Hi Friends,
I know you are concerned, as I am, about the latest reports of violence in Mexico. We will be researching the facts of what has been happening and determining if the environment is safe for us to travel to the Tijuana area.

Esperanza is also very actively pursuing the safety concerns and I am including an email from the Chair of the Esperanza Board as to her personal commitment to get the accurate facts.

Please contact me with questions and/or concerns. I will keep you posted as to our plans.

Peace, Tom

Here’s Jan’s letter:
March 15, 2010
Dear Esperanza groups,

Yesterday, March 14, 2010, the United States Department of State web site upgraded the Mexico Alert to a Warning. We immediately became aware of this status change and met this morning to determine the course we will take and share that information with you.

As a group leader of 19 consecutive years and board member since 2001, I will be going to Posada this Wednesday to observe, ask questions, and try to assess. We, as a board, remain committed to your safety and take our duty seriously. We pledge a thorough investigation of what impact this might have on our valued groups. We also have a contact with the American Consulate in Tijuana to determine what increase danger might be present. Statistically at this time, Tijuana is increasingly safer with a sizeable reduction of violence during the past 12 months.

Please look for an update later this week.

Jan Kline

–
Aimee Khuu
Esperanza Registrar
206-228-2082
es----@------.com
www.esperanzaint.org

Hola mi amigos,
We will be heading off tomorrow night at 5:30 to enjoy a dinner at Taco Bell and then Yogurtland.
At 7:15 we will be having our Mission to Mexico meeting in the Fireside room.Even if you are not sure if you can go or want to go, come and find out the details before you make your final decision. This is a great trip to experience so come and find out more!
Hasta mañana,
Lindsay

Hi Friends,

This coming Wednesday, September 16th, we’re having our 09/10 season youth ministry kickoff.  Come join us as we hook you up with some freshly BBQ’d delicacies, and fill your minds with info.  We’ll start at 6:30pm and be all finished up eating our ice cream sundaes by 8:30pm.  Come get the scoop on Wildside, other Jr High Programs, the Sr High Event Line-up, get registered on our youth website and much, much more.  Please RSVP if possible to me at th----@------.net.  Thanks a bunch!

Peace, Tom Hoegel - Youth Director

Hi Friends,

I’m excited about our upcoming trip to Mexico.  As a reminder, the trip dates are October 1st through 5th and we’re hoping YOU can join us.  I’ve attached pdf’s of the necessary info and forms for you (you can also get hard copies from me at Bethel).  Please remember the if you or others you know are un-employed at the moment, you are welcome to waive the $325 registration fee and just join us.  Maybe this is the chance you’ve been waiting for to have enough time to be able and join us.  Feel free to call me or email me at th----@------.net for more info or if you have questions.

Peace, Tom

Calling all adults interested in joining me on the 2009 Adult Mission to Mexico Trip.  This year’s trip is Thursday, October 1st – Monday, October 5th.  Come find out more about the trip next Wednesday night, September 9th at 8:30pm in the Fireside Room.  We’ll discuss trip details, transportation, flying options, safety etc.  Any questions?  Please email me at th----@------.net.

Peace, Tom

Hello from Moorhead Minnesota!  All 30 of us have been here for a couple of days now and are having an awesome time serving the people in this community affected by the flood.  I don’t want to go into a lot of detail right now, but so far we’ve worked at 4 sites; 3 of them removing sandbag dikes and hauling them away, and at one house we helped clean out a basement that had flooded.  All the people we’ve worked with have been very appreciative of our efforts, and it’s great to get a chance to hear their stories.  We’ve also spent some time with some of the high school youth here at Trinity Lutheran, who will also be going to the National Youth Gathering in July, enjoyed dinner with some families from the church and visited Concordia College and the World Wide Headquarters of Old Lutheran.

We’ve been taking lost of pictures, which are now up on our photo site.  I also encourage you to check out the “Map This” feature (a button in the upper right) which will show where they were taken as well.  You can get to it by browsing through the photo site at http://bethelcupertino.smugmug.com/ or by this direct link to the gallery: http://bethelcupertino.smugmug.com/gallery/7900997_vfr65/1/512434480_67mfv

Hi Friends,

Greetings from Elko, Nevada.  On behalf of Haven, Jonathan, Mike, Tyler, Jeff, Paul, Chris, and Freddy B, I’d like to thank you for your prayers so far.  We had a great first day out and the new Lord’s Bus is cruising splendidly.  Look for some video highlights in the coming day.  We’ll be praying for you as you get ready as well.  It’s time for a little continental breakfast and a visit to Starbucks.  

Peace for now, Tom

Hi Friends,

I’ve attached pdf’s of the major documents for our Mission Trip known as Rage Against the Red River.  I’ve included the most up to date roster, itinerary, the new and improved checklist, copy of the Covenant, and Donation Sheet.  Please feel free to email me with questions and make sure to have as many of your donations in by Easter and your bulky luggage to me by 9:30am at church or before.  This is going to be a life changing week.

Peace, Tom

Hi Friends,

I’ve attached two important documents for you (all downloads can be found under the link to Mission to Mexico):  First, the latest Information Document giving you some more details about our upcoming trip.  Second is a donation receipt for you to give donors.  Please have them make checks payable to Bethel Lutheran Church.  Remember the minimum amount due is $325, with a target of $425 and a special reward to the people who get the most individual donations as well as the highest total amount.

This is also a reminder that we’re having a mandatory trip meeting this coming Wednesday night, April 8th at 7:15pm in Torvend Hall (no dinner before this week).  I know this is pretty short notice, so if you can’t make it contact me so we can set up a time to go over details.

Any questions, email me at th----@------.net

Peace, Tom

RAGE AGAINST THE RIVER !

Hi Friends,

Well, after spending the last week planning and talking to my friends in Moorhead and a day on the phone and computer, we’ve got our transportation set for our Rage Against the Red River Trip.  I’ll be sending updates over the coming days and am scheduling an info meeting on Wednesday, April 8th at 7:15pm at Bethel.  We’ve got a lot to go over in the coming two weeks, but I know God is calling us to a transformational time with our yet-to-be-made friends in Fargo/Moorhead.  Here’s the list of participants and their mode of transportation.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Aloha, Tom

Drive/Fly Group:  Depart Monday, April 13th @ 9:00am and Return Sunday, April 19th @11:30pm (San Francisco)

Tom Hoegel, Michael Schrey, Paul Baldwin, Tyler Freckman, Jonathan Kim, Haven Johnson, Rick Bryson, Jeff Brouillette, and Chris Larsen.

Fly/Fly Group:  Depart Wednesday, April 13th @ 1 something pm (San Jose) and Return Sunday, April 19th @ 8:10pm (San Jose)

Rachel Gaardsmoe, Andrew Barton, Jamie Alens, Vanessa Vaughn, Lindsay Bryson, Kristen Bryson, Luke Ferguson, Justin Nguyen, Liz Barton, Julia Hoegel, Jacob Chen, David Collins, Robert Rodine, Rachel Stolan, Linnea Pierson, Rich Teed, Kara Johnson, Keith Nyberg, Maggie Emmert, and Molly & David Schrey (joining us on Thursday), plus possibly Shannon Topham