community

Thank you, Mission Adelante!

Thank you, Mission Adelante!

by Ryan Galue

My name is Ryan Galue, and today I want to share about my journey with Mission Adelante, the U.S. resettlement agency. I am Venezuelan and have been living in Colombia for nearly five years, where I managed to obtain legal status. This legal status was crucial, as one of the main requirements for participating in the resettlement program is having legal residency in Colombia. After several interviews, medical exams, and cultural orientation sessions, I finally received the life-changing news—I had been accepted into the program and would soon be traveling to the United States.

That moment was filled with immense joy. Achieving something I had long dreamed of, and doing so through a legal process, was an incredible feeling. But soon after the excitement came the inevitable doubts. What would the process be like? How would I be received? How would I be treated? I was about to emigrate again, starting from scratch, but I always remembered it wouldn’t be my first time.

The day of my departure finally arrived. The agency in Colombia supported me with excellence, from the moment they picked me up at my home in Colombia until I arrived at the airport and eventually at my first destination. I had mixed feelings and felt a lot of anxiety, but the thought that I would now be in a better position to support my family helped me calm down. After my first flight, I boarded another plane to Kansas City, Kansas, which is where I currently live.

Upon arriving at the airport in Kansas, I was warmly welcomed by people from Mission Adelante. A group of women greeted me with so much kindness, filling me with joy and confidence, which helped ease my anxiety. Mission Adelante has been a pillar throughout this process, assisting me with everything from the moment I arrived. They’ve helped me obtain all the necessary legal documents, guided me through the medical process, assisted with food, and helped me find a welcoming place to live where I could feel at home.

One of the most emotional moments came when I moved into my current apartment and saw photos of my family—people I love and miss dearly. I hope that one day soon, I’ll be able to have them here with me. For this, I owe a massive thank you and blessings to Mission Adelante and their entire team. From the person who picked me up at the airport to the ones helping with all my paperwork, I wish them all the best and hope that God continues to guide and support their excellent work.

P.S. As a proud Venezuelan from Maracaibo, I showed my gratitude by making empanadas for the staff at Mission Adelante—and now, they LOVE them! 🙂

Be part of our programs!

We are so excited for everything that is happening in our programs and we are grateful for all our volunteers who make everything possible. Would you consider partnering with us next trimester?

How can you help?

  • Pray for our program participants would create an impact in our community and grow with their walk with the Lord.

  • Volunteer – Come to Observation Nights. For more information visit: http://www.missionadelante.org/serve

  • Donate to join us in building a multicultural community of disciples making disciples.

To a New Beginning

To a New Beginning

By Erick Flores, Ministry Apprentice

I’m just at a loss for words on how my start at Mission Adelante has gone. I needed a new job as I was trying my best to leave a toxic and unhappy work environment. My older sister, Carla, showed me an open position at Mission Adelante, and suddenly the Lord blessed me with an open door to a whole new world of possibilities. Patrique reached out to me with a job offer and I happily accepted it. I prepared myself for weeks as I was entering a new journey in life.

I joined halfway into the second trimester of programs, which meant I was unable to get an easy start. Luckily, I was able to jump right in where I was needed and did a decent job! With an amazing staff welcoming me into Mission Adelante, I felt like I was home. We also had an amazing Summer Intern group and I built the best relationships with every single one of them. On top of that, Arts Camp started my second week of work, and it went amazing! Mikya did a great job teaching me how to be a leader; she’ll be handing off her throne to me as I will lead Arts Camp next year. Mikya did a great job passing on her responsibilities. I feel very prepared with no stress at all! Patrique also gave me an overview of Youth Club. I have started to get more and more comfortable leading some weeks and have grown my relationships with so many youth!  

Spending the summer with the interns definitely gave me brain rot! But in all honesty, I couldn’t have gotten through the summer without the interns. They just made every day fun and they would always come in with a smile on their faces, ready to spend the day learning! Even on a tough day, they just knew how to make me laugh and get me in a better mood. Joining them on their internship activities, I was able to learn more about the value of the internship, learn more about the city, and give back to the community by doing community service. I just loved seeing in the little time I had with them how they matured over the summer and were becoming young adults. I have very high hopes for their future! 

It makes me very happy that I was able to conclude this summer with end-of-trimester parties and retreats! At Arts Community, we had a dance party! At Youth Club, we played Olympic games and had a Lake House Retreat last weekend! At Kids Adelante, we ended with a water slide party! The Interns had a weekend away from KC to clear their minds before they entered the school year. And to top it all off, we threw a big summer party! It was definitely a very successful summer and I look forward to the third trimester when all our programs resume again! I’m going to end this article with a passage in the bible I looked up to as I was entering Mission Adelante, Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans”. I trusted the Lord to take me wherever he desires and He found the perfect home for me. 

Be part of our programs!

We are so excited for everything that is happening in our programs and we are grateful for all our volunteers who make everything possible. Would you consider partnering with us next trimester?

How can you help?

  • Pray for our program participants would create an impact in our community and grow with their walk with the Lord.

  • Volunteer – Come to our Observation Nights. For more information visit: http://www.missionadelante.org/serve

  • Donate to join us in building a multicultural community of disciples making disciples.

The Journey of Emigrating: My Personal Transformation

the inner Journey of Emigrating: My Personal Transformation

by Yanelis Lopez, CMA Director


Emigrating to another country has been one of the most profound and transformative experiences of my life. This journey has not only involved a change of residence but also an inner voyage that has led me to discover new facets of myself and even reevaluate my identity. It has been a process filled with challenges and revelations that have made me someone different. Because, of course, emigrating changes you and transforms your soul; in my case, it has been a liberating journey.

Leaving my homeland, my family, and friends was an extremely difficult decision. I vividly remember the day I packed my belongings, leaving behind everything that had previously come naturally to me to embark on the unknown. However, this detachment also led me to deeply value my roots and understand the importance of the connections I left behind.

Upon arriving in the US, I began to hear the word resilience very frequently... and it became a word that resonated deeply with me, describing the aftermath of the profound change faced by those who emigrate. Arriving in a new country was like starting from scratch. Learning a new language, adapting to different customs and social norms, and finding my place in a foreign community were challenges that tested my resilience. There were moments of frustration and loneliness, but each obstacle overcome taught me to be more flexible and to face the unknown courageously. Resilience became a constant companion on this journey.

As I navigated through these challenges, I began to discover internal strengths that I was unaware of. The ability to creatively solve problems, the courage to confront the unknown, and the perseverance to move forward despite obstacles were revealed and strengthened during this process. These experiences boosted my self-esteem and made me aware of my ability to adapt and thrive in adverse circumstances.

Emigrating allowed me to reconstruct and redefine my identity. Interacting with a new culture and integrating aspects of it with my own heritage led me to create a hybrid identity. This new perspective enriched my worldview and allowed me to appreciate cultural diversity in a deeper way. I became a more complex and complete version of myself.

Seeking belonging in a new community was an essential part of my migration experience. Building meaningful relationships and finding a sense of community was not easy, but each connection I made offered me support and a sense of home in my new environment. The support from my new friends helped me establish a stable emotional foundation in my new life.

Migration also led me to deeper reflection on my purpose in life and my faith. The challenges and distance from the familiar prompted me to seek deeper comfort and guidance in Jesus. He became an even more constant source of strength and hope during difficult times, providing me with a solid foundation on which to build my new life.

Emigrating has been an inward journey full of self-discovery, resilience, and personal growth. Not only did I rebuild my life in a new country, but I also rebuilt myself. Emigrating has transformed me, and I am deeply grateful.

Help Our Refugee Families

Your impact is huge for our refugee families! Currently, we are in need of:

  • Toys that are clean and in good shape for kids under the age of 3

  • Hygiene kits

  • Vacuums

You can also volunteer to help with administrative tasks like creating client files and notebooks and other resources.

For more information on how to be a part of this effort, contact our Reception and Placement Director, Amy Herman, at randpdirector@missionadelante.org.

Be part of our programs!

We are so excited for everything that is happening in our programs and we are grateful for all our volunteers who make everything possible. Would you consider partnering with us next trimester?

How can you help?

  • Pray for our program participants would create an impact in our community and grow with their walk with the Lord.

  • Volunteer – Come to Observation Nights. For more information visit: http://www.missionadelante.org/serve

  • Donate to join us in building a multicultural community of disciples making disciples.

From Commerce to Corporate to Community

From Commerce to Corporate to Community

by Elaine Reimers, Adult Ministry Director

Mission Adelante has been and continues to be a place of refuge and a source of community for many. With its distinct mission of making disciples by serving, sharing life, and sharing Jesus with people from all places, Mission Adelante has touched thousands of lives over the last (soon-to-be) 20 years! Some of you may know that my family and I have been involved with Mission Adelante since the very beginning in some form or fashion. My four children have all grown up participating in Mission Adelante’s core programs at some point and we also attended the church as a family when they were younger. Personally, Mission Adelante is the place where my faith in Jesus has flourished most and where I have made the most meaningful connections and friendships. From attending Sunday night church to volunteering as a Level 1 ESL conversation partner, I had been blessed with the opportunity to serve and be served way before I joined the Mission Adelante staff in November of 2023.

Volunteering at Mission Adelante in 2009

Since joining the team, I have been faced with many challenges as a result of being the new kid on the block (Step by step! Ooh baby! -Ha! Sorry, I couldn’t resist!) I have had to learn and shift my attitude, heart, and habits to the non-profit and ministry world. My professional life began at the age of seventeen with a long stretch of entrepreneurship that ended in my early thirties. The experience of owning a business benefited me in countless ways, but something inside of me wanted to experience the freedom of working a “9 to 5”. It seemed like I was always overwhelmed with the on-call feeling that invaded my family time, cut mealtimes short, and robbed me of my sleep! An opportunity to try on a “9 to 5” arose after my life did a 180. I went from being my own boss to having a boss in the corporate world; and because of how unexpected this opportunity was, I felt that God had placed this job in my hands because he knew how desperate and shaken I felt. The pressure of financially supporting 4 children under the age of 12 and getting all the bills paid on my own was constantly on my mind and I had to find a way to make it regardless of the circumstances I was up against and the odds of failure.

““Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on. your own understanding; in all your ways submit to. Him, and He will make your paths straight.” ”
— Proverbs 3:5-6

This new office job was a breath of fresh air for me in many ways. I met some really great people who were with me through some very difficult times in my life. Many of my customers became friends and I really liked walking out of that building every day, leaving work at the door and arriving home with a clean slate. This job also provided me with a predictable schedule which allowed me to be more involved with my children; and I have to admit, the money wasn’t bad either once I was promoted to a Supervisor position. But as time went on and I neared my 6-year mark with the company, I began to dream of something bigger and more satisfying. I had no idea what that would look like for me but I would put it in prayer frequently and ask God what I should do. I had daydreamed about some sort of mission work abroad- maybe helping children with cleft palates receive the care and surgery they need, or feeding and helping the impoverished, or something like that. What I did not know, is that God had plans to plant me right here in my own backyard basically.

He moved the mountain and made a way when I was becoming discouraged and dissatisfied with the work I was doing. It was not fulfilling. I was getting to help people but I was helping them order weasand clips and carcass sheets (What in the whole wide world is that, right?! I KNOW! haha); and if their toilet paper did not deliver before they ran out, I would receive angry calls about how their plant would be shut down and they would lose thousands of dollars if they did not have the paper before the end of the day. Oops, there goes another $1,000 next day air for toilet paper! The pressure was ALWAYS on there. At times it felt as if there were no time to breathe. You can imagine the relief I felt when, after texting his wife about looking for another job, I received a call from Jarrett offering me a position at Adelante Thrift. I was unsure about taking the job at that moment so I told him I would call him to discuss it again in a couple days. I remember when I got him on the phone, I started talking about the position and he interrupted me so as to save my breath and told me to wait a minute because something really amazing had just occurred. It just so happened that the Adult Ministry Director at the time had just walked out of his office. She had shared her plans to leave Mission Adelante within a month's time and he was looking to fill her spot ASAP! Jarrett was sure that this position fit me much better than the position at Adelante Thrift, but the most affirming sign from God about this job opportunity for me was that the salary was EXACTLY the minimum amount that I had decided I would accept! It was even written and circled in the notes I had written down the previous day when I was making my calculations about whether to accept the position at Adelante Thrift, or not.

I am still amazed about how God works and moves for us and on our behalf! I cannot say that the transition from having my own business to “working for the man” to working in ministry has been easy by any means, but I do feel like I am right where I am supposed to be at this very moment. I have been blessed with not only a job that pays the bills, but with a community where I can serve and be served and I am so grateful! I look forward to what God has in store for me here as I pray that he will continue to hold my hand on the walk to whatever he calls me to do in the future.

Be part of our programs!

We are so excited for everything that is happening in our programs and we are grateful for all our volunteers who make everything possible. Would you consider partnering with us next trimester?

How can you help?

  • Pray for our program participants would create an impact in our community and grow with their walk with the Lord.

  • Volunteer – Come to our Observation Nights. For more information visit: http://www.missionadelante.org/serve

  • Donate to join us in building a multicultural community of disciples making disciples.

Summer Party 2023

Mission Adelante's 18th-anniversary summer party an absolute blast!

by Yanelis Lopez, Associate Director

During summer, Mission Adelante has many activities. As you probably know the internship, added to our regular programs, has greatly enhanced our routine. The icing on the cake after these exciting weeks is our summer party. We held it at the Beach Shelter in Wyandotte Park this year, where about 200 people gathered. The view was beautiful. We had food from many different countries, Mexican folkloric dancing, and a presentation of our programs. We also celebrated with our church participants, students, youth, kids, volunteers, board members, and donors. We can't wait for next year's celebration. You are all invited. Come to celebrate with us! Here are some pictures from that day. Enjoy!

““The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” ”
— Psalm 126:3

Durante el verano en Mission Adelante pasan muchas actividades. Como muchos habran leido, el internship sumado a los programos que hacemos regularmente añaden mucha vida a nuestra rutina. La fresa del pastel despues de estas semanas emocionantes es nuestra fiesta de verano. Esta vez lo hicimos en el Beach Shelter de Wyandotte Park, donde nos reunimos cerca de 200 personas. La vista era hermosa, tuvimos comida de muchos paises diferentes, baile mexicano forklorico y las presentaciones de nuestros programas. También celebramos con nuestra iglesia, estudiantes, jóvenes, niños, voluntarios, miembros de la junta y donantes. No podemos esperar al proximo año para celebrar otra vez, estan todos invitados :) Aqui les compartimos fotos de ese dia!

““Sí, el Señor ha hecho grandes cosas por nosotros y eso nos llena de alegría.” ”
— Salmo 126:3

LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES?
JOIN US TO VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION
SEPTEMBER 9TH

Join our team of volunteers for the summer trimester and be part of "loving people from all places." Attend our volunteer orientation on September 9th and find your place serving kids, youth, or adults in the immigrant community in KCK

For more information about volunteer opportunities visit www.missionadelante.org/serve

Be part of our programs!

 We are so excited to start our fall trimester and we are grateful for all our volunteers who make everything possible. Would you consider partnering with us this trimester?

How can you help?

  • Pray for our program participants would create an impact in our community and grow with their walk with the Lord.

  • Volunteer – Come to Observation Nights. For more information visit: http://www.missionadelante.org/serve

  • Donate to join us in building a multicultural community of disciples making disciples.

Pursuing a “New We”

Pursuing a “New We”

by Jarrett Meek, Founder/Pastor/Executive Director

So much of our world is seen through the lens of “us vs. them”.  Politically it’s Democrats vs. Republicans.  Sometimes we line up along urban vs. suburban lines, or native-born Americans vs. immigrants. Or, the Chiefs vs. the Eagles!  In urban ministry, serving can not-so-subtly be understood as a privileged “us” serving a needy “them”.   

At Mission Adelante, we believe God is calling us to create a “new we”, where people from all places belong, thrive, and do great things together.  Instead of viewing the world as “us and them”, what if people from different nationalities, languages, cultures, and races were unified around our love for Jesus and for our neighbor? 

Of course, this sounds almost too good to be true -- even a bit idealistic in such a divided world.  Why is it so hard to live this out?  There’s no chance I can answer that question in a few more sentences.  However, it is happening at Mission Adelante!  We are seeing racial reconciliation as we pursue racial justice together.  We are seeing people from all places contributing with their gifts and talents as we make space for diverse leaders.  We are enjoying the richness that immigrants and refugees bring as we celebrate each other’s cultures.  And, as we worship Jesus together, we’re experiencing a taste of heaven as described in Revelation 7:9-10: 

“ After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”


MISSION ADELANTE OBSERVATION NIGHTS

MARCH 6TH TO MARCH 9TH

Are you interested in taking the next step to volunteer? Take a glimpse of what is going on at Mission Adelante and what we are doing in our different programs.

This is a great opportunity to have the full experience of a Mission Adelante volunteer.

For more information visit: www.missionadelante.org/observe

Be part of our programs!

 We are so excited to start this year and we are grateful for all our volunteers who make everything possible. Would you consider partnering with us this trimester?

How can you help?

  • Pray for our program participants would create an impact in our community and grow with their walk with the Lord.

  • Volunteer – Come to one of our obseveration nights the first week of March. For more information visit: https://www.missionadelante.org/observe

  • Donate to join us in building a multicultural community of disciples making disciples.

Generosity Rises to Meet our God-Sized Backpack Goal!

Written by Kristen Maxwell, Bhutanese Children's Ministry Director, and Megan McDermott, Latino Children's Ministry Director

One of the greatest blessings of doing what we do, is getting to watch the community of believers in Kansas City come together around a common cause.  This past week, we got to see that in a big way!  Around a month and a half ago, we set a God-sized goal of collecting 190 filled backpacks to outfit our kids and teens as they head back to school.  The Lord provided in a mighty way through twenty-five different individuals, families, and churches from all over the Kansas City area.  Thank you to those that contributed through prayers, giving, and spreading the word.  We hope you enjoy some pictures of the fun that we had last week.  

In other news:

  • Last week we concluded our first summer internship for four emerging leaders from our own neighborhood!  It was a huge success as we saw them grow in exciting ways!
  • Conversation partners from Bhutanese ESL class visited student homes during the last week of class. The students loved it, and volunteers got a better picture of what life is like for refugee families!
  • Party, party, party!!  On Sunday afternoon we got a beautiful dose of sharing life at Wyandotte Lake as our Bhutanese and Latino ministries both held summer parties, complete with food, awards, songs and even some dancing!
  • Frank and Yanelis, our partners from the RAICES ministry in Cuba, spent a good portion of the summer in Kansas City with Mission Adelante, learning and sharing from their experiences. They’re now back in Cuba ready to engage with their work there.  We’re missing them!
  • Serving together!  The Lord is creating a new “we” in the neighborhood as new, community-driven leadership teams are forming for all of our Latino ministry programs.
  • We are thankful for all of the community partners who are working with us to gather data for the medical clinic. This information is helping us form a clinic that remains true to the vision of a clinic that is culturally accessible and community owned.

Prayer needs:

  • As we prepare for next trimester, please pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit as to what changes need to be made in our programs to better accommodate the needs of our community.
  • Please pray for God to bring forth volunteers for our Leaders In Training ministry.
  • Please pray for our Congressmen, on break from Washington, to hear our calls for compassionate immigration reform.
  • Please pray for Adelante Thrift as we continue searching for the right location.

Current needs:

  • We're in the process of setting up a brand new library for the Leaders in Training (LIT) students, and hoping to have it finished by the first week of September. Do you know of someone that would be interested in helping to paint some bookshelves or maybe even buy some bean bags or decorations to make it cozy? Please contact Megan at meganm@missionadelante.org.
  • Volunteers for our Leaders In Training program, after school on Mondays, Wednesday and Thursdays beginning on September 11th, and our Tuesday night Kids Club program beginning September 24th.  If you are interested in more information please email Kristen at kristenm@missionadelante.org.

by Drew Hammond, Bhutanese Logistics Coordinator

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Children are one of the greatest gifts that God has given us. They bring us joy and hope for the future. It is our calling as followers of Christ, to raise them in the ways of the Lord in everything we do.

On a recent Saturday afternoon, the Bhutanese house church community had the joy of answering this call together. We gathered in the home of a family who had asked us to come and help them dedicate their baby to the Lord. There were 25 people there, most of whom were directly related to the family. Our indigenous leaders led the community in cultural worship songs, and in prayer for the baby and family.

The most powerful moment of the service was when the community and parents were asked if they were willing to accept the call to raise this baby girl in the ways of the Lord. Both the community and the family responded with great joy and accepted their challenge.

Pray with us that this baby would be blessed and kept in the care of the Lord to grow healthy and strong. 

Other News

  • Several of the Mission Adelante staff and volunteers recently took a group of children and teens to swim at the Mission Municipal pool. It was lots of fun and a good chance to conquer fears and try new things together. Some of the teens swam for the first time ever, and a few kids even jumped off the high dive!
  • LIT (Leaders In Training) was given tickets to see “Footloose” at the Starlight this Friday. We are excited to be taking the girls in both LIT outreaches to share a new experience together!

Prayer Needs

  • As the end of a trimester nears and a program break approaches, pray that Mission Adelante Staff would rest well. Pray that we would be personally renewed. Pray also that the Lord would renew our vision and guide us as we dream and pray about the way He may desire to grow our ministries in coming trimesters!
  • Please pray that we continue to develop a greater understanding of health needs and health care access in our community as our health needs survey progresses. Join us in praying for additional community leaders to work with us to help discern and represent the needs of their respective community.

Current Needs

  • Leaders in Training (LIT) is trying to set up a brand new library for the kids. Do you know of someone that would be interested in helping to paint some bookshelves or maybe even buy some bean bags or other decorations to make it cozy? We are hoping to have it finished by the first week of September. Please contact Megan at meganm@missionadelante.org.

Important Dates

Summer Parties are

Sunday, August 11th at 4:00

at Wyandotte County Lake Park, 91st and Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, KS 66109.  After entering the park, you'll come to a fork in the road;

go left.

  • The Latino party will be in the "Beach Shelter." Turn right after passing shelter #6.
  • The Bhutanese party will be at Shelter #6.

Working Together: The First Bhutanese Store in KCK

by Kristen Allen, Director of Community Development

At Mission Adelante we began talking and praying seriously about how individual transformation could become community transformation in the fall of 2011. As we explored how Mission Adelante can help make a community impact through empowering our immigrant friends and working in partnership to address the needs of our community, others were dreaming too. Two Bhutanese refugees dreamed of opening a store to meet the cultural needs of their community and approached Mission Adelante to share their vision and ask for guidance.

We looked through our network and found volunteers willing to collaborate on this business venture.  A successful business owner saw the potential for individual and community transformation and came forward to provide technical assistance to the two entrepreneurs. Another Mission Adelante volunteer encouraged the entrepreneurs and assisted with various activities including using a box truck to go and pick-up store fixtures the entrepreneurs found through their own network. The Bhutanese community pooled money together to help make a down payment on the building. A long-time supporter of Mission Adelante used his business to finish furnishing fixtures in the store. And on December 9, 2012, R.G. Asian store opened at 101 S. 18th Street in Kansas City, Kansas. When God’s people work together it can be a powerful, transformative thing.

Click the image above to register now for Ignite 2013!

Thanks to R.G. Asian Store, our Bhutanese friends now have access to culturally appropriate and familiar food, clothing, and other products. Customer service is a high priority, and when Bhutanese refugees ask for a new item the owners work through their network in the US and Nepal until the item is on the shelves of their store.

The store owners’ contributions to the Bhutanese community go deeper than providing cultural items -- they also focus on the needs of the Bhutanese teens. R.G. Asian store supports the KC (BEST) Bhutanese Ekata Soccer Team and encourages the young men to be responsible and hard-working. Recognizing that the Bhutanese teens face the challenges of every teen (high school, fitting in, becoming independent, etc.) and the additional struggles faced by newcomers trying to integrate into a new culture, R.G. Asian created a space in the building behind the store where teens can hang out and play games like ping-pong so the teens have a positive outlet and are less likely to get mixed up in less desirable activities like gangs. Our friends at R.G. Asian Store remind us that business can make a community impact.

We hope to build on this experience and further develop a model of for equipping and coaching entrepreneurs through our emerging Adelante Business Coaching ministry. We envision those passionate about business sharing their skills with immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs and a coaching environment where individuals on both side of the mentoring relationship are contributing, learning, and growing. This is not an effort to “do for” - it is an effort of partnership to “do with” in a spirit of collaboration and dedication to the community.  

Do you want to dive deeper into how businesses can make a Kingdom impact? Learn more about Business as Mission at Ignite 2013: A Workshop for Developing Business for Kingdom Impact on July 20th. Read more about the workshop here:

/missionadelante/2013/06/ignite-2013-workshop-on-developing.html

and register for this event that coincides with the formation of Adelante Business Coaching.

Responding to Student Needs

Bhutanese men talk together at the ESL Launch Party last Tuesday night.

Bhutanese men talk together at the ESL Launch Party last Tuesday night.

There is always a break between each trimester at Mission Adelante.  During this break, staff and lead volunteers ask ourselves questions like: “Is what we are doing meeting the needs of the community?” and “How can we meet those needs better?”

This spring, the Bhutanese ESL Lead Team felt that it was time to give our students a little more of the “social” experience that many of our students long for –especially the women. We have done this in the past by changing our registration night from a formal process to being a time to hang out, talk, eat, and listen to some great music with a little business on the side. But we felt we should take it a step further this trimester, not exactly knowing what it will bring.  Instead of doing our usual four levels of English classes, we are doing only two classes: one men's class and one women’s class.  We want our students to learn English but also to build community and strong relationships with each other.  The dynamics of the classes are completely different-- lots of joking and talking during the entire women’s class and lots of nonsense and then getting down to business in the men’s class.

We hope to see Bhutanese and American relationships grow stronger, and we want the Bhutanese community to become even more unified this summer.  Please pray this with us as we experiment with this new program format. We want to be constantly listening to our community and meeting their needs.

In other news

  • Our Leaders in Training programs celebrated a successful year by heading out on a camping trip (Latino LIT) and to Great Wolf Lodge (Bhutanese LIT). It was a blessing to reward the kids for all of their hard work this year.
  • The level 1 Latino English class began with the largest turnout ever! We also have a vision to start a new house church through this group of people.
  • The Bhutanese community of Kansas City celebrated a cultural festival last weekend that included music, poetry, awards and food.

Prayer needs

  • Please pray Kansas Senator Moran and Congressman Yoder.  We have shared real-life stories of undocumented immigrants with them and asked them to vote for immigration reform that keeps families together.

Current Needs

  • One of this year's high school graduates will be the first from our community to go on to college! As she heads to KU this fall, we would love to bless her with a new laptop or Chrome book to set her up for success.  We are looking for a person or small group to purchase the computer.  Please contact Megan McDermott (meganm@missionadelante.org) if you would like to help.  (Please no cash donations.)
  •  
  • We need several 4x8 foot ivory-colored cloth tablecloths to be used for events at the building. If you are able to provide these, please contact Jenny Dunn at jennyd@missionadelante.org.
  • We still need a few more board books for our Mommy & Me ESL and early literacy class in June. Please contact laurent@missionadelante.org for book titles.

Hasta and Bibi play the piano together while they wait to register for English class.

A Deaf International volunteer comes each week to work with our deaf ESL students.