Some Thoughts

There are some instances where words can describe nothing. All the same, I'll try.
At St. Anna's Episcopal Church in New Orleans, there is a list of all the murder victims in New Orleans. Which sounds, when I put it here, almost ordinary. Right? We see that kind of thing in the newspaper, or on the news. People die. Crime exists. It's normal.
I can't really explain why that list impacted me so much. Just-- try to get a picture in your head.
There's a tall piece of what seems to be white cardboard, stretching up the wall of an oldish church. The list is handwritten in black ink: date, name, age, cause of death. The causes vary: beaten, abused, strangled, shot... but mostly shot.
To be honest, my first thought when I saw the list was, 'from what we were told, I figured there would be more names.' I thought that-- and felt bad for doing so-- and then I noticed something toward the top of the wall. In bold black letters was written 2014.
There must have been at least 60 names there, people killed in the last six months alone. I remember just standing there, staring at the names. I tried to say each one in my head, as if saying their names might accomplish anything at all. I noticed that four of them died two days ago. My brother's birthday, incidentally.
Normally when I write, there's this vague little voice at the back of my mind that is essentially responsible for the quality of my work. You could call it self-doubt. It tells me to do better, think harder, it judges the quality and the voice. Only as I write this now, I have shut that voice away. It just doesn't matter. Sitting here, I can't wrap my mind around the fact that while I was living through my last few months of high school, choosing a college and studying for AP tests, people were dying.
And I knew. I knew that there was crime, I knew about income disparity, about racism. But I thought about it only in passing. Crime didn't touch my life, so I didn't care, and thus the unsolvable problem goes unsolved.
I didn't cry, standing there in the humid evening air. Not because I didn't feel anything, but because I didn't understand. What right do I have to cry over a name when I know nothing about the life behind it? The name is not the person, after all. All I really learned about those lives were their length. On just the 2014 list, it spanned from an unborn baby to a fifty-two-year-old man.
When we got back on the bus, Julie Brown said something that very distinctly stuck in my mind. She asked us to think about the race of most of the people who had been murdered. She also asked: if that many white people were killed, wouldn't, honestly, something more have been done?
I don't really have a conclusion here. I just want you to understand how little we know about the world around us. Our lives seem so important-- lives, and comfort, and wealth. But in reality, there is work to be done on this planet. So if you have a chance to do that work, then do it. And if you don't have a chance, make one.

I don't mean to sound all negative. This trip has been great so far, and I like the work. It's just that I feel really uncomfortable with how privileged I am.

-Lian Simmer

We are here for a reason-- the chronicles of Tuesday

Today was... full. In the morning, I weeded school vegetable gardens and I experienced the burn of a fire ant bite. In the afternoon I interacted with residents at the mental disabilities center. I had a lot of fun playing an expert version of the Memory Toy Story 3 game. I and other members of my group were the recipients of many loving affectionate hugs, kisses, and marriage proposals from members of all ages. After dinner we went on a really moving "prayer tour." We took our giant tour bus through impossibly narrow streets looking at the different areas affected by the storm. Later, we went to see the "Murder Wall" in the city which listed all the victims of killings in the area since 2007. This was heartbreaking in so many ways. At the bottom of the list, there was a listing of a 23 year old woman and her unborn child who were killed only 2 days ago. New Orleans and the surrounding area has one of the highest murder rates in the country. I am sure other people will talk more in depth about the staggering facts on the wall so I will move on. I talked for a long time with Tom about why we were here and what we were actually accomplishing. Sometimes being here feels useless but it never is. We might not do much while we are here and it might not last long or make a difference but it's important and I am lucky to have the opportunity to come. We learn if nothing else. We hear peoples' stories and we tell those stories and we spread the things we learn while being here. The truth is, there is still massive work to be done to restore the city to the way it was. And we can tell people about it, we can remind them of this disaster and maybe keep the support alive for a little bit longer and a little bit longer. Seeing the damage of both the city and the community is really powerful for me because it helps me connect the dots from what I am doing and what is being done. It helps me feel like I am helping. Even small and potentially insignificantly, I am helping. And this will hopefully help me make these connections between awareness and action in other parts of my life and changes that I choose to fight for. If I can learn to see as well as make real changes, I will be able to make a difference that is perhaps not so small someday.

Goodnight and sweet dreams!

--Daniela Tiedemann

Picture Link available on the right

I have added a link to the right side of the blog to an separate photo storage site. Click on this link to see photos from:

• A few from the bus and common room
• First work day at "Edible School Yard" a school garden program (pictures by Daniela)
• First work day at CRISP (Community Research into Sustainable Permaculture)

 Norm

http://hightechkids.smugmug.com/Private/2014-Youth-Missing-Trip/41626213_8gZsrd

Parkway Partners: Crisp Farms

Natural gardening: no pesticides, no fertilizer, companion planting, community garden in the city, sustainable permaculture, "soil without life is just dirt," and Danny with a machete.

Day Two in NOLA

No cockroach sightings yet, however we stay on guard. Today we saw Laura Plantation, where we were exposed to the rich history of the Creole people, and the reality of the slaves on the plantation. We took a walking tour from a sassy New Orleans native, who was a descendant of a plantation owner herself. We also were lead on a tour of the places where Katrina hit hardest by the knowledgeable Norm and Nicole. When we got back, we met the rambunctious RHINO staff. We ate some red beans and rice and got to chat with the compassionate Cody, Wyoming group. Then we did some singing and sermons with awesome Ashley and Andy. We wrapped up our day with a pick-up game of pool basketball and some games. Now we look forward to beginning our work with Camp RHINO tomorrow morning.
     See ya! -Kira and Maddy
P.S. Shoutout to Team Uno.
P.P.S. Shoutout to Team Turquoise.

Day One in NOLA

We emerged from the buses, tired and disoriented, into the hot and humid weather. We've taken over 2 floors of Tulane's Willow dorms. Some people swam, while others played games. We're excited to see the French Quarter tonight, and get to work on Tuesday! Kira's scared of cockroaches. We'll keep you updated!
-Maddy and Kira

Getting there is half the journey...

...assigning rooms is the half. The co-chairs at work...

Morning in Mississippi

Slowly waking. Most of the youth slept well. Anyone taller than about 5' and older than 30 slept for 20 minutes at a time in every possible uncomfortable position. 

Picnic in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa (thanks for the food, folks)

Last year was hot and buggy. This year, not so much. Nice break from the bus, though.

Last Minute Great News

Just got the word...

No Pillows or sleeping bags required! Tulane is providing everything. Now you have more room in your luggage.

Bring a towel though.

We're Heading Out...

Hey Folks:

It's almost that time. Tomorrow the bus arrives at 12:30pm at the O'Shaughnessy parking lot at Saint Kate's. Get there by 12:45pm at the latest so we can pack up for a 1:00pm departure.

Bring any forms and payments not yet handed in, everything you need for a week on the road, and food for the picnic Saturday evening. (And make sure you've completed the online form, see below)

If you have any last minute questions, contact me at 612-716-3150.

Thanks to the co-chairs and adult and youth members of the committee for putting this trip together and to the congregation for making it possible!


Peace,

Tom

Mission Trip Update

Hey Folks:

About half of us still need to fill out the St. Bernard's online form. See my previous post for information and link. This needs to be done ASAP.

Peace,

Tom

One More "To Do" To Get Done

Hi Folks:

Just received an email that the online work form and waiver that the Saint Bernard Project (the people working with Camp RHINO) is available to be filled out. So let's get it done!

Go to....

http://www.formstack.com/forms/sbp-register

....and fill in "Camp RHINO-St. Paul, MN" as the group name.

Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow.

Peace,

Tom

Mission Trip...Details Emerging

Hey Folks,

Here is the latest on the picnic, commissioning service, and departure.

Saturday May 31, 2014 at 12:00pm

From Maddy Frawley, co-chair of the committee...

For the picnic (this saturday at 12) my family is providing the main dish. If everyone else could bring a salad or other side dish or dessert that would be great. Last year we did't have very much food so make sure you bring enough to feed a lot of people and make sure you all bring something! Thanks! 

REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR FORMS AND PAYMENT! 

Sunday June 1, 2014

 1. At 9:30am worship we will have the Mission Trip Commissioning. It would be good to have all of the youth and adults there. Maddy and Julia will you put this on Facebook? I'll get it on the blog along with a reminder about the picnic.

2. After the service we will be selling the remaining coffee and tea and greeting folks. All hands on deck!

Saturday June 7

1. Because of the Macalester College reunion, the bus will be boarding at St. Kate's for a 1:00pm departure. Get there starting at 12:30pm so we can load up for a timely exit. Once St. Kate's determines where they want us, I'll post the information.

Peace,

Tom

Last day of school

Apparently the procedure for getting an excused absence for June 9th (the last official day for SPPS students), is to call your school office and let them know. While there are some finals scheduled for that day on the public school calendar, the Central office people said teachers are likely to give finals during the last full week, since their grades have to be posted by the 9th. 

Anne Bushnell

Youth Happenings, May 18, 2014

Hi, all!

School's out in less than month, birds are singing, leaves are bursting out of their buds, and if you can believe it, we've reached the end of our program year! To celebrate, we will be holding our end of the year potluck picnic on Sunday. If you haven't already, click here, to sign up for which dish you will be bringing. We have takers on sandwich bread, but no sandwich fillings or beverages if you are looking for the most needed items.

Additionally, it will be Sunday as usual (for the last time until fall) prior to the picnic, so here's what to expect:

9:00     Early Worship
9:00     Youth Choir
9:30      Explorers
9:30      Chapel Choir
10:45    Late Worship

See you Sunday!
Sarah

Important Mission Trip Update

Mission-Trippers:

Come Sunday for the last youth fellowship of the season. It is a potluck picnic (sign up for food on previous post) and then running around on Mac Commons.

Very Important: You will also receive an envelope containing:

1. Your bill for the mission trip

2. Camp Rhino forms

3. MPUC forms

Checks and forms are due at the Mission Trip picnic on May 31 at 12pm at the Frawley residence (1780 Lincoln Avenue).

Youth Happenings, May 11, 2014

Hi All,

Happy Mother's Day weekend! It's hard to believe, but we are down to our last two weeks of youth programs for the school year! Here's what to expect for Sunday:

9:00 Early Worship
9:00 Youth Choir
9:30 Explorers
9:30 Chapel Choir
10:45 Late Worship

No youth group this week, but looking ahead to May 18th, we will be having our end of the year picnic directly following church. Like the Christmas party, this will be pot luck style, so sign up on the Google Doc here to let me know what you will be bringing. If you have any questions, e-mail me at Sarahg@macalester-plymouth.org, otherwise I look forward to seeing you at our year-end shebang!

Thanks!
Sarah

Youth Happenings, Sunday, May 4, 2014

Hi All,

Short and sweet for this Sunday.

9:00 Early Worship
9:00 Youth Choir
9:30 Explorers
9:30 Chapel Choir
10:45 Late Worship

There will be no youth group this Sunday due to the Feed My Starving Children postponement or next week, May 11th, for Mother's Day. Stay tuned for more come on our exciting last youth group of the school year...

This Weekend...and Beyond!

Hey Folks:

First off, we have the overnight on Friday. See details in my previous post, but show up at 7pm, bring snacks and music. If someone has the stuff we need to play iPods through speakers, please bring it. We are aiming for a 10am finish on Saturday.

This Sunday
9:00am early service
9:00am youth choir
9:30am Explorers class
9:30am chapel choir
10:45am late service

Scone sales after church!

5:00pm Youth Group


Coming Up

Next Saturday: Feed My Starving Children is postponed until a later date to be determined.

Next Sunday: No youth group.

That's all for now. Peace,

Tom

Big Reminder for Mission Trippers

This Friday, April 25th, is the bread bake overnight. Mark it on your calendars and be there at 7pm. We have a special guest at 7:30 that we want to be in place for.

What's going on? Most like we'll be prepping ingredients for scones that will be baked and sold on Sunday after the service. There'll be other activities to prepare us for the mission trip itself.

I've reserved the church until noon, but we'll likely finish around 10am on Saturday after breakfast and clean up.

I'm looking forward to seeing all of you!


Peace,

Tom

Happy Easter!

No Youth Activities Sunday

Youth Happenings Sunday, April 13, 2014 and Beyond

Hi All!

Hope you had a restful spring break! Now we're back to the grind and back to our usual youth schedule... at least for a week.

Here's what to expect for Sunday:

9:00am Early Worship
9:00am Youth Choir
9:30am Chapel Choir
9:30am Explorers or Adult Forum
10:45am Late Worship
5-7pm Youth Fellowship (Mandatory Mission Trip Meeting for senior high. Junior high with me, Sarah, for The Sandwich Project. We will be assembling 150 simple sandwiches to be sent to area shelters.)

ALSO, Mark your calendars! SATURDAY, MAY 3rd, we will be headed up to Coon Rapids to serve and assemble meals at Feed My Starving Children from 11:30am-1:30pm. I need to submit participant names in advance, so if you think you will be going, come prepared to sign up at youth group this week. If you are a parent and can either drive or volunteer at FMSC, please e-mail me at sarahg@macalester-plymouth.org ASAP. If we fill all our available spots, we will need three additional adults besides myself to volunteer at the site.

Thanks! See you in Church,
Sarah

Youth Happenings Sunday April 6, 2014 and Mark Your Calendars!

Hey Folks:

We're still on our Spring Break schedule, though today hardly looks like Spring!

This Sunday the schedule is:

9:00am Early Worship
9:00am Youth Choir
9:30am Chapel Choir
9:30am Explorers or Adult Forum
10:45am Late Worship

No Youth Group today but....

Next Sunday, April 13, Mandatory Mission Trip Meeting for Youth. We will be doing silent auction follow up and start talking plans for the trip. Junior High will be with Sarah.

Peace,

Tom

Youth Happenings Sunday March 30, 2014

Happy Spring Break! (to all those following the SPPS schedule)

No youth group this week, but here's what else is up.

9:00am Early Worship
9:00am Youth Choir
9:30am Explorers or Adult Ed
9:30am Chapel Choir
10:45am Late Worship

Youth Happenings Sunday March 23, 2014

Big Day!

Sunday is the last day of the Silent Auction and, mission trippers, let's end this strong. First, by showing up. Second, by going to the Facebook page and signing up to be a raffle ticket seller (2 needed) or a big poster (4 needed). The whole thing will wrap up around 12:30pm. While you are there be sure to Thank Laura and the other adults working on this huge part of our fundraising efforts.

What else?
9:00am Early Worship
9:00am Youth Choir
9:30am Explorers or Adult Ed
9:30am Chapel Choir
10:45am Late Worship-Confirmation Sunday. Everyone come and support the confirmation students.
12:00pm Silent Auction/Raffle Close

5:00-7:00pm Youth Group. Last week a lot of you were sweating tests and projects, come and take a break. This is our last youth group until April 13!

Seniors! Have you sent me the name of the person who is going to speak for you on Graduation Sunday (May 18)? Do it ASAP.

Youth Happenings March 16, 2014

Hey Folks:

Here's the line-up for this Sunday....

9:00am Early Worship
9:00am Youth Choir
9:30am Explorer's Class
9:30am Chapel Choir
10:45am Late Worship

3:30pm Confirmation...the last one!

5:00pm Youth Group

Looking forward to seeing everyone!


Peace,

Tom

Youth Happenings March 9, 2014

Hey Folks,

We made it through Mardi Gras and lived to tell about it, the unrelenting winter is finally loosening its grasp, and best of all, we finally get to take a breather! This week, as we come together, there will be no talk of fundraisers or the mission trip, no decorating, and no event set up. This is a week to regroup, reconnect, and have fun with a good old game night. Bring games if you have them. There may even be a chance of...Christians and Romans. Yep, you heard that one right .

So, here's how the whole day breaks down:

9:00am Early worship

9:30am Explorers

10:45am Late Worship

5-7pm Youth Fellowship Game Night

See you Sunday!
Sarah

Note to Mission Trippers

Hey Folks:

Please check the walls of the social hall to make sure your silent auction item is up there. Talk to Laura if you don't see it. There have been a lot of cool things so far, so great job!

Peace,

Tom

Youth Happenings Sunday March 2, 2014

Hey Folks:

Not a lot happening on the youth front this Sunday because of the All Church Retreat.

There is youth choir at 9:00am and chapel choir at 9:30am.

There is no 9:00am worship service, no Explorers class, confirmation or youth group.

Confirmation students...come to Ash Wednesday service at 7:00pm this Wednesday. We will then meet very briefly afterwards as a class and hopefully have you on the road by 8:00pm.

A big thank you to everyone who worked so hard on the Mardi Gras dinner last night. It was a success and that was due to all of the adult and youth who planned and worked it. I've already received an email asking me to pass on a good review to all of you.

Let's see if we can do the same with the silent auction!

Thank you to congregation members who supported the effort by attending, promoting, and bringing friends. We saw a lot of new faces and have a couple of youth who do not attend MPUC express an interest in joining the trip next year.


Peace,

Tom

Youth Happenings Sunday, February 23, 2014

After a long stretch of funny scheduling, we will finally be back to our normal youth activity times. Here's what to expect for this week.

9:00am Early Worship

9:00am Youth Choir

9:30am Chapel Choir

9:30am Explorers

10:45am Late Worship

5-7pm Youth Fellowship (Junior high will be with Ed. Senior high will work on decorations for the Mardi Gras dinner. Many hands are needed!)

Youth Happenings Sunday, February 16, 2014

Here's what is happening this week. Things are still a little different, so please pay close attention!

9:00am Early Worship

9:00am Youth Choir

9:30 Chapel Choir

9:30 Explorers

10:45 Late Worship

12:00pm Adult mission trip leaders meeting in Tom's office

3:00pm Mission trip participants meet for ticket sales. We should be done by 5pm with dinner at the Italian Pie Shoppe to follow. If interested in coming to dinner, please bring $5.00

Please note there will be no regularly scheduled youth fellowship or confirmation this Sunday.

Confirmation Students: Remember to arrive by 6:45, Thursday, February 20th to meet with session. We should be done by 7:30pm. 

Silent Auction Update!

Hi all – just a reminder to all youth that I need your silent auction donation info ASAP. I am going to start hanging the fliers in the social hall this week. And please note, if you are donating something you have made, knit hats, fleece blanket, jewelry, etc., please bring the items to church as soon as you can. We put them out to display each week that we take bids. I can also pick up from your house if that is easier. You can call me at 651-210-8956.

And, parents, if you have anything you would like to donate, great! Just let me know.

Any donations from local businesses, please let me know about those as soon as you can.

Laura Donovan

Youth Happenings, Sunday, February 9, 2014

Hey Folks,

Yet another busy Sunday coming up, and with that full day comes another weekend of modified schedules.

Here's what to expect this week:

9:30 - Explorers in Rex Knowles

10:45 Worship

12:00-1:30 Youth Group. There will be lunch in the Plymouth room followed by an in-house service project. We will be putting our muscles to work setting up for Adam's Installation Service.

1:30-2:30 Confirmation

3:00 Adam's Installation service.

See you Sunday!
Sarah

Youth Happenings This Sunday...Some are Mandatory!

Hey Folks:

The next couple of Sundays are going to be a bit different.

This Sunday, Explorers will still be at 9:30. But beyond that, things are as follows:

Youth group is going to be right after church. For senior high it is a mandatory meeting for parents and youth going on the mission trip. We have two major fundraisers to tend to and the adults leading those efforts need all hands on deck at this meeting. The junior high will be with Sarah.

Because there will be a large number of people, we are not asking a family to provide lunch. Instead we will have something very (very) light to help you get through the meeting and home to a proper meal.

Confirmation will be at 1:30pm for eighth graders, they may wish to bring a lunch with them.

So, I look forward to seeing everyone Sunday and I hope you are having a good week.

Peace,

Tom

Hey Mission-Trippers!

Youth, as we move into Silent Auction and Fundraising Dinner time here's an easy assignment for you. Go to this link and sign up for a part in the fundraising dinner....

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1vVbwmAI0iRxfXSDnQ-O9vN46I_swLO9-wxI4t_vW8hY/viewform

You may have to do a copy and paste on that. Also mission trip participants and parents, please put February 2nd  6-7pm on your calendars for a fundraising meeting where we will be talking about both of these fundraisers.

Peace,

Tom

Youth Happenings, Sunday, January 26th

There's a lot going on this Sunday and nothing seems to be at its regularly scheduled time, well except for some things...So, here's the breakdown of the day to help you keep things sorted out and be where you need/want to be when you need/want to be there.

9:30 Explorers at its regularly scheduled time while worship happens upstairs. 

10:30 Annual Meeting. Youth in grades 6-8 are invited to volunteer at the Children's annual meeting or attend the adult one.

11:45-12:15 Pizza in the Plymouth room

12:15 Head over to Mary's Place  

12:30-2:00 Volunteer in the Mary's Place playroom

2:30 Return to MPUC

What's this Mary's Place I speak of? Mary's Place is a transitional shelter on the outskirts of downtown Minneapolis that provides a bed, meets emergency needs and offers a safe place to be a kid to the thousands of homeless men, women, and children that come through its doors each year. Sunday, in lieu of evening fellowship, youth will be volunteering in the on-site, indoor playroom, playing with any children that may be around and in turn helping them feel free to be a carefree kid if just for an hour. We were lucky to get in on such short notice and it will be a great opportunity to both learn about and help meet the needs of the greater community. 

We'd love to have you, but if you can't make it, have no fear. There will be several other service opportunities coming up before the end of the school year. If you do plan on coming, or you are a parent who can help drive, please e-mail Sarah at Sarahg@macalester-plymouth.org letting her know you'll be there and how many youth you can take in your car. 

Thanks!

Sarah

Youth Happenings Sunday January 19, 2014

Due to the holiday weekend, there will be no youth activities (including Explorers) on Sunday.

Parents and mission trippers, please remember the fundraising meeting on Tuesday at 9am in the Plymouth room. Contact Tom with any questions.

If you'd like to reach me, my new church e-mail address is sarahg@macalester-plymouth.org.

Thanks,
Sarah Goodall
Youth Coordinator

My Mistake

The meeting for the fundraiser will be Tuesday at 9, not Monday. Sorry for the confusion.

Rally the Troops Time

Hey Folks:

In order to make the fundraising dinner that Katie is proposing happen we are calling all youth and adults who are available 9am Tuesday for a meeting at church. Adults, if you know you CAN make it plus notify me ASAP. Youth, apparently you don't have school. Let's get this show going.

Peace,

Tom

Important Mission Trip Note from Katie Sterns

Mission Trippers and Mission Trip Parents and Chaperones:

Tom and I have been working to develop a fundraising event to help offset the loss of funding from a previous grant source.  We need to raise an additional $2000.  Here is the concept (please keep in mind that this is a draft and not final!):

Mardi Gras Dinner and Jazz Fundraiser!
Help us help our Mississippi River friends in New Orleans!

Date: Thursday, February 27th, 5-7 pm

Location: church social hall

Stop by for a delicious Cajun meal and jazz! Menu will include: (ideas...tentative) gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, crawfish, beignets, corn, fried okra, sweet tea

Music will be provided by local jazz bands including the Capitol Hill Big Band and (Adam's Dad's band name) Dixieland Band.

Learn about continued rebuilding and restoration projects still happening in New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina.

$15 per person
$10 under age 12
($x per ticket is tax deductible)

Budget:

Youth and church members will presell tickets to this event. Each youth needs to sell 15 tickets.
If 22 youth sell 15 tickets that is 330 tickets at an average of $13. This will gross $4,290 less costs (still needs to be priced out but will include: food costs, marketing costs, band stipend.)

Next steps:

Leadership Team: We need to convene a group of student leaders and adults to accomplish this effort as soon as possible. Here are the subcommittees/teams we will need:

· Food Planning and Execution (determining menu, pricing suppliers, cook or cater, defining tasks and assigning workers, prep, food line, clean up, etc.)
· Ticket sales (determine ticket sales strategy, train youth and track sales)
· Graphics, Communications and Marketing (ticket and posters design/printing, social media, community calendars, media releases, etc.)
· Dining Service and Hospitality (defining tasks and assigning workers, set up, service, transporting seniors from local senior facilities, etc.)

Please respond back to me asap if you are willing to jump on board with this FUN AND FABULOUS event! If you’ve never worked with me you find that I am intense, creative and love to laugh! If that doesn’t scare you then please consider helping! We really need to divide and conquer so PLEASE see what you can do. I will do the overall management in coordination with a youth leader. We need one adult and one youth leader for the other areas.

Please respond if you can meet Monday or Tuesday of next week during the day preferably to begin work.  (No SPPS Public School on Tuesday).

Thanks!

Katie Sterns
651-295-1730

Youth Happenings Sunday January 13

Hey All, here's what's up:

9:00-9:30am Early Worship
9:30-10:30am Explorers
10:45am Late Worship

3:30-4:45pm Confirmation

5:00-7:00pm Youth Group: Junior High will be with Sarah; Senior will be having a mission trip meeting, required for youth. Not a parent meeting.

The following Sunday, January 20 there are no youth activities because of the holiday weekend.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday though!

Peace,

Tom

Change to Sunday's Schedule

Hey Folks:

Because of the temperatures we are expecting to roll in tomorrow evening, youth group is cancelled. We will still have Explorers at 9:30am and Confirmation at 3:30pm.

Also, remember to come support Claire Romey as speaks at the adult forum if you are a senior high person.

Peace,

Tom

Sunday January 5, 2014

Happy New Year everyone, here's the deal for this Sunday:

9:00-9:30am    Early Worship
9:30-10:30am  Explorers
9:30-10:30am  Adult Forum: Senior High-ers...Come hear Peacemaking Award winner and youth group                               alumnus Claire Romey talk about her trip to Costa Rica.
10:45-11:45am Late Worship

3:30pm-4:45pm Confirmation

5:00-7:00pm Youth Group

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone Sunday!


Peace,

Tom

Youth Happenings: Christmas Break Edition

Hi Everyone:

First of all, thanks to all, parents, youth, and especially Sarah, our youth coordinator, for a great Christmas party!

I delivered the presents to the Aliveness Project last Monday and they were very appreciative. There are a lot of families that weren't adopted and so they are grateful for the fact that the youth group does what it does for this effort. Thank you contributors, shoppers, and wrappers.

We do not have Explorers, confirmation, or youth group December 12 or December 29. The calendar shows Youth Choir at 9am and Chapel Choir at 9:30am both Sundays.

May you experience hope, peace, joy, and love this Christmas season.

Peace,

Tom

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Hey Folks:

Here's the run down:

9:30am Adult Ed on Forgiveness
9:30am Explorers
10:45am Worship (Christmas Pageant)

12:30pm Roger Barr Christmas Story Reading

3:30pm Confirmation

5:00-7:00pm The Annual Youth Christmas Party

What'll it be? A potluck, a white elephant thing, games, present wrapping for the Aliveness Project, music...

What should you bring?

1. A mixed CD you create (and put your name on) to exchange with others as a way of letting people know the real (musical) you.

2. A white elephant gift. Something you don't use anymore but that some else may like. Wrap it!

3. Food. So far here is what has been assigned or volunteered:

Devon-a main dish
Sam-homemade pop
Kat-cupcakes or other desert
Dan: tater tot hot dish
Grace-desert
Samanatha-desert
Cordelia-bread
Sophia-mac and cheese
Rosalie-non-homemade pop
Stephanie-Chips
Emma-fruit salad

Not bad so far. If you don't see your name (which is many of you), bring something you see lacking.

It is going to be a great time, can't wait to see you all!

Peace,

Tom

Youth Happenings December 8, 2014

Busy Day at Church!

9:00am Youth Choir
9:00am Early Worship
9:30am Chapel Choir
9:30am Explorers Class
9:30am Adult Ed
10:45am Late Worship

then...

12:00-2:00pm Youth Group: Shopping for Aliveness Project and Set-Up for Around The Table Carol Sing in the social hall (community service project and in-house service project). Everyone meet in the social at noon on the side with the piano. I will be there with Sarah.

Please bring $10 as able to help pay for gifts for the families we have adopted through the Aliveness Project. We have a couple of teams going to make the shopping run. The others will be with Sarah setting up for the Around The Table Carol Sing. We will order pizza and eat around 1:30pm.

No confirmation...go get some rest so you can come back for the Around The Table Carol Sing at 5:00pm.

Next Sunday (the 15th) is the Youth Group Christmas Party. We did some planning last Sunday: it will be a potluck, think of something you would like to bring to share, food-wise and let us know this Sunday. There will also be a white elephant exchange: wrap and bring something you don't use anymore but that someone else may appreciate.

I hope everyone had a good week and I look forward to seeing you this Sunday!

Peace,

Tom

Youth Happenings December 1, 2013

Here's the plan:

9:00 am Early Worship
9:00am Youth Choir
9:30am Chapel Choir
10:45am Late Worship

No Explorers, Adult Ed, Confirmation, or Youth Group this weekend

Next weekend: youth group will be right after church. We will eat and shop for the Aliveness Project (please bring $10) and help set up for the Around the Table Carol Sing as an in-house service project.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!


Tom

Youth Happenings Sunday November 24, 2013

Hey Folks, here's what's going on...

(no early worship)
9:00am Youth Choir
9:30am Chapel Choir
9:30am Adult Forum on Thanksgiving
10:45am Worship
11:45am Curt's Retirement Celebration

5:00pm Youth Group: Christmas party planning and special guest Adam Blons

I look forward to seeing everyone!

Peace,

Tom

Another Opportunity

I have a family looking for snow removal December 14-29 at $20 a shot. This is not a mission trip fundraiser and is open to junior and senior high folk. Email me.

Tom

Opportunities for Youth

Hi Folks:

It isn't here yet, but snow is on the way. I've had two requests for youth willing to do snow removal:

The first is from a member who is having surgery and will be unable to shovel his snow. He is willing to pay $20.00 per time. This would be a good way to make some money for someone with transportation as the home is near Roseville.

The second is from a family who is willing to make a donation for the mission trip for someone to be on call for snow removal while they are out of town November 20 to December 1. They live in the Highland neighborhood. This is a great opportunity for a mission trip participant to earn fundraising credit.

Both need to know quickly, as they have people in reserve, but wanted to offer this to our youth first. Please email me at tome@macalester-plymouth.org if you are interested in either.

Peace,

Tom

Youth Happenings Sunday November 17, 2013

9:00am Early Worship
9:00am Youth Choir
9:30am Chapel Choir
9:30am Jim Nelson speaking to parents at Adult Forum
10:45am Late Worship

3:30pm Confirmation youth and parents

5pm Junior and Senior High Fellowship-Aliveness Project Holiday Basket Kick-Off. This is our time to show our commitment to local ministry.

I look forward to seeing you all Sunday!

Peace,

Tom

Mission Trip Meeting Update for Sunday

Hi Folks:

Please bring a $50.00 deposit for the mission trip to Sunday's meeting.

I look forward to seeing everyone!

Peace,

Tom

Youth Happenings Sunday November 10, 2013 and more

Hi Folks:

I have lots to share with you in this post.

The schedule this Sunday is....

9:00-9:30am Worship
9:30-10:30 Adult Forum: Jim Nelson speaking about youth. See note below*
10:45-11:45am Worship
3:30pm-5:00pm Confirmation-Parents only
5:00pm-7:00pm Youth Group (From 6-7pm there is a mandatory mission trip meeting for youth and parents)

*About Adult Ed: Jim Nelson is a retired child and youth psychologist whose book Running on Empty, speaks to many issues confronting youth and their parents in a plugged-in culture of busy-ness, with expectations on young people from a number of fronts that are leading to disturbing trends amongst adolescents. Jim has asked that I invite you to come with any questions or concerns you have about youth and our current culture as a lead-off to the discussion.

Lastly, from the Stewardship Campaign:

Dear Friends in Faith:

As the 2013 Stewardship Chair, I have been asking members of our church to share some of the Surprising Gifts that they have received as part of their life in the Macalester Plymouth faith community. 

I wanted to share with you, parents of the youth of our church, some thoughts from Anne Bushnell on this topic.  Her thoughts echo what I've heard from many parents and they certainly reflect our own experience raising a family in this church.  As you consider your giving this year, I would ask that you reflect your own family's experience.  

Rich Passmore

Dear fellow MPUC parents of youth,

I was asked to think for a bit about what Macalester Plymouth United Church has meant to my boys, now 15 and 18, and to us as a family. This turned very quickly from a task on my to-do list, to a rush of gratitude and an overflowing heart. From a bit of a thorn, to a big, beautiful rose.

Counting the blessings received from my kids’ involvement in Mac Ply youth programs… It’s so much more than dropping them off at 5 o’clock on Sunday night for youth fellowship. It is watching both of my boys get up in front of our trusting, loving congregation and read their personal statements of faith as they step forward to be confirmed. It’s an engaged discussion at the dinner table about marriage equality, people who are homeless in St. Paul, and yes, even about what Jesus would have had to say about it all. It is standing back while one of them organizes leaf raking and offers up his pie baking skills to do his part in fundraising for the mission trip. It is hearing the other explain a Bible story (in detail I never knew), and being so glad he’s got this in his toolbox. It is listening to them sing, and laugh, and learn about silence.

I am grateful for all of the caring adults MPUC has brought into their lives, for our church’s courage to offer Our Whole Lives sexuality education, for helping teenagers learn to look outward as well as within.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. 

With love and gratitude,

Anne Bushnell

Youth Happenings Coming Up

Hey Folks:

This Sunday, November 3

9:00am Youth Choir
9:30am Chapel Choir
9:30am Explorers Class
10:45am Worship

There is no youth group this Sunday. I will be out of town.


The Following Sunday (November 10)-Big Stuff!

9:30am Explorers Class
10:45am  Worship
3:30pm Parents meeting for Confirmation in the Plymouth Room (youth get to stay home)
5:00-7:00pm Youth Group

There is a mandatory Mission Trip Meeting for senior high participants and their parents that starts at 6pm.

Fellowship for junior high will be led by our new youth coordinator, Sarah. Come and meet her! A full bio on Sarah is coming, but she will also be working with the Explorers class. I am asking parents to encourage their youth to join Sarah at the 10:45am worship service after Explorers each week.

Look for more details next week, but for now, mark those calendars!


Peace,

Tom

Youth Happenings This Sunday, October 27, 2013

Here's what going on this Sunday...

9:00am Worship

9:00am Youth Choir (grades 4-8)

9:30am Chapel choir (grades 9-12)

9:30am Explorers Class (grades 6-8)

10:45am Worship

Youth Group-Important Notice

The Circles of Grace event, scheduled for 6:00pm this Sunday has been cancelled. We will, however, have regular youth group from 5:00-7:00pm for junior and senior high youth. I look forward to seeing you Sunday!

Peace,

 

Tom

A Message from Adam for Parents of Youth

Circles of Grace: Parents and Youth, Oct. 27, 6pm to 7pm

God’s Grace shines through the time, talents, treasure and trust given by this congregation to its ministries and the wider community.  During this year’s stewardship campaign, we have been gathering  in small groups to share the impact of the church on our lives and reflect upon the spiritual practice of giving and pledging. There is a special group happening this Sunday, Oct. 27 during the youth program for youth and adults.  Tom and Adam have crafted an experience that will work for the youth and include the parents.  Part of the evening will be spent separately, but we will end together as we acknowledge the gifts we have received and given that make the ministries of the church possible.  Please email Adam and let him know if you are able to come this Sunday. His email is revadamblons@gmail.com. Youth will gather for dinner, etc. at 5pm.     

Youth Happenings October 20, 2013

Hey Folks!

Happy MEA/Educators Weekend! There is no Explorers class or Youth Group on Sunday.

We meet again on October 27th.

Peace,

Tom

Correction

If you receive blog updates by email, you will have notice I made a date error. This Sunday is the 13th. As for the 20th, there is no Explorers Class or Youth Group because of the long weekend for St. Paul public schools.

Sorry for the confusion,

Tom

Youth Happenings Sunday October 13, 2013

Hey Everyone:

Here's what is going on this Sunday....

9:00am Youth Choir (grades 4-8)
9:30am Chapel Choir (grades 9-12)
9:30am Explorers (grades 6-8)

12pm-3pm Junior and Senior High Youth Group
Bowling at Sun Ray Lanes
2245 Hudson Road (I-94 and McKnight Road)
Meet at church at noon. Back at church at 3.
Cost is $6.00
Food will be provided

Drivers are needed. Contact Tom if you are able to either drive youth to and pick them up from Sun Ray or are able to join us for the afternoon.

Note: There is no Explorers class or Youth Group next Sunday, October 20th.

I look forward to seeing everyone Sunday!

Peace,

Tom

Youth Happenings Sunday October 6, 2013

8:30am Boy Scout Pancake Breakfast

9:00am Youth Choir (grades 4-8)
9:30am Chapel Choir (grades 9-12)
9:30am Explorers (grades 6-8)

5pm-7pm Junior and Senior High Youth Group


I look forward to seeing everyone Sunday!

Peace,

Tom

Youth Happenings September 29, 2013

It's a much more laid back Sunday this week then last week!

9:30-10:30am Explorers

5:00-7:00pm Youth Group
Senior High will be making the final vote on the 2014 Mission Trip location (Committee meets at 4:30pm)
Junior High will be doing activities led by me (Tom).

As usual, we get things started by checking in and having dinner together.

I look forward to seeing everyone!

Peace,

Tom

Sunday September 22, 2014

It going to be a big day Sunday....

If you are in choir, please go to rehearsal when scheduled:
Youth Choir (4-8th grade) 9am in the social hall
Chapel choir (9-12th grade) 9:30 in the social hall

9:30-10:30am Explorer's Class 9:30-10:30 for 6th-8th grade

9:30-10:20am The Youth Mission Trip is the subject of the Adult Forum. We got some people who are for sure showing up:
Devin
Avery
Hannah
Ryan
Maddie F.

...and others hopefully. Please try to show for this, many voices are good. Be outside the Plymouth Room at 9:30am.


10:20am Meet me in the sanctuary. Sit on the side of the church where the piano is (no the bell choir side). I have bulletins and readings for each of you and directions when to head up.There are three times during the service when we have mission trip reflections. I've organized the readings to follow a loose narrative, so you will see on your bulletin "A-1" "B-3," "C-2," etc. The letter refers to which reflection period you will go up during and the number refers to the order you go.

Lian is handling the front end of the liturgy

Julia, Lian, Erica and Cecelia are doing the children's time with me, assuming Erica and Cecilia are back in town.

Maddy is working the slide show with Lee and Lisa. The slide show will happen during offering. The screen will be by the bell choir tables. Stan will improvise music during the slide show, God bless him.

Lydia is handling the tail end of the liturgy.

After Lydia does the benediction, she should move to the front of the aisle and lead all of you out, where you should form a receiving line to greet people as they come out.

Whew! Go home, take a nap, do homework.

5:00-7:00pm Youth Fellowship
We'll do roses and thorns, eat and then junior high will be with Ed and I will be with the senior high to discuss next year's mission trip. Researchers, bring your research!

Any questions or concerns, call me at 612-716-3150 or email me at tome@macalester-plymouth.org

Peace,

Tom

.

On our way

We are packed back in the bus and leaving pilgrim point. With a short rest stop we should be pulling into the church parking lot around 4 or 4:15. See you there.

Sunday morning - part 1

We just finished worship and ate cleaning up. Our projected arrival is around 4:00. I will update the blog when we are rolling with a more accurate time.

Retreat Update and Packing List

New Departure Time: Friday, 6:00pm
Due to several time conflicts, we will be departing at 6pm, rather than 5pm. So come with a bag dinner or already have had dinner and we'll head out at 6.

Possible return change time: Sunday, 3:30pm
According to the bus company, this is when we'll roll back into MPUC, but I think it may take longer. We will notify you when we know more, but somewhere between 3:30-4:30pm in our window of re-entry.

Here is a packing list, in case you didn't pick one up Sunday:

1. A sleeping bag/bed roll, a pillow, and anything else you need for sleeping

2. Toiletry items including a towel and a washcloth

3. Weather appropriate clothing for daytime activities, possible swimming, and evening outdoor activities (This is Minnesota: it could be freezing or it could be 90 degrees out).

4. A Water Bottle-Definitely Bring a Water Bottle!

5. A flashlight

6. A bag dinner for the bus ride up and snacks to share throughout the weekend

7. Games to Share

8. Homework, if you have it

9. No iPods (or their equivalents) or cell phones. Leaders will have cell phones for youth to contact home. (If you need to reach your youth, Tom’s cell is 612-716-3150. 

11. Consent form and payment if not already sent in.

Looking forward to a great weekend!

Tom

Rally Day!!!

Hey Everyone:

Some updates about the next couples of weeks:

Though there is no Explorers Class this Sunday, Ed will be on hand during education hour to entertain 6-8th graders who may need to be here for other reasons. Or just come and have a good time.

Definitely check out the youth table at Rally day for Fall Retreat information and forms. We have a good number of folks going so far. This year we are being offered a ropes course for folks age 12 and up, there is additional waiver for that and it will be on the table with the registration form. This is an optional activity, so if you prefer to main attached to the ground (like me), you be a part of the cheering section.

St. Norm will also be posting all the forms on the blog sometime today.

Back to Rally Day... we have youth group from 5-7pm that evening. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone after such a long time off!

Peace,

Tom

Youth News for September 2013

Important: Please RSVP for the Fall Retreat Now! Email tome@macalester-plymouth.org

September 8

No Explorers

5:00-7:00pm    Jr. and Sr. High Youth Group

September 13-15

No Explorers or Youth Group on the 15th

Fall Retreat

Leave: 5:00 PM on Friday (bring bag dinner for the bus)/Return: by 5:00 PM on Sunday (Note later return time from previous years)

To reserve your spot on this retreat, RSVP to tom at tome@macalester-plymouth.org ASAP, then please return consent forms and a check for $125 (made payable to Macalester Plymouth Church) by Wednesday, September 8^th. Confidential Scholarships are available.

September 22

9:30-10:30am Explorers (for 6^th-8^th grade) in Knowles Room

9:30-10:30am 2013 Mission Trip Presentation for Adult Forum

10:30-11:30am 2013 Youth Mission Trip Worship Service

5:00-7:00pm Youth Group

September 29

9:30-10:30am Explorers (for 6^th-8^th grade) in Knowles Room

5:00-7:00pm Youth Group

Youth/Chapel Choir Schedule:  Regular Rehearsals on Sundays:  Youth 9:00 - 9:30am:  Chapel 9:30 - 10:30am.

September 8, 2013:  First Rehearsal
September 15, 2013:  Regular Rehearsal
September 22, 2013:  Regular Rehearsal and SUNDAY PERFORMANCE

September 29, 2013:  NO REHEARSAL 

This Could Be You Some Day!

Hey All:

Here is a link to Claire Romey's blog about the work she is doing in Costa Rica with the proceeds of the 2013 Peacemaker Award. The Peacemaker Award is for folks 18-25 who want to make a difference in the world with the gifts they have. That means that even if travelling to a foreign country isn't your thing, there are plenty of other options for you.

Look for the information about the next Peacemaker Award in the Fall. Until then, go cheer on one of our own!


http://walkingdownthecosta.blogspot.com/

Peace,

Tom

Save the Date! Fall Youth Retreat

Hi Everyone:

I know Fall planning might be in the works right now in your homes, so I wanted to get as much of the Fall Retreat information to you as possible as soon as possible.

The Fall Retreat will be Friday September 13 to Sunday September 15 at Pilgrim Point Camp in Alexandria. It is an awesome place. It is also further away so we are going to (school) bus our way there. We will be leaving at 5pm Friday and returning 5pm Sunday. The cost is still $125.00 and there are a scholarships available (you can email me about those).

As I said, more information will be sent out as soon as details get confirmed.


While I'm at it, the Mission Trip Worship Service is Sunday, September 22 at the 10:45am service. We will also be the presenters at the adult forum at 9:30am that morning. If you were on the mission trip this past summer please add that to your calendar.

I hope you are all having a great summer!

Peace,

Tom

A Mission Opportunity

If you returned from the mission trip wanting more, here is your chance:

The Red Shirt Project is a mission opportunity offered by Robert Two Bulls, who is a priests at All Saints Indian Mission in Minneapolis with his wife Ritchie. The Project is located at Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. They are looking for youth 15 years and up who are available the last two weeks in July to come and work on the reservation. My words can't do it justice, so take a look at redshirtproject.org for an idea of what you can expect.

There will be adult chaperones on the trip, but not from MPUC. If you are interested and want help getting connected give me a call.

Peace,

Tom

Many Thanks!

Many thanks are due now that this year's mission trip has come to a close.

John, Lee, Maggie, and Marsha: What a great adult team. Parents, your youthies were in great hands with this A team that worked with them not just on the job sites but during the off hours to make sure that the trip was educational, fun, and life changing.

Julia and Maddie: Strong leadership this year, absolutely amazing. They put significant time into the trip in the year leading up to it. One of the Camp Rhino people thought they were church staffers!

Mission Trip Committee: The youth on the committee were instrumental in making sure fund-raising efforts were successful and that things got planned for the trip.

Youth: As ever, the youth were hard workers and now they are bearers of the experiences shared with them by people who have been through extremely difficult times.

Congregation: For financial support, for prayers, for caring, for being interested, for doing mission work through this particular avenue.

Parents: Thanks for trusting us with your youth. Thanks for your work as parents that makes them such a pleasure to be with even when the weather is hot and work is frustrating.

The people of New Orleans and the staff of Camp Rhino and St. Bernard Project: for your mission work to the youth and adults by allowing the group to learn from you and to experience God speaking through you.

The bus drivers: for getting us there and back safely and listening to our music, movies, and general crowd noise.

I look forward to this year's mission trip service (September 22) when the youth will share what they experienced with the congregation. Until then...there's always the blog!

Peace,

Tom

Missing Camera!!!!

A camera, black Canon without a case, was misplaced on the bus ride back to town.

If you know about this, or have it, call or send a text message to Lily at 651-925-7919, and she will see that it gets returned to rightful owner.

Thanks

Nearing Mason City, ETA still 12:30 PM

Donuts in Iowa City

Just stopped for the obligatory bus donuts, and we think we'll get back at or around 12:30.  Will update as we get closer.

Making Our Way

It's just before 6:00 and most of the bus is still asleep as we seem to have figured out how to make that work just in time not to need the skill anymore.

We just passed through Hannibal, MO, which puts us on track to arrive  in Saint Paul at about 12:30, but that will partially depend on how long any stops are, so check back for updates as the morning progresses.

Thank you for letting your youthies participate in this fabulous trip -- every one of them made it a better trip than it would have been without them, and we adults were blessed to spend the week watching them grow and learn and teach each other and us.

Maggie

Prayer partners, communion... and leaving Memphis

We completed a wonderful and moving closing to the mission trip in Overton Park in Memphis. We are back on the road, and still thinking a noon arrival in Saint Paul.

Check back on Sunday morning for an update. And thank you, as always, for your prayers and support.

Lee

It's gonna be FANTASTIC!!

Or so Maggie has convinced us, about the bus ride. Bus just left French Quarter. On our way. With 21 youth.

Best estimate is noon Sunday in St Paul. We will update estimate as we go.

Lee

The Final Frontier

Here goes one last blog post,

Hey all, things are winding down here in the common room. Four people are playing Hearts, Erica's CD is playing in the TV, and the adults all look like they could use 12 hours of sleep. They deserve some hibernation, but I'm not sure that the bus tomorrow will allow it.

It has been a blast! This has been a very satisfying mission trip in that the progress was tangible, there was true need for our work, and everyone here is awesome. I have already begun to feel sadness that next year I won't be going on the mission trip. There has always been THE mission trip that starts off the summer. THE mission trip that lets me spend time and make friends with the other kids at Mac-Plymouth. THE mission trip that gives me the privilege to serve others and make a positive difference in the world. I'm going to miss it in a way that I could describe using every cliche I can think of. But I won't, because as simple as the idea of a mission trip is, it is not cheesy or shallow. A mission trip is a genuine, life-changing experience.

Today I haven't felt so hot. My stomach has felt off and has been cramping. It was fairly debilitating at the work site, much to my frustration, but since then has seemed to get a little better. I am hoping that a good nights sleep will allow my system to work itself out and I will be 100% for the trip home tomorrow. I am optimistic!

Well we are being called to bed, so I will say good night to everyone out there. Thank you for all of your support, encouragement, and love over the last four years. You guys are the best!

Henry B.

Hello back home in Saint Paul! Our week here in New Orleans has been not only amazing, but enlightening. This experience has opened my eyes; you really don't know what you have until you lose it.

All week, my construction group and I have been working on flooring and installing base-board for a woman named Gwen. Her home is located in New Orleans East and after the levee broke, her house was flooded about six feet and her family were stranded on their roof for four days, and she and her husband had to swim to safety.

Eight years prior to Katrina, Gwen still does not have a home of her own. On thursday she came to visit us to see the work we had accomplishEd in her home. She told us her story which made me realize how lucky i am with my life back in Minnesota; i have always had a home to go back to, and she has been moving around for eight years. Disasters really put our liVes in perspective, especially if you have survived them. After our week here, we will have all these memories from our experience, but we will eventually forget and they will become less prevalent in our thoughts.

Just to reminisce on a fantastic first mission trip, i want to make a special shout out "team A's" upstairs flooring crew. You really made our work at Gwen's house fun. From the infamous table saw, to our dance parties, learning to cope-physically anD mentally- and of course, finally celebrating the upstairs hallway being flush.

It was a great week and i honestly couldn't have asked for a better mission trip.

Love, erica craddock

Last day of work

Avery here!
Today was our final day of work. Unfortunately, our homeowner, Ms. Cassandra, never showed up so we couldn't meet her and learn her story. I would have liked to meet her so we could know who would be living their everyday lives in the rooms we built. The rooms were all painted this week, and it was incredible how much the bright colors helped change the house from a structure with no meaning to a house that someone would be living in for years to come. We also did a lot of the baseboard and trim around the house. Even this small detail made a big difference in how much better the rooms looked. Me and Maddy worked on the trim around the back door. At first, it was confusing because we had no idea what we were doing. Eventually, we figured it out and were able to piece it all together. It was hard to get the length just right, but when our site director came over to look at it she told us it was perfect and that we had done a great job. This was the biggest moment of satisfaction I felt all trip, since we made something from start to finish without really knowing how to start. I was sad to leave the house, since we will probably never return to see it again. I wish I could see it finished in person, but i know we made a lot of important progress in just the four days we were there. I'm glad that Ms. Cassandra will be able to move back to her real home sometime this sumer, since she has been waiting for so long. It will be nice to get back to Minnesota, but I will definitely miss New Orleans.
Bye for now,
Avery

Hi Parents
Marsha here. Each year on these trips I am touched by the hard work and good spirits of the youth.  Each one brings gifts and talents and together they make a difference.  And this year as in years past our host organizations are amazed by them. I have heard so many great comments about their hard work, generous spirits and engagement with issues.  Last night we had a long discussion about what we have experienced here in New Orleans.  We are coming back with many stories to share.  Se y'all soon. Marsha

Au Revoir New Orleans

Bonjour Minnesota!
    We have just returned from our last worship service with RHINO. Over the week we have listened to a few sermons from Durban Durban (our nickname for our keynote speaker, Andy Durban), and spiritual songs from the guest band. It's been a bit like Next Step last year, but a little less extreme. Tonight Jimmy, Henry, Paul and I sang "Prayer for the Children" to open the service.  I believe Maggie has a video.
  It's bittersweet to be leaving New Orleans; we all miss our families, our homes, our beds. But New Orleans still needs us. Being here has shown me that, even almost eight years later, so much help is still needed.  It has been an amazing experience, and very satisfying to see the work that the adult leaders, Maddy, and I put into this trip turned into an impactful, fulfilling mission trip. We worked hard, we played hard, we slept hard. What else could you ask for? I've had such a wonderful time with these wonderful people, and I can't wait to see you all soon!
Much love,
Julia Schafer
P.S- Simon is here with me, and he wants to say hi to his family. Also, shoutout to Lydia's cats. She misses you! Meow.

The little things

Hi everyone, Claire Donovan here :-)

Everyone knows how much fun we have every year doing mission work on the mission trip every year. Its always a LOT of work and we're exhausted by the end of the day. Although the main point of our trip every year is to do work and help others, we always make time to do typical teen things. We did a lot of those this week. Some of my favorite little things that happened this week were...

1. Swimming with everyone in the pool. We had a few awesome games of boys against girls pool basketball at the rec center by our dorms. Its the best way to cool off after a long day of work.

2. Yesterday, we met the cutest little dog I've ever seen, literally. He was grey and fluffy had his ears stuck out, his tongue was lolling and his little white teeth were smiling. He looked just like a happy koala and he sat in our laps and let us pet him as he licked up. He chased Jimmy in a circle hoping to get a bite of his sandwich.

3. Over the week I've aquired quite a collection of mardi gras beads. Right now my count is at 12, all colors of the rainbow. They're so shiny and I really don't want to let them out of my sight so they're next to me right now. 

5. I've liked hearing Xaver and Clem's accents this week. Its been cool having German and French teens on the trip with us.

6. Today Tom fell asleep on the couch during our free time. The couch in the middle of the lounge, surrounded by teens. You can probably guess what happened. Tom's unconcious body was transformed into the cereal king. This included putting a cereal bowl on his head, silverwear in his hands, cheerios on his lap, cards and ripped up paper thrown on him. He was pretty surprised when he woke up to all of us laughing.

7. I've played soooo many games of bananagrams (and we've made up so many words)

8. (Once again) the food has been AmAzInG, everything we've had is so good (looking forward to possibly bbq in Memphis tomorrrow night? EVen though its 9:30 and we had chicken fajitas a few hours ago, I could really go for another poboy right about now).

9. I've had a lot of time to catch up on my reading this week. I've been reading Stephen King's It and I've enjoyed discussing it and other books with the others on the trip. 

10. I've really enjoyed just spending time with everyone and getting to know everyone better. I've gotten to spend time with everyone, which has been great. We always get so close on the trip. 

Anyway, all in all its been a really fantastic trip. I'll see you all (y'all? I've been here long enough, I think I'm allowed to say that) later!!

Lots of love, 

Claire :-)

List of Strange Things

This week, Abram and I made a list of all the strange and random things we saw in New Orleans. They're the kinds of things you look at and are just confused.

1. We were driving through one of the richer neighborhoods of the city. There were a lot of mansions, and one of them had this enormous tree with a branch that stretched across the whole yard, so the homeowners had put a pillar under the branch to hold it up. It was strange, and also beautiful.

2. There are a lot of beads hanging from the trees and power lines.

3. We were driving in the bus, and we saw a power line with logs strung through it. It was really random- there's the power line, and it contains logs. I have no idea how they got there. Maybe they serve some purpose I'm not aware of.

4. Our bus is very large, and it had some trouble navigating the narrower streets. At one point, the top of our bus hit a tree branch. Only, when Abram looked back, he saw that we had not hit a tree branch. There was a sign hanging from the branch that said, "look out for tree branch." We hit the sign. Oh, the irony.

5. There were clouds shaped like a perfect heart one day. It was beautiful. After about five minutes it was gone.

6. So, Tom and I are vegetarians. We went to Mother's, a restaurant, one day, and ordered bean omelets. Because that has no meat in it, right? Wrong.

7. There was a cockroach in the bathroom, so I trapped it with a cup and a piece of paper and dropped it off our little third story balcony. It survived and happily scuttled away. What a survivor.

8. I kept track of how many I saw:

Cats: Sixteen

Lizards: Nine

Horses: Fifteen

I do love how many cats there are running around this city. 

It's been an awesome week!

-Lian

The work continues, 7 1/4 inches at a time.

I remember coming here in the summer of 2007. It was about 22 months after the Storm, and it was still a raw disaster area. Refuse was piled on the streets, no street signs made getting to work sites very challenging, and we were still doing demolition work. The work was disorganized and the neighborhoods had very little life in them except for some FEMA trailers.

Six years have gone by. Thousands of families have come back home. There have been millions of hours of volunteer time and billions of dollars invested since Mac-Plymouth first came here.

With still so much to be done.

This week we were told that the city of New Orleans still has 35,000 abandoned properties. Where the B-plusses are working in Lower Nine there are three vacant lots to the south, another next door the other way and another across the street. Just three little concrete remain. Some lots are overgrown with weeds, with no one claiming title to the property.

Where we working in the back bedroom of Miss Carlmelita's house in Lower Nine,  the laminate flooring pieces are 47 inches long and 7 1/4 inches wide. We are not very skilled and the work does not go quickly, but when Simon installed a small strip it was the second room our little team had done, and Julia and Lian had already done maybe 30 percent of the living room.

Could not help thinking that the work goes forward 7 1/4 inches at a time. Piece by piece, in our houses and the ones other volunteers are building or renovating this week, the progress continues. Can't believe that the rebuilding has taken this long with miles further to go, but we need to be thankful for the many hands that have put the pieces together, 7 1/4 inches at a time.

Thanks for your support.

Lee

Talk About Perspective

This morning at our job site, two of our little groups continued to work on laying flooring.  We had hoped to finish up both the upstairs and downstairs halls so that we could begin the living room, but both groups ran into frustration after frustration and made almost no progress.  While I won't say that tempers were flaring, there certainly was a loss of energy and enthusiasm, and the collective mood was mighty low.

At about 11:45, the owner, Miss Gwen, came by to thank us for our work and tell us her Katrina story.  Four days sitting on her roof with her husband and son, as well as some neighbors that they had rescued from another house, some of those days the sun so hot that she said that it almost felt like her skin was cooking.  After no one came to rescue them, they swam to where they could walk, and walked to the airport where they were sent to San Antonio, Texas, leaving everyone they knew and the only life that they had ever known, everything about her life changing forever.  Her family eventually settled in Galvaston, where she lost everything again when Hurricane Ike hit that city.

There were five or six or seven more tragedies like that, including contractor fraud, multiple thefts of  construction  equipment, and a leg amputation.  With that background, what she really wanted to talk about was how God put the right people in her life to help her and how grateful she was that we were building God's house for her to live in.

Last night, our program leader suggested that the most important thing we could do this week would be to listen to people's stories.  What a privilege to do just that.

Simon's Second Expedition

I back everyone to blog for a second time! These past three days, my team has been working at the home of Ms. Carmelita. Ryan, Devin, Hannah, Lee and I spent our time flooring the master bedroom with wooden laminate, which is much harder the it might seem. Every floor piece is a different piece to a very large, intricate puzzle. It has to be exactly the right size and cannot be damaged at all. If it has one scrape or knick, it has to be removed and started over again. Today we finally finished the master bedroom due to my mastery of the chop, table, and jig-saw. A first I was nervous when using it, but eventually my skill developed into one of such a high degree that I have declared myself a grandmaster. Right near the end of our workday the owner of the home (whom we hadn't seen) came and brought us some delicious fried chicken, beans & rice, and cornbread. I forgot to mention that before the storm she owned and operated a soul food diner, which she hopes to rebuild in the years to come. She told us her very moving story of where she was during the storm that made us think. Tonight we are attending dinner at the home of one of the members of the St. Charles Ave Presbyterian Church, the church that is hosting us, and Camp Rhino. Because of that we have to put on nice clothes, which although feels nice, is very hot. I guess I  am going to sign off now, I am glad to have the chance to blog for you all, or as Danny, Jimmy, Paul and I would say, "I do declare this has been a mighty fine time" in a deep southern accent. See you all in Minnesota soon!

Simon

Hey y'all!  Its Lily Schafer.
Today was/is a wonderful day.  We got to the site around 7, and immediately set to work finishing flooring the hallway in Miss Gwen's house.  We only had a very thin stripe along the all left...but we didn't finish yet.  There was one piece that was tricky to cut around a doorway that just wouldn't flush (come together all of the way) for a majority of the time.  Harrison (a worker at RHINO) and I finally got it after something like 3 hours.  After that, we put a few more boards in before one that refused to flush again, and Erica and I gave up when Miss Gwen showed up.
Miss Gwen literally was the sweetest, funniest and most awesome lady i've ever met!  She gave us all hugs (while commenting about Maggie "lord you are short) before telling us an hour long story about her experience during and after Katrina.  She was trapped on her roof for four days with her husband, Charles, her son Ranell (who was eventually picked up by a helicopter.  "They kept shouting for me to come, but I told them to take my son.  He was finna have a nervous breakdown"), and some neighbors who they rescued from their roof.  They too were rescued on day two.  Charles and Gwen then jumped off of their roof, and swam/walked to an airport, where they waited another day before flying to San Antonio, Texas.  She stayed in Texas until loosing everything again during Hurricane Ike in 2008.  She took it as a sign to return home, where she struggled to try and rebuild her home.  Gwen, an amputee after being shot in the leg in a drive by in 1996, still remained optimistic until she got the call that people were coming to fix her house.  "I nearly fell outta my mamas chair I was so happy," she said.  Religion was also very important to her too.  She told me as we walked up the stairs that she was so happy that we were there fixing God's and her house.  "It was his house, and then it was mine," she said during her story.  Her story was inspirational, powerful, hilarious and wonderful.  It didn't feel like an hour, it felt like a few minutes.  We were all so entranced by her story.  It was a highlight of the trip.  Her hope was amazing.  She said when she saw the floor "lord, this is the most lovely floor I've ever seen."  She was beautiful, and I will never, EVER, forget her.

Luck

Sometimes I wonder if there isn't a die thrown every time a child is born, and that dice roll determines their fortune in life.
Something I've realized: I am lucky. I get good grades and my family is wonderful; no hurricane will strike my Minnesota home. My friends love me and every time I crave chocolate I have the money to go to Walgreens and buy some.
There's a song by Regina Spektor that frequently gets stuck in my head called Laughing With. It's  about perspective- "No one laughs at God in a hospital. No one laughs at God in a war. No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor... But God can be funny at a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke..." The lyrics can be interpreted in countless ways, but ultimately they make the point that it's easy to treat life lightly when everything is going well, but then a disaster strikes and nothing is funny anymore.
I struggle to find my place in the world because it doesn't seem fair to others that my life is so good. Maybe I'm just an optimist, but it seems to me that I'm pretty lucky compared to someone who lost their home to nature. So I volunteer and I go on mission trips in hopes that that will even the balance, steady the scale. Is that enough?
At 6:00 this morning we left for our worksites, and as we drove I saw an elderly woman sleeping under a thick green blanket beneath one of the large New Orleans bridges, and I thought immediately of my comfy bed at home underneath all the posters and pictures on my walls. Or my dorm room at Tulaine this week- my most serious complaint is that the AC is on a little bit too high. I complain about these things because the discomforts annoy me- how I was cold while I slept, or how getting up at 5:30 seemed utterly ridiculous when I first found out. And I think complaining is okay as long as you don't do it too much, but it's also true that many, many people have immensely more troubling things to complain about.
I'm not drawing any grand point here, this is just how I think. I believe that it's good to question my place in life, and do get this sense of injustice when I see people "less fortunate than me," a phrase I've heard many times.
This trip has made me think, and I love thinking. I've been quite happy this week; I have time to read, there are a lot of cats in this city (I've seen sixteen so far), and we've been helping people, which feels great.
Life is good.
-Lian Simmer

:-)

Hello everyone! Claire Donovan here. I don't like to blog much but I thought I would put up a quick post because we have a few minutes before dinner... The week has gone very well so far. We're learning a lot of things, from safety, Hurricane Katrina stories, to skills including carptentry and painting (all things we can carry on with us later in life. Everyone we've met has been very friendly and welcoming, which is nice. One of my favorite things about the trip so far is the FOOD.
:-)
I'm just gonna talk about it for a little bit. The first full day here, we went to Mother's. I had a shrimp poboy and iced tea with lots of hot sauce. It was AMAZING. We've also had red beans and rice, pasta with meatballs and redsauce, and all kinds of awesome desserts. (My favorite has been the banana pudding)
Anyway, hope you all are doing well.
Lots of love,
Claire Donovan <3 :-)

Bunte Farbkleckse

Hallo zusammen,

Nach mehreren Anfragen auch mal auf Deutsch zu bloggen, hab ich mich doch dazu ueberreden lassen.

Heute ist Mittwoch der 19. Juni und im Moment sitzen wir im Gemeinschaftsraum und geniessen unsere Freizeit, Nachdem wir heute vormittags fleissig gemalert und Boeden gelegt haben, wurde das schoene Wetter genutzt, um ein bisschen im Wasser zu planschen. Der Pool war zwar nicht der groesste, aber es reichte volkommen aus, um uns abzukuehlen. Wer nich schwimmen ging, blieb in unserer Unterkunft und hielt ein bisschen Siesta. Man merkt halt doch, dass wir 35 Grad Celsius im Schatten und 80% Luftfeuchtigkeit nicht gewoehnt sind und das an unseren Kraeften zerrt. Meine Gruppe hat heute so ziemlich ein ganzes Haus geweiselt, das waren so ca. 7 Raueme. Die Farben sind nur so durch die Luft geflogen. Dementsprechend sahen wir natuerlich dann auch aus: Die Haare weiss, das T-Shirt blau und die Schuhe haben auch ein paar Farbkleckse abbekommen. Die waren gruen und haben deswegen dann wenigstens zu meinen gruen-weissen Laufschuhen gepasst.

Ich bin auch grad am Waesche waschen. Nachdem gestern all meine Klamotten voll Staub waren vom Gipswaende schleifen, und dann heute noch die Farbe dazukam, blieben mir nur noch all meine durchgeschwitzten Klamotten vom Frisbee und Basketball spielen oder einfach vom herumlaufen. Wie gesagt: Es ist heiss in New Orleans.

Na gut ich werde mich jetzt auch in eine heisse Partie Bananagramm/Scrabble begeben und mein Glueck versuchen. 

Die naechsten Tage wird fleissig weiter gearbeitet und hoffentlich sehen wir auch mehr von der Stadt. Ich hab immer noch nicht Trompete gespielt, das ist immer noch auf der To-Do-List. 

Liebe Gruesse aus New Orleans

Xaver Brems

its Abram once again.


aside from the five-thirty wake up, today was generally very good.
after some initial complications with floor board cutting the floor of the soon-to-be dining room got underway pretty well, and is now almost completed! After my work on the floor was no longer required I was set to work chiseling out pieces of the walls so more flooring could be installed. Although strenuous enough to work up a good sweat, taking out the walls ended up being extremely enjoyable... and messy.