Journey & Passage-- Sunday, April 29
Journey (our Sr. High Sunday morning worship & bible study program) and Passage (our Jr. High Sunday morning worship & bible study program) will meet together in room 11 at 9:45am. We will be working on thank-you notes for the mission trip.
Mission Trip Update
After all of the contributions came in for the trip, we are still in need of approximately $1300 to cover all of the expenses. Please consider contributing towards this goal.
Student Leadership Team
The next meeting will be this Sunday, April 29 from 11:00a to 12:45p.
Grizzlies Game-- Friday, May 18th @ 7:00p
All Jr. and Sr. High students and their families are invited to go out to the ball park. Please see Justin or Ken if you are interested. We are partnering together with Children's Ministry and will continue to develop our Kid Mentors program through this events.
Weekly Update-- April 17
Mission Trip Presentation-- Sunday, April 22 (both worship services)
This Sunday, the Chicago team will "preach" their experiences to the congregation during both morning worship services. All students from the mission trip are participating. They will need to arrive by 8:10am for coordination. Please contact Justin if you have any questions.
Journey & Passage-- Sunday, April 22
Journey (our Sr. High Sunday morning worship & bible study program) and Passage (our Jr. High Sunday morning worship & bible study program) will meet together in room 11 at 9:45am. We will continue of Survey of the Bible series. Please join us for a learning conversation as we read scripture and our world.
Invisible Children Update
Many of have asked for more information about the Invisible Children and/or have asked to see the video. We have two copies of the video that are checked out. If you would like to see the video, please email Justin to get on the waiting list. You can also purchase a copy of the video and find much more information at the Invisible Children website (invisiblechildren.com)
Student Leadership Team
The next meeting will be on Sunday, April 29 from 11:00a to 12:45p.
Grizzlies Game-- Friday, May 18th @ 7:00p
All Jr. and Sr. High students and their families are invited to go out to the ball park. Please see Justin or Ken if you are interested. We are partnering together with Children's Ministry and will continue to develop our Kid Mentors program through this event.
This Sunday, the Chicago team will "preach" their experiences to the congregation during both morning worship services. All students from the mission trip are participating. They will need to arrive by 8:10am for coordination. Please contact Justin if you have any questions.
Journey & Passage-- Sunday, April 22
Journey (our Sr. High Sunday morning worship & bible study program) and Passage (our Jr. High Sunday morning worship & bible study program) will meet together in room 11 at 9:45am. We will continue of Survey of the Bible series. Please join us for a learning conversation as we read scripture and our world.
Invisible Children Update
Many of have asked for more information about the Invisible Children and/or have asked to see the video. We have two copies of the video that are checked out. If you would like to see the video, please email Justin to get on the waiting list. You can also purchase a copy of the video and find much more information at the Invisible Children website (invisiblechildren.com)
Student Leadership Team
The next meeting will be on Sunday, April 29 from 11:00a to 12:45p.
Grizzlies Game-- Friday, May 18th @ 7:00p
All Jr. and Sr. High students and their families are invited to go out to the ball park. Please see Justin or Ken if you are interested. We are partnering together with Children's Ministry and will continue to develop our Kid Mentors program through this event.
Chicago-- Thursday and Friday
Wow! The past two days have been amazing. After finishing up at Casa Central on Thursday, our students took a small break in the afternoon before heading 
out in teams on Urban Immersions-- treks through the city by foot and public transportation to ask people about the good and bad of Chicago, understand how to travel around the city, and see the sites and hear the sounds of various neighborhoods. Each of our teams spent almost 4 hours trekking through the city on different routes. We had a variety of conversations with very interesting people-- some who love everything about Chicago to people who hate the mayor, the public transportation system, and the level of segregation and racism in the city. We talked 
with people of 
various ethnic and economic backgrounds. It was a very eye opening experience. On Friday morning, we surprised Jeremy Erdman (it was his birthday) with banners and balloons. The reaction on his face was priceless. After this we headed back to Cornerstone Community Kitchen where they also have a thrift store. We sorted mounds of clothes. After sorting clothes we headed into the neighborhood of Uptown (one time artzy area of Chicago- think Charlie Chaplain-- that is now one of the poorest areas of the city) to give gloves and socks as well as lunches to homeless on the street.
out in teams on Urban Immersions-- treks through the city by foot and public transportation to ask people about the good and bad of Chicago, understand how to travel around the city, and see the sites and hear the sounds of various neighborhoods. Each of our teams spent almost 4 hours trekking through the city on different routes. We had a variety of conversations with very interesting people-- some who love everything about Chicago to people who hate the mayor, the public transportation system, and the level of segregation and racism in the city. We talked 
with people of 
various ethnic and economic backgrounds. It was a very eye opening experience. On Friday morning, we surprised Jeremy Erdman (it was his birthday) with banners and balloons. The reaction on his face was priceless. After this we headed back to Cornerstone Community Kitchen where they also have a thrift store. We sorted mounds of clothes. After sorting clothes we headed into the neighborhood of Uptown (one time artzy area of Chicago- think Charlie Chaplain-- that is now one of the poorest areas of the city) to give gloves and socks as well as lunches to homeless on the street. 
Next, we went to Lou Milnati's Pizzeria to have tons (I really do mean tons) of Chicago style pizzas. Most of our students had never experienced Chicago style pizza-- they absolutely loved it. Then we had a nice break in the afternoon where most of us took our first nap of the week-- it was well deserved. In the evening our whole group traveled to 
St. Thomas of Canterbury Soup Kitchen. We served 250 homeless people-- literally served them their food. It was the best soup kitchen experience I have ever had. All of the homeless came in and were seated. Salad and bread was on the table and our 25 member team
went around giving them soup, coffee, and milk. Because we were amongst the homeless waiting on them, each of our students were able to have fantastic conversations with these homeless-- realizing that they are not very different from us. Finally, we returned to our housing site where we had ice cream and cake for 
Jeremy's birthday. A very fabulous two days! PS. Josh Dill Nathan Jeremy and John are super cool cats.
St. Thomas of Canterbury Soup Kitchen. We served 250 homeless people-- literally served them their food. It was the best soup kitchen experience I have ever had. All of the homeless came in and were seated. Salad and bread was on the table and our 25 member team
went around giving them soup, coffee, and milk. Because we were amongst the homeless waiting on them, each of our students were able to have fantastic conversations with these homeless-- realizing that they are not very different from us. Finally, we returned to our housing site where we had ice cream and cake for 
Jeremy's birthday. A very fabulous two days! PS. Josh Dill Nathan Jeremy and John are super cool cats.Chicago-- Wednesday Evening & Thursday Morning
Wednesday Evening
After a short break in the afternoon, our group split into two teams. The first team traveled to the Englewood neighborhood in south Chicago, once known as one of the top five most violent neighborhoods in the United States, to a place called the Peace Community Center that works with kids to keep them out of gangs, drugs, and teach them about conflict resolution and having 
a purpose and plan in life. They are an afterschool program that also serves dinner each night to any kid or teen who drops in. Our students had a blast hanging with the kids and the leaders there. Ms. Dominick, the administrator of the center, bonded with our students and had them doing "exercises," otherwise known as the Electric Slide. Watching our students dance with the kids and leaders of the afterschool program. Then the team traveled to the Red Apple, a Polish buffet, to have a huge meal. Our students loved the food and kept returning for more-- particulary the 
potato pancakes.
a purpose and plan in life. They are an afterschool program that also serves dinner each night to any kid or teen who drops in. Our students had a blast hanging with the kids and the leaders there. Ms. Dominick, the administrator of the center, bonded with our students and had them doing "exercises," otherwise known as the Electric Slide. Watching our students dance with the kids and leaders of the afterschool program. Then the team traveled to the Red Apple, a Polish buffet, to have a huge meal. Our students loved the food and kept returning for more-- particulary the 
potato pancakes. The second team went to Cornerstone Community, where one of the teams had been the previous evening. Cornerstone is truly a unique organization in Chicago, not like other soup kitchens in other cities. I was really glad that both of our teams got to go there because it gives them a glimpse into the poverty and violence that is particular to Chicago, especially with the amount of segregation 
and gang violence that exists. Our students were able to see teens of 16 to 18 years old with their 3 and 4 year old kids and the lack of basic education and formation that allows families to function. After Cornerstone, this team went to a local Mexican restaurant to have burritos-- always a good meal!
and gang violence that exists. Our students were able to see teens of 16 to 18 years old with their 3 and 4 year old kids and the lack of basic education and formation that allows families to function. After Cornerstone, this team went to a local Mexican restaurant to have burritos-- always a good meal!
Thursday MorningWe returned to our final day at Casa Central. The students organized an Easter egg hunt for each of the classrooms as well as play many, many games with the kids. We also bought Casa Central some jump rope to play Double Dutch and an electric pencil sharpner for the classroom. The kids were highly excited about the double dutch tournaments. Our students are very disappointed that they have to leave today-- they've really enjoyed getting to know the kids and staff at Casa.
Chicago Trip: Tuesday Evening & Wednesday Morning
Tuesday Evening
After a short break on Tuesday afternoon, our students headed to two different soup kitchens (Cornerstone & Good News) to serve meals, clean dishes, and play with kids. 
Cornerstone is an organization started and adminstered by Jesus People USA. They are one of only three organizations in the city of Chicago that provide housing for whole families instead of sepa
rate housing for men and women. Good News is the one of the first soup kitchens started in Chicago. After leaving the soup kitchens, our team reunited for a dinner feast-- Vietmenese style-- where we had delicious noodle soup. Our students tried new things and had a fantastic time. After dinner, we took a prayer tour of Chicago. One of the most impactful parts of the tour was visiting the area formerly known as Cabrini Green, formerly one of the most impoverished areas of the United States housing 17,000 people in government housing. As of today, 
only a small section is left due to gentrification. Currently, new condo and housing developments are in the works creating $1,000,000 homes in this former neighborhood. Many of the ministry sites we are working with this week are dealing with the fall out of having 17,000 impoverished people displaced and looking for affordable housing.
Cornerstone is an organization started and adminstered by Jesus People USA. They are one of only three organizations in the city of Chicago that provide housing for whole families instead of sepa
rate housing for men and women. Good News is the one of the first soup kitchens started in Chicago. After leaving the soup kitchens, our team reunited for a dinner feast-- Vietmenese style-- where we had delicious noodle soup. Our students tried new things and had a fantastic time. After dinner, we took a prayer tour of Chicago. One of the most impactful parts of the tour was visiting the area formerly known as Cabrini Green, formerly one of the most impoverished areas of the United States housing 17,000 people in government housing. As of today, 
only a small section is left due to gentrification. Currently, new condo and housing developments are in the works creating $1,000,000 homes in this former neighborhood. Many of the ministry sites we are working with this week are dealing with the fall out of having 17,000 impoverished people displaced and looking for affordable housing.Wednesday Morning
Our group returned to Casa Central today. We spent time on Tuesday planning some organized games and craft activities for the kids-- everything from decorating Easter eggs to Steal the Bacon (a competive relay 
game). It was great to have our teens spend time with the same kids they ministered to yesterday and see the relationships that were formed. 
The kids here at Casa bond instantly to our teens.
game). It was great to have our teens spend time with the same kids they ministered to yesterday and see the relationships that were formed. 
The kids here at Casa bond instantly to our teens.Tuesday, April 3
Today, we went to Casa Central, the largest Hispanic social agency in Chicago. Casa Central provides many, 
many services to the Hispanic community here. Our group worked exclusively with children today- 13 of our students worked with early elementary kids and 12 of our students worked with uppe
r elementary and middle school kids. Here are some of pictures of our morning and afternoon:
many services to the Hispanic community here. Our group worked exclusively with children today- 13 of our students worked with early elementary kids and 12 of our students worked with uppe
r elementary and middle school kids. Here are some of pictures of our morning and afternoon:
Chicago-- Monday, April 2
We made it to Chicago! The students had a great time on the plane ride (for many it was their first). After arriving at our destination and a quick bite to eat, we settled into our old brick house to sleep. Pictures tomorrow.
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