My Family Away From Home

Leidy (second from right) and other ESL Level 1 students receiving their certificate.

Written by Leidy Yule, student and volunteer at Mission Adelante

There are so many kids, youth, and adults who visit Mission Adelante every day. We learn so much from each of them, and they are always ready to serve and give back to the community. Leidy Yule is a great example of this. She is currently a student in both ESL Latino and Citizenship Class. Since arriving at Mission Adelante she has been serving the community in every possible way. She has helped design art for our classrooms, invited us to events at her house, and now she is serving in Arts Community teaching a crochet class. During ESL not only does she learn English but, she also takes the opportunity to teach others. This is a great example of interdependent relationships - where we learn from each other. This is Leidy’s story, in her own words:

“On March 13, 2019, I arrived in the United States. My heart was beating with love for my soon-to-be husband James. It was scary to arrive in a country where both the language and lifestyle are completely different from what I’m used to. The first few days, I was impressed by the size of this country, the cultural diversity, the great stores, and the long distances to go from one place to another. I quickly realized that I must learn English to do basic everyday tasks. Soon after that, I meet Mary, a Mission Adelante volunteer. She spoke to me about ESL classes and told me to attend the next registration. She warned me to arrive very early as the spots fill quickly. On May 23rd at 3pm, I made my way to Mission Adelante. I had a spot secured as I was the first person to arrive. 

When the doors opened later that evening, I was welcomed with warm friendliness. The atmosphere felt very joyful, everyone was very kind, and I felt at home instantly. Over the past weeks, I have created great friendships with Mission Adelante staff, students, and volunteers. Ruth and Kristen, two of my teachers, have become wonderful friends to me. Although I am thousands of miles away from my home country, I have a new family here - the Mission Adelante Community. I love the work they do and the way they help and educate the community. The world needs more of these people. I thank God for introducing me to this great family.”

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Have you ever wondered what goes on at a typical night of programming at Mission Adelante? Adelante Arts Community, Refugee Kids Club, Refugee Youth Club, Citizenship Class, Latino ESL, Teens Adelante, and Kids Adelante have Observation Nights coming up! Visit www.missionadelante.org/observe to sign up!

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Our Leaders in Training program teaches young students about the importance of eating healthy. Being an after-school program, the kids are often hungry by the time they arrive! You can help out by providing healthy snacks like granola bars, trail mix, and fruit snacks! Contact Megan Fountain if you are interested: meganm@missionadelante.org

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Volunteering in Citizenship Class!

Kristen and Quinton (upper left) join other volunteers and students to celebrate Oma’s (center in pink) citizenship!

Written by Kristen Huffman, Citizenship Class Volunteer

Serving at Mission Adelante has been one of the highlights of 2019 for our family. My husband, Quinton, and I signed up to volunteer in January 2019 for Citizenship Class on Tuesday evenings. We were nervous driving to Mission Adelante for the first time to attend the volunteer huddle. We didn’t know if we’d be good teachers, if we’d be able to communicate with the students due to language barriers, or if we’d be able to teach them anything about becoming citizens as we knew very little about the process. However, when we walked in the door, our nerves were immediately calmed when we were greeted with smiles, handshakes, and an amazing crew of volunteers and staff ready to teach us.

After a time of worship in three different languages, we met our team of volunteers for Citizenship Class. During the next 12 weeks, we worked closely with this amazing team to teach students about how to become citizens of the United States. We grew to love our Tuesday evening time at Mission Adelante. So much so, we have just started leading the class for our third consecutive trimester! 

The best thing about our time at Mission Adelante is the friendships we have developed with both the volunteers and the students. We have learned so much from our students about their home countries, their languages, and their traditions. We love being able to learn from them while they learn about how to become a citizen of the U.S. We are so excited to see what new things we will learn this trimester with our new volunteers and students!

Citizenship class group picture from trimester one. (Kristen and Quinton are pictured in the upper left.)

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CURRENT NEEDS:

• Do you have a heart for kids? Do you want to make a difference in a kid's life? Kids Adelante is looking for energetic and fun-loving volunteers! If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our website at www.missionadelante.org/kids

• Our Leaders in Training program teaches young students about the importance of eating healthy. Being an after-school program, the kids are often hungry by the time they arrive! You can help out by providing healthy snacks like granola bars, trail mix, and fruit snacks! Contact Megan Fountain if you are interested: meganm@missionadelante.org

Learning to Lead

Written by Phul Maya Rasaily, Ministry Apprentice

My name is Phul Maya Rasaily. I was born and raised in Nepal. In 2010, my family and I got the opportunity to come to the United States. Since then I have been a part of Mission Adelante. First I attended Refugee Kids Club and then Teens Club. In 2017, I started volunteering in both Refugee Kids and Youth Club. When I was volunteering in these programs, I got the offer to join the staff as an apprentice and lead Adelante Arts Community. I accepted the offer in February. Since then, I have been leading the Arts Community every Monday from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. 

The spring trimester I observed and learned from my supervisor, Gissell. Then this summer I began leading the program with some of her help. I have learned so much about leadership and fulfilling responsibilities by working at Mission Adelante. I have learned to work with and love people from all places. This summer I led Arts Camp with Sara Forsythe. We got to teach more than 45 kids about the love of God and the talents He has given us. I had so much fun with them! I also had the opportunity to lead the summer internship with the other four apprentices and mentored an intern named Puja Gurung. During the internship, we talked about our strengths, gifts, and weaknesses. We built a strong bond and sisterhood between us. 

I would like to ask for prayer for the growth for Arts Community as we are starting our fall trimester on September 23. Also please pray that all the kids and volunteers would come back and we could have another excellent trimester together. I am super excited for the fall trimester and the opportunity to continue sharing the love of Christ and my life with people from all places.

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Have you ever wondered what goes on at a typical night of programming at Mission Adelante? Adelante Arts Community, Refugee Kids Club, Refugee Youth Club, Citizenship Class, Latino ESL, Teens Adelante, and Kids Adelante have Observation Nights coming up! Visit www.missionadelante.org/observe to sign up!

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Do you have a heart for kids? Do you want to make a difference in a kid's life? Kids Adelante is looking for energetic and fun-loving volunteers! If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our website at www.missionadelante.org/kids

• Our Leaders in Training program teaches young students about the importance of eating healthy. Being an after-school program, the kids are often hungry by the time they arrive! You can help out by providing healthy snacks like granola bars, trail mix, and fruit snacks! Contact Megan Fountain if you are interested: meganm@missionadelante.org

Communities Thrive on Collaboration!

Written by Elena Chan, Community Development Director

For the past six months Mission Adelante, Adelante Thrift, and Second Wind Foundation in partnership with CABA and Latino Arts Foundation were busy preparing for the largest community event in KCK: Central Avenue Dotterversity Parade with the inaugural Dream KCK 5K and Latino Arts Festival. All that work culminated last Saturday, September 7th with a great participant and spectator turn out. People from all over Wyandotte County gathered to celebrate our community’s diversity. Kansas City, Kansas welcomes people from all places and these events demonstrated that!

Here are some exciting statistics from the day:

• 64 floats participated in the Central Avenue Dotteversity Parade. This was a record number!

• 6 high school bands from KCK and KCMO participated in Central Avenue’s Marching Band Showdown.

• 30 artists showcased their work during the Latino Arts Festival.

• 25 food and non-food vendors sold their products in Bethany Park. 90% of them sold out!

• 60 amazing volunteers participated to make these events possible.

• 80+ custom cars were showcased as part of the Latino Arts Festival Custom Car Show!

• 150+ runners participated in the inaugural Dream KCK 5K Race!

• Local and state elected officials participated in the day’s events.

• 80+ horses were showcased during Central Avenue Dotteversity Parade.

• One community hero was recognized publicly for their lifelong work.

We are proud to be a part of such a dedicated team of neighbors. Together we celebrated the beautiful diversity of our city! Enjoy this awesome collection of pictures from the day.

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Join us this Saturday, September 14th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm for a New Volunteer Orientation! If you are interested in volunteering with kids, youth, arts and music, adult ESL, or citizenship classes, this is a great opportunity to jump in the fall trimester (September 16 - December 5). Sign up for the registration here: http://www.missionadelante.org/orientation

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Do you have a heart for kids? Do you want to make a difference in a kid's life? Kids Adelante is looking for energetic and fun-loving volunteers! If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our website at www.missionadelante.org/kids

• Thinking about decluttering your house before fall? Adelante Thrift is in need of gently used items in all departments: Men's, Women's, and Children's Clothing, Housewares, Electronics, and Furniture. Adelante Thrift is located at 3720 State Ave KC KS 66102.
  
  

New Journey of Making Disciples!

Laxmi (far right) and Phul Maya (far left) with girls from their discipling group.

Written by Laxmi Gurung, Refugee Kids/Youth Coordinator

I first came to know Jesus through a discipleship group that I belonged to. There I learned about God and made new friends. I’m so thankful to have been a part of this group! They impacted my life in many ways and made me who I am today. Phul Maya Rasaily was one of the friends that I met in this group. Now she is one of the apprentices here at Mission Adelante. I was really excited to work with Phul! Not only is she a good friend, but she is also like a sister who I have always looked up to. This August, we created our own discipling group with the youth from our programs. We have a total of eight young girls. We hang out with them and play soccer during the weekends. I absolutely love spending time with these girls because we get to teach, share life, and have fun together!

During our first week, we asked them what kind of topics they would like to learn about. They answered with interesting questions about belief, maintaining strong faith, and forgiveness. Phul Maya and I will be working together to find stories in the Bible that best connect with these topics. This way the youth can have a better understanding of how these topics relate to the Bible and what it teaches us to do in these situations. Some of the girls in our group do not come from Christian families and I know it would be hard for them to understand if we only talk about Bible stories. I can relate to them because I am not from a Christian family, and I had a hard time understanding the Scripture at first. From my own experiences, I have figured out that learning from the Bible is easier when the stories relate to your own life.

Phul Maya and I will continue to practice Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” We will do this by encouraging these young girls to continue learning about Christ and creating a safe space for them to ask questions. I ask that you all pray for us and our group to know Christ deeply and create lifelong friendships with one another.

The discipling group gathers at a park for a quick snack and chat.

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

• We will be hosting a New Volunteer Orientation on Saturday, September 14th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. If you are interested in volunteering with kids, youth, arts and music, adult ESL, or citizenship classes, this is a great opportunity to jump in the fall trimester (September 16 - December 5). Sign up for the registration here: http://www.missionadelante.org/orientation

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Do you have a heart for kids? Do you want to make a difference in a kid's life? Kids Adelante is looking for energetic and fun-loving volunteers! If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our website at www.missionadelante.org/kids

• Thinking about decluttering your house before fall? Adelante Thrift is in need of gently used items in all departments: Men's, Women's, and Children's Clothing, Housewares, Electronics, and Furniture. Adelante Thrift is located at 3720 State Ave KC KS 66102.

Arts Camp 2019

Written by Sara Forsythe, Arts Community Volunteer

This year we held our third annual summer Arts Camp at Mission Adelante! Since 2017, Christ Community Church and Mission Adelante have partnered together to offer a week-long arts camp to equip and encourage young artists in the Mission Adelante community. Our theme this year was Created to do Good Works, which is based on Ephesians 2:10: , “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” This year we had over 35 campers participate in our camp, and we had a blast being creative together. Here are three things that made me smile during our week of camp: 

Watching the apprentices and interns take the lead: The apprentices and summer interns at Mission Adelante were a vital part of the Arts Camp this year and we could not have done it without them! Phul Maya Rasaily leads Adelante Arts Community during the year, and she stepped up and took on the role of running things during camp week! She was AMAZING. The other apprentices and interns helped our teachers during class time, they helped set up and tear down every day, and they were in charge of games and recreation. 

Seeing the campers get to know each other: We had a few different cultures represented at the camp this year, and several of the campers did not know each other. At the beginning of the week they were all fairly shy, but by the end of the week we could see a difference. They were talking to each other, laughing, and creating together. It is fun to get to know people who are different than you!

Our exceptional volunteers: One of my favorite things to do was walk through the building and watch our volunteers in action. Our sewing teachers would load up a wagon with all their sewing equipment each day and pull it to their classroom. Our videography/photography teacher had photos on the wall in his classroom. Our theater teacher always had fun notes on her whiteboard. The improv teacher had her kids make the funniest faces! Our food team fed us breakfast and lunch every day. Seriously, these volunteers are the best!

This year’s camp was awesome and filled with creativity! We will be hosting another Arts Camp next summer. I invite you to come join us next year and experience it for yourself!

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Love running? Want to support local non-profits? Join us on September 7, 2019 for Dream KCK 5K Race! Your registration fee and any additional donations support Mission Adelante and/or Second Wind. Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

• We will be hosting a New Volunteer Orientation on Saturday, September 14th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. If you are interested in volunteering with kids, youth, arts and music, adult ESL, or citizenship classes, this is a great opportunity to jump in the fall trimester (September 16 - December 5). Sign up for the registration here: http://www.missionadelante.org/orientation

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Do you have a heart for kids? Do you want to make a difference in a kid's life? Mission Adelante's Multicultural Leaders In Training (LIT) program needs volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our website at www.missionadelante.org/kids

• Thinking about decluttering your house before fall? Adelante Thrift is in need of gently used items in all departments: Men's, Women's, and Children's Clothing, Housewares, Electronics, and Furniture. Adelante Thrift is located at 3720 State Ave KC KS 66102.

Thank You Mission Adelante!

Written by Ashley Grills, Kids Adelante Volunteer

I walked into Mission Adelante for the first time a little over four years ago. My church had helped Mission Adelante create a vacation bible school. I met and mingled with all of the kids and felt such a strong connection, but I didn’t know how to get involved. A month later, I went on a mission trip to Jamaica and it was the only time in my life where I can say I genuinely felt called. I felt God calling me to serve at Mission Adelante. I was scared because I didn’t see very many teens from outside of the community volunteering there. I emailed Megan Fountain and a few months later, I began my journey with Mission Adelante. As a 14-year-old, it was completely out of my comfort zone to go to a place where I knew no one. In the end, I am so glad I did. I discovered that sometimes the scariest moments in life end up being the most rewarding.

Mission Adelante has given me so many things to be thankful for: love, acceptance, challenges, and growth. The kids and volunteers welcomed me with open arms into a very tight-knit community and made me feel like I was a part of the family. Mission Adelante is not just a place to volunteer. It’s a place where people of different ages and backgrounds can grow and transform together. As for the challenges, I discovered that the most challenging and misbehaved kids ended up being my favorite! I learned that spending extra time working through their frustrations built an even stronger bond. That is actually how Ximena, a little girl in my group, and I became “besties.” Just knowing that I would see her made me even more excited to come every Thursday night. One of my favorite parts of my experience at Mission Adelante is that I have been able to watch all of my kids grow in so many different ways. The first group of kids I taught are now the “big kids” in group five. It is just so incredible to see how they have matured and built on the knowledge that we taught them so long ago. 

Now let’s talk about everything that all of the kids have taught me! I don’t know why everyone thinks of volunteering as simply helping other people when really you’re usually the one learning the most. I have rediscovered patience, respect, and love. With overly-energetic five-year-olds running around, it is easy to get frustrated, and they definitely challenged me!  However, I feel like I have become more patient each week. The kids have also taught me respect on a new level. I only get respect if I give it. I feel like that’s especially true with kids, but I will also carry that idea into every aspect of my life. Lastly, they have taught me to love people from all places. They have shown me that every single person deserves to be treated with love and respect, no matter where they come from. That is the most important life lesson I will ever learn, and I have Mission Adelante to thank for that.

Although I am sad to leave, I’m excited to see where this next chapter of my life (college) takes me. I want to take this opportunity to thank every single fellow volunteer, kiddo, and community member for being a part of an incredible part of my life, growing with me, and changing my perspective. I love you and appreciate you all!

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Love running? Want to support local non-profits? Join us on September 7, 2019 for Dream KCK 5K Race! Your registration fee and any additional donations support Mission Adelante and/or Second Wind. Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

• We will be hosting a New Volunteer Orientation on Saturday, September 14th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. If you are interested in volunteering with kids, youth, arts and music, adult ESL, or citizenship classes, this is a great opportunity to jump in the fall trimester (September 16 - December 5). Sign up for the registration here: http://www.missionadelante.org/orientation

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Do you have a heart for kids? Mission Adelante is looking for volunteers for its Refugee Kids Club, a dynamic and fun club program for kids ages 5-12. For more information and how to get involved visit www.missionadelante.org/kids.

• Looking for a way to participate in Dream KCK 5K Race without actually running? How about volunteering to help runners during the race? Check out our volunteer opportunities and see which one best fits you! https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

Back to School Blessings

Written by Megan Fountain, Director of Latino Kids Ministries

As the kids are transitioning back to school this week and next, we wanted to take a moment and say a BIG thank you to the churches, small groups, and individuals that donated the backpacks! In order to help the kids start the school year off on the right foot, it is important for them to have all the supplies they will need. Through your generosity, over 145 elementary, middle, and high schoolers went back to school prepared!  However, we know that it isn’t just school supplies that will help the kids have a great year.

Please pray with us for the children and youth of our community that:

• This year would bring academic growth

• New friendships would blossom

• The kids would be protected and safe

• The kids would have a deeper knowledge of how deeply loved they are by the Lord

Enjoy the pictures above that showcase how VERY excited and thankful the kids and youth are!

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Serving God in a multicultural setting can be challenging. Mission Adelante will be hosting a seminar on August 17 to address mutuality and the importance of interdependent relationships in ministry. Speaker and author, Karen Gonzalez, will be leading the discussion and deconstructing the "us serving them" mentality. There is still time to register! Sign up NOW: http://www.missionadelante.org/mutuality

• Love running? Want to support local non-profits? Join us on September 7, 2019 for Dream KCK 5K Race! Your registration fee and any additional donations support Mission Adelante and/or Second Wind. Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Do you have a heart for kids? Mission Adelante is looking for volunteers for its Refugee Kids Club, a dynamic and fun club program for kids ages 5-12. For more information and how to get involved visit www.missionadelante.org/kids.

• Looking for a way to participate in Dream KCK 5K Race without actually running? How about volunteering to help runners during the race? Check out our volunteer opportunities and see which one best fits you! https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

Join us for a Seminar on August 17th- Mutuality: Deconstructing an "Us Serving Them" Mentality in Ministry-

By Jarrett Meek, Ministry Apprentice

When Mission Adelante first began, we had a passion for making disciples and a love for people from all places. However, an ingrained “us/them” mentality that unconsciously envisioned a privileged us serving a needy them hindered our efforts. Though our desire was to love our neighbor, this mentality undermined the dignity of our community members and manifested itself in segregated leadership structures that were inaccessible to our immigrant community members. In recent years, we have made great strides in tearing down the “us/them” mindset and working toward a “new we” where everyone is valued as a contributor and people from all places serve as volunteers and leaders at every level of our organization. It has been a beautiful and challenging journey!

We recognize that fostering mutuality in multicultural ministry is a continual learning process and an essential part of the discipleship of every volunteer and staff member in our ministry, whether born in the U.S. or another country. The "new we" is counter-cultural. It requires addressing internal and personal biases that are often unconscious. It challenges us to set aside our judgment of others and their culture. And especially for native-born Americans, it requires an openness to being challenged on subtle attitudes and actions, even when our intention was to serve and love others.

Continuing to learn about the importance of interdependent relationships and mutuality in ministry is crucial. Mission Adelante wants to equip all our constituents with the appropriate tools to succeed in our multicultural community and help one another understand what it means to develop reciprocal relationships in a ministry context. To this end, we have invited author and speaker Karen Gonzalez to lead a seminar called Mutuality: deconstructing an “us serving them” mentality in ministry. Join us on August 17th from 9 to 11 am - let's learn together! Register for the event below.

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Growing Up Through Mission Adelante

Ashley (second to the left) with other interns and apprentices at our last retreat for the summer.

Written by Ashley Delgado, Summer Intern

Good morning, good evening, or goodnight. I do not know when you are reading this but my name is Ashley Delgado, and I'm honored to write this article about my adventure with Mission Adelante. I remember the beginning of Mission Adelante. I was about 6 or 7 years old. It was at a house packed full of kids and parents. It reminded me of the movie Daddy Daycare. I was in Group 1 of Kids Adelante (a Bible study group for kids) which met in the basement. Throughout my time there I didn't understand who Jesus was because I was too young. As the days went by more kids began attending and the amount of space began decreasing. This meant it was time to expand. 

Mission Adelante transitioned from a house to a building. I don't remember much about this time because I was very quiet and shy. I did not make a lot of friends but the volunteers were very nice to me. They never made me feel alone and were there to cheer me up. In Kids Adelante, I learned many Bible stories. Even to this day I still recall them. As I got older, I began participating in an after school program called LIT (Leaders in Training.) At first, I was excited to join this program and attended for two years. However, my faith began disappearing, and I stopped attending. As I got older, I began attending Teens Adelante. This group was smaller than Kids Adelante and consisted of youth from middle and high school. I began participating when I was in sixth grade; now I am a senior in high school. Teens Adelante helped me open up about my life and faith. It is also a great place to have fun and simply be a teenager. 

In May 2019, I was given the opportunity to be part of Mission Adelante’s summer internship. As an intern, you get to experience what it is like to be a leader. You also learn how to be a disciple and teach others to be followers of God. Being an intern was a great experience for me! My faith grew stronger.  At Mission Adelante, I was surrounded by people that love and care about me. They have been with my family and me during good and bad situations. They have also prayed for us on many occasions. These are the things that I will always treasure in my heart. During my time at Mission Adelante, I have learned everything from children’s Bible stories to learning how to make disciples. I have grown a lot with and through them. Mission Adelante is a place I can call home. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Serving God in a multicultural setting can be challenging. Mission Adelante will be hosting a seminar on August 17 to address mutuality and the importance of interdependent relationships in ministry. Speaker and author, Karen Gonzalez, will be leading the discussion and deconstructing the "us serving them" mentality. We would love for you to join us! Register here: http://www.missionadelante.org/mutuality

• Love running? Want to support local non-profits? Join us on September 7, 2019 for Dream KCK 5K Race! Your registration fee and any additional donations support Mission Adelante and/or Second Wind. Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Do you have a heart for kids? Mission Adelante is looking for volunteers for its Refugee Kids Club, a dynamic and fun club program for kids ages 5-12. For more information and how to get involved visit www.missionadelante.org/kids.

• Looking for a way to participate in Dream KCK 5K Race without actually running? How about volunteering to help runners during the race? Check out our volunteer opportunities and see which one best fits you! https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

God's Work in Teens Adelante

Written Daniel Garcia, Ministry Apprentice

Everyone always asks me, “Where do you see God working in your ministry?” To be truthful, I never know how to answer. I don’t want to lie, but I don’t know what it means to see God working. I’m still a rookie in the ministry life, and everything seems new. This summer I planned to do a Teens retreat. It was my first time having to lead and plan an event like this. It was nerve-wracking, and I kept reminiscing on the retreats I attended as a teenager. I was a difficult teen and made it challenging for leaders during retreats. I was scared God was going to show me what it was like to be on the other side.

God did the exact opposite of that. I was blessed with volunteers that encouraged me greatly. We met a few times to begin planning the retreat, but I still did not feel prepared. I have seen from afar the way Jarrett, our executive director, prepares similar events with great detail. I believed there would be no way I could pull this off. By the time we arrived at Shalom Retreat Center, I felt a deep sense of peace and serenity. I enjoyed every moment of it, and at times found myself wishing that the day wouldn’t come to an end. I decided to let God take control of where our conversations and time would go and slowly began to throw away the detailed schedule that we spent hours making. It was the best decision I could have made!

During our workshop, we talked about adversity. In John 16:33, Jesus tells us that we will face adversity in this world. I paired the teens up with people they don’t normally share with. They went deep. Some of them opened up about parents having money problems, moving from school to school, parents going through a divorce, and one of them even shared about a traumatizing car accident. After sharing I demonstrated the importance of relying on one another when adversity strikes. I had three teens link arms together to demonstrate a cord of three strands. When the teens saw a visual representation it all made sense to them.

By the end of the night, we had our bonfire. It was perfect. There’s nothing like having a fire and smores in July. There were countless stars in the sky! We sat in silence for a while admiring what God had created. Then I realized that God was working and He was working overtime. Every single second was enjoyable. The teens, volunteers, and I had a blast! We took time to do everything we had planned for and still somehow ended up having extra time to play a competitive match of basketball (that the girls ended up winning). Now, I know what it means to feel and see God working!

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Serving God in a multicultural setting can be challenging. Mission Adelante will be hosting a seminar on August 17 to address mutuality and the importance of interdependent relationships in ministry. Speaker and author, Karen Gonzalez, will be leading the discussion and deconstructing the "us serving them" mentality. We would love for you to join us! Register here: http://www.missionadelante.org/mutuality

• Love running? Want to support local non-profits? Join us on September 7, 2019 for Dream KCK 5K Race! Your registration fee and any additional donations support Mission Adelante and/or Second Wind. Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Do you have a heart for kids? Mission Adelante is looking for volunteers for its Refugee Kids Club, a dynamic and fun club program for kids ages 5-12. For more information and how to get involved visit www.missionadelante.org/kids.

• Looking for a way to participate in Dream KCK 5K Race without actually running? How about volunteering to help runners during the race? Check out our volunteer opportunities and see which one best fits you! https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

Transforming My Life

Bijay (far right) with other apprentices and interns at Escape Room KC.

Written by Bijay Gurung, Ministry Apprentice

I was born in Bhutan but I do not remember much about it. In 1992, my family and I moved to Nepal. We spent 21 years in Nepal as refugees. Some days I look back and reflect on my life there. I often compare what my life used to be and what it is now. God has done a great transformation in my life. In the Bible, Moses had to spend 40 years in the desert to reach the Promised Land that God had offered him. In Nepal, I often felt like Moses waiting for God to take me to the Promised Land. As Moses spent 40 years in the desert, we spent 21 years in Nepal. But now I can say that God has brought me in the land that he had promised to me, the land of opportunity.

In 2013, I received the opportunity to come to the U.S as a refugee. It was an exciting time, and I knew I would experience many new things. As a foreigner, I have had some difficulties assimilating to the American culture and people. When I arrived in the U.S., it was a very big culture shock for me. The simplest things had become difficult. I even had a hard time trying to have a conversation with an American neighbor.  I decided to push forward and learn as much as I could. In my 5 years here in the U.S., I have gained a lot of experience in many different fields of work. Through these jobs, I was able to begin learning English and many other skills that would benefit me in the future. 

At the beginning of this year, I got the opportunity to serve God by being an apprentice at Mission Adelante. These past months I have learned more about who God is and who we are to Him. I have learned most of this through our staff huddle time. During this time we discuss various passages in a book of the Bible. We also share ideas and ask questions to help us get a clearer understanding of the passage. Mr. Chuck Allen has also visited Mission Adelante and taught us lessons on bitterness and adversity. These lessons have impacted me profoundly and I have even shared them with the congregation of my church, Samdan Church. 

This trimester will be my second trimester leading Citizenship Class. Citizenship Class meets on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30pm. My supervisor, Yanelis, has equipped me with the skills to be able to lead this program. I am so excited and thankful to Yanelis for providing me this opportunity to step forward. I also am so excited to work alongside amazing volunteers, one of them being my refugee friend, Avinash Rai. Looking back at my life and all the transformation I have gone through, all I can say is: thank you, God!

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Mission Adelante will be hosting a workshop on August 17 with Karen Gonzalez, author of "The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible, and the Journey to Belong". We would love for you to join us! More information to come.

• Love running? Want to support local non-profits? Join us on September 7, 2019 for Dream KCK 5K Race! Your registration fee and any additional donations support Mission Adelante and/or Second Wind. Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Do you have a heart for kids? Mission Adelante is looking for volunteers for its Refugee Kids Club, a dynamic and fun club program for kids ages 5-12. For more information and how to get involved visit www.missionadelante.org/kids.

• Looking for a way to participate in Dream KCK 5K Race without actually running? How about volunteering to help runners during the race? Check out our volunteer opportunities and see which one best fits you! https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

Life-Enriching Relationships

Sharing dinner with friends

Written by Shannon Schafer, Operations Director and ESL Volunteer

At Mission Adelante, we as a staff are reading and discussing “The God Who Sees,” by Karen Gonzalez, a Guatemalan immigrant. In one of the chapters, Karen talks about her temptation, after becoming a citizen, to see immigrants as the other and believe that there is no more need or room for them in the United States. But then she states, “Knowing names and stories activates our compassion. Without these relationships, I would continue to think of undocumented immigrants as outsiders, as the ‘other.’ In so doing, I would lose the humanity in myself as I failed to see it in them. I need these stories and relationships, not only for the sake of my immigrant community, but also for myself-- in order to be changed, to see the image of God in them and in myself.” This resonated with me, as I reflected on my own journey of meeting immigrants through English as a Second Language (ESL) programs and sharing life together.

I first began volunteering with ESL during high school in Florida. One of the Spanish teachers asked if anyone was interested in helping teach English to adults at the local technical college in the evenings. Having grown up in a military family, I had lived in and traveled to different countries my entire life, and I thought it would be fun to interact with people who were experiencing the same feelings I had. I began volunteering alongside a few others, working with groups of students from all over the world-- from Central American painters to Southeast Asian monks. It was a great experience; I got to know people from all places, and we shared parts of our cultures with one another as we tried to make sense of the English language. 

One day at class I was exposed to something new, something that, at that time, wasn’t even on my radar. As we were conversing and working in groups, one of the Central American students said, “No tenemos papeles,” which translates, “We don’t have papers” (how Spanish-speakers talk about being undocumented). I don’t remember how it came up or why he had the confidence to tell me, but it was my first time coming face-to-face with undocumented immigrants. I didn’t know how to respond. I remember wondering if I had a legal obligation to turn them in. At that moment, I decided to play dumb and said that I didn’t understand what he’d said. But I did understand, and I needed to process what to do with this information. This was a group of guys that I’d gotten to know-- whose father was a pastor back in their country, who came faithfully to class with paint still encrusting their hands, to whom I had loaned my Spanish worship CD. After mulling it over, I came to the conclusion that I wasn’t doing anything wrong-- that our friendship was more important than their immigration status and that their status shouldn’t affect how I treated them. And so I continued working with them and getting to know them.

Fast forward to today (more than 15 years later)... I have been volunteering with Mission Adelante as an ESL teacher for about 8 years. I have had the privilege of working with Latino students (of different immigration statuses) from at least nine different countries. We have celebrated birthdays and weddings together. We have experienced new foods and traditions together. We have danced and laughed until we cried together. We have navigated family, health, and economic challenges together. We have truly shared life together. Through these friends’ experiences and other research, I have learned much more about the topic of immigration. But one thing hasn’t changed-- the immigrants with whom I share life are my friends. I love them. God loves them. Regardless of where they’re from or their immigration status. My friendships with immigrants have truly enriched my life, ignited my compassion, and helped me to see the image of God in all people. 

ESL students in Florida

A few friends from my first ESL group at Mission Adelante

Watching a soccer game at a Mexican restaurant with friends from ESL

My ESL group from 2016

Enjoying the Mission Adelante summer party with an ESL friend

My ESL group in 2017

Current ESL students

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Mission Adelante will be hosting a workshop on August 17 with Karen Gonzalez, author of "The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible, and the Journey to Belong". We would love for you to join us! More information to come.

• Love running? Want to support local non-profits? Join us on September 7, 2019 for Dream KCK 5K Race! Your registration fee and any additional donations support Mission Adelante and/or Second Wind. Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

2019 Adelante Thrift Video

Written by Elena Chan, Community Development Director

Adelante Thrift first opened its doors to the Kansas City, Kansas community in 2015. From the beginning, our mission was to provide an affordable shopping experience, promote job creation, and to support community development through our proceeds. Adelante Thrift, like many other businesses, struggled initially to cover its expenses. However last year, the store was not only able to cover its expenses but was also able to make contributions to Mission Adelante.

Each year comes with new challenges and victories for Adelante Thrift. So far this year we have been able to solve major challenges and make great progress. In 2019, we have re-envisioned the store’s warehouse situation and created an on-site warehouse; rearranged the processing area to function more efficiently; and benefited from the sale of furniture and other quality donations from our partnership with an estate sale company. 

It is an exciting time for Adelante Thrift as we are reaping the benefits of these updates. With the help of a previous board member, we were able to create a video that gives a glimpse into the store’s progress in 2019. Please enjoy this video that showcases the customers, staff, and volunteers whom we cherish and love dearly. Thank you to all who continue to support us!

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Love running? Want to support local non-profits? Join us on September 7, 2019 for Dream KCK 5K Race! Your registration fee and any additional donations support Mission Adelante and/or Second Wind. Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

• Have you ever wondered what goes on at a typical night of programming at Mission Adelante? Adelante Arts Community, Refugee Kids Club, Refugee Youth, Teens Adelante, Citizenship Class, Latino ESL, and Kids Adelante have Observation Nights coming up in July! Visit www.missionadelante.org/observe to sign up!

CURRENT NEEDS:

• Do you have a heart for kids? Mission Adelante is looking for volunteers for its Refugee Kids Club, a dynamic and fun club program for kids ages 5-12. For more information and how to get involved visit www.missionadelante.org/kids.

• We are now collecting filled backpacks to bless kids in the community in August. Are you or your small group interested in helping out? Visit www.missionadelante.org/serviceprojects/backpacks/ for details and to sign up!

Celebrating Ten Years of Megan (McDermott) Fountain!

by Jarrett Meek, Pastor/Executive Director

It didn’t take long for me to recognize something special in Megan McDermott. It was the spring of 2007 and Mission Adelante still held its main kids outreach program (Kids Adelante) in my house. Megan arrived as a new volunteer that trimester and her immediate connection with the kids was evident. She loved kids from all places and they loved her! Her natural gifts and formal education as a teacher combined with her experience studying abroad in Costa Rica to produce a super-volunteer. About a year later Megan and I began talking about her participating in our first summer internship, and then the following year she joined our staff on a full-time basis.

I’ve always defined “calling” as something you can’t NOT do: a compelling sense of urgency about a cause that aligns with your gifts and talents. Calling is a beautiful, painful, fulfilling, gift from God. I saw the marks of “calling” in Megan’s life from early on. Though nobody can define calling for another person, I can remember reflecting back to Megan what I was observing in her during those first couple of years. The Lord was clearly working in her life in powerful ways!

Twelve years have passed since Megan first stepped into the lives of kids from our community, as a volunteer. We’re now celebrating her TEN YEAR work anniversary at Mission Adelante! Over these 10 years, Megan has mentored, guided, comforted, taught, and loved many children from many places. She has walked with kids as they’ve become youth and into young adulthood. She’s attended weddings, quinceañeras, graduations, and has even been present in the hospital room as one young mother gave birth to her new baby. When I was thinking of a verse that described Megan’s ministry at Mission Adelante, 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 came to mind:

“But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.”

Megan is a gift to all who know her. Thank you, Megan, for your faithful service to the Lord in our community, as a member of our staff, over these 10 years!

First Annual Park Drive Block Party!

Written by Elena Chan, Director of Community Development

Last week, with the help of several Park Drive neighbors, Mission Adelante hosted a block party! The goal of this event was to connect with our neighbors and cultivate a greater sense of community and friendship. It was a perfect opportunity for neighbors to learn more about Mission Adelante because many of them were unaware of the services we offered the community. Together we shared great food, enjoyed fun activities, and got to know each other.

Marlena Phiakeo is one of the neighbors who helped coordinator the block party. Marlena is a great neighbor; she is active in the community through both advocacy and service. She takes time during her week to volunteer with Mission Adelante’s Arts Community on Mondays and with Kids Adelante on Thursdays. Marlena was essential in making the block party possible. She asked her neighbors to sign a petition in order to close off 19th street for the block party and encouraged them to come participate in the event.

Another neighbor who was a big part of the organizing committee was Miss Dorothy. She suggested having the block party, recalling how 15 years ago her daughter learned to ride a bicycle during a similar event. She said that many things have changed since that last block party - only a few of the original neighbors remain. The block party was a community event that everyone felt needed to be revived and could be used to bring our community together once again. It was a great idea!

Thank you to Park Drive neighborhood for allowing us to be a part of this community event!

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Love running? Enjoy supporting local non-profits? Then we invite you to join us on September 7, 2019 for Dream KCK 5K Race! Your registration fee and any additional donations will go to support Mission Adelante and/or Second Wind. Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/KansasCity/DreamKCK

• Have you ever wondered what goes on at a typical night of programming at Mission Adelante? Adelante Arts Community, Refugee Kids Club, Refugee Youth, Teens Adelante, Citizenship Class, Latino ESL, and Kids Adelante have Observation Nights coming up in July! Visit  www.missionadelante.org/observe to sign up!

CURRENT NEEDS:

• We are now collecting filled backpacks to bless kids in the community in August. Are you or your small group interested in helping out? Visit  www.missionadelante.org/serviceprojects/backpacks/ for details and to sign up!
  
  
  

Dream KCK 5K Run/Walk- September 7, 2019

by Jarrett Meek, Pastor/Executive Director

What is at the nexus of discipleship, community development, partnership, health and wellness, and the diverse cultures of the Mission Adelante neighborhood? There’s only one answer: The Dream KCK 5K Run/Walk! Since last fall we’ve been dreaming of this race and working together with our partners from the Second Wind Foundation to put together a 5K event that would highlight the beautiful diversity of our KCK neighborhood.

Fabric of the Community

As Mission Adelante matures, we’re becoming more and more part of the fabric of our community. From partnerships with local schools, businesses, and other non-profits, to collaboration on projects sponsored by the Wyandotte County/KCK Unified Government, we are excited to be contributing to the common good of our neighborhood. Dream KCK is the result of our partnership with The Central Avenue Betterment Association (CABA) and the Latino Arts Festival in our community and with the Second Wind Foundation, which works in Honduras. The 5K event will be held on the same day and in conjunction with CABA’s Central Avenue Dotteversity Parade and the Latino Arts Festival. Participants will get a real taste of authentic KCK culture from all places, including music and food.

Health Outcomes and Fitness

Unfortunately, Wyandotte County is consistently at the bottom of the list in Kansas in terms of health outcomes. Can Mission Adelante play a part in improving our health and wellness culture? The need is there, and we’re hoping that Dream KCK will contribute to the work that is being done by other organizations in our community to promote health and wellness. Organizations like El Centro, Inc. and Mercy and Truth Medical Missions help neighbors navigate the healthcare system in our city or directly address medical needs. But what about exercise? Mission Adelante is hoping that Dream KCK will be a spark that motivates members of our community to pursue a lifestyle that includes fitness and exercise.

Highlighting Our Diversity

There aren’t many counties in the nation that can boast of the kind of diverse demographics that Wyandotte County has. One distinction that sets our county apart is that we have no ethnic majority and the top three demographics each represent over 25% of the population. White residents represent 42%, Hispanic residents 28%, and African American residents compose 25% of our population. Additionally, in recent years, Wyandotte County has welcomed refugees from many countries including Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Congo, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, and others. Mission Adelante celebrates what each culture has to offer, affirming that God’s image is reflected uniquely and beautifully in diverse human cultures. The Dream KCK 5K Run/Walk, through our partnerships with the Central Avenue Dotteversity Parade and the Latino Arts Festival, highlights the cultural diversity of our community and brings runners in touch with the heart of our city.

Second Wind Foundation

We are excited about and thankful for our partnership with the Second Wind Foundation. Their work in Honduras that includes meeting medical needs, spiritual formation, and job creation aligns in many ways with the heart of Mission Adelante. Their participation and expertise in organizing Dream KCK has made this exciting event possible.

We invite you to join us on September 7, 2019 for a fun race and a unique event. Your registration fee and any additional donations will go to support Mission Adelante and/or Second Wind.

Acts 29

Written by Gissell Vazquez, Assistant Ministry Director

Changing gears in this edition of the Adelante Express, I want to share about some things I have been learning from the Bible. This week the MA staff finished reading the book of Acts. We spent almost two years in an exhaustive and thorough study examining a section or chapter each week. The part that I loved the most is when we talked about what God was telling us personally through the passage. What was He calling us to do in order to put our thoughts into actions?

Someone who stands out in Acts is the Apostle Paul. He traveled around the ancient world, sometimes with fear, sometimes with boldness. He met governors, demon-possessed people, women, Jews, gentiles - without discriminating he shared about Jesus with all of them. He was in prison because of his beliefs but never rejected Jesus. He was called a god, but never claimed to be one. Wherever he went, whatever he experienced, he kept being the same. He stood for the Gospel of Jesus no matter the circumstances. And in the midst of everything he remained faithful to his mission. Yet the book of Acts is not about Paul himself; it is about the work of the Holy Spirit in and through him.  

As we were reading Acts 28 this week, some people pointed out that the story did not have an end. It was a little bit discouraging seeing Paul imprisoned with no response from the people in power in Rome. But as I kept thinking and listening to others’ thoughts, I began to form my own idea. Jesus says in Acts 1:8, “You will be my witnesses to the end of the earth.” This particular phrase, all of a sudden lit up my mind. The story of Acts didn’t have a bad ending but an inconclusive one. It is a chapter connecting the acts of the Holy Spirit to our lives today. The challenge is to continue spreading the Good News about Jesus. That ultimately will reflect the grace and the glory of God. You and I today, empowered by the Holy Spirit, are the ones writing and living out Acts 29.

Pictured above is a large portion of our staff with members from our community at a conference in November.

CURRENT NEEDS:

• We are now collecting filled backpacks to bless kids in the community in August. Are you or your small group interested in helping out? Visit  www.missionadelante.org/serviceprojects/backpacks/ for details and to sign up!

Passing the Baton

Written by Paul Kienzle, ESL Latino Director

My time here at Mission Adelante is coming to an end. Reflecting over these last four years as Director of ESL Latino, I realized I have learned so much. I have received valuable insight into English as a Second Language and how it impacts our Latino community. I have a deeper understanding and appreciation of people from other places and their cultures. I hold a deep admiration and respect for our volunteers and their commitment to our students. I have been challenged to expand my capacity to love my neighbor.  I have had the privilege of being part of a multicultural team that works and relates well together. I believe that Mission Adelante truly lives into its vision that effective ministry is relational at its core. And when those relationships are interdependent, learning is mutual, serving is reciprocal, and friendship is life-giving. It is now time to “pass the baton”.

Maybe you’ve seen those relay races where “passing the baton” smoothly to the next runner can be the difference between winning or losing. For the past five months the Assistant Ministry Director, Gissell Vazquez, and I have been in the process of transition, my transition. She is the one I will be passing the baton to at the start of our summer trimester. So far, it’s been a smooth hand-off. I could not think of a better person to take the reins of the ESL Latino program. God has already blessed and used Gissell in many ways since coming on staff a little over two years ago from Cuba. She has had much success as the worship leader of our Latino church community and she leads and guides one of the three Mission Adelante house churches. Just recently, Gissell has been training one of our apprentices to lead Arts Community, a program that she began a little over a year ago. She also helps support Yanelis Lopez, our Ministry Director, in the bigger picture stuff of Mission Adelante. Gissell has a lot of ministry going on, but she loves the challenge, and I do not doubt she will take our ESL Latino program to the next level! As the outgoing Director of ESL Latino, I have enjoyed her leadership and encouragement these last couple of years.

Many have asked me about our life after Mission Adelante. My wife and I will stay here in Kansas for now. We believe God will go before us. We do not know exactly what this next chapter holds, but we are confident that God is the One writing it. We trust that His plan for us is good, and it will give us a future and a hope!

CURRENT NEEDS:

• We are now collecting filled backpacks to bless kids in the community in August. Are you or your small group interested in helping out? Visit  www.missionadelante.org/serviceprojects/backpacks/ for details and to sign up!

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Growing Up At Mission Adelante

Damariz (back center) is pictured here with a group from Kids Adelante.

Written by Damariz Vasquez, Kids Adelante Volunteer

I first started attending Mission Adelante around 2009, a few months after I arrived in the United States. I was only seven years old.  My parents brought me to the Mission, and we attended church and participated in various programs. Although there was a time when my family stopped coming to Mission, I came back when my sister began participating in Kids Adelante.

A few years ago, the Mission Adelante staff told me about their youth group called Teens Adelante. I have been part of Teens Adelante for a couple of years now. We have done some really fun activities together like camping! Everyone is really close and it feels just like a family. It has been a great experience!

There are so many people that have impacted my life at Mission Adelante like Megan Fountain and the Teens Adelante volunteers. They have supported and guided me through the good and rough times over the last ten years. They have encouraged me to try new things such as becoming a volunteer for Kids Adelante. They have helped me to step out of my comfort zone. They have been a part of my life growing up, and I would like to continue the bond I created with all of them.  I have grown a lot in the time I’ve been at Mission Adelante, and I hope to continue to learn and experience more new things!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• We will be hosting a New Volunteer Orientation on Saturday, May 18th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. If you are interested in volunteering with kids, youth, arts and music, adult ESL, or citizenship classes, this is a great opportunity to jump in for our summer trimester (May 28th to August 4th). Check out www.missionadelante.org/serve to learn more about our programs and to fill out an interest form.

CURRENT NEEDS:

• We are now collecting filled backpacks to bless kids in the community in August. Are you or your small group interested in helping out? Visit  www.missionadelante.org/serviceprojects/backpacks/ for details and to sign up!