Hi Friends,
Sunday, May 2nd is going to be an awesome day! To start with, Katlynn (and Adam, Jillian, and Tom) is leading a U2 communion worship service at Prince of Peace.

On the Bethel front, our Sr High Youth Group will lead the congregation in a letter writing campaign on hot topical issues. Also, Matty, Kristen and Molly will give a recap about the Mission to Mexico trip last month. Please wear your T-shirts if you went on the trip.

Common Ground is singing as well. Meet in the Music & Education Room as 10am (band at 9:40am) to warm up for the service. Don’t be late.

Peace, Tom

Tomorrow come to church at 5:30. We’ll pick up some dinner (bring $$$$), then be back at church at 7 to listen to the second week of the ELCA’s sexuality social statement. The discussion will be over at 8:30!!!!!

Better see you there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paige

Tomorrow head to church at 5:30 to get some din at McDonalds, Quiznos, El Pollo Loco, or anywhere else in that vicinity!! After we’ll head back to the fire side room at around 7 for the ELCA sexuality statement discussion. Hope you all can make it!!! Seeeeeee you thereeeeee

ALSO

The youth assistants worked with Chris to create a CG 2010 facebook group. We’re hoping this will spread the word about our concerts and help bring in the crowds!!!! Soooo….please accept the invitation!!!!

If we missed you, you can click on this and join. The group is open to everyone! We will soon be creating events for each of our concerts. Once that is done you can help support CG by inviting all your friends and family to the kick-off/homecoming concerts!!!

THANKS GUYS!

Paigeee

HI Friends,
Thanks for all the prayers of support and safety. We really felt them. It has been a great trip with many chances to grow in our relationship with God, our new friends to the south, and each other. We spent the day digging and moving dirt again yesterday and finished with a yummy dinner, including Lobster for some.

We’re just cleaning up at the Posada before heading out around 7pm. Now comes the biggest challenge of the trip: Navigating the ever changing border exits. Should be fun

We’ll plan on seeing many of you tonight and look forward to sharing some of our experiences with the entire congregation on Sunday, May 2nd.

Peace Out for now, Tom

HI again,
Yesterday was a rain out day for physical work, but one filled with stretching ourselves in the communities. We got a guided tour of the Tijuana Cultural Center, saw a IMAX film about Egypt, checked out the local mall, had lunch at Cafe Mole, visited Puerto Nuevo to spend a little time and money with the local vendors, and then a night of fun and food back at the Posada.

Luckily, today looks much better in relation to the weather and we’ll be spending the day beginning the foundation work of another house. The one we worked at on Sunday is still to muddy to work on and will be continued by the next group down.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we complete our final work day and prepare to come home tomorrow.

Peace to you all, Tom

Hello again friends,

We just finished a muscle fatiguing day of digging foundation trenches at a home in the colony of Santa Margarita. We had a great day working with about a half dozen people from the community and dug over 80 feet of trench 24 inches wide and varying from 3 feet to 5 feet deep.

Our morning began with some group time. Rich Teed led us in devotions and we spent about an hour talking about the situation in and around Tijuana. We have been welcomed warmly wherever we’ve gone.

Now it is off to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants: Carnitas Cocula. We spoke with their owner, Claudio, earlier today and he is very excited to see us again. I’m sure we’ll be ready for sleep early tonight.

More to come tomorrow.
Peace, Tom

Hi Friends,
Just a quick greeting letting you know we made it safely and are off to our first day on the job site: digging foundation trenches. I’ll give you an update tonight. Thanks for the prayers.
Peace, Tom
P.S, I just got a call on my cell phone that the youth room alarm was going off. Go figure!

Hi Friends,
it is 8am on Saturday, April 10th and we’re off to share of ourselves with families and friends south of the Border. Please keep us in your prayers and check the youth website for daily updates.
Peace, Tom

Hi Friends
Just a little note from Rayanne Gustlin, Kyle’s mom after his return from a week in Mexico with Bellarmine High. Nice to hear some first hand news.
Peace, Tom

“Kyle just got back yesterday from his Tijuana trip. He had a great time and said he felt really safe. The earthquake didn’t seem to affect them at all (he didn’t even fall off the roof he was working on). Another point of reference if any of the BLC parents are nervous about the trip.”

Hi Friends,
I just got off the phone with Eduardo (our Esperanza Coordinator) and the word is that the earthquake was relatively gentle on Tijuana. The bulk of damage in Mexico was in the town of Mexicali. Tijuana is also experiencing relative calm related to violence, unlike what is being portrayed in the media.

We are continuing to hold safety as a paramount concern as we travel this coming week. Please keep us in your prayers, not only for safety, but also that all hearts will be open to experiencing God in a new way through the relationships we will build with our friends to the south.

If you are a participant and/or parent and have any concerns, please contact me and I’d love to chat. You can email me at th----@------.net or call me on my cell at 408-309-9975.

On a related note, please bring all forms and as much money as you’ve raised so far to Bethel tonight between 7:15 and 9:00 pm. Please make checks payable to Bethel Lutheran Church. I need your stuff!

Peace, Tom