Mission Trip

[Sarah]

This fall our daughter, Belle, will turn 10 years old. Since we feel this a big deal we have decided to celebrate this decade of life with a big trip. Please note THIS IS ALL A BIG SECRET for her! One thing about Belle is that she loves children and loves helping others. She has also taken a few years of spanish. We have added these things together and have concluded that a mission trip to a spanish speaking country, specifically an orphanage, would be the untimate way to celebrate her birthday. Until our landing at Watershed we assumed we would find another church planning a similar trip and just hitch on. Now that we are hangin' and celebrating Jesus with this fantastic group of people we are wondering if there isn't some other interest within Watershed to develop a group trip. Some of you may also be connected to organizations that we could visit, etc. Let's start this discussion but as I mentioned, please keep it on the low as we don't yet feel the time is right to announce the plans to her. thanks! Sarah

[Chelsea Bay Wills]

Awesome!!
I am connected with an orphanage in Tanzania i visited in 2006 and still remain in contact and help with...
http://www.kilimanjarochildren.org/
they are amazing children, and mama lucy (the founder) is rooted in christ. ive never seen so much love, faith and joy in my life.
but im sure there are many other trips out there as well....
OH- and higher grounds goes on a fair trade delegation to chiapas mexico every year as well, meeting fair trade coffee farmers and learning about thier lives, and helping out with bringing fresh water as well. its not a mission trip- but is connecting our community here with there. i know stella young has gone on this trip before too....

[Sunny Jo Rieck]

When are you thinking about going?

[Sarah]

We are thinking fall.

[Sunny Jo Rieck]

I am interested. You guys are such great parents to do this! What a wonderful birthday gift. I would really have to look at my work schedule and figure out if I could for sure commit. Which would require specific dates. SO, when the planning is further along let me know! Andy would love to join but he is starting the nursing program in the fall.

[Bryan]

Sounds great, Sarah! I know there will be some others interested in this as well...

Caspar Geisterfer is a missionary in Honduras that Watershed supports - and he's on our NING site - I'll send him this and see if he has any opportunities there...

[Holly]

Since you mentioned Spanish Speaking, Ben and I have relatives working in Baja California Mexico, near Ensenada with Hands of Mercy, building lofthomes for families in need. They also run a ranch for group retreats, and people who come to help stay at the ranch.... they have a beautiful location. They are currently working on getting a coffee roasting business started to support the local economy. I will have to ask about local orphanages there. The McCoy's blog is http://yurtlife.spaces.live.com

Otherwise, I know a fellow adoptive mom who, along with her husband and son are also serving just over the border in Mexico (from Calif) with Christian Reformed world missions in Tijuana... they work directly with an orphanage as well as do other things. Here is a Feb '09 newsletter from the Lees: http://www.fresnocrc.org/Lees/Lee_missions_newsletter_February_09.pdf And here is March '09: http://www.macrc.org/us/gallery/40991/other/40991_93111.pdf

[Sarah]

thank you thank you thank you! I've been looking for a lead! I'll check it out when I have a few more minutes.

[Nicki]

Mike would be interested in this. He's been wanting to do something like this for several years now. I'd be interested too, but since Leah will be in school in the fall it might not work for me to go. My aunt & uncle are missionaries in Spain - don't know if they have needs but I can ask - altho it may be farther away than what people are thinking of travelling at this time. Just let me know.