Monday, October 26, 2009

Okay all you team members...

Our team is now 19 people strong. 8 of us will be in Pearlington December 18-24th, (5 will stick around over Christmas) and 16 of us will be in Pearlington December 26-January 2. I'm excited. We've bought the tickets, checks have been written to pay for those tickets and now comes the real challenge...raising the money!

3 of our team members are doing just that...raising money (well, really 2 of them have been working hard at it, one is at college and who knows what he's been up to lately *ahem* Dougie.) IN a matter of a couple of weeks they have raised almost all their support. Yep, seriously. Their total goal was $2700 and they have less than $450 to go.

The rest of us team members have a long way to go! Start writing those letters, start hitting the pavement! We can do this! (Feeling very much like a cheerleader right now...so does not go along with my image.)

In other news, we have a house! Just working on the 2nd house! Woo-hoo!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Prayer Request of the moment

Airline tickets have been purchased for 17 people. Mini-vans have been reserved. Now it's housing...oh, the housing. We need housing for Mississippi. I've put requests out there and nothing has come back. Both of these houses would hold all 14 people for the 2nd week. I've heard nothing back. It would be awesome to not have to rent two houses for the 2nd week, but I will do it if need be!

The prayer request of the moment is for housing. For the right houses, for the right home owners, for the right places, and that it's all in God's timing, even if it isn't in mine. Thanks for praying with me!

BTW, I'm not asking for help in finding the houses, just asking for prayer.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

It's all coming together!

Our team has started the process of getting sponsors for the trip in December. It's exciting to see how God works all the details together, though a little stressful at times. Sunday I was positive that things were going to all come together well. I left our meeting feeling good. Monday, I was positive I had made the wrong decisions and wasn't listening to what God wanted at all. Yet, this morning, it seems the decisions were the right ones after all. This following God thing is never easy but the reward is great...seeing lives changed in Pearlington and hearts changed on our team.

So on we go. Airline tickets need to be purchased, houses need to be rented and we have a fundraiser dinner coming up that we need to start advertising! If you are in Felton on November 7th, stop by Felton Presbyterian Church at 6pm for some great southern food and music by some very talented folks in our church!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Meeting reminder

Just a reminder that we have a Team Meeting on Sunday at 12:30pm in the Youth Room. Please be there and be on time!

Monday, October 12, 2009

paypal live

The donation button to the right should be live. Please see the post below for updates on dates.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Dates & Costs

I had the chance to attend the National Youth Workers Convention in LA a week and a half ago. It is one of the highlights of the year, for me, in that for 4 days there are people pouring into my life. The cost of leadership is high and it sometimes can seem that a leader will give and give and give, only to get nothing back from those they are giving to. At the NYWC, I have the opportunity to be refreshed and reminded by others and by God why I am in Youth Ministry to begin with...the youth.

God planted a seed in my mind about the youth that we are hoping to take on the Mississippi Trip this December. The original purpose of the trips was to take youth into an environment that was outside their comfort zone and serve others. Adults have always been an "add-on". That was lost somewhere along the way and we've been working hard to get that back. One of the ways God is directing us (the Youth Ministry Team) to get back to the youth element (yes, we have a lot of young adults going, but less and less high school youth) is give a little more help to the youth. So, we are dropping the price for this trip for High School youth only to $700.

As for the dates of the trip, I'm feeling God leading me to give you the option of December 18-24 or December 26-January 2. I'm 99% sure that these are the official dates. High School youth, your week will be December 26-January 2. The rest of you now have a choice to make. If you have already let me know what week works best for you, great. (Really, I don't need to hear from you again.) If you haven't then it's time to decide. No wishy-washy, it doesn't really matter stuff. Make a decision please and let me know! And yes, there is a two week option for a couple hundred more.