Sweet deal!

Yesterday marked 5 weeks away from our departure!  We haven't figured it out for sure yet but I think we are meeting at the church about 2:30 am and pulling out by 3 am!!  The "kids" are all excited about that...me not so much :-)  Oh, it will be fun!!
We talked about what to pack last night.  We each only get 1 50 lb. check in bag (and a carry-on).  We have a ton of shoes and t-shirts we would like to take along to deliver to those in need.  I am hoping we can get them down there at no charge for any extra weight or bags.
Every day we get closer to the amount we need for our final big payment.  As of this morning we need $3207 to make our $12,400 payment...so that is pretty exciting!  We need it by Sunday, to make the payment on Monday :-).  We are running a campaign right now called Embrace El Salvador (see earlier post).   Basically we will deliver your hug to a Salvadorian child for $10 (suggested) and give you a photo of the hug and possibly a personal note from the child.  We will be participating in soccer camp, VBS, and English school while in El Salvador so we plan to hug a lot of kids!  If you go to CGC you can sign up on Sunday.  If you are not local, respond to this post or shoot me a message on FB.  Hugs are tax deductible if you make checks to Community Gospel Church!  What a sweet deal!!

Embrace El Salvador

This is what we are doing this Sunday at CGC:


Embrace El Salvador
The El Salvador trip is almost upon us! The team is bubbling with excitement and wants to give you another opportunity to give! Embrace El Salvador is our initiative that lets you receive a picture of one of your students hugging a Salvadorian! With the picture comes a note from the child and a smile of gratitude from the mission team! Pictures are $10 and sign up is in the foyer!


If anyone else, outside of Community Gospel Church (CGC), wants to purchase a hug...we would be happy to give a hug "in your name".  Just let me know!  And you can send the check to CGC!
Also....amazing stuff happening - now our need is down to $6200 needed in 9 days! So...if we sell 620 hugs we are there!!!! :-)

Drama Queen

Tonight was a great night beginning to learn the 2 dramas!  The Redeemer group definitely have a tougher job than the King of Kings group although both are pretty challenging.  Both have an awesome message told without words!!!  I was really impressed with the work the students put into it tonight and it was fun too!
I loved Alex's suggestion that everyone keep a journal!  We were going to get around to talking about that at some point and I just loved that she was thinking about it and shared it with everyone!
We still didn't have the full team there tonight for a team picture due to some being on vacation and I think Jenna being at a track meet.  It was a great time and I look forward to what we still have to complete!  We leave 6 weeks from today!
Today's prayer requests:
1. That Kathleen's passport will be here in time!
2. That the students can memorize their parts in the drama and that the dramas will really touch the hearts of people and be used by God to bring real change in their lives and for some to be introduced for the first time to God's love story for them.
3. That the additional finances that we still need will be provided.

So excited about this amazing group of students and adult leaders!

Trying not to freak out....God knows.

Just found out I need to get the final check to CFCI in the mail in 10 days.  $8620.

Luke 18:1-8

Just crunched numbers again.  We need $8050 in two weeks.  God...I'm trying not to nag, cause You know what I need before I know what I need...but I will keep asking.

Hot Hot Hot

Just checked the current weather conditions in San Salvador.  90 degrees fahrenheit, feels like 97. 59% humidity.  What do you think?  Thumbs up?  Or thumbs down?

Students-for-hire

Several of our team members are hard at work to raise $ for their trip (remaining funds are due in 2 weeks).  I know of students who are mowing, cleaning, photographing, babysitting, painting, cutting down trees and so on.  Great job to all of you!  I am really proud of you!!!  This too has many lessons to learn in it.  Our ministry and what God wants to do in and through us doesn't begin when we step on to foreign soil.  It has already begun.  I'm praying for each of you and for our team as a whole.  If anyone wants to hire a student - call me or send me a message on Facebook (Julie Neeley Patterson).  It's a beautiful Saturday!