We just passed downtown, still looking like 5:00pm arrival.

ETA:
According to our estimates it might be closer to 5:00pm arrival unless we hit traffic.

Stories

Your students had an amazing trip and there are lots of stories to share.

The guys were very grateful for one young gentleman that saved the day unclogging the toilet, the only working toilet!

Singing boy scout songs has passed from one brother to another and the students love singing full volume at random times including adult nap times on the bus.

Affirmation cards were handed out and students and adults enjoyed reading the words of kindness and praise after a great week.

Students were willing to carry their friends out of the canyon. If they were too tired to hike back out.

Many students got to play with dogs: Hitch, the puppy and many others. One dog almost left his mark on a few backpacks bit I was able to chase him off.

We saw lots of wildlife: vultures, sheep dogs and sheep, wild horses and tame horses, lizards, flying ants, really tame squirrels, cows, prairie dogs, pet pig, and lots of birds.

I'm sure there are more stories to share but it'll. E fun for you to hear about them in just a couple hours.

Should still be 5:30 but will give another update soon.

Lunch

Just leaving Ennis after eating lunch eta depending on traffic around 5:30pm. More updates to come

Sunday!!

Yeah, we loaded up and got an early start to the day.

Last night the girls had a slumber party for Abbey who is celebrating her 18th birthday! Whoo hoo!!! Even with very little sleep the girls were able to load up quickly.

More updates to follow as to our Estimated time of arrival.

We've arrived in Amarillo! Were finishing dinner and heading to the church for our final night out!

Yeah!!! We've crossed into Texas!!! We all said a big cheer. We are getting closer to Amarillo and some much needed rest.

Lunch stop

Just stopped for lunch and now heading to Amarillo for our evening stop. Many slept on the bus but others had warhead wars, or just chatted with new friends.

Well, we've had breakfast and been on the road awhile as we head to our first stop-lunch in Albuquerque. More updates to come.

Grand Canyon fun

Yeah, fun day at the canyon! Two groups ride bikes and hiked 1 1/2 mile, another group hiked three miles round trip while a fourth group rode the shuttle bus system around to overlooks.

Really hot day but everyone brought plenty of water/Gatorade and didn't over exert themselves. No injuries but someone did learn a new way to slow down on the bikes.

We ate dinner in Flagstaff and now heading to Holbrook to our hotel. We should be there in an hour and a half. It'll be nice to not have to rotate two shower facilities among twenty individuals.

We also celebrated Alie's 12th birthday with a special streamer and gift from her team the "Purple Pony People", sang Happy Birthday to her by the entire bus as well as cookies when we arrive at the hotel. Fun day!

Tomorrow we begin our journey home. Thank you so much for your prayers. It was an amazing week and our last worship service was emotional and impactful to our youth. The message all week was: what is your baggage? Can you leave that at the foot of the cross?

Just had lunch and watched an IMAX on the Grand Canyon. Now we ate heading into the park for our next adventure.

Leaving camp

We are packing up, making sandwiches, cleaning up our bunks and saying our goodbyes. Everyone is sad that the week is over but looking forward to seeing the Grand Canyon. Hopefully I'll get a few pictures up later at the canyon.

Final workday

Today was an amazing day where projects that just seemed too enormous to complete got completed. The two decks got finished, one had a ramp and stairs and the other one had just stairs. The entire outside of the house got painted as well as some rooms inside the house. So much accomplished in so little time.

Rose, one of the home owners wanted to keep our blue eyed cutie. He was such a hard worker.

We enjoyed seeing all the completed projects.

Now we are getting refreshed in the cool spring water, swimming an hanging out with their new friends.

Tonight we wrap up our time in Camp with a video an an amazing closing worship service that leaves us all emotional.

Tomorrow we head to the Grand Canyon. Prayers for safety and good memories.

We had Navajo night last night. Ladies came and sold jewelry and then we had Navajo Tacos. In evening worship, Pastor Mike shared with us about being a Christian on an Indian reservation.

Letters from home were given out last night.

Letters from home

Morning Hike

So there was a good group of students and adults that got up at 5am to go climb to watch the beautiful colors of the sky as the sun rises. I wouldn't say they were bright eyed but definitely bushy haired! I wish I could send pictures of all your students. They are all caring for each other and not just working together but playing together and making new friendships.

Daybreak hike

Sorry for the disconnected post. Here's the sun starting to rise as I start to wake up our students for their morning hike.

Stories

So the majority of students and adults went on the hike yesterday to what is called a cave, but it's not like any cave we know.  The hikers found a baby vulture they named Fluffy because it just looked like a ball of cotton.

After dinner, a few girls played with a little prairie dog that the Navajo students were going to take home.

This morning many are w

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Stories

So the majority of students and adults went on the hike yesterday to what is called a cave, but it's not like any cave we know.  The hikers found a baby vulture they named Fluffy because it just looked like a ball of cotton.

After dinner, a few girls played with a little prairie dog that the Navajo students were going to take home.

This morning many are w

--
Sent from Gmail Mobile

Second Day
We started our team projects today. Two teams are on deck duty each at a separate house. They are both coming along nicely. More in next post.

Second Day continued...

Three teams were doing painting, cleaning out a shed and cleaning the interior of a house for painting. Some had a treat sledding down a sand dune at lunch! Right now they are taking a hike up a hill formation. I've enjoyed watching everyone work together to get their projects completed.

First Day fun

Today we cleaned up our worksite, we are all located together at a cluster of homes.  Some spaces needed tone cleared out and blown sand spread out. A group had lunch while the rest helped shovel out the truck with our lumber.  The lunch team went back and did some awesome painting on the outside of the house.

We are now heading to the Little Painted Dessert.  Some pictures are coming either in this email or in a new post.

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Sent from Gmail Mobile

Had an eventful morning. Our lumber truck got stuck in a sand dune road and a large part of the team helped shovel them out and help load the lumber back up before heading back to camp for lunch. Can't wait to see where our next adventure lies.

We arrived safely last night. Beautiful sunset, hopefully I can send a picture soon. Instantly lost signal upon arriving. Everyone is doing fine and enjoying the cool evening and crisp morning. It's 5:51 but many are awake due to the brightness. Three families are going to benefit from our hard work today. Hopefully I'll get more news out later today.

Homolovi ruins

Enjoyed our stop to stretch our legs, looking at pottery and some ruins. Next stop Walmart, dinner, and our final destination...Cedar Springs-Navaho Camp!

Homolovi ruins

Enjoying the overlook before our last stop, Winslow then onto camp. Almost done with our bus trip-part one.

Lunch

Just had lunch in Albuquerque...heading to check out some Indian ruins/petrified logs outside Winslow Arizona.  Everyone seems to be enjoying making friendship bracelets on the bus.  Even some boys are trying to learn.  Sleep is also a big hit. They are getting excited to meet the Navajo students tonight and have an amazing week.  More updates after we arrive tonight.  Thanks for all your partners.



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Sent from Gmail Mobile

Ready to Load the Bus at 7:30

On the road again...it's a little quieter today, not sure why? Lol! Maybe I'll join the nappers. Talk to you soon.

Two More Groups After Devotions

Group Discussions After Devotions

Just got to Amarillo and heading to dinner. Everyone seems to be holding up for their first day on the bus. Hopefully I'll send a picture of us playing at the church tonight.

First hour!

A few sleepers just one hour into our long drive! We're close to our lunch stop now...more updates to follow.

Departure day

We are getting ready for final instructions and prayers! Let's get on the bus! Yeah...

Final days before Departure

Hope everyone is thinking about packing and ready for bag drop on Friday.  If you have any questions about what to pack, check out the packing list on the blog.  See you Friday night at 7pm.

Mission team ready for a challenge

We Leave on Mission Trip Next Week - Key Times and Info

We are just a little over a week before we hop on a bus and head to the Navajo Nation in Arizona for our Mission Trip!  Are you ready?

 

 

Key Dates and Times  -  Don't Forget! 

• Friday, June 22, 7:00 pm  -  Bag Drop
  Bring your Camp Bag and your Overnight Bag to the Life Center
  
• Saturday, June 23, 6:30 am  -  Check-in to Leave
  Check-in at the table in the Life Center and be ready to leave.  Have your Bus Bag with you.

 

Bag Drop Information  -  See "What to Bring" sheet handed out at June Meetings!

You will need to pack three bags, two to be dropped off at 7:00 pm on Friday June 22 and the third to be brought with you at 6:30 am on Saturday June 23 to keep with you on the bus.

• One bag will be your overnight bag for Saturday night in Amarillo.
  • This will have only what you need for a night on the floor at a local Amarillo church
    (see checklist for what should be included, and not included).
  • This bag will be dropped-off on Friday June 22 at 7:00 pm.
    
• One bag will be your camp bag for the week in Arizona.
  • This will be your main bag, but should be light enough that you can carry it without assistance
    (see checklist for what should be included, and not included).
  • This bag will be dropped-off on Friday June 22 at 7:00 pm
    
• The third bag will be your bus bag.
  • This will have whatever you need to be comfortable and occupied on the bus trip
    (see checklist for what should be included, and not included).
  • You should bring this bag with you on Saturday June 23 at 6:30 am

Please note what should not be brought on the mission trip and ensure you follow these requirements (these are not suggestions, they are rules).  See the Covenant for more information.  All of you and your parents have signed this covenant.

 

 

Blog Updates  -  Subscribe Now!

 

Communications during the Mission Trip will mainly be through this NMT Blog (http://gdlcnmt.blogspot.com).  We will post stories and updates every day during the trip.

 

You can check the blog regularly for updates, or you can join the NMT12 group to automatically receive blog updates via email.  To do so, go to http://groups.google.com/group/nmt12 and click on "Join this group" in the right column.  If you're not signed in, Google will ask you to sign in.  If you don't have a Google account, you can create one easily.

We have an amazing group of students and adults going to Arizona in just a few weeks!

Today's Mission Trip Meeting - Still On!

The police have just opened the east-bound lanes of NASA Road 1 from El Camino / Egret Bay so that you can get to the church through the Nassau Bay streets. Our Mission Trip Meeting is still GO for 12:30. See you then!

Parents - Don't forget to come for the Parents Meeting at 2:30. We will cover all of the important information about what your student should and shouldn't bring on the trip, plus key dates and times.

Service Event-Garden Project

Here are some pictures of our group harvesting and preparing the boxes for planting.  Everyone had a great time!

Relay Race!!!

These pictures were taken at our April Meeting as the students performed various "mission trip" related tasks in a relay fashion.  More pictures to come soon from our Garden Service project.

Enjoy!
Cindy Dube

2012 Navajo Mission Trip - Key Information and Forms

Welcome to the 2012 Navajo Mission Trip! We are so glad you are joining the trip. There are several repeat and many new mission trippers this year. We still have available spots, so if you know any students who would like to attend, have them sign up as soon as possible.

This posting contains a lot of information, so please read through it completely and let me know if you have any questions.

Let me know if you want any changes to the e-mail address(es) where Mission Trip information will be sent (add or delete e-mail addresses to/from the distribution). This distribution includes parents, students, and adult mentors for the trip.

Mark your calendars for the Mission Trip monthly meetings (Sundays from 12:15 pm - 3:00 pm) - these are mandatory meetings for the participants (parents do not attend unless you are also a mission trip participant):
March 4
April 1
May 6
June 3 (there will be a mandatory parent meeting during the last 30 minutes of this meeting).

Mark your calendars for these other important dates:
Friday June 22 - 7:00 pm - bag drop
Saturday June 23 - 6:30 am - board bus for Arizona!
Sunday July 1 - ~9:00 pm - return to Gloria Dei!

Friday August 10 - 10:00 am - 1:00 pm - Friendship Club Presentation and Lunch

Make note of the financial deadlines - payments are due at the beginning of the monthly meetings (checks made out to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, payments are non-refundable):
March 4 - $150
April 1 - $150
May 6 - $150
June 3 - Balance due (if any)

Notes on financials:

If you will not be at one of the monthly meetings, make arrangements with me in advance for that month's payment.

Financial assistance is available if needed - talk to Pastor Lonnie.
If you will be using donations from sponsors for all or part of a payment, bring those donations with your balance for that payment to the monthly meeting (if donations are deposited directly to GDLC, it is very difficult for me to track who the donation is for and it may not get credited to you). See this form for a sample donation letter (you may want to specify that the form and donation should be returned to you, although the check should still be made out to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church).

All students will need to have a GDLC 2011-2012 Student Consent and Release form on file. If you turned in one anytime during this school year, I will get a copy from the GDLC office and there is no need to complete another form. I will have forms available at the March meeting for those who still need to complete one.

All participants (students and adults) will need to submit a NOTARIZED Team Effort Permission Slip & Release of Liability form. Cindy Dube will be available to notarize the forms at the beginning of the March meeting (parents should plan to spend a few minutes at the beginning of the meeting to get this done). Before being notarized, this form must have the medical insurance and date of last tetanus shot information completed.

Check the Mission Trip blog site for information, forms, and updates - http://gdlcnmt.blogspot.com/.

Let me know if you have any questions or need additional information.

Blessings,
Linda

Early Bird Discount Deadline Extended to January 8

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  As you look forward to the New Year, make sure the Student Summer Mission Trip is included in your 2012 plans.  You can find information, trip details, and important dates at http://gdlcnmt.blogspot.com.  The Application Form is also available there.

To register, complete the Application Form and drop it with your $50 deposit in the box on the credenza in the church office (you can also give it to me on Sunday or mail or bring it to my house). Be sure to do this by January 8 to get the Early Bird Discount (the Early Bird Discount deadline has been extended due to Christmas/New Years travels).

Feel free to invite your friends to join you on this trip.  We are hoping to fill 2 bus loads, so there should be space available, at least during this Early Bird period.

Please contact Kurt Rosenhagen at kurt@biblestoriesforadults.com or me (gdlcboosters@gmail.com) with any questions.

Blessings,
Linda Wild