program called LIT (Leaders in Training.) At first, I was excited to join this program and attended for two years. However, my faith began disappearing, and I stopped attending. As I got older, I began attending Teens Adelante. This group was smaller than Kids Adelante and consisted of youth from middle and high school. I began participating when I was in sixth grade; now I am a senior in high school. Teens Adelante helped me open up about my life and faith. It is also a great place to have fun and simply be a teenager. 

In May 2019, I was given the opportunity to be part of Mission Adelante’s summer internship. As an intern, you get to experience what it is like to be a leader. You also learn how to be a disciple and teach others to be followers of God. Being an intern was a great experience for me! My faith grew stronger.  At Mission Adelante, I was surrounded by people that love and care about me. They have been with my family and me during good and bad situations. They have also prayed for us on many occasions. These are the things that I will always treasure in my heart. During my time at Mission Adelante, I have learned everything from children’s Bible stories to learning how to make disciples. I have grown a lot with and through them. Mission Adelante is a place I can call home. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Serving God in a multicultural setting can be challenging. Mission Adelante will be hosting a seminar on August 17 to address mutuality and the importance of interdependent relationships in ministry. Speaker and author, Karen Gonzalez, will be leading the discussion and deconstructing the "us serving them" mentality. We would love for you to join us! Register here: http://www.missionadelante.org/mutuality

• Love running? Want to support local non-profits? Join us on September 7, 2019 for Dream KCK 5K Race! Your registration fee and any additional donations support Mission Adelante and/or Second Wind. Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Do you have a heart for kids? Mission Adelante is looking for volunteers for its Refugee Kids Club, a dynamic and fun club program for kids ages 5-12. For more information and how to get involved visit www.missionadelante.org/kids.

• Looking for a way to participate in Dream KCK 5K Race without actually running? How about volunteering to help runners during the race? Check out our volunteer opportunities and see which one best fits you! https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

God's Work in Teens Adelante

Written Daniel Garcia, Ministry Apprentice

Everyone always asks me, “Where do you see God working in your ministry?” To be truthful, I never know how to answer. I don’t want to lie, but I don’t know what it means to see God working. I’m still a rookie in the ministry life, and everything seems new. This summer I planned to do a Teens retreat. It was my first time having to lead and plan an event like this. It was nerve-wracking, and I kept reminiscing on the retreats I attended as a teenager. I was a difficult teen and made it challenging for leaders during retreats. I was scared God was going to show me what it was like to be on the other side.

God did the exact opposite of that. I was blessed with volunteers that encouraged me greatly. We met a few times to begin planning the retreat, but I still did not feel prepared. I have seen from afar the way Jarrett, our executive director, prepares similar events with great detail. I believed there would be no way I could pull this off. By the time we arrived at Shalom Retreat Center, I felt a deep sense of peace and serenity. I enjoyed every moment of it, and at times found myself wishing that the day wouldn’t come to an end. I decided to let God take control of where our conversations and time would go and slowly began to throw away the detailed schedule that we spent hours making. It was the best decision I could have made!

During our workshop, we talked about adversity. In John 16:33, Jesus tells us that we will face adversity in this world. I paired the teens up with people they don’t normally share with. They went deep. Some of them opened up about parents having money problems, moving from school to school, parents going through a divorce, and one of them even shared about a traumatizing car accident. After sharing I demonstrated the importance of relying on one another when adversity strikes. I had three teens link arms together to demonstrate a cord of three strands. When the teens saw a visual representation it all made sense to them.

By the end of the night, we had our bonfire. It was perfect. There’s nothing like having a fire and smores in July. There were countless stars in the sky! We sat in silence for a while admiring what God had created. Then I realized that God was working and He was working overtime. Every single second was enjoyable. The teens, volunteers, and I had a blast! We took time to do everything we had planned for and still somehow ended up having extra time to play a competitive match of basketball (that the girls ended up winning). Now, I know what it means to feel and see God working!

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Serving God in a multicultural setting can be challenging. Mission Adelante will be hosting a seminar on August 17 to address mutuality and the importance of interdependent relationships in ministry. Speaker and author, Karen Gonzalez, will be leading the discussion and deconstructing the "us serving them" mentality. We would love for you to join us! Register here: http://www.missionadelante.org/mutuality

• Love running? Want to support local non-profits? Join us on September 7, 2019 for Dream KCK 5K Race! Your registration fee and any additional donations support Mission Adelante and/or Second Wind. Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Do you have a heart for kids? Mission Adelante is looking for volunteers for its Refugee Kids Club, a dynamic and fun club program for kids ages 5-12. For more information and how to get involved visit www.missionadelante.org/kids.

• Looking for a way to participate in Dream KCK 5K Race without actually running? How about volunteering to help runners during the race? Check out our volunteer opportunities and see which one best fits you! https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

Transforming My Life

Bijay (far right) with other apprentices and interns at Escape Room KC.

Written by Bijay Gurung, Ministry Apprentice

I was born in Bhutan but I do not remember much about it. In 1992, my family and I moved to Nepal. We spent 21 years in Nepal as refugees. Some days I look back and reflect on my life there. I often compare what my life used to be and what it is now. God has done a great transformation in my life. In the Bible, Moses had to spend 40 years in the desert to reach the Promised Land that God had offered him. In Nepal, I often felt like Moses waiting for God to take me to the Promised Land. As Moses spent 40 years in the desert, we spent 21 years in Nepal. But now I can say that God has brought me in the land that he had promised to me, the land of opportunity.

In 2013, I received the opportunity to come to the U.S as a refugee. It was an exciting time, and I knew I would experience many new things. As a foreigner, I have had some difficulties assimilating to the American culture and people. When I arrived in the U.S., it was a very big culture shock for me. The simplest things had become difficult. I even had a hard time trying to have a conversation with an American neighbor.  I decided to push forward and learn as much as I could. In my 5 years here in the U.S., I have gained a lot of experience in many different fields of work. Through these jobs, I was able to begin learning English and many other skills that would benefit me in the future. 

At the beginning of this year, I got the opportunity to serve God by being an apprentice at Mission Adelante. These past months I have learned more about who God is and who we are to Him. I have learned most of this through our staff huddle time. During this time we discuss various passages in a book of the Bible. We also share ideas and ask questions to help us get a clearer understanding of the passage. Mr. Chuck Allen has also visited Mission Adelante and taught us lessons on bitterness and adversity. These lessons have impacted me profoundly and I have even shared them with the congregation of my church, Samdan Church. 

This trimester will be my second trimester leading Citizenship Class. Citizenship Class meets on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30pm. My supervisor, Yanelis, has equipped me with the skills to be able to lead this program. I am so excited and thankful to Yanelis for providing me this opportunity to step forward. I also am so excited to work alongside amazing volunteers, one of them being my refugee friend, Avinash Rai. Looking back at my life and all the transformation I have gone through, all I can say is: thank you, God!

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Mission Adelante will be hosting a workshop on August 17 with Karen Gonzalez, author of "The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible, and the Journey to Belong". We would love for you to join us! More information to come.

• Love running? Want to support local non-profits? Join us on September 7, 2019 for Dream KCK 5K Race! Your registration fee and any additional donations support Mission Adelante and/or Second Wind. Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Do you have a heart for kids? Mission Adelante is looking for volunteers for its Refugee Kids Club, a dynamic and fun club program for kids ages 5-12. For more information and how to get involved visit www.missionadelante.org/kids.

• Looking for a way to participate in Dream KCK 5K Race without actually running? How about volunteering to help runners during the race? Check out our volunteer opportunities and see which one best fits you! https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

Life-Enriching Relationships

Sharing dinner with friends

Written by Shannon Schafer, Operations Director and ESL Volunteer

At Mission Adelante, we as a staff are reading and discussing “The God Who Sees,” by Karen Gonzalez, a Guatemalan immigrant. In one of the chapters, Karen talks about her temptation, after becoming a citizen, to see immigrants as the other and believe that there is no more need or room for them in the United States. But then she states, “Knowing names and stories activates our compassion. Without these relationships, I would continue to think of undocumented immigrants as outsiders, as the ‘other.’ In so doing, I would lose the humanity in myself as I failed to see it in them. I need these stories and relationships, not only for the sake of my immigrant community, but also for myself-- in order to be changed, to see the image of God in them and in myself.” This resonated with me, as I reflected on my own journey of meeting immigrants through English as a Second Language (ESL) programs and sharing life together.

I first began volunteering with ESL during high school in Florida. One of the Spanish teachers asked if anyone was interested in helping teach English to adults at the local technical college in the evenings. Having grown up in a military family, I had lived in and traveled to different countries my entire life, and I thought it would be fun to interact with people who were experiencing the same feelings I had. I began volunteering alongside a few others, working with groups of students from all over the world-- from Central American painters to Southeast Asian monks. It was a great experience; I got to know people from all places, and we shared parts of our cultures with one another as we tried to make sense of the English language. 

One day at class I was exposed to something new, something that, at that time, wasn’t even on my radar. As we were conversing and working in groups, one of the Central American students said, “No tenemos papeles,” which translates, “We don’t have papers” (how Spanish-speakers talk about being undocumented). I don’t remember how it came up or why he had the confidence to tell me, but it was my first time coming face-to-face with undocumented immigrants. I didn’t know how to respond. I remember wondering if I had a legal obligation to turn them in. At that moment, I decided to play dumb and said that I didn’t understand what he’d said. But I did understand, and I needed to process what to do with this information. This was a group of guys that I’d gotten to know-- whose father was a pastor back in their country, who came faithfully to class with paint still encrusting their hands, to whom I had loaned my Spanish worship CD. After mulling it over, I came to the conclusion that I wasn’t doing anything wrong-- that our friendship was more important than their immigration status and that their status shouldn’t affect how I treated them. And so I continued working with them and getting to know them.

Fast forward to today (more than 15 years later)... I have been volunteering with Mission Adelante as an ESL teacher for about 8 years. I have had the privilege of working with Latino students (of different immigration statuses) from at least nine different countries. We have celebrated birthdays and weddings together. We have experienced new foods and traditions together. We have danced and laughed until we cried together. We have navigated family, health, and economic challenges together. We have truly shared life together. Through these friends’ experiences and other research, I have learned much more about the topic of immigration. But one thing hasn’t changed-- the immigrants with whom I share life are my friends. I love them. God loves them. Regardless of where they’re from or their immigration status. My friendships with immigrants have truly enriched my life, ignited my compassion, and helped me to see the image of God in all people. 

ESL students in Florida

A few friends from my first ESL group at Mission Adelante

Watching a soccer game at a Mexican restaurant with friends from ESL

My ESL group from 2016

Enjoying the Mission Adelante summer party with an ESL friend

My ESL group in 2017

Current ESL students

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Mission Adelante will be hosting a workshop on August 17 with Karen Gonzalez, author of "The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible, and the Journey to Belong". We would love for you to join us! More information to come.

• Love running? Want to support local non-profits? Join us on September 7, 2019 for Dream KCK 5K Race! Your registration fee and any additional donations support Mission Adelante and/or Second Wind. Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

2019 Adelante Thrift Video

Written by Elena Chan, Community Development Director

Adelante Thrift first opened its doors to the Kansas City, Kansas community in 2015. From the beginning, our mission was to provide an affordable shopping experience, promote job creation, and to support community development through our proceeds. Adelante Thrift, like many other businesses, struggled initially to cover its expenses. However last year, the store was not only able to cover its expenses but was also able to make contributions to Mission Adelante.

Each year comes with new challenges and victories for Adelante Thrift. So far this year we have been able to solve major challenges and make great progress. In 2019, we have re-envisioned the store’s warehouse situation and created an on-site warehouse; rearranged the processing area to function more efficiently; and benefited from the sale of furniture and other quality donations from our partnership with an estate sale company. 

It is an exciting time for Adelante Thrift as we are reaping the benefits of these updates. With the help of a previous board member, we were able to create a video that gives a glimpse into the store’s progress in 2019. Please enjoy this video that showcases the customers, staff, and volunteers whom we cherish and love dearly. Thank you to all who continue to support us!

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Love running? Want to support local non-profits? Join us on September 7, 2019 for Dream KCK 5K Race! Your registration fee and any additional donations support Mission Adelante and/or Second Wind. Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

• Have you ever wondered what goes on at a typical night of programming at Mission Adelante? Adelante Arts Community, Refugee Kids Club, Refugee Youth, Teens Adelante, Citizenship Class, Latino ESL, and Kids Adelante have Observation Nights coming up in July! Visit www.missionadelante.org/observe to sign up!

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Do you have a heart for kids? Mission Adelante is looking for volunteers for its Refugee Kids Club, a dynamic and fun club program for kids ages 5-12. For more information and how to get involved visit www.missionadelante.org/kids.

• We are now collecting filled backpacks to bless kids in the community in August. Are you or your small group interested in helping out? Visit www.missionadelante.org/serviceprojects/backpacks/ for details and to sign up!

Celebrating Ten Years of Megan (McDermott) Fountain!

by Jarrett Meek, Pastor/Executive Director

It didn’t take long for me to recognize something special in Megan McDermott. It was the spring of 2007 and Mission Adelante still held its main kids outreach program (Kids Adelante) in my house. Megan arrived as a new volunteer that trimester and her immediate connection with the kids was evident. She loved kids from all places and they loved her! Her natural gifts and formal education as a teacher combined with her experience studying abroad in Costa Rica to produce a super-volunteer. About a year later Megan and I began talking about her participating in our first summer internship, and then the following year she joined our staff on a full-time basis.

I’ve always defined “calling” as something you can’t NOT do: a compelling sense of urgency about a cause that aligns with your gifts and talents. Calling is a beautiful, painful, fulfilling, gift from God. I saw the marks of “calling” in Megan’s life from early on. Though nobody can define calling for another person, I can remember reflecting back to Megan what I was observing in her during those first couple of years. The Lord was clearly working in her life in powerful ways!

Twelve years have passed since Megan first stepped into the lives of kids from our community, as a volunteer. We’re now celebrating her TEN YEAR work anniversary at Mission Adelante! Over these 10 years, Megan has mentored, guided, comforted, taught, and loved many children from many places. She has walked with kids as they’ve become youth and into young adulthood. She’s attended weddings, quinceañeras, graduations, and has even been present in the hospital room as one young mother gave birth to her new baby. When I was thinking of a verse that described Megan’s ministry at Mission Adelante, 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 came to mind:

“But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.”

Megan is a gift to all who know her. Thank you, Megan, for your faithful service to the Lord in our community, as a member of our staff, over these 10 years!

First Annual Park Drive Block Party!

Written by Elena Chan, Director of Community Development

Last week, with the help of several Park Drive neighbors, Mission Adelante hosted a block party! The goal of this event was to connect with our neighbors and cultivate a greater sense of community and friendship. It was a perfect opportunity for neighbors to learn more about Mission Adelante because many of them were unaware of the services we offered the community. Together we shared great food, enjoyed fun activities, and got to know each other.

Marlena Phiakeo is one of the neighbors who helped coordinator the block party. Marlena is a great neighbor; she is active in the community through both advocacy and service. She takes time during her week to volunteer with Mission Adelante’s Arts Community on Mondays and with Kids Adelante on Thursdays. Marlena was essential in making the block party possible. She asked her neighbors to sign a petition in order to close off 19th street for the block party and encouraged them to come participate in the event.

Another neighbor who was a big part of the organizing committee was Miss Dorothy. She suggested having the block party, recalling how 15 years ago her daughter learned to ride a bicycle during a similar event. She said that many things have changed since that last block party - only a few of the original neighbors remain. The block party was a community event that everyone felt needed to be revived and could be used to bring our community together once again. It was a great idea!

Thank you to Park Drive neighborhood for allowing us to be a part of this community event!

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Love running? Enjoy supporting local non-profits? Then we invite you to join us on September 7, 2019 for Dream KCK 5K Race! Your registration fee and any additional donations will go to support Mission Adelante and/or Second Wind. Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

• Have you ever wondered what goes on at a typical night of programming at Mission Adelante? Adelante Arts Community, Refugee Kids Club, Refugee Youth, Teens Adelante, Citizenship Class, Latino ESL, and Kids Adelante have Observation Nights coming up in July! Visit  www.missionadelante.org/observe to sign up!

CURRENT NEEDS:

• We are now collecting filled backpacks to bless kids in the community in August. Are you or your small group interested in helping out? Visit  www.missionadelante.org/serviceprojects/backpacks/ for details and to sign up!
  
  
  

Dream KCK 5K Run/Walk- September 7, 2019

by Jarrett Meek, Pastor/Executive Director

What is at the nexus of discipleship, community development, partnership, health and wellness, and the diverse cultures of the Mission Adelante neighborhood? There’s only one answer: The Dream KCK 5K Run/Walk! Since last fall we’ve been dreaming of this race and working together with our partners from the Second Wind Foundation to put together a 5K event that would highlight the beautiful diversity of our KCK neighborhood.

Fabric of the Community

As Mission Adelante matures, we’re becoming more and more part of the fabric of our community. From partnerships with local schools, businesses, and other non-profits, to collaboration on projects sponsored by the Wyandotte County/KCK Unified Government, we are excited to be contributing to the common good of our neighborhood. Dream KCK is the result of our partnership with The Central Avenue Betterment Association (CABA) and the Latino Arts Festival in our community and with the Second Wind Foundation, which works in Honduras. The 5K event will be held on the same day and in conjunction with CABA’s Central Avenue Dotteversity Parade and the Latino Arts Festival. Participants will get a real taste of authentic KCK culture from all places, including music and food.

Health Outcomes and Fitness

Unfortunately, Wyandotte County is consistently at the bottom of the list in Kansas in terms of health outcomes. Can Mission Adelante play a part in improving our health and wellness culture? The need is there, and we’re hoping that Dream KCK will contribute to the work that is being done by other organizations in our community to promote health and wellness. Organizations like El Centro, Inc. and Mercy and Truth Medical Missions help neighbors navigate the healthcare system in our city or directly address medical needs. But what about exercise? Mission Adelante is hoping that Dream KCK will be a spark that motivates members of our community to pursue a lifestyle that includes fitness and exercise.

Highlighting Our Diversity

There aren’t many counties in the nation that can boast of the kind of diverse demographics that Wyandotte County has. One distinction that sets our county apart is that we have no ethnic majority and the top three demographics each represent over 25% of the population. White residents represent 42%, Hispanic residents 28%, and African American residents compose 25% of our population. Additionally, in recent years, Wyandotte County has welcomed refugees from many countries including Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Congo, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, and others. Mission Adelante celebrates what each culture has to offer, affirming that God’s image is reflected uniquely and beautifully in diverse human cultures. The Dream KCK 5K Run/Walk, through our partnerships with the Central Avenue Dotteversity Parade and the Latino Arts Festival, highlights the cultural diversity of our community and brings runners in touch with the heart of our city.

Second Wind Foundation

We are excited about and thankful for our partnership with the Second Wind Foundation. Their work in Honduras that includes meeting medical needs, spiritual formation, and job creation aligns in many ways with the heart of Mission Adelante. Their participation and expertise in organizing Dream KCK has made this exciting event possible.

We invite you to join us on September 7, 2019 for a fun race and a unique event. Your registration fee and any additional donations will go to support Mission Adelante and/or Second Wind.

Acts 29

Written by Gissell Vazquez, Assistant Ministry Director

Changing gears in this edition of the Adelante Express, I want to share about some things I have been learning from the Bible. This week the MA staff finished reading the book of Acts. We spent almost two years in an exhaustive and thorough study examining a section or chapter each week. The part that I loved the most is when we talked about what God was telling us personally through the passage. What was He calling us to do in order to put our thoughts into actions?

Someone who stands out in Acts is the Apostle Paul. He traveled around the ancient world, sometimes with fear, sometimes with boldness. He met governors, demon-possessed people, women, Jews, gentiles - without discriminating he shared about Jesus with all of them. He was in prison because of his beliefs but never rejected Jesus. He was called a god, but never claimed to be one. Wherever he went, whatever he experienced, he kept being the same. He stood for the Gospel of Jesus no matter the circumstances. And in the midst of everything he remained faithful to his mission. Yet the book of Acts is not about Paul himself; it is about the work of the Holy Spirit in and through him.  

As we were reading Acts 28 this week, some people pointed out that the story did not have an end. It was a little bit discouraging seeing Paul imprisoned with no response from the people in power in Rome. But as I kept thinking and listening to others’ thoughts, I began to form my own idea. Jesus says in Acts 1:8, “You will be my witnesses to the end of the earth.” This particular phrase, all of a sudden lit up my mind. The story of Acts didn’t have a bad ending but an inconclusive one. It is a chapter connecting the acts of the Holy Spirit to our lives today. The challenge is to continue spreading the Good News about Jesus. That ultimately will reflect the grace and the glory of God. You and I today, empowered by the Holy Spirit, are the ones writing and living out Acts 29.

Pictured above is a large portion of our staff with members from our community at a conference in November.

CURRENT NEEDS:

• We are now collecting filled backpacks to bless kids in the community in August. Are you or your small group interested in helping out? Visit  www.missionadelante.org/serviceprojects/backpacks/ for details and to sign up!

Passing the Baton

Written by Paul Kienzle, ESL Latino Director

My time here at Mission Adelante is coming to an end. Reflecting over these last four years as Director of ESL Latino, I realized I have learned so much. I have received valuable insight into English as a Second Language and how it impacts our Latino community. I have a deeper understanding and appreciation of people from other places and their cultures. I hold a deep admiration and respect for our volunteers and their commitment to our students. I have been challenged to expand my capacity to love my neighbor.  I have had the privilege of being part of a multicultural team that works and relates well together. I believe that Mission Adelante truly lives into its vision that effective ministry is relational at its core. And when those relationships are interdependent, learning is mutual, serving is reciprocal, and friendship is life-giving. It is now time to “pass the baton”.

Maybe you’ve seen those relay races where “passing the baton” smoothly to the next runner can be the difference between winning or losing. For the past five months the Assistant Ministry Director, Gissell Vazquez, and I have been in the process of transition, my transition. She is the one I will be passing the baton to at the start of our summer trimester. So far, it’s been a smooth hand-off. I could not think of a better person to take the reins of the ESL Latino program. God has already blessed and used Gissell in many ways since coming on staff a little over two years ago from Cuba. She has had much success as the worship leader of our Latino church community and she leads and guides one of the three Mission Adelante house churches. Just recently, Gissell has been training one of our apprentices to lead Arts Community, a program that she began a little over a year ago. She also helps support Yanelis Lopez, our Ministry Director, in the bigger picture stuff of Mission Adelante. Gissell has a lot of ministry going on, but she loves the challenge, and I do not doubt she will take our ESL Latino program to the next level! As the outgoing Director of ESL Latino, I have enjoyed her leadership and encouragement these last couple of years.

Many have asked me about our life after Mission Adelante. My wife and I will stay here in Kansas for now. We believe God will go before us. We do not know exactly what this next chapter holds, but we are confident that God is the One writing it. We trust that His plan for us is good, and it will give us a future and a hope!

CURRENT NEEDS:

• We are now collecting filled backpacks to bless kids in the community in August. Are you or your small group interested in helping out? Visit  www.missionadelante.org/serviceprojects/backpacks/ for details and to sign up!

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Growing Up At Mission Adelante

Damariz (back center) is pictured here with a group from Kids Adelante.

Written by Damariz Vasquez, Kids Adelante Volunteer

I first started attending Mission Adelante around 2009, a few months after I arrived in the United States. I was only seven years old.  My parents brought me to the Mission, and we attended church and participated in various programs. Although there was a time when my family stopped coming to Mission, I came back when my sister began participating in Kids Adelante.

A few years ago, the Mission Adelante staff told me about their youth group called Teens Adelante. I have been part of Teens Adelante for a couple of years now. We have done some really fun activities together like camping! Everyone is really close and it feels just like a family. It has been a great experience!

There are so many people that have impacted my life at Mission Adelante like Megan Fountain and the Teens Adelante volunteers. They have supported and guided me through the good and rough times over the last ten years. They have encouraged me to try new things such as becoming a volunteer for Kids Adelante. They have helped me to step out of my comfort zone. They have been a part of my life growing up, and I would like to continue the bond I created with all of them.  I have grown a lot in the time I’ve been at Mission Adelante, and I hope to continue to learn and experience more new things!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• We will be hosting a New Volunteer Orientation on Saturday, May 18th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. If you are interested in volunteering with kids, youth, arts and music, adult ESL, or citizenship classes, this is a great opportunity to jump in for our summer trimester (May 28th to August 4th). Check out www.missionadelante.org/serve to learn more about our programs and to fill out an interest form.

CURRENT NEEDS:

• We are now collecting filled backpacks to bless kids in the community in August. Are you or your small group interested in helping out? Visit  www.missionadelante.org/serviceprojects/backpacks/ for details and to sign up!
  
  

A Timeless Volunteer

Michael Pollock (second from right on the bottom row) is pictured here with the youth and other volunteers from Teens Adelante.

Written by Daniel Garcia, Ministry Apprentice

Have you ever met a timeless person? There's timeless art, music, buildings, and literature. There's something unique about these things because they’re unchanging as time passes. Jesus is timeless because neither He nor his love for us will ever change. Michael Pollock, Teens Adelante and Leaders in Training (LIT) volunteer, is a timeless person. He is someone who has inspired me and many others during his time volunteering at Mission Adelante.

One of the ways we follow God's will for our community is by having volunteers who selflessly serve. Michael Pollock has dedicated his life to serve others and has positively impacted the lives of many. Michael serves on Mondays in LIT and on Wednesdays in Teens Adelante. After the last week of our LIT trimester, Michael invited a group of boys and me to attend a Swope Park Rangers game. The boys, Dashiell, Uriel, and Camilo, were elated because they got to be ball boys during the game!

Sharing life and making memories with kids that come from all walks of life is a big part of who Michael is. Over the past decade, Michael has walked with different generations of kids and youth from our community. He has been part of each fun and exciting moment, as well as each trial and tribulation immigrant families in our community face. Michael has become part of our community and is like family to me.

There are many qualities that Jesus wants us to have: love for everyone, patience, and a heart that is willing to serve others. Michael has many of these qualities and pushes me to develop them as well. Michael inspires me to have a servant’s heart. The way he dedicates his life to guide and love youth from our community is simply beautiful. He encourages me to live a life that is more about others than myself. He teaches me the importance of living a life that is honest and full of love for others. I am very thankful that God placed Michael in my path and has given him a heart that serves and guides others.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• We will be hosting a New Volunteer Orientation on Saturday, May 18th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. If you are interested in volunteering with kids, youth, arts and music, adult ESL, or citizenship classes, this is a great opportunity to jump in for our summer trimester (May 28th to August 4th). Check out www.missionadelante.org/serve to learn more about our programs and to fill out an interest form.

CURRENT NEEDS:

• We are now collecting filled backpacks to bless kids in the community in August. Are you or your small group interested in helping out? Visit  www.missionadelante.org/serviceprojects/backpacks/ for details and to sign up!

His Faithfulness

From left to right: Gissell, Yanelis, Daniel, Carla, and Laxmi.

Written by Carla Flores, Ministry Apprentice

I have been spending quite a bit of my time thinking about when God was first introduced to me. Looking back, my family and I would attend mass a few times a year. Then, when I was thirteen I began taking catechism classes. I was participating in these so I could have my first communion and confirmation of faith. I believe this was the time I learned about God, but I lacked a real connection with Him.

During hard times in my teenage years, I would always sing a hymn called “Tu Fidelidad” (Your Faithfulness.) This song made me feel safe and comforted. Right before coming on staff, I attended a CCDA (Christian Community Development Association) conference with the rest of the Mission Adelante staff. I was excited to visit Chicago for the first time and learn more about how social justice and Christianity mix. During one of the worship times, we sang “Tu Fidelidad”. Not only did I know that was God talking to me, but I was shocked to hear a song in my language being sung to a predominantly white audience. Everyone sang along, and my heart was full in a way that I can't explain. (Even re-telling this story now makes me emotional.) This room was full of people that accepted me and wanted me to succeed, brown skin and all. But even more so, to know that all these years God had never forgotten about me even if I had not pursued Him. I left CCDA with a revived spirit and faith.

Now I am well integrated into the Mission Adelante family, and God’s work continues to be done through and in me. Currently, I have been struggling with my anxiety. I am in my senior year at Ottawa University, and the homework alone sometimes is too much. I have been rolling with the punches and leaving it all in His hands. This past Sunday, I was at our house church and Jose, our worship leader, played “Tu Fidelidad.” I closed my eyes and heard everyone singing. Again this warm feeling began taking over my body, and soon it felt like I was on fire. I sang loud and could feel tears rolling down my face. How great is our God? I had been having panic attacks more often than usual in the past week, and just at the right time He reminded me that He was with me. God’s timing is perfect, and Monday I came back to work with peace in my heart.

I still have rough times - and probably always will. Hardships are a part of life, but knowing I have God on my side gives me the courage to face it all. My relationship with God has grown significantly as has my faith. I can look back at my life and see God’s unconditional faithfulness.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Workshop on The Power of Proximity: Michelle Warren is coming to share a morning with us and discuss concepts from her book on this Saturday, May 4th from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Please plan on joining us for this powerful workshop. You can register here: https://ccda.org/train-connect/events/

• We are now collecting filled backpacks to bless kids in the community in August. Are you or your small group interested in helping out?Visit www.missionadelante.org/serviceprojects/backpacks/ for details and to sign up!

Seminar with Michelle Warren

Written by Jarrett Meek, Pastor & Executive Director

When we moved to Kansas City, KS to start Mission Adelante in 2005, we didn't know what we didn't know.  Our frame of reference was Overland Park, Heartland Community Church, The University of Kansas, and a little bit of Latin America.  While we had some understanding of what it was like to live outside our home country, we had a lot to learn about life for immigrants in the United States.  We only had a very superficial grasp of the challenges of our broken immigration system.  And we were still very unaware of cultural and racial dynamics that are so much a part of ministry in an urban, multicultural context.    

When we began, we were new to the concept of Christian community development, but our friends at the Hope Center in KCMO had gone before us.  John M. Perkins, a civil rights activist since the 1950's and a co-founder of the Christian Community Development Association, had written books emphasizing the importance of "relocation" in any endeavor to work with vulnerable or marginalized people.  The Hope Center's example and John Perkins' writing, along with our desire to share life with people from all places, compelled us to move to this beautiful, diverse community.

The Power of Proximity by author Michelle Warren is another great book that opened my eyes to what it means to be involved in social justice as a Christian. Warren begins her book, by saying, "If you wake up in the morning and the system works for you, you think it's a good and just system. You frame the way you see the world through this lens." Moving to live in an immigrant neighborhood in Wyandotte County has given me a new lens.  As Michelle puts it, "I have had the privilege to wake up for many years looking through lenses framed by two different communities".  This dual lens life has created tensions in me that have led to transformation in many areas.  Among other things, living in proximity to vulnerable people has heightened my awareness of social injustices around me and transformed my understanding of my own role in addressing them.

Warren states, "Proximity to injustice transforms your view of the bigger world and the people moving about in it.  Most importantly, it transforms you in all the ways that are necessary to help you take part in God's process of redeeming and rebuilding what is broken."  In her introduction, she emphasizes that this book is not just about telling inspirational stories about transformed lives rather, "[it] is about personal transformation."  In her own words, her book, "is an attempt to spell out why a life lived in a community is so important in moving toward justice."

We have invited author, Michelle Warren, to come to Kansas City to lead a workshop on her book! The date for this workshop will be Saturday, May 4th from 9 to 11 am.  We would love for you to join us! Please register for the free event below.

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Community and Truth at LIT

Anna (top middle) with the LIT students and volunteers at the Emerald City lock-in.

Written by Anna Watkins, Leaders in Training Volunteer

A little under a year ago, I moved from a place that was familiar and comfortable to Kansas City, where I only knew a few people. In this new place, I felt lost and lacked a consistent community. I was drifting in my walk with God. At a friend’s suggestion, I signed up to volunteer with the Leaders In Training (LIT) program at Mission Adelante last September. I came into this experience expecting to hang out with kids and help them with homework. I found what I was expecting — but I also found community, encouragement, and truth.

The most memorable lesson from LIT this year was a reflection on lies that we were believing about ourselves. We spoke them out loud and then turned them into truths. At this time, I was feeling overwhelmed by commitments. I believed these lies. I felt like my worth was tied to my performance and not my identity as a beloved child of God. It was really encouraging to hear so much truth spoken into these lies that can so easily take control of our lives. This is just one of the many times this year that God used LIT to remind me of an important truth about who He is and who I am.

To celebrate the end of the LIT, we spent the night at a lock-in at Emerald City two weekends ago. I was amazed by the capacity the kids had to run around for hours and still be jumping on trampolines at 2 AM. The lock-in was a chance to reflect on all that God has done in and through the kids and volunteers at LIT this year. His hand is so evident in the unique talents of each child, the truths they learn and speak, and the way they love one another. I am so happy that I got to be a part of this community and a small part of what God has been doing this year at LIT.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Workshop on The Power of Proximity: Michelle Warren is coming to share a morning with us and discuss concepts from her book on Saturday, May 4th from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Please plan on joining us for this powerful workshop. You can register here: https://ccda.org/train-connect/events/

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Do you want to make a difference in a kid's life? Mission Adelante's Multicultural Leaders In Training (LIT) program needs volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit their website at www.missionadelante.org/kids
  

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Welcoming Phul Maya to the Team!

Phul Maya (center) with the Nepali folkloric dance group.

Written by Gissell Vazquez, Assistant Ministry Director

In a world that is constantly changing, I believe we're called to create, develop, and maximize our abilities. It is an exciting year at Mission Adelante because we are focusing all our effort into leadership development. The apprenticeship program is a huge part of that goal. As a result, we have five apprentices. We’re thrilled to share life and ministry with the Fabulous Five: Laxmi Gurung, Daniel Garcia, Carla Flores, Bijay Gurung, and as of couple months ago, Phul Maya Rasaily.

Phul, as we like to call her, was born and raised in Nepal in a refugee camp. When she was very little, her family became Christians. At the age of thirteen, she came to the U.S. with her parents and her oldest brother. Because Nepali culture emphasizes the importance of living in a close community, she enjoys being surrounded by people and supporting everyone to achieve their goals. Another passion she has is the arts. Since she was young, she has attended dance training and now she leads the Nepali folkloric dance group at her church. She is currently studying at Donnelly College to get an associates degree in Arts. She is the perfect addition to the Apprentice group. Her love for God and for people is something that stands out. Phul is someone who enjoys cultivating relationships, is responsible, and enjoys learning. It has been a pleasure getting to know her more and mentoring her.

All the apprentices are learning, but at the same time, they are active players in the ministry by leading different areas. Since Phul is passionate for developing relationships and loves the arts, she is now being trained to lead Adelante Arts Community this summer trimester. We’re excited to see her grow! Welcome, Phul to Mission Adelante’s family! We’re gonna be there for you to support you, cheer you on, and to celebrate your victories!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Workshop on The Power of Proximity: Michelle Warren is coming to share a morning with us and discuss concepts from her book on Saturday, May 4th from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Please plan on joining us for this powerful workshop. You can register here: https://ccda.org/train-connect/events/

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Adelante Thrift will be hosting an Easter "Eggs-travaganza" for families on Saturday, April 20th. Please consider donating pre-filled Easter eggs for their annual Easter egg hunt. Details coming soon to Adelante Thrift's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/adelantethrift

• Do you want to make a difference in a kid's life? Mission Adelante's Multicultural Leaders In Training (LIT) program needs volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit their website at www.missionadelante.org/kids

Learning From One Another

By Patti Shirley, Level 5 ESL Latino Volunteer

In 2015, I only knew as much Spanish as the TV show “Sesame Street” taught, mostly colors and the word “agua”! That was the year that my husband and I went on our first mission trip to Nicaragua. We went with a group called Project Hope, and even though they had translators, I wanted to communicate directly with the people I was meeting. So I took a series of Spanish classes and was able to speak just a bit the following year. But I felt that God wanted me to do more than just study it once a year before traveling to Nicaragua.

When I started looking for a place to serve, my daughter Laura suggested Mission Adelante. She had been a regular volunteer at Adelante Thrift and knew about the good work that was happening there. During my first visit on an Observation Night, I instantly knew that I wanted to be part of this ministry. There is such a clear desire to serve God and the people who come to learn. I love the energy of the staff, volunteers, and students. When you walk in on Thursday nights there is always a welcoming feeling and it is obvious that something important is happening.  And there is, hope is being shared and the love of God is at work!

I work with some great volunteers, including my dad, Dean Williams. With their help, our awesome group of students has finally reached level 5! We have studied, laughed, and learned together. I am still trying to learn Spanish and have so very far to go.  I am so grateful that a desire to learn led me to this place.

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Adelante Thrift will be hosting an Easter "Eggs-travaganza" for families on Saturday, April 20th. Please consider donating pre-filled Easter eggs for their annual Easter egg hunt. Details coming soon to Adelante Thrift's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/adelantethrift

• Do you want to make a difference in a kid's life? Mission Adelante's Multicultural Leaders In Training (LIT) program needs volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit their website at www.missionadelante.org/kids

A Serving Heart

Written by Yanelis Lopez, Ministry Director

Mission Adelante has given me many beautiful opportunities! One of the most important for me is to meet incredible people— people with a deep desire to serve and support others as we walk together in this life full of challenges, obstacles, and reasons to celebrate.

One of these wonderful people has been Sabrina Minhas. She is part of our community and a volunteer in our citizenship class. She took leadership of this class in January and has done an excellent job. Sabrina and other incredible volunteers have developed the curriculum for this trimester. The students continue learning and getting ready to take the citizenship exam. They are very eager to become American citizens! I love the way Sabrina treats students with such love and patience. She clarifies their doubts and encourages them. At the same time, she guides her team of volunteers, distributing responsibilities and giving them opportunities to lead the class. I have learned a lot from her, and it has been a great gift for me to walk more closely with her during these last three months.

I’m sure the students will always appreciate how Sabrina has supported them in their process of becoming U.S. Citizens. We are excited to see how Citizenship Class will continue to impact the community in the future! Personally, I am eager to continue meeting people who encourage me and challenge me to be better. Thank you to Sabrina and each of the volunteers involved in our programs and church. We love you and we appreciate you very much!

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Adelante Thrift will be hosting an Easter "Eggs-travaganza" for families on Saturday, April 20th. Please consider donating pre-filled Easter eggs for their annual Easter egg hunt. Details coming soon to Adelante Thrift's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/adelantethrift

Launch of Refugee Youth Club

Written by Laxmi Gurung, Ministry Apprentice

I can’t believe it’s almost been two years since I began working at Mission Adelante as an apprentice! Through these times, I have learned so much about ministry, different programs, and building friendships. When I first started working here, I was given the freedom to try new things and was challenged to get out of my comfort zone. I began helping at Kids Adelante and LIT and leading Refugee Kids Club (RKC) with the help of Megan McDermott. All this helped me to learn how to lead programs, and it especially made me realize the love I have for kids and youth in our community. When I was leading RKC, I saw teenagers coming to drop off their siblings. I began having ideas about creating a program for them also. I prayed and shared my ideas with my supervisor, Yanelis. She helped me to process them and come up with a plan.

Our goal for Refugee Youth Club was to offer youth from our community a safe place where they could come to do their homework, make friends, talk about life, and learn about God. I decided to have it on the same day and same time as Refugee Kids Club (Tuesday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 pm), so they could bring their younger siblings with them. But for this to become a reality, I needed volunteers. I started looking and asked God to provide the right ones. Lori Marble was one of the volunteers God provided. She came to one of the observation nights and shared about her love for empowering youth. As we talked and got to know each other, I realized she was just who we needed to come alongside the youth.

In January 2019, we launched Refugee Youth Club (RYC) for middle and high school students. Now we have around nine teens and four awesome volunteers that come every week. Even in this small amount of time, we have done so many great things together! We have served at Harvesters and hung out outside of RYC to get to know each other better. Just last week on Spring Break we went bowling and served at Adelante Thrift together. It was really fun and a new experience for most of the youth! We are really looking forward to doing fun activities during our summer break and building closer relationships with each other. Right now I’m just so amazed at how God is working in this program. He is doing such great things that I never imagined. I’m very thankful for His guidance and provision in starting Refugee Youth Club!

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Do you want to make a difference in a kid's life? Mission Adelante's Leaders In Training (LIT) program needs volunteers for our Fall trimester. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit their website at www.missionadelante.org/kids.