A Passion to Serve

Written by Megan McDermott

The first time I met Brooke Coon, I was struck by her passion and desire to serve Hispanics. There was a hunger to serve that I have rarely seen and a commitment to the children and teens of Mission Adelante that is uncommon. Over the course of this last year, I have received the blessing of not only serving with Brooke but developing a deep, Christ-centered friendship with her. She was so eager to immediately jump in, but was faithful in waiting on God's timing for her to join the Mission Adelante staff.

Therefore, it is with great joy and thankfulness that I am pleased to announce that Brooke has officially joined our staff part-time as the Latino Kid's Ministry Coordinator! In a short time, I have seen Brooke's love for God impact the community, and specifically, the teens of our community. We recently launched a new discipleship model for our teen Bible study that breaks away from an event-oriented approach and instead, focuses on the relational aspect of a leader pouring deeply into a small group of believers. Brooke has helped to spearhead that new model and is an incredible example of how walking with those we disciple on a daily basis, in small ways, can make a deep impact.

Brooke has also served with our after school tutoring and character development program called Leaders in Training. Her leadership and love for the children has strengthened their commitment to LIT. More personally, her desire to serve the kids has given me the freedom and time to spend more relational time with the children individually.

Anyone that has worked with teens knows what a challenging group they can be. However, with Brooke's leadership, we are seeing the teens and children of Mission Adelante draw closer each day to the Lord. Please pray that God would continue to let us impact the lives of the teens and help them to become instruments of change and faith in our community!

In other news:

• Nine L.I.T. students and four adult leaders spent Saturday afternoon doing a service project at Sanctuary of Hope in Kansas City, Kansas. They had fun working together and giving back to their community by spreading fresh mulch on pathways.
• A knitting cooperative of 12 Bhutanese women and four American women has met both of the last two weeks. The cooperative is a social and possibly income-generating opportunity that makes use of the great knitting skill of many of the women. Thin knitting needles (size 6 or smaller) and yarn are needed. If you would like to donate supplies, please contact David Stetler at davids@missionadelante.org or 913-579-6115.
• The Latino disciple making team is emphasizing personal spiritual growth. Last week the 20-some team members memorized Psalm 119:103; "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"
• David Stetler has just begun leading a Bible study with two Bhutanese men whom he has befriended during the past year and who are enthusiastic about beginning to pursue Jesus.

Prayer needs:

• A woman who is part of our Latino church is remembering her son and grieving losing him when he was murdered a year ago this week at age 28. Please pray for this woman to be strengthened and comforted during this difficult time.
• Ivan is new to our community. He's only come to church a couple of times. Please continue pray that God would draw him toward Himself.
• Please pray for our volunteers, outreach participants, and staff to have the endurance to finish the last four weeks of our trimester strong.

Current needs:

• Twelve flash drives for L.I.T. students to use for working on their homework.
• More adult winter coats, outerwear, and shoes to stock our resource center with the arrival of cold weather.
• A high BTU propane space heater for the detached garage that houses our resource center. The volunteers that staff the resource center get pretty cold during the two hours that it's open every Saturday morning!

Upcoming dates:

• Thanksgiving break: No LIT the week of November 22. No Bhutanese outreach activities on Tuesday, November 23; no Latino outreach activities on Thursday, November 25. Mission Adelante office closed Wednesday, November 24-Saturday, November 27.
• Latino Christmas Party: Saturday, December 11, 5:30 p.m. at Bethany Community Center.
• Bhutanese Christmas Party: Sunday, December 12, 4:00 p.m. at Bethany Community Center.

Bethany Community Center is located in Kansas City, Kansas on Central Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets. It sets back behind Bethany Park. Turn off of Central Avenue by the fire station.

Following Jesus' example for Making Disciples

A life-on-life ministry of disciple-making is what Jesus modeled. Walking, talking, eating, ministering, sharing life; this was His method of transmitting a life of faithfulness and love for God. The word, "transmitting" captures what Jesus did maybe better than "teaching", because Jesus' method of making disciples included so much more than verbal instruction. The life of a disciple is often better "caught" than "taught". Jesus' life, His actions, His attitudes, His priorities were many times the content of His message. Jesus IS the gospel! When He commissioned His disciples and all who would eventually believe in Him through their message, to "Go and make disciples", He was not only commissioning them to preach and teach with words. He was calling them to do what He had demonstrated, to walk with and talk with, and transmit what He had implanted in them to others who would follow.

From the beginning, Mission Adelante has valued relational disciple-making as core to our mission. We attempt, in all we do, to share life with those we serve and transmit the life of Jesus through every aspect of who we are, what we say, and what we do. Though throughout our five-year history as a ministry we've been investing ourselves in reproducing disciples who can also invest in others, last week we came to a significant milestone in the development of our Latino ministry; the launch of our first disciple-making team. Twenty-two people, Americans and immigrants, gathered to begin a six-week training course to study Jesus' model of making disciples, a step that for many with whom we've been walking for some time, will give them the confidence to begin investing their lives in others for the first time.

The starting point for this new team is our own personal pursuit of Christ. In John 15:5 Jesus says, "I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in Him will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing." As believers we want to bear fruit, we want God to use our lives to impact others and to carry out His mission in this world. Can we do it if we're not connected to Him? If you are a person who prays and you are inclined to pray for Mission Adelante, please pray that our Disciple-making team would be intimately and passionately connected to Jesus! Without Him we can do nothing. And with Him we are convinced that we can bear much fruit!

In other news:

• Five Bhutanese refugee families received the furniture they needed. We'd especially like to thank members of Westside Family Church for their donations. Three or four dining tables with chairs are still needed. Please contact David Stetler at 913-579-6115 or davids@missionadelante.org. It would be preferable if you could drop them off, but pick-up may be possible.
• This year's Leaders In Training after school character development and tutoring program began in September with 12 kids, all of whom continue strong and are looking forward to an overnight reward trip to Great Wolf Lodge in December.
• A group of Latino and Bhutanese kids will join with a larger group of kids to sing at the 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. services at Westside Family Church on December 19.

Prayer needs:

• Ivan is new to our community. He's only come to church a couple of times. Please pray that God would draw him toward Himself.
• As we look ahead to 2011, pray for God's favor in providing funding for ministry staff and the overall ministry of Mission Adelante.
• Praise God for a minivan that was donated and will be given to a community family in need of transportation.
• Pray for the health of Bhutanese and Latino individuals that have been hospitalized recently.

Current needs:

• Kids' and adults' winter coats, outerwear, and shoes to stock our resource center. With winter just around the corner in Kansas City, many families in our neighborhood are still unprepared.
• Three or four dining tables with chairs for Bhutanese families. Please contact David Stetler at 913-579-6115 or davids@missionadelante.org. It would be preferable if you could drop them off, but pick-up may be possible.
• Future volunteers! If you've been considering volunteering with one of our outreach programs, the next few weeks are a great time for you to come observe the program of your choice: Bhutanese or Latino kids Bible study or adult ESL class. Our next trimester, and the time you could come on board, begins in January.

Upcoming dates:

• Thanksgiving break: No LIT the week of November 22. No Bhutanese outreach activities on Tuesday, November 23; no Latino outreach activities on Thursday, November 25. Mission Adelante office closed Wednesday, November 24-Saturday, November 27.

Mobilized to Serve

Written by Jason Schoff

"Serving immigrants to Christ and mobilizing them to serve" has been our mission statement since the beginning of Mission Adelante in 2005. Not only does this communicate our heart for people to come to know Christ, it also emphasizes the importance of them growing in service for the kingdom.

For the past two years, three of our Latino church families have stepped in to help Molly Merrick staff our resource center every Saturday morning. This translates into coming early on Saturdays, cleaning and straightening the shelves, and befriending those in need with prayer. These small costs end up paying huge dividends when most of the families in need come back multiple times, no doubt due to the kindness and affection they experience. We often see them return with items they would like to donate to other families in need. What a fun sight to see!

Our resource center can better serve the needs of our immigrant community because of these few Latino volunteers who take part in serving and suggesting ways to best meet the needs of our neighbors around Mission Adelante.

Would you or your church be willing to do a winter coat and clothing drive? We are quickly approaching a season of cold weather during which we will be addressing needs of the Latino and Bhutanese communities. Please contact Jason or Molly if you interested in helping meet this need at jasons@missionadelante or mollym@missionadelante.org .

In other news:

• David & Holly Stetler and big sister Anna welcomed baby Isaac Michael into their family on October 24. Everyone is doing well.
• The Leaders In Training pre-teen girls got together Saturday night for a fun time organized by our new Kids Adelante Intern, Courtney Colin. They played relay games, watched a movie, and studied the Bible.
• Brooke Coon, our new Latino Kids Ministry Coordinator and other volunteers took 11 Latino Teens to Shawnee Mission Park last Saturday for hiking, a cook-out, Bible study and a bonfire.

Prayer needs:

• "The Art of Growing in Christ" is a series of training workshops for our Latino church members about learning how to disciple others. Please pray for those that attended the initial workshop last night to respond to the challenges that were presented.
• Please continue to join us in praying for God's presence and guidance for a mom in our community that has been separated from her family for a number of months.
• Please pray for peace for Bhutanese immigrant families who are encountering difficulties related to adjusting to life in a new country, and for wisdom for those of us ministering to them.

Current needs:

• Kids' and adults' winter coats, outerwear, and shoes to stock our resource center. The arrival of cold weather in Kansas City has found many families in our neighborhood unprepared.
• Beds, couches, tables, and chairs for newly arrived Bhutanese refugee families. Please contact David Stetler at 913-579-6115 or davids@missionadelante.org. It would be preferable if you could drop items off, but pick-up of items may be possible.

Upcoming dates:

• Thanksgiving break: No LIT the week of November 22. No Bhutanese outreach activities on Tuesday, November 23; no Latino outreach activities on Thursday, November 25. Mission Adelante office closed Wednesday, November 24-Saturday, November 27.

Mission Adelante Celebrates Five Years!

Mission Adelante Celebrates Five Years!

The story of Mission Adelante is the story of God fulfilling dreams and creating something beautiful from humble beginnings. When we moved back from Bolivia we knew that God was calling us to engage in ministry to Hispanic immigrants in our own city. We identified with the feeling of being aliens in a foreign land, the language struggles, the cultural differences, the challenge to fit in, the feeling of vulnerability. When God applied the Greatest Commandment to immigrants and strangers by saying, “The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself “ (Lev 19:34), He also appealed to Israel’s experience as foreigners in the land of Eqypt to urge them to compassion and understanding. “…for you were aliens in Egypt…” From the beginning, the heart of Mission Adelante has been to help outsiders in our city become insiders in the Kingdom of God.

From a dream born in prayer and written on one page of paper, to our first team meeting, finding the perfect house in our immigrant community, buying the first computer for the ministry, eating boiled goat in an ice cream shop on Independence Avenue, our first English class in our dining room, kids program in the basement, first Bible study in our home, teaching Spanish, Hugo and Leticia becoming Christians, renting office space, buying an old funeral home to house the ministry, lath and plaster, amazing volunteers, church partners, dedicated board members, monthly worship services, discipleship groups, crises in the community, apprentices graduating, our first interns, full-time staff for Kids Adelante, Leaders in Training, summer VBS camps, LIT canoe trip, Latino church plant, moving into our new offices, Latino Outreach, Bhutanese Outreach, Cuba Extension. What will God do in the next five years?

What will God do in the next five years? That indeed is the question I’m asking myself after having celebrated our Five-Year anniversary last month. I really couldn’t have imagined what God would do in this time. Sure, some of what has happened was planned and strategically pursued. Indeed the heart of the fruit from these five years sprang from the dream God put in our hearts before we began. But so much of the way it has come about is so surprising and unexpected that it leaves me in awe of God. And some of the bigger manifestations of this dream, like the miracle gift given by Heartland Community Church to buy and remodel our building, the amazing board of directors that so wisely governs with a clear love for me as well as for the ministry, and the arrival of certain staff like Jason Schoff and Megan McDermott to fill critical roles at critical moments were outside of our ability to plan or even strategically pursue. Simply put, God provided! And the things that are completely beyond the scope of our dream, like the Bhutanese Outreach and the Cuba Extension Project make me kneel and praise.

In the next five years the dreams we are strategically pursuing include continuing to mature our current ministries, a greater emphasis on developing emerging leaders for cross-cultural ministry, and more opportunities for reproducing our ministry model in other places. As we look ahead, we know we will need you in this journey and hope you will find as much satisfaction in your role as supporters, volunteers, donors, pray-ers and friends as we have found in the roles God has given us. We are deeply thankful for your partnership with us in reaching this mission field in our own backyard, and look forward to what the Lord will do through all of us together in the next five years! Praise Him!

The Lord Restores Teens' Identities at a Recent Retreat

Written by Brooke Coon, Teens Adelante leader

There is something about being outside of my comfort zone that has always appealed to me. Over time I realized that it was because I draw nearer to Him out of my fear of the unknown territory. In the same way, eleven of our Teens Adelante members signed up for a weekend retreat two weekends ago into uncharted waters. They agreed to give up their weekend to stay at a church in Liberty, with another teen group they hadn't met before, to support a service project and spend time learning about their identity in Christ. I could sense their fears as they asked many questions about it. One of the girls was calling me in the final two days leading up to the retreat, backing out, then changing her mind, then finally admitting that there was something spiritual that she was afraid of. She ended up facing that fear.

The heart of the retreat was Saturday night. It is what we were all afraid of: the moments when Jesus punctures our hearts to let the brokenness out. We each traced our body on a big sheet of clean white paper, and filled it in with our responses to statements about ourselves. “I feel most free when... What I hear in my head when I am all alone is... I feel most like hiding when...” We split into our committed discipleship groups to discuss what we had drawn. The statements were shining a light into dark, crippled places. I was amazed at the honesty I saw in their responses. Some were joyous. Many were painful.

When we got into our groups we began to talk about which statements were the hardest to finish. The tears began to flow as the Lord was pulling things out of the girls, into the light...memories, along with the lies the enemy encrypted in them, and the fears that they formed. They were ugly and heart-wrenching to hear. But what I realized in that very next moment, was how blessed they were that the Lord wants to heal these scars and the behaviors and beliefs that they have adopted as a result. At their young age, he is cleansing them to keep them from claiming those memories as a part of their identity; to take away the crutches and let them walk healed.

Sometimes it takes years to let Jesus into certain areas of pain, but Saturday night felt like an aggressive outpouring of grace. He wasn't going to wait anymore. He dove straight into the hearts of those girls to retrieve what is His; their whole hearts, free of pain and fear. It is a gift to feel the compassion that He feels for them, and to realize that He feels that same way for me. It is like learning in reverse; to see the way the Lord loves them, to feel the way my heart aches for them, and know that it is from the Lord, the same ache he has for me, and for all of us.

The Lord blessed our retreat. He blessed my group for facing their fears and drawing near to Him. He blessed their desire to complete those piercing statements about themselves in truth. The Holy Spirit gave them courage and support around them to go to those places. It was their choice to go into the unknown, and it resulted in a big victory for His kingdom. He exposed darkness in their hearts, allowing space for the Lord's feelings about them. There is now an honesty I see among my group; open hearts. After that weekend together, I have seen their relationships deepen, and I sense the joy that comes from the hope we have in healing; the truth that will continue to transform these girls and the rest of Teens Adelante this trimester.

In other news:

• Our weekly Latino church service has an energetic atmosphere, with at least 40 adults consistently in attendance.
• Our ministry connection in Qba is four weeks into a training program to equip 20 enthusiastic new disciple-makers.
• We welcome Courtney Colin from Westside Family Church, our new intern in the Latino kids outreach.
• Seth Sears, former Mission Adelante apprentice and missionary to Costa Rica, has just arrived back in Kansas City for about a month to work on fundraising.
• Sargent Smith of the Kansas City Kansas Police Department will present a seminar on October 9 on gang awareness and prevention in our neighborhood to educate parents and volunteers.

Prayer needs:

• We're praising God for a wonderful Five-Year Anniversary Open House last Saturday. At least 180 people came in spite of the rain to help us celebrate all God accomplished in the first five years of Mission Adelante's ministry.
• Praise God for Musselman & Hall Contractors, who patched big crumbling areas in the pavement on our driveway.
• Please ask God to grant us wisdom in planning our goals and priorities for 2011.
• Help us pray for a strong financial finish to 2010 for the general fund and staff accounts.

Current needs:

• Kids and adults winter clothing and outerwear and kids winter shoes to make available in our resource center as the weather changes.

Leaders in Training: Changing Our Community From the Inside Out!

Written by Megan McDermottHow do you choose, from among 60 amazing kids, the ones that God has a heart to grow into leaders? This is the question I ask myself each year as our team prepares for Leaders in Training, our after school character development and tutoring program. The purpose of LIT is two-fold: to provide academic support and to teach the children how to be positive leaders in a challenging environment.

The reality that the children of Mission Adelante live in is foreign to most of us. On a daily basis, they are confronted with difficulties pertaining to abuse, drugs, purity, violence, gang involvement, and even separation from family members due to immigration issues. Because of this instability, the children often harden their hearts to God in order to survive the constant emotional turmoil they endure.

Leaders in Training was started to reach these children at a young age and equip them with the skills and faith necessary to change their community from the inside out. I have seen firsthand how one child with a soft heart toward the Lord can change the faith of her entire family. I have witnessed children that have never felt that they belonged, become part of a family of believers. I have had the privilege to walk with some of the most faithful, loving, selfless, and spiritual people I have ever known and most of them are under the age of 13!
Please pray and praise God with us for these awesome leaders of His kingdom. These children, His children, need a great deal of prayer to continue on the path He desires for them and to not be led astray.
He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. Isaiah 40:11

In other news:

• We became acquainted with over 30 new volunteers from 7 area churches at our Volunteer Orientation last Saturday morning. We're so thankful for each of these folks that is coming on board for this trimester! Praise God for providing each one of them right when we needed them!
• Janoy, a friend that Jarrett and Jason met during their trip to Qba in April, has moved to Kansas City and become part of Mission Adelante. This is another exciting tie between our ministry and the one in Qba.
• Bikash is a native Nepali involved in ministry in Kathmandu. He is presently in Kansas City for church planting training and is working with Mission Adelante's Bhutanese Outreach several hours a week, which is exciting for Outreach Director David Stetler.

Prayer needs:

• The new trimester of Bhutanese Outreach Programs launched Tuesday night, and Latino Outreach Programs will launch tonight. Please pray for a great start for the trimester, and for all the adults and kids to feel warmly welcomed right away.
• The Latino teens are going on their very first retreat this weekend together with the Shoal Creek Church youth group. Please pray for each of them to have openness of spirit as they study their identity in Christ.
• Continue to pray for the families in crisis situations from both the Bhutanese and the Latino communities. They're facing a variety of very great difficulties, and we believe that sustained prayer is one of the greatest ways we can support them.

Current needs:

• Vacuum cleaners are greatly needed by Bhutanese refugee families, who are living in carpeted homes for the first time, and attempt to sweep the carpet with brooms.
• The Resource Center is very low on food right now. The items that are most needed are non-perishable staples such as cereal, peanut butter, pasta, and canned foods.

Upcoming dates:

• Five-Year Anniversary Open House: Saturday, September 25, 2:00-5:30 at Mission Adelante. Everyone's invited!

Mission Adelante Anniversary Open House

Mission Adelante is celebrating five years of ministry in Kansas City, Kansas! You're invited to join us in celebrating God's work in our community over the last five years and honor the partners who have played a significant role in our ministry's growth.

We'll celebrate on September 25, 2010 with an open house at Mission Adelante, located at 22 S. 18th Street, Kansas City, KS 66102, beginning at 2:00 and lasting until 5:30 with a special program at 3:30 including highlights and recognitions. Enjoy facility tours, refreshments, and carnival games for the kids! Please RSVP if you're able to come to morganh@missionadelante.org, indicating how many will attend.

In other news:

• Leaders In Training, our tutoring and character development program, began again this week with 12 kids who have demonstrated leadership qualities. This is the third school year we've had L.I.T. Five of the kids are returning from last year, and seven were invited for the first time.
• We're launching into the fall trimester of programs! Adult Bhutanese and Latino English students enrolled this week, we'll train our new volunteers this Saturday, and our programs launch next week!
• Teens Adelante is transitioning from a large-group format to smaller discipleship groups, and the teens are looking forward to a fall retreat in conjunction with the Shoal Creek youth group in a few weeks.

Prayer needs:

• Praise God for the first fruit in the Bhutanese ministry, with the first member of that community professing faith in Christ this week!
• Pray for God to bring additional volunteers with hearts to serve the immigrant population.
• Please continue to pray for several Bhutanese and Latino families that are facing a variety of crises.

Current needs:

• Vacuum cleaners for Bhutanese refugees, who are living in carpeted homes for the first time, and attempt to sweep the carpet with brooms.
• A washing machine, a couch, a refrigerator, and a blender have recently been requested by families visiting our Resource Center. Please contact Molly Merrick at 913-961-2984 to coordinate drop-off of any of these items.

Upcoming dates:

• Volunteer Orientation & Training: Saturday, September 11, 9:00-12:30 at Mission Adelante.
• Volunteer Team Meeting for all volunteers serving this fall: Monday, September 13, 6:30-8:00 at Mission Adelante.
• Bhutanese Fall Trimester Launch: Tuesday, September 14, 6:30 at Mission Adelante and other locations.
• Latino Fall Trimester Launch: Thursday, September 16, 6:30 at Mission Adelante and other locations.
• Five-Year Anniversary Open House: Saturday, September 25, 2:00-5:30 at Mission Adelante.

Introducing Kristen Maxwell: Director of Bhutanese Kids Outreach!

Written by David Stetler

With the overwhelming growth of the Bhutanese Outreach, ending the experimental season for this ministry came much earlier than we had planned. With this new and exciting development I am thrilled to share with you the recent acceptance of a new appointee here at Mission Adelante, Kristen Maxwell.

Kristen started as a volunteer in our Bhutanese Kids Program at the launch of this ministry and since then has proven that her heart for kids and people of other cultures, as well as her love for the Lord, runs very deep. In the past, she has consistently pursued opportunities to demonstrate the compassion and hospitality of Christ to those who feel like outsiders in our city.

Kristen has a unique set of gifts, skills, and experiences that make her an exceptional candidate for this new role as the Director of the Bhutanese Kids Outreach. People who know Kristen well talk about her love for kids, her whole-hearted investment in what she’s called to, her creativity as a teacher, and her skill as an administrator. Kristen’s commitment to serving Christ, her passion for sharing her life with the “stranger in our midst”, and her strong competencies as a teacher will make, and have already made, a significant impact on the families we serve. We are very excited about what the Lord will do in Kristen as well as what He will do through her in the Mission Adelante community.

Kristen's involvement is already wide spread with continued administration and organization of Kids Club, as well as deepening friendships with the kids - sharing the love of Christ to these wonderful boys and girls through both word and deed. I am so excited about this growing ministry, this new role and the passionate, servant-minded, competent leader that the Lord has called to guide and expand the Bhutanese Kids Outreach.

In other news:

• Mission Adelante is celebrating five years of ministry in Kansas City, Kansas! You're invited to join us for an open house at 22 S. 18th Street, Kansas City, KS from 2:00 until 5:30 on Saturday, September 25, with a special program beginning at 3:30.
• Daylin Rodriguez and some folks from Emmanuel Baptist Church presented a bilingual parenting workshop last weekend. Two Mission Adelante participants who were in attendance received Christ during the seminar!
• Enjoy the Kansas City Wizards soccer game on September 11th and support Mission Adelante! Purchase your tickets online using the following link, type in the special offer code, "mission," and a portion of the proceeds from every ticket will go to Mission Adelante. Buy tickets!
• Our Resource Center has been teeming with people coming to receive food, clothing, and other necessities on Saturday mornings.

Prayer needs:

• God has answered our prayers for two families that have spent more than the past month dealing with crises. We're so thankful that God has delivered them from a major problem, and they've been reunited with one another.
• Please continue to pray with us for two families in our church community that are still facing separation and crisis situations.
• Praise God! Alberto, a member of our church community for whom we had asked for prayer, passed his United States Citizenship interview and is awaiting his swearing-in ceremony!

Current needs:

• Paper grocery sacks for resource distribution in our Resource Center.
• Cereal, canned fruit and vegetables, and dry pasta for distribution through our Resource Center.

Upcoming dates:

• Volunteer Orientation- Saturday, September 11, 9:00-12:30 at Mission Adelante
• Volunteer Team Meeting- Monday, September 13, 6:30-8:30 at Mission Adelante
• Bhutanese Fall Trimester Launch- Tuesday, September 14, 6:30
• Latino Fall Trimester Launch- Thursday, September 16, 6:30
• Mission Adelante Five-Year Anniversary Open House- Saturday, September 25, 2:00-5:30 at Mission Adelante

Beyond an Experience

Written by Jill Berghaus

In January, when I was struck with the desire to serve the Lord and speak Spanish this summer, I had no idea that the Lord was planning on changing my entire life for His sake. My name is Jill Berghaus and I am one of the three interns working at Mission Adelante this summer.

I started off this internship without any knowledge of or experience with Mission Adelante. I have lived in Lenexa, Kansas my entire life and the thought of heading north to the urban core of Kansas City was practically a joke (but not a funny one) to me. To be completely honest, I was terrified of the unknown and the thought of “change” did not seem appealing to me. I couldn’t imagine a place outside beautiful, sheltered “Suburbia”. But, as I have experienced, the Lord does not call me to be comfortable but to be confident in Him. So packed up my bags and headed north.

My heart fell in love with this community within hours of my arrival. From the moment I interacted with the members of the community, I felt loved and welcomed with open, multi-cultural arms. I have always been a people person and loved social interaction but I had no idea that slowly but surely this community would become my family, mi familia. I was able to visit many people at home this summer and every single time the families would drop everything to talk with me. They wanted so badly to help me with my Spanish and would put off their evening plans to make sure I got enough practice. These visits became essential to my ability to get through this internship spiritually and emotionally. The Lord provided me support from people that wanted a friend just as much as I needed one.

I have been able to celebrate, grieve, struggle, and pray with mi familia here. The biggest lesson that I have learned this summer is that in missions, you cannot leave your job. Mission is a lifestyle that can dig into your soul so deeply that the only way to handle it is by crying out to our Lord for His strength and comfort. My relationship with our Creator has deepened more than I could have ever asked for; he captured my heart this summer and opened up my eyes to a world that is so real that it hurts…in a powerful and strengthening way. I have seen first hand the lives of immigrants here and how difficult life can be. Their situation has changed from something that I had only heard about to something that affects me personally, and they've become people that I have grown to love deeply. I have learned that life is all about perseverance; that I need to continue to fight the world for my time with the Lord and I need to fight for mi familia and their well being here. Life is never going to be easy and there will always be struggle, but the amazing promise of the Lord is that He will fight along side us and take weight off of our load.

In other news:

• The Mission Adelante summer internship is winding down this week and next. We've been very blessed by Andrew, Jill, and Rachel, the three young adults that have spent the past couple of months with us.
• Congratulations Holly Stetler on graduating and passing medical boards! Holly is now a pediatric nurse practitioner.

Prayer needs:

• Praise God! A Latino married couple that hadn't come to church in months appear to have been won back by our faithfulness to their kids, and have been back in church the past couple of Sundays. Pray that God would fuel a hunger in them to know Him.
• The Latino teen girls and teen guys have their final summer Bible studies this week. Please pray that the lessons they've learned will remain with them and guide their choices.
• Please continue to pray for God's mercy upon 4 families dear to our community. Each of these families is presently separated from one another due to a variety of situations. Please pray for them to be reunited.

Current needs:

• Weekly meals for Leaders In Training students and tutors (22 people) on Mondays and Tuesdays beginning September 7. In past years, groups of friends have made a joint effort to provide the meal on a particular weekday. Please contact Megan at meganm@missionadelante.org if you can fill this need.
• Leaders In Training volunteers also beginning September 7 for Mondays and Tuesdays from 4:00 - 6:30, and Wednesdays from 3:00 - 6:30. Please contact Megan at meganm@missionadelante.org.
• Volunteers to work with Bhutanese kids on Tuesday evenings beginning September 14. Please e-mail David at davids@missionadelante.org for more information.

Important upcoming dates:

• Saturday, August 14, 5:00: Bhutanese End of Trimester Party @ Bethany Community Center
• Sunday, August 15, 5:00: Latino End of Trimester Party @ Wyandotte County Lake Park
• Saturday, September 25: Mission Adelante Five Year Anniversary Celebration @ Mission Adelante Headquarters

Stop! What does the Bible say?

Written by Jason Schoff

Stop! Too many times we fail to study the Bible before we consider how to address the issues of our day. One issue very dear to our heart here at Mission Adelante is the question of immigrants and how the church should respond to them. What does the bible say about immigration? This must be the starting point. How many sermons have you heard preached on immigrants? I can honestly say I had never considered the issue prior to joining with Jarrett Meek in 2005, much less listened to a sermon on the topic. Did you know the answers to our questions about the immigrant are spread throughout the Old Testament as well as the New Testament?

We invited Dr. Daniel (Danny) Carroll, distinguished professor of Old Testament at Denver Seminary, to address our volunteers and friends this past weekend. He wrote the book, "Christians at the Border" and his 2.5 hour morning session led us to look at the lives of Abraham, Joseph, Ruth, Daniel, Nehemiah, and others who were all immigrants on the move. We also examined the OT law and its provisions for the foreigner as well as the teachings from the New Testament. Compassion, provision and justice all address the ways God provides for the immigrant, and he chooses to use us in the process. Danny emphasized reading the complete canon of the bible in context to answer the question of the immigrant and immigration and letting this change the way we shape the laws and our views of immigrants.

"It's okay to try and change the law because we do it all the time." This is the reality of the democracy we live in. Why wouldn't we change the laws to reflect God's values? Our laws have been discriminatory toward the Chinese in the late 1800's, the Irish and Italians in the early 1900's, and the Mexican migrants during the Depression. Perhaps we should consider our current laws and see if they are prejudiced in any way. The last major comprehensive legislation passed in 1965 and was signed into law by President Johnson. There are many pieces of legislation being considered today. One is the Dream Act, which provides a path to legal status for kids who complete high school, have lived in the US five years, and enter the military or complete two years of college. Otherwise these kids would be left with no option but to flip burgers all their lives or return to a country that they hardly know. What would God say about this? I would encourage all of us to read Danny's book and also to look even deeper into scripture and pray for God to guide us. Stop! Consider this for more than just a day because an immigrant considers it daily. Putting real life stories to this debate changes the lenses through which we see immigrants amongst us.

Investigating alongside you,
Jason Schoff

In other news:

• A group of more than 20 volunteers visiting our area from Colorado was loaned to us by Marcia Merrick, whom they were serving alongside, to join many from our community and help a Latino family move last week. We were so grateful for the unexpected help, which made fast work of the move.
• Friday evening, about 75 people belonging to our Latino church community gathered for pot-luck dinner and fellowship at the Meeks' home and to get acquainted with Danny Carroll. This type of social gathering does so much to energize our body of faith.

Prayer needs:

• Please pray for God's mercy upon 4 families dear to our community. Each of these families is presently separated from one another due to a variety of situations. Please pray for them to be reunited.
• We're approaching the busy end of another trimester here at Mission Adelante. Please pray for God's hand to be over us, the staff, as we complete the tasks He's set before us.

Current needs:

• A twin bed.

Upcoming dates:

• Saturday, August 14, 5:00: Bhutanese End of Trimester Party @ Bethany Community Center
  
• Sunday, August 15, 5:00: Latino End of Trimester Party @ Wyandotte County Lake Park
• Saturday, September 25: Mission Adelante Five Year Anniversary Celebration @ Mission Adelante Headquarters

Step Into the Water

Written by David Stetler

When the Israelites came to the riverbank of the Jordan, the Lord commanded them to first step into the water. As soon as their feet touched the water, the river began to dry up and the people could cross on dry land.

Often times the Lord asks us to take a step of faith, to step into the water first and then to wait and see the faithfulness of God. This year we have taken a step of faith in the launch of the Bhutanese Outreach Pilot project. We stepped into the water and waited to see the faithfulness of God unfold right before our eyes.

This project was a pilot ministry. An experiment, so to speak. An experiment to see if Mission Adelante's ministry model was reproducible to a new immigrant population and to see if God was calling us to expand the ministry to this new growing refugee population right here in our midst. After 6 months of watching his incredible faithfulness, we believe it is safe to answer that question with a big "YES!" in true confidence in the Lord. The Board of Directors has approved ending the pilot season early and continuing this new ministry as a permanent part of what Mission Adelante does. We believe this is truly where God is leading us.

As we finish up our second trimester we are thrilled to report that we have over 40 students in our 3 levels of English classes and over 35 kids at our Kids' Club. In addition to the growth of the Tuesday night outreach we continue to see friendships deepening with our Bhutanese friends, Bibles studies starting, meals being shared, community forming and Jesus being shared through both word and deed.

We love them so much that we are delighted to share with them not only the gospel of God but our very lives as well, because they have become so dear to us. (1 Thessalonians 2:8)

We continue to seek the Lord's guidance and blessing in this amazing adventure.

In other news:

• The Mission Adelante Missionary Team met on Sunday for one of the first times since the Bhutanese and Latino outreach teams have been combined. The team is comprised of volunteers and staff people who are deeply committed to developing the mission and the church sides of the ministry, and many of whom have relocated to the neighborhood.
• Volunteers Rachel Schwagerman and Kristen Maxwell, along with staffer Molly Merrick have just leased a house very near Mission Adelante. In addition, volunteers David & Brooke Coon have a contract on a neighborhood house and are lined up to move in at the end of August!
• Over 45 people are registered to come to the seminar featuring Dr. Danny Carroll this Saturday, and there's still space available. This training opportunity is one of the best things Mission Adelante can offer our volunteers and friends! To get all the details about this seminar covering a Biblical overview of issues related to immigration and to register, follow this link.

Prayer needs:

• Violence in Mexico has claimed the life of the husband/father of one of Mission Adelante's families. Please pray for that family as they try to work through the loss, and for our church to support them in just the right way.
• Alberto, a leader in our church community, received notice of an appointment to take his citizenship exam sooner than anticipated! Please pray for his preparation for this final stage of the immigration process.

Current needs:

• A rocking chair for our new church nursery

Upcoming dates:

• Saturday, August 14--Bhutanese Trimester-end Party at Bethany Community Center
• Sunday, August 15, 4:30 p.m.--Latino Trimester-end Party at Wyandotte County Lake Park

All Star Volunteers: The Holland Family

written by Jason Schoff

"Lord send me." This simple statement reveals a willingness to go anywhere and take risks. Individuals who speak these words are always welcome members to any team. Jacob and Michelle Holland exemplify this type of individual.

I met the Hollands two years ago as they began to investigate Mission Adelante. They were looking for more than just a place to volunteer; they were looking for a place to invest their lives and make a kingdom impact. What the Hollands had done two years prior to meeting anyone from Mission Adelante was to take a risk for what they believed God wanted for their lives: they moved into our neighborhood without really knowing anyone! This was a huge jump, from being students at K-State and having never lived in Kansas City to a multicultural urban core filled with Hispanics.

Once we met the Hollands, it was an immediate connection. They were looking for a place to make a greater impact and we were moved by their bold convictions to serve. Jacob began volunteering with our ESL programs and Michelle jumped right into the mix of Kid's Adelante. Their involvement has only grown since that initial encounter and our community only continues to grow fonder of them and the part they play in our church, our mission, and our missionary community. When God added to their family during the past two years, they did not look for a reason to step away from serving but have found creative ways to serve as a family. Please join us in thanking God for the Hollands and their impact on Hispanics and our lives.

In other news:

• Coming up on Saturday, July 24, Dr. Danny Carroll will present a Biblical overview of issues related to immigration, especially relevant for all Christians who have a heart for serving the stranger in our midst.
  The event will be held at Grandview Park Presbyterian Church, 1613 Wilson Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66102, located just a couple of blocks from Mission Adelante. Please note that a fee of $20 per person will be collected at the door and child care will not be provided. The schedule for the day is as follows:
  
  
  8:30 Doors open
  9:00-12:00 Seminar by Dr. Daniel Carroll
  12:00-1:00 Lunch, provided at the church
  1:00-2:30 Policy discussion by Jenny Hwang

Space is limited! You can register by filling out the form at this link: Register Now.

• Our Bhutanese and Latino ESL classes and kids programs saw great attendance last week following our break week. Praise God for bringing everyone back!
• Jarrett and Jason enjoyed the opportunity to give a seminar at Westside Family Church on Saturday about creating a great volunteer culture.

Prayer needs:

• Please pray for the July 24 seminar with Danny Carroll to draw many attendees, as the discussion has the potential to affect change that can impact our church community.
• Join us in praying for our friends in Cuba who are experiencing discouragement in their ministry.

Current needs:

• A baby changing table and pad for our new church nursery
• A twin bed for a family in our worship community

Adelante Missions Institute Presents: A Seminar on Immigration

I am extremely excited to announce a special training opportunity to take place on Saturday, July 24 on the timely and important topic of immigration, sponsored by Mission Adelante, and co-sponsored by the National Association of Evangelicals and Grandview Park Presbyterian Church. We have invited Dr. Danny Carroll, author of Christians at the Border and distinguished professor of Old Testament at Denver Seminary, to present a Biblical overview of issues related to immigration, especially relevant for all Christians who have a heart for serving the stranger in our midst.

Leith Anderson of the National Association of Evangelicals writes, "Immigration issues grip American politics and opinions. But what does the Bible say? What is at the heart of the Christian view on immigration? Danny Carroll's voice on this issue is like no other."

If you are interested in seeing a snapshot of Dr. Carroll's presentation, follow this link to see his talk at Willow Creek's Compassion and Justice seminar. Dr. Carroll was also a speaker at the annual Christian Community Development Association conference in 2009.

In addition to Dr. Carroll, we will also hear from Jenny Hwang, Director for Advocacy and Policy for World Relief's Refugee and Immigration Program and co-author of Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion and Truth in the Immigration Debate. Ms. Hwang will present a policy discussion on Immigration.

The event will be held on Saturday, July 24 at Grandview Park Presbyterian Church, 1613 Wilson Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66102, located just a couple of blocks from Mission Adelante. Please note that a fee of $20 per person will be collected at the door and child care will not be provided. The schedule for the day is as follows:

8:30 Doors open

9:00-12:00 Seminar by Dr. Daniel Carroll

12:00-1:00 Lunch, provided at the church

1:00-2:30 Policy discussion by Jenny Hwang

Space is limited, so please don't delay to register and to spread the word to anyone whom this event may interest. Because of limited space, we may not be able to accommodate walk-ins on the day of the seminar. You can register by filling out the form at this link: Register Now. This is the only way registration will be accepted.

Again, we are extremely excited about this event and feel that God has provided us with a unique opportunity to explore a Biblical perspective on a challenging issue that is especially relevant for our ministry. We would love for you to join us!

In His Grace,

Jarrett Meek

Executive Director, Mission Adelante

In other news:

• Our Latino church community celebrated Independence Day together after the service with a cookout and fireworks in the parking lot on Sunday evening. We were encouraged to have our typical turnout for church in spite of the many options families had for entertainment that evening.
• David Stetler invited a bunch of Bhutanese kids to his house to watch the fireworks. Having arrived in the United States during the past few months, it was the first time the kids had viewed fireworks, so it was an exciting experience for David to be able to share with them.

Prayer needs:

• Please pray for a woman in our church community that is seeking discernment about whether to keep her job. She has been facing pressure in her workplace and wants more time with her family.
• Please pray for participants in our outreach programs to return enthusiastically this week following the break last week.
• Five teenage girls came to the first summer Bible study last week and had meaningful discussion. Please pray for their study tonight as they learn about the lies of the deceiver.

Current needs:

• A TV and a DVD player for use in our kids program
• Christian books and DVDs such as Veggie Tales that are suitable for small children
• Fans to help cool our classrooms and offices (We're trying to save money on electricity!)

Light in the Dark

Written by Andrew Pollock and Rachel Schwagerman, Mission Adelante summer interns

The Prescott neighborhood is across the street from Mission Adelante. The historic neighborhood is tight-knit with cute old houses, but over the years has become run down and is now home to many immigrants and aliens living below the poverty line. All of the problems that parallel poverty, such as drug abuse, drunkenness and gang activity have made it a less-than-desirable neighborhood. This is where many of the Mission Adelante families live. Last week we had the great privilege to host one of our kids camps in the neighborhood park and had the great help of the youth group from Emmanuel Baptist Church (EBC). For three evenings, we took over the park, which included playing, dancing, singing, running, and laughing with around 40 children, transforming it from darkness to light for a couple of hours these evenings. To be able to provide that experience for those kids is such a great feeling, because certainly no one else is. We sang fun Bible songs, and neighbors drove by, some gawking and some smiling through their windows. These summer events are our outreach time and having the youth of EBC to help was a great blessing. As a result, several new kids came to Kids Adelante on Thursday night and hopefully they will keep coming throughout the year.

One of my (Rachel) favorite things about living in this immigrant neighborhood and serving as an intern for the summer is the availability that I have for the kids and families who live right in my own back yard. Getting to surprise-visit kids who have been sitting all day in their homes dying of boredom really excites me when I knock on their door and they see my face. One little girl who I spent a lot of time with this week by taking her to the kids camp was my sweet friend, seven year old Galilea. Previously that week, I promised her a visit and she grew in excitement. When I showed up at her door, she was ready to go in less than 30 seconds. We first took a trip to the Paleteria, a famous ice cream shop that is right behind Prescott Park where we had planted our kids camp. I got her a cool treat before we spent the next few hours playing games outside. The joy that she had on her face and the excitement that it brought me when seeing her participate in fellowship with her friends and singing songs, encouraged me for the rest of the week. I see the work of the Lord everywhere, even in places where you least expect it.

I (Andrew) have been playing around like a kid with several of the Adelante boys this summer, and I believe it is the most valuable work I do. There are so many heart-wrenching stories of lost dads, older brothers in jail and all kinds of traumatic events that fill our kids' lives. So when I can spend an afternoon riding bikes, or an hour kicking a soccer ball with one of these guys, I know my time is well spent because of the smile stuck on their face and the joy in their eyes. In a world that constantly crushes these families, having hope is a struggle. That’s why God blesses us by giving us hope and faith. The freedom that Christ brings us can be made real, here and now! Therefore, the Gospel is of tremendous worth to these young souls, and mine too, and even more so now that I have joined them in a small way in their experience of living as outsiders.

In other news:

• Immigration seminar on July 24: We're very excited to announce the next Adelante Missions Institute Saturday Seminar on Saturday, July 24. Dr. Danny Carroll and Jenny Hwang will speak on the timely and important topic of immigration. Please follow this link for all the details and to register!
• Two of the summer interns are celebrating birthdays this week. On their own initiative, they used the occasions to host a birthday party here in the neighborhood last Saturday and invited our whole Latino community to celebrate with them! We are so proud of the way they're fully engaged in Mission Adelante's vision.
• Last weekend the Board of Directors approved the Bhutanese outreach pilot as a permanent component of Mission Adelante's ministry! This came sooner than expected because of the obvious viability and relevance of the outreach. The approval opens the opportunity to begin to hire staff to fill key roles.

Prayer needs:

• Praise God with us! A Latino family that we've been pursuing for four years through our English classes and Kids Adelante outreaches took the step to come to our worship celebration for the first time on Sunday. Please pray that they would be moved to worship with us again.
• Please continue to pray for deep discussion and for the young people's understanding of spiritual things to be nurtured as Latino pre-teen girls, teen girls, and teen guys meet in separate Bible studies throughout the summer.
• Pray for refreshment for staff and volunteers during this break week, and that our outreach programs will not have suffered any loss of momentum when they meet again next week.

Current needs:

• We're looking for a couch to help furnish the home of a Bhutanese family. We can pick it up anytime during the day this Monday, July 5. If you have one that you would like to donate, please e-mail David Stetler, and attach a photo of the couch if possible.

Important dates:

• Today, June 29: Mid-Trimester Break. No Bhutanese outreach programs.
• Thursday, July 1: Mid-Trimester Break. No Latino outreach programs.

Partnering to Bless Neighborhood Kids

It's no surprise that Latino children love soccer, but it was obvious last week that Bhutanese kids also share this passion! Goran Hunjak with Victory through Soccer ministry teamed up with Christ Community Church and Mission Adelante to offer a three-day soccer camp to the kids of our community. Despite some challenging logistics because of rain, the camp was amazing.

On Tuesday night around 130 kids from our neighborhood converged on Regan Field near Mission Adelante, and participated in what to me was a community spectacle. Youth from Christ Community Church served as volunteer coaches, Bhutanese and Latino children moved from station to station practicing drills, and parents sat in the stands and marveled that their children were being loved by this group of young strangers who might just as easily have rejected them as different if not for Jesus.

One of the stations brought about more excitement than the others; it was the station where each child received a new pair of soccer cleats and a backpack with Mission Adelante's logo embroidered on it! As I watched the event unfold I was filled with thanksgiving for what God is doing among our immigrant friends, for the amazing staff and volunteers that He has brought to serve with us, and for the generosity of so many people who give so that we can serve and bless the Mission Field in our Own Backyard!

In other news:

• We want to give a big "Thanks!" to the Alexander family for spearheading the cleat collection that allowed each child at the soccer camp last week to receive a pair!
• We also want to thank Matt Totsch for answering our call for computer networking support! Thanks to Matt, things are running more smoothly around here.
• This has been the month of summer VBS activities for our kids! The youth group from Emmanuel Baptist Church kicked off this week's evening activities Sunday with supper and a movie on our soccer field.

Prayer needs:

• Mayra and her family have been a faithful part of our community for a couple of years. Last week her brother was killed in Mexico. The tragedy was compounded for Mayra by her inability to return to Mexico for the funeral and to be with the whole family. We held a memorial service for Mayra's brother on Saturday, and the family was comforted to be surrounded by so many supportive friends. Please pray for continuing comfort for Mayra and her family, and that they'll find God faithful and their faith will be strengthened during this difficult time.
• Please pray for safety to cover everyone present at the evening kids' activities this week. For the sake of outreach, the activities are held in a local park, but it is known for gang activity.
• The Latino teen guys and gals will be in separate Bible Studies for the course of the summer, which begin this weekend. Please pray for them to go deep in discussion and in seeking God.
• Pray for the Mission Adelante Board Meeting this Sunday, for wisdom to make decisions pertaining to the Mission's future direction.

Current needs:

• A 13" or larger T.V. with a built-in DVD player or a separate DVD player for use in our children's ministry.
• Books and DVDs with Christian content suitable for small children, such as Veggie Tales.
• Fans to cool our offices and classrooms (we're trying to save money on electricity!)

Upcoming dates:

• June 29: Summer break. No Bhutanese outreach activities.
• July 1: Summer break. No Latino outreach activities.

He Saved the Best for Last!

Written by Megan McDermott

The summer is an exciting time at Mission Adelante, particularly for the children of Leaders in Training. LIT is an after-school leadership development program for select kids who have demonstrated faithfulness in the Outreach Bible study and a have a hunger to learn more about God. The kids attend the program three days a week during the school year and as a reward for their hard work, we take a trip to Great Wolf Lodge in December and a lake trip in June.
We loaded up and set off Friday afternoon for the lake trip with a group of twenty-five kids, volunteers, and families. For many of the kids, this was their first time camping and really experiencing nature outside the city. After we arrived and set up camp, the kids were anxious to get in the water. We spent that first night playing, laughing, swimming, eating amazing tacos and s'mores, and enjoying the beauty that surrounded us.
As we sat around the campfire and enjoyed the stillness of dusk, I asked the group to close their eyes and really listen to the sounds of the forest. We talked about the story of Creation and how God intentionally created so many glorious things for us to care for and enjoy. I asked the kids why they thought God waited until the sixth day to create man. They realized that God loved us so much that He, "...wanted to save the best for last."
Our trip was cut a little short due to inclement weather but I believe that God's desire was for them to experience His creation in a new and tangible way. I am so thankful for the time that we got to spend together and I pray that next year's trip will be even better!

In other news:

• Mission Adelante acquired a twelve passenger shuttle bus from Heartland Community Church. It is going to facilitate transportation considerably!
• The Christ Community Church youth group is on a Missions Trip to Mission Adelante this week. They're completing work projects in the morning and engaging with Latino and Bhutanese kids at a 3-day Soccer Camp during the evenings. Yesterday, more than 70 kids came for the first evening!

Prayer needs:

• Pray for security and peace of mind for Bhutanese refugee families that have been the victims of recent break-ins. Also pray that those living in unsafe locations will have the opportunity to move to a better location.
• Please pray for the Bhutanese Outreach Ministry Team that has just formed to have unity of vision and to develop deep relationships.
• Please pray for David & Brooke Coon as they try to find a home in our neighborhood and begin the process of fundraising and preparing to come on staff as apprentices.

Current needs:

• We have great need for a volunteer computer technician to help us with some wireless networking. Please call Jarrett Meek at 913-909-0627 or e-mail him at jarrettm@missionadelante.org if you can help us!
• Fans to cool our offices (we're trying to save money on electricity!)
• Paper towels for use in our facility
• A window air conditioner, which was requested in the Resource Center
• Volunteers for L.I.T.-our after-school tutoring program-which will begin again in September. If you would like to find out more, please call Megan McDermott at 816-210-2187.

Upcoming dates:

• June 29: Summer break. No Bhutanese outreach programs.
• July 1: Summer break. No Latino outreach programs.

Maybe We're Not So Different After All...

Written by Megan McDermott

Remember when you were a kid and the freedom of those first few days of summer vacation loomed in front of you? At Mission Adelante, the summer is always an invitation and an exciting opportunity for our community to invest deeply in the children. This past week, a group of about twenty volunteers from Shoal Creek Community Church came to help launch the Bhutanese and Hispanic children's ministries. We were excited to begin our summer with our very first joint VBS with both the Hispanic and Bhutanese children. Between games, Bible study, crafts, and some yummy ice cream, an incredible change began to happen.

Many of the kids attend the same local schools and know each other. However, cultural differences can sometimes make friendship difficult. Both groups of kids are often torn between finding their niche between their native cultures and the American culture. The first night of the camp, amongst eighty-five exuberant children, we noticed that the kids were shy around each other. They didn't know what to make of each other and were hesitant to interact.

As the camp proceeded, though, we noticed that through passionate soccer games, dance parties, and incredible teaching from the Shoal Creek group, the kids began to play and laugh together. The shyness evaporated as the kids began to see that they weren't so different from each other and that maybe, just maybe, this new friend that they had made might be able to understand them in a really deep way.

As the summer goes on and the kids continue to engage in various activities, we are excited to see how God moves. His heart for these children is amplified when they are in a mixed context because, though these kids seem to be so different, they are all children of the Most High God.

In other news:

• Our three summer interns are here! Jill Berghaus, Andrew Pollock, and Rachel Schwagerman are well into their second week and have hit the ground running. The three of them are excited to be living in our neighborhood and immersed in our community.
• The Bhutanese ESL outreach has grown from one class in the winter to three classes this summer. It has been challenging to coordinate, but the Bhutanese people are grateful and undemanding.
• Brennan Nicholas Schoff was born to Jason, Megan, and big brother Declan on Wednesday, June 2. He had a safe delivery and according to dad, "he's phenomenal!"
• Mission Adelante is continuing to explore ways to support indigenous ministry efforts in Q-ba.

Prayer needs:

• The eight preteen Leaders In Training students that completed the program year are going camping at Hillsdale Lake this weekend as a reward. Among a few of their families, volunteers, and staff, 25 people will be on the trip. Please pray for safety throughout the weekend and good fellowship.
• Please pray for God to iron out the remaining logistics for our youth soccer camp next week, and that the camp would run smoothly, attracting new kids from the neighborhood to God.
• Pray for our interns as they get deeply involved in our community this summer. Pray for abundant opportunities for them to connect with people relationally and for learning.

Current needs:

• We have great need of a volunteer computer technician to help us set up computer systems and some wireless networking. It would all amount to about a day's work. Please call Jarrett Meek at 913-909-0627 or e-mail him at jarrettm@missionadelante.org if you can help us!
• Fans to cool our offices (we're trying to save money on electricity!)
• Paper towels for use in our facility
• A window air conditioner, which was requested in the Resource Center

Upcoming dates:

• June 29: Summer break. No Bhutanese outreach programs.
• July 1: Summer break. No Latino outreach programs.

Life Transformation through a Short-Term Mission

When dreaming about how to effectively equip volunteers for cross-cultural ministry in our own city, the idea of a short-term missions training trip emerged. Combining serving with cultural exploration and language learning proved to be a winning combination! Eight Mission Adelante "missionaries" traveled to Costa Rica for Adelante Missions Institute's first ever missions training trip the second week of May. As these volunteers were equipped through new experiences, we found that Mission Adelante is surprisingly prepared to make a significant impact on short-term trips like these. The brief story below, written by trip participant, Mark Barber gives a glimpse into this life-changing experience.

Written by Mark Barber
His name is Marvin. This is his last chance for redemption. He has let the Costa Rican government know that he is a drug addict and that he needs help. This final opportunity is granted to him and he shares his testimony. Pain, suffering, abuse, neglect, and broken dreams litter his words. This short vignette is one of a hundred connections that the Mission Adelante Costa Rican cross-cultural team has made.

For eight days, members of this team were touched, moved, transformed by the experiences and the openness of the Costa Rican people and the strength and misericordia (mercy) that God bestows upon his people. God has sent troops on the ground to relay his Word to the people at MANA and to give blessed hope and fulfillment through Jesus Christ. Alejandro is one beacon light of hope that teaches work skills, business acumen, and life skills to these men who need guidance. Members of the team fellowshipped and testified God’s presence and work in their own lives in order to show the great change that can happen by surrendering yourself to Him. Surrender engenders rebirth and a new narrow path of guidance and leadership. At MANA, Marvin can begin a new life and take advantage of the benefits of this safe and loving environment. Only time will tell, if he continues to grow and make positive adjustments in his life.

Marvin’s life and words will forever have an impact on my own personality and perspective. The ability to identify a problem, realize that it needs to be changed, and take the drastic steps necessary to rectify the problem shows true character and understanding. This trip has made me realize that I allow little problems to sidetrack and knock me off course, and this trip has instilled in me a greater appreciation and love for God’s work and God’s Omnipotent power and grace. Marvin may never know the true impact on my life he had that one day in May but I am forever grateful for his words and testimony concerning his struggle and desire for redemption. This one little picture of our Costa Rican experience shows that God can take seemingly small innocuous moments and transform your life.

In other news:

• Our request for a vehicle for a community member that needed one has been fulfilled!
• David Stetler's sinus surgery went really well, and he received daily visits from caring Bhutanese friends during his recovery.
• We're ramping up for our summer trimester, and more excited than ever as our outreach programs keep expanding.
• Save the Date! Dr. Daniel Caroll, author, distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Denver Seminary and expert on immigration will present the Adelante Missions Institute Saturday Seminar on July 24 at 9:00 a.m. Look for more details soon.

Prayer needs:

• Pray for our four summer interns as they finish up fundraising and preparation to move to our neighborhood this Saturday.
• Pray for our staff as we try to embrace a variety of challenges: returning from surgery, returning from a missions trip, and increased responsibility, all in the midst of a very busy few weeks on our ministry calendar. Pray for God to multiply our time and sharpen our focus!
• There are three three-day summer VBS-style camps planned for neighborhood kids during the month of June. Please pray for new kids to be attracted to our ministry through these special activities.
• Jason & Megan Schoff's son is due to arrive in about a week. Please pray for a safe delivery, and a healthy baby boy.

Current needs:

• Toothpaste, for distribution to immigrant families through our Resource Center.

All-Star Volunteer: Pam Morton

Written by Megan McDermott

"I love the hearts of the kids. I can see that Leaders in Training is a need and I see God's love in them." -Pam Morton

One of my favorite things about serving at Mission Adelante is the amazing ways that God brings new volunteers across our path. Last year, while having a support appointment at Panera, Pam Morton walked by our table. The person I was meeting with knew Pam and introduced us. Pam has this very gentle way about her and as she talked, I realized she had a passion for Hispanic kids. As I heard her share her story, I started thinking how perfect she would be for our after school Leaders in Training program! I invited her, she accepted, and we laugh together about how God orchestrated our meeting.
Pam is the type of volunteer that anticipates a need and acts on it. Every Monday during this school year, Pam tutored the LIT kids in math. Pam anticipated that the kids might need the answer packets filled out. She took the packet home, worked through all the problems, and brought them back for all of the other tutors to utilize. Pam was so helpful in taking care of that before I even realized it needed to be done.
Pam is someone that the kids love playing with as well. The picture above was one of our recreation times. Pam is always one of the first to jump up and be silly with the kids. I appreciate volunteers like Pam because after teaching all day, she still finds the energy to come share Christ's love with the children of Mission Adelante. Volunteers that give their time, hearts, and love to the children allow Mission Adelante to reach into the KCK community to show God's heart.

In other news:

• The short-term mission team from Mission Adelante arrived in Costa Rica last Friday. They are spending the week giving ESL classes, working with teens, and receiving Spanish tutoring. They'll return to Kansas City this Saturday. Please pray for their sense of team unity to be strong, and that they'll optimize the cultural and linguistic opportunities of the week.
• David Coon, an ESL volunteer that has also been highly involved in our church, led worship for the first time last Sunday evening and did great! We hope he'll continue to be involved in leading worship for our congregation!
• Volunteers and core ministry team members Jacob and Michelle Holland welcomed their second daughter, Keziah Jane, into their family on Friday, April 30. They're all healthy and doing well.

Prayer needs:

• David Stetler is having surgery today to remove a cyst from his nasal cavity. Please pray for the success of the procedure, and for headaches to be alleviated.
• Pray for the upcoming delivery of Jason and Megan Schoff's second son, Brennan. Pray for God's perfect timing for his arrival to prevail, as his June 1st due date falls on a very busy week on Mission Adelante's schedule.

Current needs:

• Toilet paper and kids summer clothes for distribution through the Resource Center.

Important upcoming dates:

• Volunteer Orientation & Training: Saturday, May 22, 9:00-12:15. All volunteers should attend a Saturday-morning Orientation once in order to become familiar with the ministry of Mission Adelante. To RSVP or for more information, please e-mail Morgan Ham.
• Volunteer Team Meeting: Monday, May 24, 6:30-8:00. All summer volunteers should attend the Team Meeting to prepare for Summer Program launch the first week of June.

Come Serve in a Mission Field in Your Own Backyard!

Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, God's heart for the lost and broken is evident. His love for all people is beyond imagination, but His heart of mercy for "the least of these" is displayed time and time again in unique and special ways.

In Matthew 25 Jesus says these words;

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

At Mission Adelante, we have found ourselves in the middle of a mission field right here in our own backyard. And in this mission field we are surrounded by the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick, and families of people in prison. Who would have thought that the cross-cultural mission field would come to us, and that we would have the opportunity to demonstrate the kind of compassion that Jesus exhorted us toward right here in our own city!?

We invite you to join us in this mission by serving in practical ways and connecting relationally with people from another culture. Instead of viewing missions as something only a few "super-Christians" can do, why not make it a normal part of your life?

Whether your heart is for adult immigrants or kids, Latinos or refugees from Bhutan, there is a place for you to make an impact with Mission Adelante.

• English Classes for adults (Latino or Bhutanese)
• Kids Outreach Bible Study (Latino or Bhutanese)
• Teen Bible Study (Latino)

Come to our Volunteer Training Seminar on Saturday, May 22 from 9:00 a.m to 12:15 p.m. to get started! For more information email Morgan Ham at morganh@missionadelante.org. And now, if you have a few minutes, watch a quick video to get a better feel for what it looks like to be involved in our ministries!

Mission Adelante's Volunteer Opportunities from Mission Adelante on Vimeo.

In other news:

• We at Mission Adelante are extremely grateful for the 50 or so volunteers from three local churches that spent last Saturday here as part of the "What If the Church Served Together?" event. They assembled cubicles and moved staff offices to the second floor, built a stage in our chapel, insulated our attic, tuck-pointed our chimney, started building a storage room, repaired gutters, put up trim, cut our grass, and landscaped a nearby park! Whew! Thanks to each and every one that labored for our benefit!

Prayer needs:

• Please pray for the 12-member short-term missions team that will fly to Costa Rica this Friday and return Saturday, May 15. Pray for logistical ease, for the team to learn a lot about the culture and improve their Spanish skills, to have a sense of team unity, and to make a lasting impression on those they meet.
• Help us pray for separate teen girls and teen guys Bible Studies this summer that will focus on the topic of purity as Megan M. works on choosing curriculum.
• We're looking forward to having five interns spend the summer here at Mission Adelante! Please help us ask God to provide the necessary funds that they're in the process of raising.

Current needs:

• A blender, a crock-pot, and cooking pans have been requested by families that have visited our resource center recently. If you have extras of these items, or would consider purchasing one, it will be given to a family that needs it.

Important dates:

• Monday, May 24 @ 6:30 p.m.: Volunteer Team Meeting Summer Volunteers in all outreach programs should plan to attend.