Hey Everyone!
We had a great parents meeting last night! It seems like we are well onto our way to a great trip. I think the biggest concerns on my heart right now are that we will have no (airline related) delays or cancellations and that student's (and leaders - primarily mine) hearts will be ready to experience exactly what God will have us experience during these 10 days!
Speaking of prayer, we are planning on having a time of blessing and prayer over the students in each of the three services at New Hope this week. To do that, I would like to have EVERY MEMBER OF THE TEAM (INCLUDING ANY LEADERS WHO CAN POSSIBLY MAKE IT HAPPEN) WEAR THEIR BLUE TEAM SHIRT AND BE PRESENT FOR ALL THREE SERVICES (8:10, 9:30 AND 11:00).
I know that this is a great deal of time - - and trust me, I know how early that is (I get to church at 5:30 every week) but I want to you understand how important an act like this is to the people of our church (also - they are largely the reason we raise so much from the 2 fund raisers).
So, please be at the church no later than 8:00 AM. For the first and the second services, I will ask you all to come out from backstage (the praise team room) and for the second service, I would like you all to consume the first several rows. I think that this will be a GREAT testimony to the family of our Church and will certainly raise their excitement and interest in the trip!
If you aren't going to be there, you better have a GREAT excuse!
Also, for those of you who asked me last night about a list of students... I completely forgot that we have been planning for weeks to have a complete list of students and adults included (as a prayer tool) in the bulletin this coming Sunday.
Thanks!
Jeremy
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
More important Information
We are drawing very close to leaving and I know that there are a lot of questions about the trip. While we are planning an important parent's meeting tomorrow night (Tuesday) at 7 PM in the Youth Center, I want to touch on a few VERY IMPORTANT DETAILS that will need to be cared for (some BEFORE tomorrow night).
MALARIA VACCINE
At the first parent's meeting (and other times since then) I let each of you know about the recommended vaccines and treatments that you might consider for the trip. While all of these are optional (up to you as a family and your doctor), I want to do everything that I can to help you take them correctly. In the case of the Malaria vaccine, the regimen is a series of pills that are taken every WEEK on the same day with the first dose taken the week before you leave. In speaking with a Pharmacist, we now know that it is not important that these pills be taken at the exact same time every week, only that they are taken with the principle meal for the day (although others have reported no problems with taking them without food - the difference is one person's stomach compared to anothers).
Here is the important detail: One of our very helpful parent's suggested that it might be easier if we would plan to take that medication on the same day so that once we are in Honduras we can take the next week's dose together (to ensure that everyone takes it correctly). That is the plan. So, please plan to take your first dose of the Malaria vaccine on Tuesday, July 15 with your principle meal. As I understand it, if you are not able for some reason to take the vaccine tomorrow, it will still be OK to start on Wednesday and still take it with our team the following Tuesday. As you can imagine, we would love it if everyone were able to stick as closely together as possible so that we can manage the 35 people who will need to take that medication together (it will be kind of like a mosquito communion). So, it at all possible, PLEASE TAKE THE FIRST COURSE OF THE MALARIA VACCINE TOMORROW!
PASSPORTS
We will be handling your students passport from door to door. Please bring their passport with you to the meeting tomorrow night so that we can make the appropriate copies and get them assembled into the teams in which they will travel. (We will return the passport to your student when we return to the Church at the conclusion of the trip).
PACKING INFORMATION
Please see the link in the top corner of the blog page (you will need to go to http://www.godeepblog.com/ if you are subscribing by email) to download the MS Word Document with detailed packing instructions. The document is 3 pages long and details everything that you need to know about packing for this trip. Make sure that you read it - we will be following those requirements very closely.
MEDICATIONS
In addition to all of the instructions on the packing document, I need to point out a couple of other things that you will need to consider:
1. All medications must be in their original containers with your student's name on the outside. This is not a requirement from us - this is directly related to Customs. As you can imagine, we will be crossing the US border with a LARGE amount of medication and will likely be questioned as to the contents of the bottles we are carrying - they will not allow us to cross the borders with unmarked containers or containers belonging to people who are not present. Please help us out by working with us on this.
2. Does your student use an inhaler or other regular or emergency medication? Inhalers are one of the only medications that students will be allowed to keep with them. In the event of their losing their inhaler, we will not have access to purchase another one. You might consider sending an additional inhaler that we will keep in the medical boxes. Again, this is up to you.
3. Feminine stuff. As you can imagine, I don't like to discuss this reality. But, I would rather talk about it now than try to deal with it in person while we are gone. It would be very helpful if all of our girls were prepared for the possibility that they may have not read the calendar correctly or just the possibility that the stress of the trip made the clock run a bit faster than expected. Hopefully, that will be enough said...
I know that is a lot of information, but it is only a fraction of what we need to cover so that we can plan to safely and quickly move through all of the security checks, Customs lines and airline boardings that will happen during the trip.
If you have ANY questions, please email me at jeremy@newhopecc.org and I will reply as quickly as possible.
Thanks!
Jeremy
MALARIA VACCINE
At the first parent's meeting (and other times since then) I let each of you know about the recommended vaccines and treatments that you might consider for the trip. While all of these are optional (up to you as a family and your doctor), I want to do everything that I can to help you take them correctly. In the case of the Malaria vaccine, the regimen is a series of pills that are taken every WEEK on the same day with the first dose taken the week before you leave. In speaking with a Pharmacist, we now know that it is not important that these pills be taken at the exact same time every week, only that they are taken with the principle meal for the day (although others have reported no problems with taking them without food - the difference is one person's stomach compared to anothers).
Here is the important detail: One of our very helpful parent's suggested that it might be easier if we would plan to take that medication on the same day so that once we are in Honduras we can take the next week's dose together (to ensure that everyone takes it correctly). That is the plan. So, please plan to take your first dose of the Malaria vaccine on Tuesday, July 15 with your principle meal. As I understand it, if you are not able for some reason to take the vaccine tomorrow, it will still be OK to start on Wednesday and still take it with our team the following Tuesday. As you can imagine, we would love it if everyone were able to stick as closely together as possible so that we can manage the 35 people who will need to take that medication together (it will be kind of like a mosquito communion). So, it at all possible, PLEASE TAKE THE FIRST COURSE OF THE MALARIA VACCINE TOMORROW!
PASSPORTS
We will be handling your students passport from door to door. Please bring their passport with you to the meeting tomorrow night so that we can make the appropriate copies and get them assembled into the teams in which they will travel. (We will return the passport to your student when we return to the Church at the conclusion of the trip).
PACKING INFORMATION
Please see the link in the top corner of the blog page (you will need to go to http://www.godeepblog.com/ if you are subscribing by email) to download the MS Word Document with detailed packing instructions. The document is 3 pages long and details everything that you need to know about packing for this trip. Make sure that you read it - we will be following those requirements very closely.
MEDICATIONS
In addition to all of the instructions on the packing document, I need to point out a couple of other things that you will need to consider:
1. All medications must be in their original containers with your student's name on the outside. This is not a requirement from us - this is directly related to Customs. As you can imagine, we will be crossing the US border with a LARGE amount of medication and will likely be questioned as to the contents of the bottles we are carrying - they will not allow us to cross the borders with unmarked containers or containers belonging to people who are not present. Please help us out by working with us on this.
2. Does your student use an inhaler or other regular or emergency medication? Inhalers are one of the only medications that students will be allowed to keep with them. In the event of their losing their inhaler, we will not have access to purchase another one. You might consider sending an additional inhaler that we will keep in the medical boxes. Again, this is up to you.
3. Feminine stuff. As you can imagine, I don't like to discuss this reality. But, I would rather talk about it now than try to deal with it in person while we are gone. It would be very helpful if all of our girls were prepared for the possibility that they may have not read the calendar correctly or just the possibility that the stress of the trip made the clock run a bit faster than expected. Hopefully, that will be enough said...
I know that is a lot of information, but it is only a fraction of what we need to cover so that we can plan to safely and quickly move through all of the security checks, Customs lines and airline boardings that will happen during the trip.
If you have ANY questions, please email me at jeremy@newhopecc.org and I will reply as quickly as possible.
Thanks!
Jeremy
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
PARENTS MEETING (and other important stuff)
WOW! 2 weeks from now, we will be waking up for our first day of sering in HONDURAS! It's hard to believe that after 9 months of planning and thinking, we are almost there!
We have a couple of important things to handle before we go. I know that many of you (parents) have a lot of questions left about how and what to pack, vaccination schedules (for ongoing medication), etc. So, we have planned a final "PARENTS MEETING" on Tuesday, July 15th at 7 PM in the Youth Center (NC110). If at all possible, it would be very helpful if AT LEAST one person (preferably a parent) would be present at that meeting.
We have a couple of important things to handle before we go. I know that many of you (parents) have a lot of questions left about how and what to pack, vaccination schedules (for ongoing medication), etc. So, we have planned a final "PARENTS MEETING" on Tuesday, July 15th at 7 PM in the Youth Center (NC110). If at all possible, it would be very helpful if AT LEAST one person (preferably a parent) would be present at that meeting.
IMPORTANT!
Also, to help with planning, here is a link to a word document that will help you in planning the specific things necessary as it relates to packing (what to bring and what NOT to bring) as well as requirements from the airlines regarding the size and weight of bags we bring. The document is 3 pages long - make sure that you read everything!
ALSO- DONT FORGET THAT WE HAVE ALL TEAM MEETINGS TO PACK THE MILLIONS OF TRIP SUPPLIES THIS THURSDAY (AND NEXT) FROM 11 AM - 2 PM!!!!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
New Guy On Board!
Hey everyone,
This is Nate Bristol and I am the new youth guy working with Jeremy in the student ministries. It was great getting to know some of you at the pancake breakfast as you all worked hard to pull that off. By the way, my parents were visiting that weekend and said they were warmly welcomed and served by the students! Great job! I am truly blessed with the privilege of joining you on the Honduras trip in just 3 weeks!
Take note of a few things here:
Don’t forget that we are meeting on Thursday the 10th and Thursday the 17th from 11-2pm where we will assemble VBS supplies. Also bring your pizza money for lunch.
Are you planning on getting clothes for the trip? Note that the Goodwill in Bryan is having a 50% off everything sale on the 4th and 5th of July. If you don’t want to bring them back you can afford to leave them in Honduras where I am sure they will be put to good use!
Have a great Fourth of July weekend! I look forward to getting to know all of you soon!
Nate Bristol
Student Ministry Assistant Pastor
New Hope Community Church
419.630.5018
nate@newhopecc.org
This is Nate Bristol and I am the new youth guy working with Jeremy in the student ministries. It was great getting to know some of you at the pancake breakfast as you all worked hard to pull that off. By the way, my parents were visiting that weekend and said they were warmly welcomed and served by the students! Great job! I am truly blessed with the privilege of joining you on the Honduras trip in just 3 weeks!
Take note of a few things here:
Don’t forget that we are meeting on Thursday the 10th and Thursday the 17th from 11-2pm where we will assemble VBS supplies. Also bring your pizza money for lunch.
Are you planning on getting clothes for the trip? Note that the Goodwill in Bryan is having a 50% off everything sale on the 4th and 5th of July. If you don’t want to bring them back you can afford to leave them in Honduras where I am sure they will be put to good use!
Have a great Fourth of July weekend! I look forward to getting to know all of you soon!
Nate Bristol
Student Ministry Assistant Pastor
New Hope Community Church
419.630.5018
nate@newhopecc.org
Monday, June 16, 2008
Thanks for a great day!
Hey everyone!
I want to start off by thanking you all for a GREAT DAY at the Pancake breakfast! I was so thankful for each one of you and how you served! I am please to announce that between the money raised from the pancake breakfast as well as a donation raised by one of our students from an outside group, we are able to contribute $200 on each of your behalf from the pancake breakfast alone (that's $300 total from the 2 dinners!)
In hindsight, there are a number of things that we will plan to do differently to make better use of your time and effort. For instance, next time we will plan to work in shifts (i.e. 15 people sign up for 2nd service, 15 for 3rd, etc.) I really appreciate you all hanging in there through some times when you may not have had a ton to do!
Again, thank you for serving - it was a great success!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION!
Don't forget that there is an ALL TEAM meeting this Saturday, June 28th! I announced this to you via the parent's letter back in FEBRUARY so I expect that you have made plans to attend this day! Instead of planning an all day event (like the letter said), we are going to abbreviate the meeting to be only 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM! During this time we will be doing some very important things that will have significant impact on the trip (as well as how you prepare for it in packing, planning, etc)
Bring money for pizza - we will together first! PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO BRING MONEY!!!
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU PLAN TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THIS DAY. IT IS VITAL THAT WE HAVE THE ENTIRE TEAM TOGETHER! I WILL SUPPLY PENS AND NOTEBOOKS FOR YOU TO WRITE DOWN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT YOU WILL NEED TO NOTE DURING THE DAY.
WE WILL TALK ABOUT YOUR BALANCE AND PAYMENTS ON SATURDAY AS WELL - MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE UP TO DATE AND BRING AS MUCH INFO AS YOU HAVE WITH YOU WHEN YOU COME ON SATURDAY!
FUTURE DATES:
Just in case you don't have the remaining dates handy, here are the other 2 meetings that were on the original parent's letter: (make sure you make plans and bring money for pizza!!!!)
July 10th 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM - All team to assemble VBS supplies.
July 17th 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM - All team to assemble VBS supplies.
I want to start off by thanking you all for a GREAT DAY at the Pancake breakfast! I was so thankful for each one of you and how you served! I am please to announce that between the money raised from the pancake breakfast as well as a donation raised by one of our students from an outside group, we are able to contribute $200 on each of your behalf from the pancake breakfast alone (that's $300 total from the 2 dinners!)
In hindsight, there are a number of things that we will plan to do differently to make better use of your time and effort. For instance, next time we will plan to work in shifts (i.e. 15 people sign up for 2nd service, 15 for 3rd, etc.) I really appreciate you all hanging in there through some times when you may not have had a ton to do!
Again, thank you for serving - it was a great success!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION!
Don't forget that there is an ALL TEAM meeting this Saturday, June 28th! I announced this to you via the parent's letter back in FEBRUARY so I expect that you have made plans to attend this day! Instead of planning an all day event (like the letter said), we are going to abbreviate the meeting to be only 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM! During this time we will be doing some very important things that will have significant impact on the trip (as well as how you prepare for it in packing, planning, etc)
Bring money for pizza - we will together first! PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO BRING MONEY!!!
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU PLAN TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THIS DAY. IT IS VITAL THAT WE HAVE THE ENTIRE TEAM TOGETHER! I WILL SUPPLY PENS AND NOTEBOOKS FOR YOU TO WRITE DOWN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT YOU WILL NEED TO NOTE DURING THE DAY.
WE WILL TALK ABOUT YOUR BALANCE AND PAYMENTS ON SATURDAY AS WELL - MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE UP TO DATE AND BRING AS MUCH INFO AS YOU HAVE WITH YOU WHEN YOU COME ON SATURDAY!
FUTURE DATES:
Just in case you don't have the remaining dates handy, here are the other 2 meetings that were on the original parent's letter: (make sure you make plans and bring money for pizza!!!!)
July 10th 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM - All team to assemble VBS supplies.
July 17th 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM - All team to assemble VBS supplies.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
HELP!!!! (Pancake Breakfast)
Hey Everyone!
It has been a big week for out trip this week...
On Wednesday, we had most of our team together for a little work project/team builder. It was a great time! We set up the tables and chairs for the pancake breakfast, stained the children's play set at the South Campus and cleaned up some landscaping! Thanks for all of the hard work, you guys!!!
Today, I prayed with a group of five of our students and one leader as they embarked on a 50 mile bike-a-thon to raise money for the trip - did you catch that??? 50 miles!!!! I met them in Pioneer for some pizza about 1 PM before they finished the last 15 miles back to the church! One of them even rode the last couple of miles on a completely flat front tire! WAY TO GO TEAM!!
Saturday, a few of our girls are having a garage sale to raise funds... they have already had one sale and have moved to another location to unload some more things. I think that you guys are doing a GREAT JOB!
Ok... now for a few VERY IMPORTANT things related to this weekend!
Strawberries!
We have a few people who signed up to cut (and I think it is called "crush") strawberries on Saturday morning. If you are AT ALL available after 10:30 AM and would like to help, please meet Tari Davis in the North Campus Kitchen. They will be working hard and could REALLY use some more help... any time that you have would be greatly appreciated!
Sunday Morning
This Pancake Breakfast is an ALL HANDS ON DECK event! Unless you have already communicated something contrary, we expect to have everyone serve from beginning to end (that means complete clean up). ANY AND ALL PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, CAPABLE SIBLINGS AND USEFUL PETS ARE GLADLY APPRECIATED TO HELP... PLEASE HELP US - THIS IS A HUGE UNDERTAKING!
Here is the plan: EVERYONE SHOULD ATTEND THE FIRST SERVICE ON SUNDAY MORNING and then plan to head to the North Campus to help out wherever you are needed.
There are two primary areas of need: 1.) KITCHEN (cooking, serving, dishes) 2.) GYMNASIUM (cleaning up, seating people, toppings table, drinks, etc).
We are very excited about how all of this is shaping up and are anxious to see how this will prove to help each of these kids and the families in Honduras!!!!!
Thanks everyone - SEE YOU FIRST SERVICE ON SUNDAY!!!!!!!
It has been a big week for out trip this week...
On Wednesday, we had most of our team together for a little work project/team builder. It was a great time! We set up the tables and chairs for the pancake breakfast, stained the children's play set at the South Campus and cleaned up some landscaping! Thanks for all of the hard work, you guys!!!
Today, I prayed with a group of five of our students and one leader as they embarked on a 50 mile bike-a-thon to raise money for the trip - did you catch that??? 50 miles!!!! I met them in Pioneer for some pizza about 1 PM before they finished the last 15 miles back to the church! One of them even rode the last couple of miles on a completely flat front tire! WAY TO GO TEAM!!
Saturday, a few of our girls are having a garage sale to raise funds... they have already had one sale and have moved to another location to unload some more things. I think that you guys are doing a GREAT JOB!
Ok... now for a few VERY IMPORTANT things related to this weekend!
Strawberries!
We have a few people who signed up to cut (and I think it is called "crush") strawberries on Saturday morning. If you are AT ALL available after 10:30 AM and would like to help, please meet Tari Davis in the North Campus Kitchen. They will be working hard and could REALLY use some more help... any time that you have would be greatly appreciated!
Sunday Morning
This Pancake Breakfast is an ALL HANDS ON DECK event! Unless you have already communicated something contrary, we expect to have everyone serve from beginning to end (that means complete clean up). ANY AND ALL PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, CAPABLE SIBLINGS AND USEFUL PETS ARE GLADLY APPRECIATED TO HELP... PLEASE HELP US - THIS IS A HUGE UNDERTAKING!
Here is the plan: EVERYONE SHOULD ATTEND THE FIRST SERVICE ON SUNDAY MORNING and then plan to head to the North Campus to help out wherever you are needed.
There are two primary areas of need: 1.) KITCHEN (cooking, serving, dishes) 2.) GYMNASIUM (cleaning up, seating people, toppings table, drinks, etc).
We are very excited about how all of this is shaping up and are anxious to see how this will prove to help each of these kids and the families in Honduras!!!!!
Thanks everyone - SEE YOU FIRST SERVICE ON SUNDAY!!!!!!!
Monday, June 2, 2008
Updates Galore!
Hey Everyone!
I wanted to get a few updates out to you... hold on tight - this information is important and there is a LOT of it!
We sent the final check out this week for the airfare to Honduras. As many of you have asked, Delta's announcement of increased fuel service charges did (significantly) affect our cost! When we set up the trip (and advertised the cost), the service charge was projected at $179/ticket - I anticipated an increase and set the cost to students (for the service charge) at $200.
Well, we sent the check today with a fuel service charge of $359.30 (that is more than $4000 more than we had anticipated). Now, I know exactly what you are thinking... don't worry - we aren't raising the student's price for the trip.
As you already know, the church has pledged $150/student toward each student (anticipating 10-12 students... getting 28... I never anticipated this kind of interest) and will now shoulder the $4000+ involved in this service charge. we are solidly committed to providing an excellent experience for our students!
Extra Money?
I get this question allot: "What if we raise extra money. What should I do with it?" The answer is pretty simple. Please model honesty and integrity for you student and honor the desire of the people who donated toward the trip. We have an extraordinary burden given fuel costs and also have a couple of students who are struggling to raise the money. Please turn in all of the money that you raise - these funds will help to off-set other students who are struggling to raise their funds as well as the increasing difference between what students pay and what this trip will cost.
Well - there are a ton more things that are brewing, but lets get past the breakfast before we start working on those!!!
Thanks, everyone!!!
Jeremy
I wanted to get a few updates out to you... hold on tight - this information is important and there is a LOT of it!
Local Service Project
As you already know (given the dates I listed on the last parent's letter) this Wednesday is an ALL TEAM local Service project. We will meet at the church at 10 AM before we go serve locally (some of this will be team building, some will be serving a local widow and other parts will be preparing for the Pancake Breakfast).
Students will need to wear work clothes, bring money for lunch (we will order pizza) and plan to be busy until at least 2 PM.
Also, as I mentioned in the letter "students with REGULAR/FULL TIME work schedules during the day will be allowed to miss – part time workers will need to request off" If this applies to you (for example you lifeguard FULL TIME at the pool), please let me know.
Pancake Breakfast
Next Sunday (June 15) is the Pancake breakfast fundraiser! We have been working to organize all of the details to make this happen. As has been the case in the past, Randy Shirkey has generously volunteered to handle the kitchen volunteers (food preparation, serving, etc) - make sure to thank Randy - he has been very busy lately and doesn't even have a kid in youth group! Some incredibly cool parents have volunteered to handle heading up the serving area and the seating/dining room area. There are a number of needs that we will need to have handled before Sunday AM:
- ~ We will need about 15 parents to volunteer to make a large fruit salad. If you are able to do that, please email me so that I don't have to start at the top of the list and make calls until I find 15 of you who are willing... that will be a BIG help to me!
- ~ We will need a handful of students and parents to volunteer to clean and cut fresh strawberries on Saturday, June 14. Again, please email me if this could be you!
- ~ Finally, we will need about 10 (or s0) pancake griddles for us to use on the morning of the breakfast. If you have one that we can borrow, please email me (do you sense a trend?)
We sent the final check out this week for the airfare to Honduras. As many of you have asked, Delta's announcement of increased fuel service charges did (significantly) affect our cost! When we set up the trip (and advertised the cost), the service charge was projected at $179/ticket - I anticipated an increase and set the cost to students (for the service charge) at $200.
Well, we sent the check today with a fuel service charge of $359.30 (that is more than $4000 more than we had anticipated). Now, I know exactly what you are thinking... don't worry - we aren't raising the student's price for the trip.
As you already know, the church has pledged $150/student toward each student (anticipating 10-12 students... getting 28... I never anticipated this kind of interest) and will now shoulder the $4000+ involved in this service charge. we are solidly committed to providing an excellent experience for our students!
Extra Money?
I get this question allot: "What if we raise extra money. What should I do with it?" The answer is pretty simple. Please model honesty and integrity for you student and honor the desire of the people who donated toward the trip. We have an extraordinary burden given fuel costs and also have a couple of students who are struggling to raise the money. Please turn in all of the money that you raise - these funds will help to off-set other students who are struggling to raise their funds as well as the increasing difference between what students pay and what this trip will cost.
Well - there are a ton more things that are brewing, but lets get past the breakfast before we start working on those!!!
Thanks, everyone!!!
Jeremy
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