Five Years at Adelante Thrift

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Written by: Alex Ruybalid, Partner Engagement Director

A thrift store provide a neighborhood with a low-cost place to support their family, a fun shopping experience, and most of all - community. 

Stop-in any day at the thrift store at 37th and State Avenue, and it is sure to brighten your day. Between the racks of used clothes, the shoes, and rows of books at Adelante Thrift, you will find some of the most genuine people. 

Elizabeth Torres, Interim Manager

Elizabeth Torres, Interim Manager

“My journey at Adelante Thrift started by pure coincidence. I happened to be shopping for luggage when my mother and I stumbled into Elsa, former store manager,” said Interim Store Manager, Elizabeth Torres.  “I have had the pleasure to work with and serve some of the most kind hearted people. The staff is kind of like a family. We all support each other, whether it’s here at the store or in our personal lives.” 

Ernesto and Jesus unloading donations.

Ernesto and Jesus unloading donations.

From the cashiers in front, to the drivers in box trucks - that support and unity is evident in each team member. In just the last five years, Adelante Thrift has invested $1.1 million dollars back into these employees through staff salaries. The energetic atmosphere has led to $2.2 million in sales in that same time frame. Throughout the last five years, 25,000 volunteer hours have been invested sorting clothes, cleaning, and donating.  

Next Saturday (March 14th), we want to invite you to our store to take a big deep breath, look back, and celebrate what the last five years have meant to our neighborhood, families, and this city. 

“This free event will have children’s crafts, face painting, balloon artistry, fire trucks, police cars, and the KCKPL bookmobile with their button-making station,” explains Jessica Boling, Volunteer Coordinator at Adelante Thrift.  “There will be free food from Brown Sugar and Subway as well as free coffee from Splitlog Coffee. Come out for free food, free kids crafts, free face painting, and a whole lot of community!”

We want to take a day to say thank you to our neighbors, friends, families, and to YOU. Thank you so much for supporting Mission Adelante and Adelante Thrift. 

“Time keeps moving forward, new customers, new employees but our purpose stays the same and that’s what makes Adelante Thrift a light in our community. Happy 5-year Anniversary, Adelante Thrift!”  - Elizabeth Torres 

Learn more about our Five-Year Anniversary Fiesta! - https://www.facebook.com/events/1356099887906996/

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For the First Time

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Written by Phul Maya Rasaily, Ministry Apprentice

Leading Arts Community has been a huge learning step for me because I had never led anything before. Getting out of my comfort zone was not as bad as I thought it would have been. After realizing how much I have gained from trying something new, I knew I wanted to encourage my volunteers to do the same. Now, I am learning to encourage my volunteers to lead alongside me. Below, one of my volunteers shares about teaching a Bible lesson for the first time!

Getting ready for a big performance!

Getting ready for a big performance!

“My name is Marlena and I am a dance teacher at Arts Community. On February 3rd,  I taught my very first bible lesson to the kids. I was going to be teaching about when Jesus healed a paralytic at Capernaum. Asking my friends and colleagues at Mission Adelante for resources and help on how to best present this to children from 3 to 18 years of age, was weird for me. I usually tend to listen rather than present in religious circumstances. Phul Maya was kind to give me a couple of sources so I could begin to plan how to present. 

Treats and smiles after performing!

Treats and smiles after performing!

Planning my lesson was the most challenging part of this experience. A big question came to mind: Would anyone be offended or would it be enjoyed? I wanted the students to focus on more than just remembering to be helpful. I wanted them to see the story for what it was about: love, trust, and having faith. Having the students participate in the storytelling is always fun and tends to be memorable. I was glad to see that the students didn't mind me playing Jesus (me being female) and didn’t mind my pet lovebird playing the paralyzed person (who did great by the way).

I was afraid that this way of telling a story would be a bit unorthodox, but the beauty of children is that they are pure of heart. They are full of innocence, something that us adults either lose, tend to forget, or both. Seeing their reactions and how they take on the story gave me a sense of comfort. My personal thoughts and perspective didn’t matter to them. What mattered most was that this lesson was accepted by them and it was something that I had enjoyed! This lesson ended up having more value than even I could have imagined! This is an example of what some may say is to just have a little bit of faith. It's a reward within itself!”

I am excited about what God is doing through Marlena in Arts Community. I hope that her first experience teaching a Bible lesson will inspire others to do the same. 

Laxmi and Marlena smile for the camera before Arts Community begins.

Laxmi and Marlena smile for the camera before Arts Community begins.


CURRENT NEEDS:

  • Adelante Thrift is looking for a summer social media intern! This intern will work directly with the Volunteer Coordinator and will create content showcasing their volunteers and volunteer activities. Applicants must live in Kansas City, KS and be a high school student in good standing. The application deadline is April 30th. Apply here: https://forms.gle/EMGEMNeCS49SHfna9

UPCOMING EVENTS:

  • Thinking about serving at Mission Adelante? Join them the first and second weeks of March for observations! Come find out what services they provide for their community and what program would be the best fit for you! Pick a date and sign up to observe here: http://www.missionadelante.org/observe





Supporting Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Our Neighborhood

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Written by Alex Ruybalid, Partner Engagement Director

“Immigrants are about twice as likely as native-born citizens to start new businesses”  - Kauffman Foundation, 2015

Just looking out your window driving down State or Central Avenue makes this statistic ever more clear. But don’t let the explosion of business and community in this county fool you -  the road to starting a business is not easy. The most common hurdles facing immigrant entrepreneurs in Wyandotte County are the language barriers, and, subsequently, the lack of awareness of resources. 

Small Business Workshop

Small Business Workshop

On a cold Monday night in January, 110 individuals and four unique language translators huddled into the basement of the Bethany Community Center to take the first steps towards overcoming these hurdles. Led by Gabe Munoz of Forward Cities, the Small Business Workshop featured a talk on securing local grants, talks from local funding agencies, entrepreneur-aid, and other networking groups. Shoulder-to-shoulder, aspiring business creators (90% of which had not previously met for any outside help in starting their business) took the first steps towards making their dream into a reality.

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“I never thought about running my own business before because I felt it was something unattainable for someone like me. I don't come from money, my parents are not college graduates..” said Liley Villazan, the driven entrepreneur. “My plan is to open a manicuring, esthetics, and cosmetology school. It will be a stepping stone for new beauty industry business owners.“

90% of attendees had not previously met for any outside help in starting their business.

90% of attendees had not previously met for any outside help in starting their business.

The initiative in Wyandotte County has put their wheels to the ground to support and guide Wyandotte entrepreneurs such as Liley. Besides these workshop events, Gabe also hosts open hours at Central Library to work one-on-one with aspiring business owners and act as the critical bridge between them and the massive support network for entrepreneurs in Kansas City. 

Over the last several years, Mission Adelante has been investigating ways we can help fan the flame of immigrant entrepreneurship.  Now is the time! We’ve locked arms with Forward Cities and a handful of other local organizations and businesses to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem in our community that will help encourage and equip minority business owners to flourish in our growing local economy. 

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“Entrepreneurship shouldn’t be harder based on your skin color, your zip code, or who your parents are – but the truth is that it is.” - Kauffman Foundation, Breaking Down Barriers Report 

Forward Cities Entrepreneurship Planning Meeting

Forward Cities Entrepreneurship Planning Meeting

Over cups of coffee in our chapel the past several months, the recurring theme in our workshop planning conversation is how important it is for resources to be available to immigrants in a language they can understand, and for the support to be individualized, consistent, and here for the long-haul. We are looking to the past to see what works, what does not, and how we can go from talking about helping people start businesses - to actually doing it.

That is where change happens.

Businesses represent a future, represent hope, and represent a thriving Central Avenue, State Avenue, and beyond. Entrepreneurship represents dreams, aspirations, and hard work. Immigrant and marginalized entrepreneurs are cut from this cloth, and make up the most beautiful parts of this Kansas City mosaic. We are excited to continue to partner with Gabe and Forward Cities to continue to grow these initiatives to support our neighbors and friends!

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“Now I feel like being a business owner is something I can do… My children seeing me accomplishing my dream with ESHIP and Gabe’s help is changing the way my children see themselves vs the way I saw myself when I was their age. Having ESHIP and Gabe is going to change this community’s mindset completely.”

Want to see a Forward Cities event in action, or do you know an entrepreneur that needs to be there? Learn more here - https://www.facebook.com/events/2988023724552486/


Mi Dulce Paz/ My Sweet Peace

Carla (far left) with apprentices and summer interns at Top Golf.

Carla (far left) with apprentices and summer interns at Top Golf.

Written by Carla Flores, Ministry Apprentice

I have been a part of the Mission Adelante staff for a year and a half now. It is crazy to think about all I have experienced in that short time frame. From leading a group of interns for the first time to learning more about who I am as a person, it has been magnificent. Before I began working here, I knew about Jesus but I didn’t have a close relationship with Him. Now, I can say that He is my confidant, my protector, and above all, my Savior. 18 months ago, I was stuck in a bad place mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I felt like I didn’t know what to do with my life, and I lacked motivation and confidence in myself. When I began creating a relationship with Jesus, that turned around drastically. Now, I’m not saying that by believing in Him I’m free from ever having problems. But instead, when a problem arises now, I have someone to run to, cry to, and pour out my heart to in the most beautiful way. 

I have always had a hard time with my anxiety. It often stops me from being myself around others and it is hard for me to create relationships. The last few months of 2018 were no different. I had just received my associate’s degree from KCKCC and I knew I wanted to get my Bachelor’s in Education. Since I am ineligible for federal aid or grants, I would have to pay for tuition out of pocket. I felt like that would be impossible. I had been working as an accountant for a while and I felt like it was not the right job for me. I felt trapped and I lacked the motivation to do anything about it. At the same time, I felt pressure from everyone around me to do something with my life. At the same time my boyfriend, Daniel, had received an offer to be part of an apprenticeship at Mission Adelante. We were discussing whether he should take it or not, and I asked him to pray that I would find something similar. Never in a million years, would I have thought that 2 months later Jarrett Meek would offer me a position in the same, exact apprenticeship. Talk about the power of prayer! Jarrett’s daughter, Caroline, had mentioned my writing skills (Thank you, Caroline! <3). I was thrilled and after meeting with Jarrett, I was on staff as a Communications Apprentice! 

Slowly, through our huddle time (where we study God’s Word three times a week), mentoring with others on staff, and our apprenticeship huddle (a time where we can ask questions about faith) I began creating a relationship with Jesus. The relationship wasn’t immediate, in fact, it took quite some time. I was hesitant to open my heart to Him and I had many, many questions. The awesome part is that I had found a place where I could simply be myself and share my doubts openly. The rest of the staff was patient in answering my questions and their experienced faith gave me a different perspective. 

Today, there are still days filled with doubt, but now I pray that God continues strengthening by faith in Him. There are still some days where my anxiety gets the best of me, but now my trust is in Him who will never abandon me. With the help of Mission Adelante, I was also able to begin my journey in obtaining my bachelor's degree. In just a few months, I will be graduating and following my lifelong dream of becoming a teacher to students in Wyandotte County. God reminds me every day of the power of prayer and of His immense love and grace. A song we sang this Sunday at house church sums up the way I'm feeling now, “Yo tengo un nuevo amor, el corazón me late sin parar, hay uno que me ha dicho te amo de verdad, Jesús mi amor y más que amor mi dulce paz. (I have a new love, my heart beats endlessly, One who has told me: I truly love you. Jesus, my love, but more than love, my sweet peace.”


CURRENT NEEDS:

  • Adelante Thrift is looking for a summer social media intern! This intern will work directly with the Volunteer Coordinator and will create content showcasing their volunteers and volunteer activities. Applicants must live in Kansas City, KS and be a high school student in good standing. The application deadline is April 30th. Apply here: https://forms.gle/EMGEMNeCS49SHfna9

  • Thinking about serving at Mission Adelante? Join them the first and second weeks of March for observations! Come find out what services they provide for their community and what program would be the best fit for you! Pick a date and sign up to observe here: http://www.missionadelante.org/observe


Reflection: The Samaritan Woman

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Written by Yanelis Lopez, Ministry Director

At Mission Adelante, we believe that being connected with God as a community and as staff strengthens us and enables us to be more effective in ministry. That is why as part of our work routine, we meet for one hour, three days a week to pray and study His Word.

Every week there is something that impresses me from our reading. Recently, Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman in John 4 has impressed and touched my heart. There is so much to learn from that passage and each time I read it I learn something new. These past few days, I have been thinking about and focusing on these two ideas specifically: 

1. The flexibility Jesus has with his time

The rush of this life sometimes scares me, we always have something to do. There is always a project or a goal to fulfill. In the eagerness to mark something “done” at the end of the day, we can forget the most important thing, the people around us. There are only three eternal things in this life: God, the Word of God, and our souls. This also makes me think: Which of these am I dedicating my life and time to? What is my priority? Do I invest in what is eternal? I take a moment to stop, look at the people around me, and understand that everything else is temporary. What I decide to do in my relationships is what lasts forever.

2. An open heart to God is the principle of true worship

Jesus is the Truth. How am I going to worship the Truth without being honest? How do I appear before Him trying to hide something without exposing the deepest part of me? The only possibility of truly worshiping God is to open the soul in the most real and truest way possible. Finding ourselves and revealing our brokenness is scary, but it is the only way to meet Him.

I enjoy our huddle time as a staff team because it leads me to deep, thoughtful reflections like these. They are powerful and help me see God’s Word from a different perspective.

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CURRENT NEEDS:

  • Cleaning out your home for 2020? How about donating some of those items to Adelante Thrift? They are located at 3720 State Ave, Kansas City, KS 66102 and are always in need of clothing for men, women, and children. Stop by and drop off your donations Monday through Saturday from 9:30am to 6:30pm!

  • Adelante Thrift is looking for a summer social media intern! This intern will work directly with the Volunteer Coordinator and will create content showcasing their volunteers and volunteer activities. Applicants must live in Kansas City, KS and be a high school student in good standing. The application deadline is April 30th. Apply here: https://forms.gle/EMGEMNeCS49SHfna9


Overlooked | How Immigrants Are Saving Our Cities from the Inside Out

Introduction by Jarrett Meek, Pastor/Executive Director/Founder, Mission Adelante, Inc.

Are immigrants a blessing or a burden?  That’s one of the more contentious questions being tossed around our current cultural moment.  As Christ-followers, we’ve been shown how to recognize the value in people others have rejected.  Jesus saw something special in Levi while he was still sitting at his tax booth—it wasn’t long before Levi’s friends were sharing a meal in his home with Jesus.  When he spoke with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, Jesus saw into her heart and beyond; his vision included fields ripe for the harvest. It wasn’t long before this unlikely woman would lead an entire town to Jesus.  Our Lord has a habit of making heroes out of marginalized people.  

Viewing immigrants through this lens has led us to tell a different kind of story about our neighbors from other countries.  Even beyond seeing these newcomers as people in need of compassion, it became clear to us that our friends from all places were bringing something of incredible value to our inner city neighborhood: revitalization.  Over the last fifteen years of doing ministry in this community, I have seen this neighborhood transformation with my own eyes. The people I came to serve are serving and changing lives. They are becoming leaders in churches.  They are starting businesses and fixing up homes. Our neighborhood is safer and more vibrant because they are here.  

When you’re up close, the human stories are powerful and plentiful, and the community impact is notable.  Even so, I was surprised when the story revealed by the data from my research matched so consistently with what we are seeing in real life; immigrants are saving our city from the inside out.  “Overlooked” is our attempt at telling this story in a way that will challenge others to see immigrants from a new perspective—not as a burden, but as a blessing.

Leadership Pipeline

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Written by Daniel Garcia, Ministry Apprentice

As long as I can remember, Jarrett Meek has been preaching about a leadership pipeline in Mission Adelante. I never quite understood what that meant or if that pertained to me at all. In 2014, I was part of the summer internship, and even then I couldn’t see the vision of what Jarrett was talking about. When I started my apprenticeship at Mission Adelante, I started to finally see the bigger picture of how they developed young leaders by investing in their education, faith, and character. I started to wonder how I could implement the same values into the program that I was entrusted to lead, Teens Adelante. 

When I started to brainstorm, I thought that I needed an elaborate plan to attract some of the teens. But it turns out, I just needed to give them some ownership of the program and let God do his work. I boiled it down to three teens that I knew were growing more in their relationship with Jesus and developing friendships with one another. We went out for lunch, and I presented this idea to them. I explained that they would be in charge of planning activities and games for Teens Adelante every Wednesday. In addition, they would have a role in planning for retreats. Naturally, I was terrified. Have you ever had a teen or a kid reject you? They’re very blunt! Surprisingly, they all agreed that this was something they would all like to be a part of! The best thing I did as a leader was to back away and allow them to make decisions and plan for the program. Here is some information about the teens that are now part of my leadership team: 

  • Damaris Vasquez grew up through the Mission Adelante programs. She graduated from J.C. Harmon High School (Go Hawks!) and will be starting college in the fall. Damaris not only has a leadership role in Teens Adelante, but she also has several responsibilities in our kids ministry, Kids Adelante. God has worked in her through turbulent times and I see how her faith has grown throughout the years. 

  • Isaiah Ochoa is a freshman at Wyandotte High School. Isaiah is one of the most talented teens that I know. He has gifts that I wish the whole world could see. He can play the electric guitar really well and has a vulnerable, kind heart. He’s still fairly new in his relationship with God, but there’s gold to be found. 

  • Ashley Delgado is a senior at Bishop Ward High School. Ashley grew up through several Mission Adelante programs with the rest of her family. Ashley is a volunteer in Arts Community in addition to having responsibility in Teens Adelante. God is working hard in Ashley and you can see how she has been trusting in God throughout the years. 

These three teens will eventually be leading our discussion time in collaboration with the volunteers. I’m excited for what God has in store with this group of teens and Teens Adelante as a whole. We’re still trying to figure out a name for our leadership group. So far, they’ve settled on Teen Titans, lol. Please continue praying that God continues to work over Teens Adelante and the Teen Titans!


CURRENT NEEDS:

  • Cleaning out your home for 2020? How about donating some of those items to Adelante Thrift? They are located at 3720 State Ave, Kansas City, KS 66102 and are always in need of clothing for men, women, and children. Stop by and drop off your donations Monday through Saturday from 9:30am to 6:30pm!

  • Adelante Thrift is looking for a summer social media intern! This intern will work directly with the Volunteer Coordinator and will create content showcasing their volunteers and volunteer activities. Applicants must live in Kansas City, KS and be a high school student in good standing. The application deadline is April 30th. Apply here: https://forms.gle/EMGEMNeCS49SHfna9


Welcome Alex Ruybalid- Our New Partner Engagement Director

Written by Jarrett Meek, Founder/Pastor/Executive Director

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We’re excited to introduce you to Alex Ruybalid, our brand new Partner Engagement Director! Over the past five years, one of the most significant areas of growth for Mission Adelante has been partnerships. As Adelante Thrift has begun to thrive, we’ve found new ways of connecting with other businesses and organizations in our own neighborhood and across the city. As we’ve begun to plan ways to encourage entrepreneurship and revitalization along the Central Avenue corridor, we’ve deepened our connection with organizations like Central Avenue Betterment Association and Forward Cities. In our ongoing passion for developing leaders from our community, we’ve locked arms with Freedom Fire Ministries and The Hope Center in KCMO. Dream KCK, our first-ever 5K run/walk knit us together more closely with local government officials and other non-profits in our community. And, our growing network of church partners across the city continue to walk in-step with us as they provide support and volunteers to help accomplish our mission. In light of this exciting growth and the opportunities it brings with it, we’ve hired a brand new Partner Engagement Director to help us build deep, reciprocal partnerships in our community and across the metro.

Skate for ChangePhoto: Aawhan Jung Rhana

Skate for Change

Photo: Aawhan Jung Rhana

Alex Ruybalid began in this new role the first week of January and is already making an impact! As a high-capacity millennial leader, Alex brings experience in organizational leadership, inter-agency partnerships, marketing, and fundraising. His role as Communications Director with The Bay, a skate park, concert venue, and art space for at-risk youth, included developing partnerships with other organizations, managing staff and volunteers, and creating marketing and fundraising campaigns. As Director of Skate For Change, a sister organization to The Bay, Alex has developed a network of city leaders in 114 cities who serve at-risk youth and the homeless communities in their own cities. Additionally, Alex currently serves on the board of Directors of the Whiteclay Makerspace, an artists’ makerspace operated by, and in service to, the Oglala Sioux artists of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

We first met Alex when he began volunteering with Mission Adelante in January 2019 in our Monday evening Arts Community program. His faith in Christ is marked by authenticity. His unassuming character elevates those around him. And, his creative talent shines through in everything he produces. Though you may not have met Alex personally, you have probably enjoyed his work; he is the videographer behind the outstanding video of Phulmaya Rasaily, which we released in November. We are so excited to welcome Alex to our team and community. And we’re excited about how Alex will help us continue to build collaborative partnerships with organizations in our own community and throughout the metro area! Join us in welcoming Alex to the Mission Adelante staff team!

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Leadership: Living Out the Love of God

Laxmi (top, second from right), volunteers, and youth pose for a group picture after Refugee Youth Club.

Laxmi (top, second from right), volunteers, and youth pose for a group picture after Refugee Youth Club.

Written by Laxmi Gurung, Refugee Kids & Youth Coordinator

We began our second year of Refugee Youth Club last Tuesday. All the youth came back, and we had a good time sharing about what we did over the Christmas break, playing some fun games, and eating yummy pizza. It was really good to see them come back and to find out what they had been up to. I shared the schedule of activities for this trimester, and they were very excited! Each teen will have a different responsibility this trimester: leading games, distributing snacks, cleaning up, or handing out Bibles during lesson time. 

The theme of this trimester is leadership. The youth will be leading kids activities, Adelante Thrift serve time, and community service. They began leading at Refugee Kids Club last trimester, organizing and leading the reward party for the kids. We decided to let them lead this event because we wanted the youth to see themselves as leaders and realize that they can lead no matter how big or small they are. We also wanted them to be an example for the younger kids who might become part of Refugee Youth Club in the near future. They did an awesome job planning stations to entertain the kids during the party! There was an ice cream station, game station, and a crafts station. The kids loved all the activities and had so much fun. The volunteers and I were really impressed by their leadership skills!

I love this theme of leadership because this is what I have been taught since I began working at Mission Adelante! I have learned to be a leader and understand how important it is to be there for the people in our community. I have grown up through Mission Adelante’s programs and now I get to do what people have done for me. When I was part of Bhutanese Teens, there were people who walked with me, accepted me, and loved me the way I was. I want to continue to do the same with the kids and youth I have now because I understand how important it is to be there for people and love them how God loves us. I am always thankful to God for giving me this awesome opportunity to be part of this community and Mission Adelante family!

Refugee Youth Club leading the reward party for the kids!

Refugee Youth Club leading the reward party for the kids!


CURRENT NEEDS:

  • Arts Community is still looking for a few volunteers this trimester. Learn more about how we are using the arts to inspire creativity and share Jesus: www.missionadelante.org/serve

  • Looking to serve with your family or friends this new year? How about volunteering at Adelante Thrift? They are always looking for new volunteers to hang clothes, sort donations, and tag new items! You can either serve in a group or by yourself! Sign up to volunteer now: http://www.adelantethrift.com/volunteer


Growing and Flourishing

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It has almost been a year since I first began leading Arts Community. I feel the same excitement this spring trimester as I did my first day of work. Time really does fly when you are having fun and love what you do. When I first started my apprenticeship in February 2019, I was excited, nervous, and so thankful to God for providing the opportunity to serve my community and grow in Christ. After a year of being here, my feelings have not changed, and I am excited to see what else He has in store for me. Every day I look forward to coming to work because I know I am making a difference in my community. All of the Mission Adelante staff, volunteers, and students are so much fun to be around because we help each other grow and flourish. I have grown a lot as a person and as a leader during this year of serving in Arts Community. 

We finished on a great note last year in Arts Community with three big accomplishments. We added a crochet class for youth in the community, which had an average attendance of 4 students a week. Also, 50 percent of our volunteers were immigrants or refugees from the community. At Mission Adelante, we love to have community members investing back into their neighborhood! Another amazing thing we accomplished last year was decorating our kids room. Leidy, an Arts Community volunteer, designed and constructed a beautiful mural. We are so thankful for all her hard work and creativity in beautifying our kids room!

I am looking forward to another great trimester as we kick off 2020! This year Arts Community starts January 20th, and we will be adding a creative writing class. This will be an opportunity for kids to write and share their thoughts. My friend, Carla, will be leading this class, and I’m sure it will be tons of fun! I am so grateful for all I have learned and grown this past year at Mission Adelante, and I am eager to see what God has planned for this year!  


CURRENT NEEDS:

  • Arts Community and Refugee Kids Club are still looking for a few volunteers this trimester. Learn more about these ministries at www.missionadelante.org/serve and fill out an interest form to get involved!

  • Looking to serve with your family or friends this new year? How about volunteering at Adelante Thrift? They are always looking for new volunteers to hang clothes, sort donations, and tag new items! You can either serve in a group or by yourself! Sign up to volunteer now: http://www.adelantethrift.com/volunteer


The Power of Testimony

Daniel (second from right) and other Latino church members celebrating a birthday!

Daniel (second from right) and other Latino church members celebrating a birthday!

Written by Daniel Garcia, Ministry Apprentice

In 2010, my stepdad, who I consider my father, was murdered in Mexico. It was a warm July evening when my mom received a call from my dad’s roommate. I don’t know exactly what he told my mom, but I pray that I never hear my mom cry the way she did that night. My mom felt like she needed to be there for her husband and needed closure, so she headed for Mexico. It was a terrible time for my family and me. I was in eighth grade and had to look out for my brother and sister who were nine and three at the time. Thankfully, my godparents let us stay with them. Otherwise we would have had no place to stay. The following five months were long and miserable as we waited for my mom to come back. 

New Year's Eve of 2010 my mom surprised us by arriving back to the U.S. I felt hope for the first time in a long time. Looking back at the autumn of 2010, it was then when God saved me. During that time it felt like Kansas City was in the midst of a gang war. I was hanging out with the wrong crowd, to say the least. There were times when I feared for my life. I remember one night praying to God to please keep me away from my enemies and remove them from my life. I felt like God hated me at that time because, not only did I lose my father, but all of my friends started to go to prison or ran away from the city for a lot of different reasons. My family and I put all of that behind us. I never wanted to relive that, so I just continued on with my life. 

It wasn’t until this year that I realized that I never dealt with all of that emotional distress. It was a terrible year mentally. I felt weak, powerless, and depressed. It wasn’t until one of our church members, Yolanda, faced her own battles that I realized it was time to face my past. She made me realize that in times of trouble is when God draws us closer to Him. Yolanda’s faith was resilient. She never once doubted God. She always spoke about what God was going to do to heal her family and the miracles that He was going to work in their lives. I felt empowered by that. It was almost like God was giving me strength through her. In Yolanda’s hard times God found a way to reach me. There’s power in your testimony and never once doubt the importance of the work that God does in each and every one of us.

The way Yolanda’s testimony empowered me, I pray that my testimony can encourage the teens I have been working with this past year at Mission Adelante. God uses our testimonies as a way to share the powerful transformations He has done in our lives. Our testimonies can also help others start believing in Jesus and help solidify their faith!


CURRENT NEEDS:

  • Love the arts? Enjoy working with children and youth? We invite you to come serve at Arts Community! This fun program meets Monday evenings to practice their talents, create friendships, and learn more about Jesus. Visit our website for more information: http://www.missionadelante.org/arts/

  • Do you speak English? Many of our community members don’t but would love to learn and practice with you! We are in need of ESL volunteers for our spring trimester. Come make friends from other places and help them learn a new language! If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our website at http://www.missionadelante.org/esl


A Trip to Great Wolf Lodge!

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Written by Aleta Friedeman, Leaders in Training Volunteer

In September, I began my first-trimester volunteering with Leaders in Training (LIT). In LIT, a typical day includes homework time, games, a Bible study, and small group discussions. At first, coming to volunteer right after a full day of teaching seemed to be a bit daunting as my energy level was low. However, it quickly turned into something I looked forward to doing because of these exceptional kids and leaders! Megan, Laxmi, and Daniel do a wonderful job leading these young people. They set high expectations for them to be successful. The kids work hard on their organizational skills, Scripture memorization, and their character. I truly feel this program is setting them up for future success.

My favorite part about these young leaders is their eagerness to learn the Word of God. With each question asked about the Bible passage, there are always enthusiastic hands waving in the air to share. Their answers and questions are often so earnest and child-like. Yet, many times I am blown away by the depth, wisdom, and insight their answers hold. They challenge me to have the same fervent passion and excitement for the Word of God.

For their hard work through the trimester, the kids earn a rewards trip to Great Wolf Lodge. The students that have gone before get so excited sharing the traditions of the previous year, which hypes everyone up, as if there wasn't enough excitement already. The first stop is to Chick-Fil-A, which brings new adventures for some such as ordering on their own or the delicacy of Chick-Fil-A sauce. A prayer before the meal included a heartfelt thank you for the opportunities that Mission Adelante provides (such sweet kiddos). Next, is Great Wolf Lodge and the WATER PARK! Obviously, the waterpark is a blast for all of the kids with the favorite being the waterslides. The kids also enjoy getting soaked by the big bucket dump! I had a blast connecting with the kids by simply having fun together. It was a joy seeing their delight over everything about the trip, from snacks and games to the gift shop and bunk beds.

Even with all the excitement, my favorite part of the trip was the evening devotional time. Megan and Laxmi led a beautiful discussion about temptation and how Satan wanted Jesus to question His identity as the Son of God. The kids all shared some lie they were believing or something they didn’t like about themselves. We then counteracted each lie with the Truth. The kids got deep and vulnerable. I truly believe that there were breakthroughs that occurred as Jesus began to enter into the deep hurts of their hearts and brought His truth. It was also a powerful time of bonding to see the kids comforting and loving one another. These kiddos are truly a breath of fresh air, and I am thankful for the opportunity to spend my time with them.

Interested in volunteering with these amazing kids? We are currently looking for volunteers for Jan-April! Contact meganf@missionadelante.org if you are interested.


CURRENT NEEDS:

  • Love the arts? Enjoy working with children and youth? We invite you to come serve at Arts Community! This fun program meets Monday evenings to practice their talents, create friendships, and learn more about Jesus. Visit our website for more information: http://www.missionadelante.org/arts/

  • Do you speak English? Many of our community members don’t but would love to learn and practice with you! We are in need of ESL volunteers for our spring trimester. Come make friends from other places and help them learn a new language! If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our website at http://www.missionadelante.org/esl


A Week of Celebrations

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Written by Yanelis Lopez, Ministry Director

This week is one of those where we can celebrate the work and achievements made during the last trimester of the year. Yesterday, ESL Latino students had their final exam. The other programs have had parties to honor the children, youth, community members, and volunteers for their hard work and effort this fall! As I reflect on this trimester and the whole year, I would like to say:

  • Congratulations to the ESL students because it is not an easy task to learn a different language. You guys have studied very hard this trimester and I am sure you will receive great results on the exam and move ahead to higher levels.

  • To all those who have been preparing for the citizenship exam: be encouraged! We accompany you all in prayer for the day of the exam to become a citizens of this country. And of course, we will always be here to continue learning with those who decide to return and continue preparing!

  • To the students from Kids Adelante and Refugee Kids Club: we love you all so much. We love to see you enjoy Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings. You are always super fun and full of light. You all fill our soul!

  • To our Leaders in Training: we hope you will always have the strength to continue preparing and learning more every day. All the effort that you and your parents make today, will be rewarded in the future in many ways. Keep going! We are very proud of each and every one of you!

  • To the youth: you make us look to the future with hope. We pray that every week you meet you get closer to God and share life experiences with one another. We see you and as you learn, we also learn from you.

  • And last but not least, thanks to all the volunteers who became part of this community and come from different parts of the city with so much love and joy to share, teach, and learn with everybody. Without your support we would not be able to do so much. We really appreciate you all!

We are already getting ready for next year where I am sure we will continue to enjoy more weeks like this. I am eager to see what God has in store for Mission Adelante in 2020. 


CURRENT NEEDS:

  • Love the arts? Enjoy working with children and youth? We invite you to come serve at Arts Community! This fun program meets Monday evenings to practice their talents, create friendships, and learn more about Jesus. Visit our website for more information: http://www.missionadelante.org/arts/

  • Do you speak English? Many of our community members don’t but would love to learn and practice with you! We are in need of ESL volunteers for our spring trimester. Come make friends from other places and help them learn a new language! If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our website at http://www.missionadelante.org/esl


Support Mission Adelante This Year-End!

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Dear Friends,

“Coach” Wayne Gordon of the Christian Community Development Association often asserts that it takes 15 years to make a lasting impact in urban ministry.  As we approach our 15-year mark, we are seeing the kind of fruit we’ve dreamed of since the beginning! Young people from all places are being discipled and are now becoming leaders at Mission Adelante!  In the last 15 months, we’ve added four new apprentices to our staff who are learning, growing, and leading some of our core outreach programs. We’ve always valued leadership development, but 2019 has brought exciting opportunities and a significant step forward for us in this effort.

Our investment in emerging leaders from our community begins when they are in elementary school, with an after-school program we call “Leaders-In-Training”.  This two-day-a-week mentoring and tutoring program focuses on a select group of around 15 stand-out kids, equipping them academically, spiritually, and socially.  For high school students and young adults we offer an intensive summer internship program that includes a handful of promising young leaders who are going deeper in their pursuit of Christ and beginning to experiment with leadership.  Our two-year apprenticeship for young adults takes leadership development to the next level by offering emerging leaders a full-time spot on our staff to be trained and mentored in ministry. From beginning to end, the goal is to produce fully-devoted followers of Jesus who can, in turn, invest in others and impact our community.

As we work to be faithful to the call of Christ to make disciples, we would like to invite you to lock arms with us by supporting our ministry financially this year-end. Year-end giving makes up a significant portion of our annual funding and we depend on God’s provision through partners like you!   This year we are praying for the Lord to provide $100,000 in special contributions for our Community Leader Fund, which is used to support salaries and benefits for our apprentices and staff from different countries.  This is a direct investment in the heart of our mission! Giving is easy by check or online; visit missionadelante.org/give.

Thank you for your prayers, partnership, and consideration.

In His Grace,

Jarrett Meek  

Pastor/Executive Director

2019 Reflections

Gissell (centered) with ESL volunteers at our fall New Volunteer Orientation.

Gissell (centered) with ESL volunteers at our fall New Volunteer Orientation.

Written by Gissell Vazquez, ESL Latino Director

Three years have passed since I came to live in the USA. I never imagined that I’d have to face so many challenges in life and work. 2019 has brought new experiences, and now that the year is ending, it is a good time to think back and reflect. Three words describe this year and the experiences that came along with it.

The first word that comes to my mind is transitions. Since the beginning of the year this was a big theme for me. I spent the first half of the year transitioning out of Arts Community and into directing Latino ESL. That took a lot of planning, thinking, and decision making. I’m glad I have some amazing people working with me! Phul Maya has taken over Arts Community and has done a great job in leading the program. Her growing leadership skills have positioned her in a great place to continue developing the Arts Program. I also had the best ESL mentor, Paul Kienzle, the former ESL Director. He shared with me all his knowledge and experience. He did a great job in “passing the baton” as he used to say.

The second word is growth. There are two areas of growth that I have experienced. One has to do with the level of responsibility in leading ESL. The ratio of volunteers to students increased significantly. Currently, we have 39 volunteers to 68 students. This new change also came with challenges like creating good communication with volunteers and students and encouraging good levels of participation in the program. The second growth has been happening in our Latino church. I am enjoying this very much! We participate in sharing the good news about Jesus, but the work is done by the Holy Spirit in people’s lives. I’ve enjoyed sharing life and sharing Jesus with our new friends from ESL that started to visit Mission Adelante’s faith community. Angelina, Hector, Ernesto, and Lorena, you’re dear friends to me! I’m thankful I met you guys, and now we not only share life in ESL classes but we share a common faith in our Lord Jesus.

The third one is gratefulness. I’m grateful for old and new friends, for volunteers who are impacting students' lives and vice versa, and for being part of a community that works together and enjoys the process of sharing life and sharing Jesus.

Overall, this year has been filled with many challenges. These challenges have helped me grow in faith and leadership skills. They also allowed me to be truly grateful for the people that have supported me and helped me through the transitions. God has used this year in an amazing way!


CURRENT NEEDS:

  • Love the arts? Enjoy working with children and youth? We invite you to come serve at Arts Community! This fun program meets Monday evenings to practice their talents, create friendships, and learn more about Jesus. Visit our website for more information: http://www.missionadelante.org/arts/

  • Do you speak English? Many of our community members don’t but would love to learn and practice with you! We are in need of ESL volunteers for our spring trimester. Come make friends from other places and help them learn a new language! If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our website at http://www.missionadelante.org/esl


Growth

Written by Phul Maya Rasaily, Ministry Apprentice

This is my second trimester leading Arts Community, and I am loving it! Arts Community is growing and flourishing in an amazing way. This trimester we have added a crochet class for teens. Leidy is the volunteer leading the class - she is amazing! By adding this class, we have created an environment where children and teenagers can learn and play together. We have also welcomed two new students with disabilities to Arts Community. Having them this trimester is the cherry on top because they bring a smile to everybody's face. It gives me so much joy to see other students getting involved to help them in their classes. However, Arts Community is not flourishing on its own. We couldn’t do any of this without God’s help and provision. He has provided committed volunteers who have a great heart for immigrants and refugees. They are the pillars of Arts Community! 

Like Arts Community, my discipleship group is also growing in faith and confidence. Every Wednesday, I meet with four teenage girls to study the bible, pray, and share life. Roshna Rai is one of the teenage girls that participates in the discipling group. She has a learning disability but has not been diagnosed yet. She really impresses me and makes me proud of her. Whenever I read a Bible story she listens attentively and eagerly. She never misses a detail and remembers all the stories I have shared. A few months back I invited her to share one of these stories at our Sunday school. She decided to share the story of how Pharaoh's daughter found and rescued Moses. As I watched her, I realized how much she has grown in her leadership skills and confidence. It made me happy to see God working in her and excited to continue doing what I do.

Through Arts Community and the discipling group, I have gained more self-confidence. I have more trust in my leadership and planning skills. And whenever I am feeling low, my awesome volunteers and students encourage, support, and guide me. I would love for you all to pray for the continued growth of Arts Community. Also please pray for more amazing volunteers with a heart to serve and share with our kids - specifically for teachers for our arts and crafts and keyboard classes.


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:

  • Love the arts? Enjoy working with children and youth? We invite you to come serve at Arts Community! This fun program meets Monday evenings to practice their talents, create friendships, and learn more about Jesus. Visit our website for more information: http://www.missionadelante.org/arts/


A Family United by Faith

Yolanda (far right) and other women from our Latino Church at our annual retreat!

Yolanda (far right) and other women from our Latino Church at our annual retreat!

Written by Yolanda Silos, Community Member

My name is Yolanda Silos and I want to tell you a little about what Mission Adelante means for my family and me. I learned about Mission Adelante when my children Lorenzo and Ashley started attending Kids Adelante in 2007. Every Thursday after the program ended, they would come and share the Bible stories they had learned. I loved listening to them! One Thursday, they came home and told me the story of Jonah. At that moment I realized that my children had more knowledge about the Word of God than I did. That motivated me little by little to become more involved with Mission Adelante and the Bible. 

As my children grew up, they began attending L.I.T (Leaders in Training) and Teens Adelante. During this time, I began attending Mission Adelante’s Latino Church. At first, I attended with my children only. But later, with time, my husband Lorenzo started to accompany me. And right now, thanks to God, we all go to church as a family united by the same faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. This has made me so happy! 

I enjoy attending the Latino Church and the people there have become like a family to me. I love my brothers and sisters in Christ very much and they mean a lot to my family. Our pastor, Jarrett aka Jaime, is such a special person. He has always supported us and guided us. I thank God for all the friendships He has given us in the church. Thank you also for taking some of your time and reading these words. God bless you all!


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 speak English? Many of our community members don’t but would love to learn and practice with you! We are in need of ESL volunteers for our spring trimester. Come make friends from other places and help them learn a new language! If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our website at http://www.missionadelante.org/esl


My Journey at Mission Adelante

Puja (second to the right), Kristen Maxwell (center), and other friends huddle up for a picture!

Puja (second to the right), Kristen Maxwell (center), and other friends huddle up for a picture!

Written by Puja Gurung, Volunteer and 2019 Summer Intern

My name is Puja Gurung and I am a junior at Wyandotte High School. My journey with Mission Adelante began when I came to the United States in 2012. Ever since, Mission Adelante has reminded me of how important I am through every aspect of my life. It has given me long-lasting friendships and shown me the love of Jesus through people, especially Kristen Maxwell and Dani Hammond who discipled me and became friends with me. I remember my first time at Mission Adelante - it was a few days after I arrived in the United States. I started attending Bhutanese Kids Club on Tuesdays night. Here I grew up learning about God’s word and making a group of new friends who I am still close with now. I was also a part of L.I.T (Leaders in Training) when I was in eighth grade. This really helped me to be a better person and encouraged me to do better on my schoolwork.

I began volunteering at Refugee Youth Club in January 2019. Every Tuesday evening, we study passages from the Bible, do schoolwork, discuss our problems, and try to get to help and understand one another. I love being part of Refugee Youth Club! It has impacted my life in great ways - from meeting new people to discovering new things. I also did an internship with Mission Adelante this past summer. The internship inspired me to serve other people and be a leader in our community. Now I love to be around people and learn from them because during the internship I learned that we all have different gifts and talents to share. The internship encouraged me to volunteer in Arts Community. I help on Mondays evenings in the arts and crafts class because I love to see the younger kids creating and learning new things. Currently, I am volunteering in both Refugee Youth Club and Arts Community. 

 I am very grateful for all these experiences and the people that I met through Mission Adelante. They have celebrated the good times and stayed by my side through the tough times. They have also helped me to grow deeper in my faith journey with Jesus and showed me how important I am to Him - no matter where I am from. 


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 speak English? Many of our community members don’t but would love to learn and practice with you! We are in need of ESL volunteers for our spring trimester. Come make friends from other places and help them learn a new language! If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our website at http://www.missionadelante.org/esl


Sacrificial Love

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Written by Carla Flores, Ministry Apprentice

As part of my apprenticeship at Mission Adelante we have been discussing Jesus’ life in chronological order. This has helped me see the importance of His life and the great sacrifice He made when dying for us. Growing up I often thought about all the sacrifices my parents had taken to ensure my siblings and I had better opportunities. My mother and father had left behind everything and everyone they knew. They migrated to a place where the language, culture, and lifestyle were unfamiliar. I was aware of these things but never really took time to measure the impact it had on my family and me. It wasn’t until May 9th, 2017 when I really understood the weight of my parents’ sacrifices. My paternal grandfather had passed away, and there was no way my parents could go back to grieve, mourn, and say their last goodbyes. My father was in shambles - inconsolable. How would he have known that a decision he took 16 years ago would cause him to never see his father again?

This weighed down on me heavily. I thought about the decision my father took to migrate to the U.S. when I was just 3 years old. His immense love for me led him to leave his country and pick peaches in South Carolina at 26 years old. My father’s decision caused a spiral of decisions in my family. Shortly after, my mother and I followed him to the land of the free. It hurts to know that the last time my father saw my grandfather, he was in his mid-twenties. It hurts to know that I was the reason for that. Being 23 myself, I can’t imagine leaving my parents with the risk that I will never be able to see them again. But my parents, they took that risk for me. They believed that the opportunities I could have here were far greater than any sacrifice they had to make. 

I am grateful for those sacrifices, I know that without them I would be a different person living in a different place. After my grandfather passed, I resented those sacrifices and myself. Were these sacrifices even worth it? A million times over, I wished we would have stayed in Mexico so that my father wouldn’t have suffered through the pain of not seeing his father again. I wished I could’ve gotten the chance to meet my grandfather. As I was thinking over these things something dawned on me. The sacrificial love immigrant parents have for their families is a reflection of the sacrificial love that Jesus had for us when He died on the cross. Jesus endured extreme pain and humiliation on the cross for our salvation. My parents and many others like them have endured pain and humiliation in hopes of providing their families with better opportunities. 

The outcome of Jesus’ pain and suffering was to save His children from condemnation. He wanted His children to live joyously and free. My parents have endured pain and suffering, not only on their migration here, but also as a result of the decision to migrate here. This pain was not in vain. My father made that decision so that his children would live joyously and free. Although it was difficult, my parents were right. The opportunities I have now are all thanks to their sacrifice. Similarly, the salvation I have now would not have existed if Jesus had not laid down His life for us. The sacrificial love immigrant parents express when migrating is a reflection of God’s sacrificial love for us. 

I know that my father’s experience is not a unique one. Many immigrants can’t go back to their countries due to their status. This means that important moments are missed like funerals and weddings. The pain of being an immigrant doesn’t just happen once - it can occur over a whole lifetime. I am thankful that God showed me this connection and I am able to see my parents’ sacrifices through a new lens. Sacrifices are painful and difficult but they bring new beginnings and redemption. Please continue to pray over our immigrant community, the sacrifices they make, and the pain they endure.


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 speak English? Many of our community members don’t but would love to learn and practice with you! We are in need of ESL volunteers for our spring trimester. Come make friends from other places and help them learn a new language! If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our website at http://www.missionadelante.org/esl


New Friends in a New Place

Leidy, Kristen, and Ruth (from left to right) sharing life together while baking a traditional American fruit pie.

Leidy, Kristen, and Ruth (from left to right) sharing life together while baking a traditional American fruit pie.

Written by Ruth VanBuskirk, ESL Level 2 Volunteer

Moving to a new place can be difficult. Making new friends, learning your way around a new city, and learning new cultural norms are just a few things that can make it hard to feel “at home.” I know from experience. In the last 7 years, I’ve lived in Indiana, New Mexico, Texas, Georgia, and now Kansas. When I moved with my husband, Drew, to Kansas City last fall, we were a little tired of all that moving. But we also knew that God had a plan for this unexpected move - it wasn’t an accident. So we decided to make the most of it and try to find a community. We hadn’t decided on a church family yet, and we were still exploring the amazing faith communities around where we lived. So we thought finding a place to volunteer might be a great place to meet people before we settled on a church community. 

I began an internet search, because, well, I didn’t know anyone to ask! It was a bit overwhelming. There are so many great organizations to be a part of here in KC! A few weeks later, we were visiting with a neighbor across the street, and I brought up our hope to volunteer somewhere. Our neighbor spoke highly of Mission Adelante, so I went back to Google and checked it out for myself! 

Both Drew and I loved what we saw! We loved that Mission Adelante was doing so much for people not only new to KC, but new to the United States as well. Honestly, I really resonated with what Mission Adelante stands for - loving people from all places. 

I’m a firm believer that no experience in life is wasted if we look for ways to redeem it. God is good like that. It just seemed right that we could spend time getting to know other people who may have just moved here too and who were trying to make KC their home - we could encourage each other! I felt like we could actually understand a small part of what they might be experiencing in a new place too. Drew felt the same way, so we signed up for volunteer training for ESL. 

And, I am SO glad we did! Volunteering with ESL has been my favorite thing about moving to Kansas City. My conversation partner, Leidy, is from Colombia and she just moved here in March. We are definitely “newbies” together! We’ve had such fun getting to know each other and learn about each other’s culture. Leidy offered to teach me Spanish while she is learning English. We invited our friend Kristen, a volunteer in the citizenship class, to join us. It has been so much fun to learn and grow our friendship. As far as learning Spanish, Leidy is a great teacher. (Although I have to admit, Leidy is MUCH better at learning English than I am at Spanish). During our adventures, we’ve also traded family recipes. Leidy taught me how to make empanadas (delicioso!). I taught her and Kristen how to make a traditional American fruit pie using my own Grandma Mary’s recipe for pie crust from scratch. 

Leidy and I are now in ESL Level 2 together and are having just as much fun with our group as in Level 1 (maybe more!). I’m so thankful for Mission Adelante and how they have welcomed me (and Drew) into their family and introduced me to Leidy and others who have become our KC family too! It’s neat to see that God can help us make a new home anywhere, with people from all places.

Ruth and Leidy pictured with another volunteer and student from ESL.

Ruth and Leidy pictured with another volunteer and student from ESL.

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