Click here to view the Destination: Paraguay Galleries
A big THANK YOU to Sands McAlee who is serving as the conduit from the team to get the word out to everyone!
August 11: THEY ARE HOME!!!
August 10:
Hard to believe the mission trip has come to an end. Our team ended their last few days staying with families in Asuncion, learning new dance moves, solidifying friendships and reflecting on how God has touched their lives and the lives of those they have spent time with. Think of all the adventures, learnings and experiences they will have to share with us. While they are sad to leave, they are excited to be coming home. Remember, you can see pictures on Facebook under First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)-Minneapolis. Check out the dance moves!
They will leave Asuncion today at 3 and arrive in Saint Paul tomorrow morning at 9:26. Please pray for traveling mercies upon our friends and family.
August 5:
Our mission team really enjoyed the last two days exploring Paraguay, visiting Jesuit mission ruins and learning more about the history of the country. They were able to wave to Argentina across the river banks. Our group was also a bit pampered to travel around in style. They had prepared to move about in an older bus- like maybe an old school bus, but instead were blessed with a ‘real’ bus- like a greyhound with air-conditioning! They spent last night in Brazil and report they are enjoying all the critters they see- yes even the large spiders that keep them company. Today they are experiencing the power of Iguazu falls. If you have not googled them, you may want to as they look mighty!
Please continue to keep the team in your prayers for safety, health and all their interactions that impact lives of all involved!
August 3:
Our team reports the last 6 days have just flown by. They have scraped, sanded, painted, cleaned and planted. They also have enjoyed the companionship of another mission group, learned traditions of Paraguay, explored and expanded their confidence levels. They have enjoyed good food, worked through high temperatures and made marvelous memories. After 5 days of labor, laughter and learning at the camp, our group is on the move. They leave today to head to Brazil where they will visit the Jesuit Ruins, small village and other places as they travel. Wednesday they will spend exploring Iguazu falls.
The plan is to be back to the camp for dinner on Wednesday.
Your prayers are very much appreciated and we ask for continued prayers as they travel around Paraguay.
August 1:
Our mission team is working hard and having fun- what a great combination! They have divided into different work groups and are tackling many projects around the camp- such as painting inside and out! They rise early with breakfast at 7 a.m. and work a full day with dinner at 7 p.m. It has been unusually hot for Paraguay- as this is their winter. The temperatures have been close to 90- instead of the normal 70’s, but our group has not let that slow them down!
Some of our mission members are sharing their sleeping quarters with another group at the camp who only speak Spanish so there is a lot of gesturing and communication charades happening. It was reported the fresh bananas are yummy and the meals are great.
Thank you for your prayers and support!
July 30:
The first day at Jack Norment camp in Paraguay went very well. Our team was worn out from 24 hours of travel, so they enjoyed a good night’s sleep their first night at camp. Reports are after a full days’ work of removing moss and sanding, everyone is dirty and tired but smiling and having a wonderful time. The food is plentiful and the company great. We anticipate hearing phenomenal stories out of this trip.
Your continued prayers are very much needed and appreciated!
July 29:
All of our folks are in camp safely and wonderfully, all the luggage made it also! They say it is a pretty landscape and they have started to settle into their sleeping rooms. Mosquitos are not too bad either- (or at least yet!)
Thank you for your prayers for this leg of the journey, please continue to pray for the lives they will touch and the lives that will touch them.
2:58 pm:
Hooray! Our mission group has landed safely in Paraguay. They are on the ground safely. Now each individual is going through to get their visas for Paraguay and then they will head to camp. We’re hearing folks are tired but in good spirits!
11:33 am:
Our mission group is now boarding the plane to Paraguay and ready for the final leg of the journey-hard to believe they started this trip 24 hours ago! Good news for many on the trip though, they had a Starbucks close to their gate, so refueled with caffeine- apparently it was hard to sleep on the leg from Detroit to Brazil.Once in Paraguay, each individual person has to stand in line to get their visa’s for Paraguay, so it can be a long process. After all the paperwork is settled and luggage gathered, they will then embark on about an hour or so van trip to the camp. Please continue to pray for safety, health, happiness and God’s amazing hand upon them.
9:00 am:
The group has landed safely in San Palo Brazil around 6:30 a.m.. It sounds like it was a long flight but they are there safe and healthy. Now they have a 5 hour layover and then on to the next leg of the journey- Asuncion Paraguay! Please continue to keep them in your prayers.
Here is our latest edition of the Courier!
Our 2-year Disciples family gathering is over and in the books – it was a wonderful time with learning, renewing old relationships and building new ones. What you may not know is that we were in the news a bit during our time together in Columbus. Here are links to three articles:
Food Pantry Outreach at Fourth Avenue Christian Church
Pastor Tells Denomination Assembly in Columbus that U.S. Has Problems With ‘Heart’
UCC, Disciples of Christ Celebrate 25 Years of Communion
Also, you may be wondering what resolutions were discussed/adopted at General Assembly. Click here for the business wrap-up.
On Saturday, August 22nd the youth and youth families (if they want to) will have a get together. We will go to Feed My Starving Children from 11:30-1:30 and then hang out at Bryant Square Park (rain location: SpringHouse Gathering Space) from 2-5 pm. Please let Brooke Apple know if you and/or your youth plan on attending this event so that final details can be figured out, especially for Feed My Starving Children.
Thank you for everyone who helped out with Part 1 of Mission At Our Doorstep! It was a special treat to have the youth from The Woodlands Christian Church in The Woodlands, Texas join us.
Thanks to you we:
*We made 200 sandwiches for Simpson Shelter and decorated lunch bags for them as well
*We made 58 Health Kits for Church World Service
*We put together 5 backpacks for YouthLink and donated $125 – enough to pay for 5 people to take their GED exam
*We had our lemonade/dog Treat/bubble stand to extend hospitality to our neighbors
The next Mission At Our Doorstep will take place August 19-22.
Here is the latest edition of the Courier!
In the aftermath of the shooting at Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, you may be looking for other sources to read and understand the issues at hand. Here are some blogs from Disciples colleagues and others for you to read:
Christian Piatt, Author:
Charleston Church Shooting: The Danger of “All Are Welcome”
Jonathan Merritt, Faith & Culture Writer, The Huffington Post
Jesus, Forgiveness and Dylann Roof
Sarah Griffin Lund, author of ‘Blessed Are The Crazy: Breaking the Silence About Mental Illness, Family and Church’ (Chalice Press)
Crying Crazy
The 40/50s Somethings will be having their monthly gathering on June 26 at Centennial Lakes Park, 7499 France Avenue S in Edina. We will meet at the Hughes Pavillion in the park at 6:30 pm.
The park has an 18-hole putting course, croquet course, lawn bowling, 4 person paddleboats, and a walking path around the park. Learn more
Should people want food, there are to-go options where people can pick up food: Leeann Chin, Five Guys Burgers, Whole Foods, and Lunds & Byerlys.
The Twin Cities Pride Festival is coming up (June 27 & 28), and we need your help! Once again, there will be a joint Disciples of Christ booth with members from First, Spirit of Joy, and FCC St. Paul, and we are going to be in the parade. We’ve really streamlined the materials, so it will be very simple, plus we are going to have bubbles and wristbands to hand out.
There are two ways you can help:
1) We need people to staff the booth in 2-hour shifts Saturday and Sunday. The booth is located at the south end of the park. Sign up for booth shifts
2) We need people to join us in the parade to hand out info cards, bubbles and wristbands. The bus will be part of the contingent, so you can ride the bus the whole way, or you walk some and ride some, or walk the entire route. There will be water on the bus for the parade marchers. Please talk to Pastor Dan if you are interested.
This is a great opportunity for us to demonstrate that All Means ALL and that all are welcome at the table!