Next Meeting

We did meet last Sunday and have taken some decisions all need to know.

Air travel is yet to be fully settled, but we are now planning to depart on Friday, July 3, 2009 .  Uncertain whether we depart from Charleston.  We are checking our options out of Charlotte and Savannah.  Cost still seems to be in the vicinity of $800.  We expect to have updated quotes incorporating the July 3 departure by the middle of next week and we will make a decision not later than Oct. 5  (see note below about the next team meeting).

Still on airline tickets.....we will have to make commitments for tickets soon.  We will expect any who are planning to go to Curacao to declare so not later than Oct. 5.   Not later than October 10 , every person going must deposit $100.00.  That is a fee required at time of booking if we use an agency.  If we book direct with an airline, the full amount is due at time of booking.  If that becomes necessary, we will ask those that can to pay their full amount.  For any that cannot, we will set up the ability to pay for your ticket over some months.  If we use this process, all should expect to make regular payments toward tickets and complete paying for their full ticket cost not later than May 1,  2009 .  We would have to determine the ability of the church to absorb the up front cash demand this option could require.  Please recognize that I can not today, assure this option is available and the extent that payment terms that would have to apply to make it work.

The estimated cash obligation in addition to the airline ticket remains at $250.00.  That covers housing, most meals and transportation.  The key variable is housing.  We will likely be later this year or early next before that is resolved.   May 1, 2009 will be the final due date for that to be paid to GCF.

Linda Dean is investigating our options for providing some form of medical/health service.  The laws of Curacao may prevent "clinics" for medical treatment, but she has ideas of other possibilities.

Brian Joslin has been asked to communicate directly with Cesar Eman to plan how our team could provide a "mechanics" ministry to those who lead VBS and hopefully, into the nearby community as well.

Megan Joslin has volunteered to take the lead in helping the team develop language skills for Papiamentu.  She is assembling some materials and tools for this purpose.  We will ask her to conduct some group training and practice over these coming months.

Any interested in working with any of these on their area of focus are encouraged to contact them.  It is certain we will identify other avenues of service we want to pursue and as a consequence, we will need to spread around the responsibility to lead each of these.

note:  As you can see, we are jumping into the necessary work to be ready for next Summer.   We are going to need the talents and active engagement of all now as well as next July.  It really is important that everyone who intends to go to  Curacao be prepared to commit to meet as a group with some frequency.  Preparation is going to take time and our commitment to do the advance work will have a great impact on the witness we can provide when we are on the island.

The next meeting of the group is set for October 5 at the Senior Center.  The entire church is going to have lunch there immediately following the service to kick off the 40 Days of Community.   Every  Curacao team member should plan to stay following the lunch for a one hour meeting.

That is plenty to digest for now.  Please don't wait until the next meeting to speak up if you have questions about anything here.  As always, please feel free to alert the entire distribution list if I have any error in this or future communications.

Please contact me if you have any questions about anything in this message or at all related to our Mission 2009 - Curacao.

gene

2009 trip coming together...

Hey Everyone from Grace  and beyond...

The details are solidifying for our mission trip back to Curacao July 4-11, 2009 . Currently we have about 18 signed up to go back from Grace. That's up from last year and includes several that went last year. It was that good of a trip, apparently!

We are hoping to add some new projects to our VBS support efforts. We're evenramping up our leadership for VBS taking on the afternoons where there are some real gaps. That said, we hope to add a medical component, a baseball camp, and some light construction or renovation to the mix. That will depend in large measure on the number of other groups we have join us that week. Of course on every trip we want to scope out more projects and partnerships for our on-going partnership with the churches of Curacao.

If you think you or you're church might like to bring a team, we can help you coordinate the trip. 

Your end would be get your plane ticket, bring additional cash to use for lodging, food, etc. that we'd arrange (about $250/each) and then we'd connect you with the ministry projects that fit you and your group. We can either keep your group together or let your people pick and choose from the options we have. Right now, we have VBS. But the more people that come, the more choices we can offer.. 

Steven Gay is already discussing bringing his youth group down from Buis Creek, NC. It's time to start serious discussions with those you need to, if this is something you feel led to do. 

Caution: If you're wanting to lead a group from your church, please check with your church leadership first. The last thing I want to do is upset your church leaders by undermining their plans for your church family. 

I'm not recruiting for a trip. I'm making this opportunity available people I know and trust. But if your leadership is not on board, either don't come or come individually as part of our group. I'd add that if you're church is planning a mission trip for next summer, make sure you consider it first. That would be cool for your church family.

To check airline costs, search travel dates July 4 (AM) and return July 11 (PM).American Airlines flies out of Miami to Curacao every day and that's who we've used so far. But there are other options out there. You can also try sites like Travelocity.

Please contact me asap if you're at all interested, need more info or just want to stay in the loop. You can also learn more at www.mission-curacao.blogspot.com.

On the Go!

Darien

Baseball anyone?

Cesar reached young boys through his baseball team. In 2005, Parker Davis, Jonathan Davis and John Maynard led a baseball camp for these boys the week we were down there. I'd love to see us do this again. Let us hear from you if God puts that on your heart.

Rebuilding a Church?

Perhaps we can add church reconstruction to our list of projects in '09. Another reason why we need more churches to join us on this mission trip. Darien

Hi Darien,

 

It has been a while since we have communicated, but when you were here in Curacao, you asked to watch for mission work. Well, a tornado destroyed one of the Christian Missionary Alliance Churches two weeks ago. The roof, electrical, hymnals, bibles, everything was destroyed. They are going to need help. Our church is taking a special offering for them, but I don't think they will be ready to construct anything until next year. Maybe there is something you would be able to help with? Just thought I would pass this along. 

 

Blessings,

Marilyn