El Salvador Mission Team Updates

2009-09-22T07:01:00.001-07:00

Just want to say thank you to the missionaries that shared last night at the missions conference. We have received a lot of good feedback.

I want to remind you as well that we are scheduled to share at AWANA on Oct 14 (6:30 pm). We will have to do something a little different that night for the younger set. Please keep posted. And, let me know before the day of if you can be there or not. We will have to brush up on the balloon thing. I believe we will maybe sing the Lord’s Army song, do balloon swords, and move in that direction as we share about our experience.

Thanks for your willingness to share and pass along the fire that God put within you to share more of Him with others.

Please remember that we are in a mission field here as well and that your neighbors and friends (enemies) also need to see the love of Christ within you. Smile and let your light shine for Him!

Love You,
Mike & Denise

PS – It’s looking like maybe a Christmas get-together to watch Jonathan’s 2-hour version of our mission.

Reflection

2009-08-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

We spent some time in El Salvador
Where God himself opened doors
To mysteries and joys
Shared with many girls and boys

A land different with sights and sounds
Smells and garbage lie on the ground
Riches and poverty within a few miles
People faced with many trials

People now that simply live
Rely on God as love they give
Danger may be all around
Gangs and crazy drivers abound

Blessed they are and so were we
Trusting God so passionately
As we shared God’s love and they helped us see
The many ways God loves you and me

We went to bless
They blessed us more
We went to tell
And we learned more
We went to give
And we received
Our hearts were touched
Our lives are changed
Our world will never be the same.

Mission Presentation on Sunday, August 16

2009-08-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

Hey Team,
I just talked with Pastor Greg from Bakke, Richwood, & Lund, and he said that if we only did Lund Church, that would be fine. So that is the plan. Be at Community Alliance Church by 9:45 am to hitch a ride or come directly to Lund by 10:00 am to set up, pray, and do last minute preparations.

Set up computer, screen, and picture displays. SMILE and welcome people. (Wear TEAM T-shirts)

The plan:
Sing – Give Me a New Heart and Fishers of Men
Video –
Talk – (1 minute or less per person)

I already sent out the postcard reminders – so this is a change from what was on those.

Please call if you have questions. I am still planning on Nick Sauer having his van to carpool at 9:45 at Community Alliance.

Party at Warwegs following the service.

Thanks everyone! You’re a great team!
Love,
Denise

Summary of our Mission Experience

2009-07-31T07:17:00.000-07:00

El Salvador Summary 2009
The preparation went pretty well for the trip. I tried to emphasize how important team meetings were. However, we had started meeting before I went to the coaching weekend in Philadelphia and there I learned that we probably should have set some stronger boundaries for missing team meetings. The preparation work we did paid off and we were ready to b e off and running on July 17.

We began packing on the 17th at 6:30 pm and at about 8:30, the parents left. (We could have been more particular about the ministry packs and the 3 ounce rule etc.) Many of the parents cried.

We practiced Spanish songs and had pizza, pop and a birthday cake for Tom & Nick. At about 10:30 we started a movie and rested till 12:30 when our bus driver (Jason Cummings) arrived. The bus was packed and we waited for Pastor Matt to come and do the trip with Jason. Pastor Matt also blessed us with a really nice send-off. When arriving at the airport, we unloaded and headed for the ticketing counter. Brander discovered that he didn’t have his passport. We called Jason and Matt and they turned the bus around while searching. We prayed. We were so very thankful that Matt found it wedged in the seat. We got all our bags checked and grabbed our carry-ons and headed to security where we were stopped on three bags for glue, toothpaste, and nail-crosses. They let us through and we bolted for our gate as they called us by name, “El Salvador Missions Team, your plane is leaving in 2 minutes!” The flight went well and it was so nice that they fed us. We changed planes in Houston after a long walk to the next gate. Many of the kids found food to eat while some of us guarded bags.

We boarded and arrived in El Salvador about 2. We were met in the restroom by some ladies asking where we were going. We told them Zacamil. They said, “Very dangerous”. Next we had to fill out forms and make it through customs. I talked with the man that checks the bags. I actually asked him if prescription drugs and bug spray was alright to bring in. Then we talked to men at the counter (they all wore masks because of the H1N1 scare). When they saw where we were going as tourists they were whispering about Zacamil. When we got to the place where they check our bags, they let us pass. Aram, our main intern, met us with a van and a pick-up truck. Our bags went in the pick-up with Mike, Jimmy, and Nick on top. The rest of us piled in the van for our hour ride to our apartments. “Crazy Drivers” in El Salvador (100 cm per hour). It was 970 and hot. We arrived at the apartments and moved in to live in community with the people. We walked to have papusas for supper and then Aram met with us for a briefing on all the rules and boundaries for our stay in El Salvador. Aram was the main intern that worked with us.

In the morning we discovered we were missing two bags. One was a carry-on and one had all our sport equipment in it.

We woke up to the rooster and birds, honking horns, and the quesadilla lady. I slept very well though because I was so tired. I realized I must have clenched my teeth – my jaw was sore. We had morning devos and cold cereal for breakfast before walking to church. Church was awesome and we hardly noticed that three hours had passed when it was time to leave. Sometimes we joined in worship when they sang familiar songs. They sang in Spanish, we sang in English. They prayed over us and with us. The people were very friendly and brought us water. It was hot. Sweat dripped and we only had to sit there. We did lunch with Pastor Juan’s family. In the afternoon we took a walk and learned about the gangs in the area and played with the children in “18’s” territory. Aram told us that they liked AY Missions and we were not a threat to them. Mario (our neighbor), shared his testimony about growing up with the gangs and the trial they presented. We didn’t have a ball, but Aram wanted to see if the children would come out. They started a game of tag and sure enough, more and more kids kept coming. Some just watched from the peripheral area. Men (probably gang members) watched as well. Mike tried out a skate board, the girls played in circles. We received flowers from the kids. Some acrobats, a little thumb wars, and sword fights happened and the children responded. I was so very proud of our team who played so hard and built relationships with the children in this community. We had steak or chicken supper with Pastor Mario’s family. That evening was filled with a little volleyball.
The next morning our wonderful cooks made scrambled eggs, rice, and bananas (cooked). We then had devotions and headed to the City Center to learn about the history of El Salvador. Our first stop was the Catholic Cathedral. We had time to look and absorb all the sights and then Aram explained the story of “Romero” and the revolution/civil war. We went downstairs to see the memorial in honor of Romero and the vaults of other important people of El Salvador. The kids were impacted by the beggars on the steps leading to this impressive landmark. We visited a second Catholic Church equally impressive but very different and more contemporary. It had the Stations of the Cross in it. We went to shop for souvenirs and we watched the people on a very busy street corner. We did VBS in the afternoon. We painted nails, played soccer, and did the puppet skits with songs following. Margarita called for a testimony. Alane gave hers on the spot – she did great! We worked very hard to prepare VBS only to learn that what we brought was not what they expected. There was a huge communication glitch between the states and the intern team in El Salvador. In spite of that, our team has been amazing- so serving and giving, engaging the kids – sweating, playing hard and loving on the kids. We learned that we could not just give to the kids. We were called “Gringos”. Trying to communicate has been fun. We learned new words and new names of new friends. That evening at our debrief we talked about the contrast of the reverence in the Catholic Church and the casualness of a church who calls Jesus their friend.
There was a bit of an issue and attitude problem with one of our team members. However, our morning devotion spoke about anger. It was right on! I loved the way God worked ahead of us and in our team. The team worked hard and they were hearing from God in a BIG way!
Tuesday, we cleaned house for Tia Ana, played in the street with her kids, and some of the girls got their hair done. Teresa talked to them about the sick puppy and the snails in his water. Mike did wash, I swept, Nick washed the floor, and Christian made lunch. Janelle and Alane did dishes. Jimmy did dishes after lunch. We went back to the apartments for our lunch of some kind of Spanish spaghetti. The next day we were allowed to bring more for VBS, but to carry it in all one bag of supplies besides our puppets and stage. We added a mime-type skit to what we brought. We did face painting, balloons, puppet skit, songs, and we also did the salvation bracelets and coloring sheets. Margarita was happy today. Aram and Tom did their testimonies. We were so proud of him and all the team members who told of God's work in their lives. At evening debrief Aram talked about how in the USA we have material possessions and our dependence on God is not so high. In El Salvador, their dependence on God is high and their material possessions are low. Who is more blessed? We should pity us!
Wednesday, at morning devotions, the parrot in the apartment above us joined us in worship. He would squawk and dance, turning in circles. (We laughed and enjoyed every minute of it!) We had sick team members and members of the community as well. We did a bucket brigade of about five yards of sand up a hill at Tia Ana’s worksite for her new home. It was so hot and we were tired at the completion of that job! Jacob ran a fever, and most of the team had diarrhea. The team thinks it was the pizza we ate for supper the night before. However, it has been so hot that I think it could either be a bug or heat related. VBS went well. We brought the balloons again, did puppets, song and crosses and coloring. The women at VBS asked to pray over us and Margarita had affirming words to say when we got back to the apartments. She told us of a woman from Argentina on the last team that called her when she had met our team and said that she knew that God had a special team here. She said it was the first time the women had done that and she had tears in her eyes. I did as well. Aram was sick and Jonathan led the evening debrief with “Imagination Worship”. It was a good but exhausting day! (I wrote a 5th day skit for VBS.)
Thursday, the team hiked the Puerto de Diablo. There was an easy and a tough climb. However they got to the top, they said it was beautiful! I stayed back to post pictures on our blog so the parents back home could see how their children were ministering to the people of El Salvador. This was another Godcidence day. The morning devo talked about the city on a hill that could not be hidden and letting your light shine. They climbed the mountain and the VBS that day was on letting your light shine! We received special bracelets from the women at VBS today. Janelle announced that she wanted to stay in El Salvador and not go back with us. (Against AY Missions Policy.) That evening the team played soccer under the lights. I brought Willie Wonka candy with for the spectators and whoever wanted some. There were Shockers, Nerds, and Laffy Taffy to choose from. Some of the women chose the Shockers thinking it was Chocolate. OOOOOh did they get a “sour” surprise! Anyway, they got a kick out of it and had fun tricking new people that came to watch at later times! The girls tried to use the restrooms by the field but found there was not any toilet paper or toilet seats. When they asked for toilet paper, the guy showed them the hose! We laughed a lot that night!
Friday our team split. Half stayed to swim with Tia Ana’s kids and do VBS and half went to a Compassion Visit at San Sebastian about 25 miles east of the city. Our half went to Mr. Donut. The Compassion sponsor and translator met us with a van. When we got to the site, we were greeted with a line of children holding balloons that we walked through, we were escorted into the church with one child on each arm, and cheered for by about 200 children! We cried. They sang songs, did a devotion, and 2 skits including one to the song, “Thank You for giving to the Lord.” We cried. The team helped serve lunch to the children and we took the family out for lunch at Pollo Comparro in a neighboring town. When we went back to the project, we broke piñatas, learned about Compassion and played soccer. Before we left to see Jesus’ home, we went to visit a textile store and were able to see them spin the thread and run the looms. We also made some purchases. We then went to Jesus’ home. Jesus is living with his Aunt and Uncle and their two children and, with his brother, Oscar. His father was threatened by gangs and fled with his wife to the US. The aunt and uncle moved into the house where his brother lived with Jesus and Oscar. Oscar is having a difficult time with the situation. We knew Jesus had a sibling, but we didn’t know how old or if it would be a boy or girl. We felt bad when we didn’t have something especially for him. We did bring a family gift though. Jesus lived down a long cobblestone hill and over a river into a much more jungle-like area where the poverty was more obvious. There were chickens in his yard and an area where they cooked outside. The home had a concrete floor, metal sides, and metal roof. There was an area just inside the door to wash clothes and take a shower behind a plastic curtain. We saw no bathroom. There was a small stove with a propane bottle beneath it in the kitchen area. There was a living room area with not much for furniture. Oscar and Jesus had bunk beds in another area. The Aunt and Uncle slept in another room with their children. Mom and baby slept together, Dad and child in the other bed. There were no screens on the windows. Outside you could see banana trees. I asked how they got the bananas down and they said either with a knife on a long stick or they would just cut the tree down because they grew back pretty quickly. We were allowed to ask questions of the family. The Uncle talked about how he is now threatened as well by the gangs. We will pray for them. Jesus opened his backpack we brought for him and we gave them the family bag as well. We took pictures, did hugs, and headed back to the van to go back to the apartments. That evening we headed to the wealthy part of town where we went to a ritzy mall with all the stores we are used to in the states. We ate there, but many of us had little interest in making purchases there. That night Aram told us that 14 people control the wealth of the country. They are the coffee farmers. He also talked about how the rich don’t talk to the poor and the poor don’t talk to the very poor. A class system of sorts.
Saturday, we headed for the ocean. It was great! Beautiful, vast, strong, warm and refreshing. We swam, walked along the shore, relaxed in hammocks, had sandwiches for lunch, mango on a stick, coconut milk, and just enjoyed the company of each other and the community that helped the interns all summer. Many of the kids got sun burned even with sunscreen on. After swimming, we went souvenir shopping for our last purchases. We debriefed with Aram talking about our transition back into our world. We packed our bags, gave parting gifts, and spent some last moments with the people of Zacamil.
Sunday morning we said more good-byes, gave hugs, cried and headed to the airport. Many did not want to leave. We checked our bags, loaded the plane and flew back to the states. We went through customs in Texas. Nick got held up a little only because he filled out his form in pencil. We had only about 25 minutes to relax before getting on our next flight home. We arrived in Minneapolis at 10:05. The bus picked us up at 11:00 pm and we arrived back in Detroit Lakes at 4:00 am on Tuesday.
I am exhausted. Many of the team were as well. It was an incredible trip. It was so exciting to see the work that God was doing in the lives of this team as they experienced the people of El Salvador and the love they gave to us. We thought we would go to bless them, but they blessed us in a bigger way! Our God is an awesome God! Praise God for his protection and His hand upon us who worked in and through us. We have seen Him at work! We bow at the wonder of His work. We thank the church for helping us to go and for praying for us while we were there. There is no greater work than in the power of prayer. We are a changed people. You can continue to pray for the fire within us to not stop burning and that we will carry the things we learned to our families and community here. Please pray for the next team that will be called to “GO”.

Pictures

2009-07-29T09:43:00.001-07:00

Please bring your pictures to me so we can compile them all and burn one disk by Sunday at our meeting at noon.
Thanks,
Denise

Update from El Salvador

2009-07-23T08:44:00.000-07:00

Hi All,
We want to thank you for your prayers. We can feel them. Please continue to pray. We have had a couple get a little sick, but they are coming out of it and are doing well. The team is having an awesome time and they are doing great ministering and being ministered to. We love the people of El Salvador. I am posting some pictures today so you can see how your kids are doing. They are hard workers! AY Missions is taking good care of us. I know they can hardly wait to tell you all about everything they have experienced.

In El Salvador

2009-07-20T11:20:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
We are in El Salvador and are doing well. The temperature is muy caliente! 97 degrees or so. We are all sweating a lot! We have been warmly greeted and well taken care of. Yesterday we went to a neighborhood and the kids played tag and soccer. Our team has been great at reaching out and showing the love of Christ. We also went to church and it was an awesome experience for all. They translated for us and it was a great message about Psalm 91. We had lunch with the pastor and his family. Today we went to the City Center and we had another history day. Everyone is well, just hot and trying to adjust to the climate. We are also adjusting to the culture. God is good and He is our shield, protection and strength. We will have much to share when we come home. I will not get to post often. Maybe not again this week. Please continue praying. We can feel that God is with us.
Love,
Team El Salvador

T-Shirts

2009-07-10T13:58:00.000-07:00

The T-shirts were picked up yesterday. You can come and get yours on Sunday or on the work day Tuesday.

Sneaker Update

2009-07-10T10:47:00.000-07:00

Praise God!

Our VBS "Rock Stars" gave $565.06 for sneakers in El Salvador.

THANK YOU!

Work Day

2009-07-06T14:39:00.000-07:00

Please come to the office on Tuesday, July 14, at 2:00 pm (if you can) to put the bags together for the Compassion visit.

Will there be trials?

2009-06-29T14:07:00.000-07:00

This is exactly why we need your prayers!

Team and Prayers

2009-06-29T14:02:00.000-07:00

El Salvador Mission Team:

Michael and Denise Warweg—Leaders
James Christianson
Jacob Conway
Janelle Conway
Brander Halver
Justin Hanson
Olivia Johnson
David Perry
Nick Roethel
Alane Sauer
Nick Sauer
Bethany Stoltenburg
Kayla Vogt
Teresa Voigt
Thomas Warweg
Teah Wike

The El Salvador Missions Team leaves on July 18 and returns on July 26.

We ask for your prayers as we continue to prepare our hearts and our ministry for the field. Please pray for us as well when we are in El Salvador.

We have been made aware of a special need on the field of sneakers for the children. If you would like to help purchase sneakers or donate money towards sneakers for the children of El Salvador, please let Denise know. Our VBS will be taking an offering for this cause as well.

The mission team to El Salvador thanks you for your prayers. We can feel God’s presence and his work in the team members. Please continue to pray for us. We ask you especially to pray for Amber Freitag who decided not to go. Please also include Nick Sauer – he has replaced Amber and answered the call to “go”.

We want to thank you for all your prayers and support.

Final Meeting Before the Mission

2009-06-29T13:28:00.000-07:00

June 27, 2009 Meeting

There was a canoe race in which the girl's team claimed victory (but the guys really won). The girl's canoe sank but we got it to shore first. The guys actually made it around the raft and back to shore. (We even recruited Dan as Danielle for the girl's team.)

After the canoe races, we did a little tubing...

Then we ended with a service of foot washing and communion.

Ministry Practice with Sunday School

2009-06-25T07:44:00.001-07:00

We told the children of Community Alliance Church about El Salvador and the ministry we would be doing there. We practiced our VBS ministry which included puppets, music, balloons, facepainting, crafts and games. Here some of the children are waiting and have received balloons.

Need on the Mission Field

2009-06-23T10:53:00.001-07:00

We have been made aware of a special need on the field of sneakers for the children. If you would like to help purchase sneakers or donate money towards sneakers for the children of El Salvador, please let Denise know. Our VBS will be taking an offering for this cause as well.

Last Team Meeting Coming Saturday, June 27

2009-06-23T10:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents and Team Members,

We are coming down to the wire and we are very close to our mission. Please remember to continue to pray. Both for our team and your prayer partner specifically.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Nick Sauer has joined our team. (Amber Freitag vacated a spot for him to join us.)

We have our last team meeting this Saturday at our house at 5 pm. We will eat first, do some water fun (weather permitting), and end with some of our testimonies and worship around the campfire (or fireplace). Pastor Matt will be joining us. Kyle Colby will be helping with some worship as well. Remember to bring your binder, Bible, swimwear and a towel. If you want to go through your testimony with me ahead of time, please give me a call.

Testimonies on Saturday: Bethany Stoltenburg, Nick Sauer, Janelle Conway, Kayla Vogt, Jacob Conway, and Nick Roethel.

Missing paperwork needs to be turned in.

COMMISSIONING: It is very important for you to be at the 11:00 service on Sunday morning for our commissioning! (If we have our T-shirts, we will wear those as well.)

PARENT MEETING: Sunday, June 28, 12:00 pm in rooms 107 & 108. (There is also a potluck that was scheduled on Sunday to meet the pastoral candidate.)

There will still be loose ends to tie up before we leave and you can meet with your ministry teams if needed on your own or schedule a time with me. VBS needs to be translated and recorded. There are still some crosses to finish up and bags to be made for our Compassion Visit. (Please come to the office to work on them anytime during the day!) Remember to tell people that we are taking donations for sneakers for the children of El Salvador.

Continue to be in God’s Word, to be about preparing your heart personally.

Together for Christ,
Mike & Denise

Bags for El Salvador…

2009-06-10T08:22:00.000-07:00

Bags for El Salvador…
1 – 62” (length +width+height) not more than 50 pounds
1 – 45” (length +width+height) not more than 40 pounds THIS IS THE CARRY-ON (It cannot have more than one quart size ziplock bag filled with 3 oz bottles)

Gals can have a purse or a back-pack that will fit under the seat in front of them. (this has the fluid rule as well)

Guys can have a back-pack that will fit under the seat in front of them. (this has the fluid rule as well)

We will have a guitar as extra baggage.

We can check an additional 8-10 bags @ 62” (length +width+height) not more than 50 pounds that will cost $25 each (it’s in the budget). If you have an old bag about this size and you don’t care if we leave in El Salvador, please bring it in.

Team Photo

2009-06-09T06:37:00.000-07:00

New Flight Arragements...

2009-06-03T07:26:00.000-07:00

The airlines were going to put a fuel charge of $50 per ticket on us unless we took an earlier flight. We will probably need a nap when we arrive. We get on the bus at 1 am that morning.

CONTINENTAL AIRLINES 18JUL MINNEAPOLIS MN HOUSTON TX 650A 941ACO 1517 SATURDAY ST PAUL INTL G.BUSH INTERCOV ECONOMY AIRCRAFT: BOEING 737-300 RESERVATION CONFIRMED CONTINENTAL

AIRLINES 18JUL HOUSTON TX SAN SALVADOR 1210P 210PCO 831 SATURDAY G.BUSH INTERCO COMALAPA INTL.V ECONOMY AIRCRAFT: BOEING 737-800 RESERVATION CONFIRMED CONTINENTAL AIRLINES

26JUL SAN SALVADOR HOUSTON TX 1210P 420PCO 827 SUNDAY COMALAPA INTL. G.BUSH INTERCOT ECONOMY AIRCRAFT: BOEING 737-800 RESERVATION CONFIRMED CONTINENTAL AIRLINES

26JUL HOUSTON TX MINNEAPOLIS MN 700P 956PCO 616 SUNDAY G.BUSH INTERCO ST PAUL INTLT ECONOMY AIRCRAFT: BOEING 737-300 RESERVATION CONFIRMED

Carry on

2009-06-03T07:24:00.001-07:00

Carry on
The maximum size for the carryon is 45 linear inches (Length + Width + Height) and maximum weight is 40 pounds. If you go to www.continental.com and click on "Travel Information", then "Baggage Information", then "Carry-on Baggage", you will see really good information on this.

Flight Change - Continental Flights

2009-06-01T12:16:00.000-07:00

Please change your photo album information....

CO 2382E 18JUL SA MSPIAH HK17 10:45A 1:35P
CO 828E 18JUL SA IAHSAL HK17 3:40P 5:40P

CO 827T 26JUL SU SALIAH HK17 12:10P 4:20P
CO 616T 26JUL SU IAHMSP HK17 7:00P 9:56P

This means we have less of a layover in Houston and an earlier arrival in San Salvador.

Team Meetings Dates & Times

2009-05-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

El Salvador Team Meetings
(plan 3-4 hours for @ mtg)
Apr 19 12:00 at Church
May 20 6:30 at Church
May 31 12:00 at Church
June 11 6:30 at Church
June 16 6:30 at Church
June 27 5:00 at Warweg’s (bring swimwear & towel)
June 28 Commissioning 11:00 Service (wear your t-shirts)
June 28 Parent Meeting 12:00-1:00
July 17 Packing Night 6:30 at Church
August 2 (Sunday) 12:00 Debrief
Reveal Prayer Partners
August 9 Present at Church (All 3 Services)
August 12 Present at Solid Rock
August 16 Present at Bakke/Richwood/Lund

PASSPORT PLEA

2009-05-21T12:29:00.001-07:00

I need copies of all passports by Sunday, May 24 please. No excuses. I have to have them to complete the purchase of our airline tickets.
Thanks,
Denise

Prayer & Commissioning

2009-05-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

El Salvador Team,

We have a prayer request from El Salvador to pray for two of the interns. One is for language acquisition and the other is for financial support.

We would like to change the date of our commissioning to June 28, the day following the meeting at our home. That would be our last meeting before we pack on July 17. We could meet with the parents on the 28th as well following the 11:00 service if this works for everyone. (This would cancel out everything on July 12th)

Let me know any objections. If I don’t hear anything from anyone I will announce the change and go with it.

Together for Christ,
Denise

Contact Info in El Salvador

2009-05-13T06:37:00.000-07:00

Emergency Contact// Pastor Mario Gonzalez (503) 7852 4802
Emergency Contact// Mario Salvador Lopez (503) 7771 1750

Address of where you will be staying (if parents want to send their kids letters they can send them to this address):

Apto. 14, Edif 417
Col. Zacamil, Mejicanos
San Salvador, El Salvador, C. A.

2009-05-13T06:31:00.000-07:00

Watch for your letter containing this information:

Team Meeting
Wednesday
May 20
6:30 pm
At Community Alliance Church

Bring:
· Binder
· Bible
· Completed Bible Study (Cultural Differences #3)
· Passport (if you) have not given me three copies
· Notarized Letter to travel if under 18
· Team Verse Vote

Snacks & Refreshments by...
Tom, David, Brander, and Justin
(You are responsible for organizing this.)

We have much to cover again, so please come on time and be prepared.

Please call if you will be late (for a good reason )or cannot attend. (701) 367-6633

We are excited to share with you the new things that we have found out about our mission.

Please continue to pray for your prayer partner and pray for our mission and the mission field.

We will have music for you to take at this meeting so that you can learn the Spanish Songs.

Write down any questions you have and we will try to answer them.

Remember to ask your employers off for our team meetings. They are very important!

Thanks,
Mike & Denise

Next Meeting May 31:
Lunch by
Nick, Jacob, Jimmy & Kayla

Missions Meeting

2009-04-13T06:55:00.000-07:00

Hey Missions Team,

Mike and I had something come up and will not be able to do the meeting on Sunday, April 19. Please continue to pray and to prepare your hearts through your personal time with God and study.

Blessings,
Denise & Mike

Praise God for His provision!

2009-04-06T07:24:00.000-07:00

Hey El Salvador Missionaries,

I hope you're praising God for the auction.

Thank you for all your hard work and commitment to the mission. You can be thanking God for close to $7,000 for your accounts! Wow! Isn't God good?

Please remember to thank God and all those people who helped us along the way (including mom & dad).

As we travel this week before Easter, please remember to spend time with Him as we remember the sacrifice that He made for us.

Easter Sunday there is another opportunity for you to get money for your accounts by serving Easter breakfast. Please sign up with Denise and plan to be to church on Easter morning by 7:30 am. We will be cooking and serving till 10:40 and you can worship at 11:00.

Love,
Mike & Denise

Auction April 5...

2009-03-26T07:18:00.000-07:00

This is a reminder that each missionary going is to make one pie/cheesecake/fancy something to be auctioned at the Auction on April 5. Along with the dessert, you should make a power point slide. If you cannot do that at home, you can produce it at church on the volunteer computer. Please bring to me on a jump drive or a CD, so we can combine all the files.

In addition to your “pie” to be auctioned, you probably were asked to bring a dessert to be served that evening.

PRACTICE THOSE SKITS!

Thanks,
Denise

The Auction

2009-03-23T07:12:00.000-07:00

The Auction is April 5. Remember that we will set up and practice on the 5th after church.

Also, we can make and serve Easter breakfast for money in our accounts. This will be open to all the youth, so sign up to work with me asap.

Please note that every meeting is important. We discuss important things each time. If you miss a meeting, I will give you the papers each receives, but you are missing the conversations. There is no way I can catch each person up on what they missed. Please set these meeting times aside and make a point to be there. It was suggested that if you have to miss more than two meetings, you should probably consider whether or not you should be on the mission. Not only is the information important to our mission, but the team building is also very important.

El Salvador Team Meetings
(plan 3-4 hours for @ mtg)
Apr 19 12:00 at Church
May 20 6:30 at Church
May 31 12:00 at Church
June 11 6:30 at Church
June 16 6:30 at Church
June 27 5:00 at Warweg’s (bring swimwear & towel)
July 12 Parent Meeting 12:00-1:00
July 12 Commissioning 11:00 Service
July 12 Final Meeting 7:00 pm (location tbd)
July 17 Packing Night 6:30 at Church

Packing for El Salvador

2009-03-17T07:01:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, everyone received information on what to pack and what not to pack. Please read over these documents and if you have questions, call Denise. This is important stuff. Also, the type of bag you should have is important. And, there's something in there about ziplock bags....

Check it out

2009-03-16T09:34:00.000-07:00

Remember to invite people to fill your table at the auction. Also, we have a skit practice next Sunday, the 22nd after church. Watch the mail for more information.

Thanks again to Amber for the Video Promo for the Auction.

Thanks to Brittney for tech help!

Love, Denise

Missions Meeting

2009-03-09T19:56:00.000-07:00

Team Meeting
Sunday
March 15
12:00 (Noon)
At Community Alliance Church

Bring:

Binder
Bible
Skits
Your Creativity

We’ll have lunch together at the church.
Alane, Amber & Teresa are doing lunch.

Video Promo

2009-03-09T19:55:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=Auction+for+El+Salvador+Mission&aq=f

This is the link to the video to promote the auction on April 5.

Immunizations

2009-03-03T14:23:00.000-08:00

It is true! We do not need to get the Typhoid immunization.

Please make sure that you have Hepatitis A & B though.

Denise

Coaching Weekend in Philadelphia

2009-03-03T11:15:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I took part in the coaching weekend for our mission trip to El Salvador (in Philadelphia). It was a real blessing. It was so good to hear all the details that will make our mission better and to do our ministry with excellence. I appreciate all the details that were presented. I also appreciated meeting the other team leaders and making new friends with a common bond. I have contact information to talk to the intern and pastor in El Salvador to work with them on our ministries that we will be doing and bringing. It was so interesting to be exposed to the cultures through food, the preschool, and a visit to a Sikh Temple. We focused on other cultures and being sensitive to them. We talked about how to make bridges instead of building walls.

One of the most important things I heard was that we are there to assist the missionary on the field, not to be a burden, but to lighten their load. We may come with a plan and a ministry that may totally change. We must be willing to lay down everything and give it to God as we are to be flexible to meet the needs of the ministry on the field.

The Alliance sees us (Short Term Missions Team) as an extension of the full time missionaries on their fields as important to the ministry in every area.

It is looking like our ministry in El Salvador will be…
· Helping to clean and assist Tia Ana at the orphanage in the mornings – serve lunch
· VBS in the afternoons

There are a number of questions I have asked the intern and am still waiting for an answer to.

Don’t forget that we have a team meeting on March 15 at noon.

Team meetings are as important as the mission!