Monday, January 05, 2009

Welcome to the Jungle, We Got Fun and Games

Yesterday was the deadline to register for the trip to Pine Ridge Reservation in 2009 and our first crew meeting! Here is the 2009 crew!

Amber B *
Brian B *
Cathy J *
Charles J *
Debbie H *
Jeff S *
Darlene B *
Rachael K *
Mark M *
Wint M *
Nirvana M *
Brian W
Fred H
Brandon W *
Dennis W *

We have a smaller team this year than in years past. The economy has hurt a lot of people and it shows up in mission trips just as it does everywhere else. Many of our "regulars" were not able to go because they can not afford to do so. We will miss them ... a lot .... especially when we are getting run over by 150 kids on the playground.

Those that are going are also stretched thin ... very thin ... in their finances. Please pray for us in that respect this year. We hate doing fundraisers that hound people for money but the fact is, missions does not happen with out cold hard cash. The cost of the trip for everyone goes to pay for fuel, truck rental, food for the kids and crew for the week, VBS materials, and work project materials.

Our biggest expenses are fuel and food. We feed 150 kids a hot meal each day that we are there and that can add up very quickly. In the worse case scenario, we may have to give them a snack instead of a meal.

Pray for our health and overall well-being this year too. I'm not kidding when I say they will run over us. I don't like to take a crew of less than 20 and this year we are really very low in number. The week is always physically, emotionally, and spiritually challenging but this year it will be more so. It will be a jungle and we will have fun and games and we will take it day by day. And if you don't have any idea what I'm referring to, that's probably a good thing. :)

That said, we know that God will make a way. He always does. And we are looking forward to a fun year of water gun fights and watermelon eating contest and hugs and tears and experiencing the JOY of giving of ourselves to serve others. It truly is the greatest joy you'll ever know.

Note - Names with an * beside them are in need of sponsors. Please help them if you can.