5 Keys to Successful Re-entry

Hey Team, thanks for a great mission trip! Now that we are back it can feel like the trip is over. But there are a few things that you can do now to continue getting the most out of your experience. Here they are...

1. Know the #1 Question, "How was your trip?"
Everyone will ask you this question. Be prepared with a short answer that doesn't bore them. Leave room for them to ask more questions if they are interested. Don't be offended if they say, "That's nice." and move on in the conversation. Remember, they didn't have the same experience you had, so it's not as important to them as it is to you.

2. Find a Processing Partner
Find a friend that will be willing to just sit and listen to you for 2 or 3 hours while you talk about your experiences. That time will allow you to hear yourself talk about the trip and you may discover some things that you didn't know you had learned. Remember, we often don't know what we think until we hear ourselves say it.

3. Plan what will change
On trips like these many people make important decisions to change things in their lives. Unfortunately, some hope to change everything and then are frustrated when nothing changes. So, avoid that by planning one thing to change. Be specific and set goals. Find accountability and have someone help you make the changes you want to make in your life in response to the trip.

4. Don't let it end!
Even though the trip is "officially" over, you can keep it alive with two key activities: First, by praying consistently for those people you met along the way. And second, by becoming an advocate for missions. Talk about the trip and how it changed you. Talk about the needs you saw. Inspire others to take action by getting involved.

5. Write a prayer letter.
Take time to write a letter to all of the people who helped make the trip possible for you. Tell them about your experiences and about what God did in your life. Ask them to continue praying for you as God continues to show you how to be involved in Missions.

Final Team Meeting Re-Scheduled

Our final team meeting that was originally scheduled for June 7th conflicts with another event to which some of our team and adult leaders are already committed.

Therefore our final team meeting will be Thursday, June 11th from 6:30pm - 8:00pm @ JCS Elementary. The school works well as a meeting place since we have 22 students plus all their parents.

This meeting is for parents and students. We will cover our final pieces of info, answer questions, and pray together for this trip. Oh yeah, and we'll eat! If everyone would bring a dish to share we should have plenty of food for everyone. Please email me to let me know what you will be bringing so we don't end up with 22 bags of chips.

Also, please email me with any questions you may have and I will make sure they are part of the meeting agenda.

Thanks,
joe

What to bring to Jamaica

JAMAICA 2009

WHAT TO BRING

Consider the fact that Mother Teresa and her sisters “traveled only with such personal luggage as could be contained in a bucket or a cardboard box”.

CLOTHING

Dress should be casual and conservative.

Packing Tips: Bring a mixture of clothing that will allow you enough variety, but won't weigh your bags down too much. Don’t over pack. Expect to wear pants and shorts more than once.

· Casual shoes – I wear my shoes and pack the flip flops so as to save space in my bag.

· Work shoes – You don’t necessarily have to have work shoes other than your casual shoes but I have seen many people completely destroy their shoes on a work site. Keep that in mind when choosing what you will work in.

· Sandals or flip-flops

· Water shoes (these are really nice for the beach and the falls. If your sandals have straps and are waterproof, that works too.)

· Socks

· Underwear (that’s fun to wear!)

· Swimsuit (modest one piece for ladies)

· Comfortable Pants/Shorts - No short shorts. (Hint: I typically wear pants on travel days and pack shorts so as to save space in my bag. Cargos are my preferred choice b/c I always have a safe place for my passport.)

· Comfortable T-Shirts – T-shirts and modest tanks are ok. No short or skimpy shirts, No spaghetti strap or strapless tops. Any writing/advertisment on shirts should be appropriate. (Hint: It is best if your t-shirts are not 100% cotton as those kind tend to retain moisture and do not dry quickly, I actually prefer %100 polyester b/c it dries so quickly. Wash it at night and it will be dry by morning!)

· One Church outfit – Girls: dresses (with sleeves) or skirts with sleeved shirts. Guys: Kaki pants & a short sleeved dress shirt or polo shirt. (Hint: Jamaicans dress to the nines for church. If you are going to err here it should be on the nice side).

· Hat, Bandanna, Sunglasses

GENERAL ITEMS

· PASSPORT

· Toiletries: Soap, razor, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush, paste, contact solution, Hair dryer etc. (Hint: Same sex team members may consider sharing shampoo in order to save space and weight in bags. Liquids should be packed in ziplock bags in order to prevent spills in your suitcase.) Contact wearers: Don't chance missing the view! Bring extra contacts – just in case. Also bring your glasses.

· Towel & washcloth

· Beach towel

· Sun screen & Aloe

· Bug repellant – the good stuff (30% Deet)

· Benadryl – for bug bites

· Medications & Vitamins / Allergy & prescription meds

· Small Hand Sanitizer or Wipes (sometimes it's good to have this when adequate hand washing facilities are not readily available.)

· Bible, Notebook, Journal

· Ear plugs (in case your roommates snore)

· Alarm clock

· Camera & batteries or charger, memory cards, etc.. (They have standard outlets and electric items work fine in Jamaica)

· Flashlight

· Stationary – you may want to leave a note for a child when you leave, etc.

· Refillable Water Bottle – You may also consider bringing some of those individual Gatorade/PowerAde Packs to flavor your water. Note: Purified water will be available for us during our stay.

· Small daypack

· Personal snacks (Sealed packaged snacks if desired. Granola bars, power bars, etc. Don’t take anything that will melt. Don’t eat in your room. Be prepared to share.)

· Spending money –for souvenirs.

I will carry a small first-aid kit with things like aspirin, band-aids, Imodium (just in case), and antiseptic cream to cover most situations.

Team Meeting Recap

What is the difference between Compassion, Care & Cure. Parker Palmer says, “Compassion means literally, the capacity to be with the suffering of another.” This means that compassion is often uncomfortable. It is rarely easy to enter into someone’s pain without doing something about it, but compassion doesn’t necessarily bring a cure to the ailment one faces. Compassion’s present (gift) is being present to the other. This is the one sense where, I suppose, it is realistic to view ourselves as “G*D’s gift” to someone.

To truly care for the other we must abandon our “Whatever” attitudes. Whatever is the care-free lifestyle, and we must be care-full. Doing so means to listen, be present, hear, and receive. Henri Nouwen says, “The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not-curing, not-healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is the friend who cares.”

A second comparison is that of Fixing & Relationship. Our task is not to fix people. We may desire to pour out blessings and fixings on those who are suffering and broken but pouring is an act that can be done only from above. The posture of “above” is an arm’s-length posture, and “there is no arm’s-length ‘solution’ for suffering. People who offer such only add to the pain… We cannot do good by standing back and pulling levers that drop bounty on people who need it. Right action can be only and immersion of ourselves in reality, an immersion that involves us in RELATIONSHIP, that takes us to our place in the organic nature of things.”

(Palmer, The Active Life, 84).

A third comparison is that of Do & Be. Being there, not as cure but as companion to the person who suffers on his or her slow journey, is one of the best things we can “do”. Compassion & companionship is more about being that doing. Such being requires us to risk. We risk not curing, we risk rejection, and we risk inadequacy. But Love takes risking.

The Scriptures…

Jesus models a life of compassion and care. Mark 6 serves as a good example.

Mark 6:32-44 (NLT)

They left by boat for a quieter spot. [33] But many people saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and met them as they landed. [34] A vast crowd was there as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he taught them many things.

[35] Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and it is getting late. [36] Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy themselves some food."

[37] But Jesus said, "You feed them."

"With what?" they asked. "It would take a small fortune to buy food for all this crowd!"

[38] "How much food do you have?" he asked. "Go and find out."

They came back and reported, "We have five loaves of bread and two fish." [39] Then Jesus told the crowd to sit down in groups on the green grass. [40] So they sat in groups of fifty or a hundred.

[41] Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and asked God's blessing on the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples to give to the people. [42] They all ate as much as they wanted, [43] and they picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. [44] Five thousand men had eaten from those five loaves!

When Jesus had compassion on the crowds he offered them what he had; excellent teaching. Jesus was the “master teacher” and didn’t hesitate to give what he had when he saw people in need. The disciple’s saw the crowd too, but they saw the problem not the people, saying, “Send the crowds away so they can… buy themselves some food.” Here we see what Palmer calls, “The temptation to solve some problem on a level that does not solve it at all, and may even make things worse.” Can you imagine 5,000 people raiding the nearby farms and villages for bread and fish? I’m not sure Wal-Mart could handle that all at once.

Jesus response with the curious, “You feed them.”

“With what?" is the appropriate response. Here the disciple’s faith is being tested and it is in this same “With what?” attitude that we often respond to G*D’s calling in our own lives. How am I going to do this thing that G*D is asking me to do? “It would take a small fortune.” But in the story, Jesus simply responds with "How much food do you have?" He is less concerned with what it takes and more concerned with what is available. G*D is always more interested in availability than in ability. Making ourselves available to G*D is where we find ourselves risking. Opening our hands to God means releasing the death grip we have on all the stuff we are holding on to. But when we open our hands we find Jesus blessing our gift and G*D multiplying it.

Jesus’ solution to this need was not one of pulling levers, it was not an arms-length solution. It was a nitty-gritty, shoulder-to-shoulder, self-sacrificing, self-risking, solution that gave birth to a compassionate response… and a miracle of provision.

Jamaica Team Meeting #1: Recap

What is the reason you joined this team? There are lots of really good reasons for going on missions trips: curiosity, calling, friendship, growth, challenge, opportunity, service, etc... and lots of you gave good reasons why you want to go. We all know our own reasons for joining the team, but what is God's reason for putting you on the team? As one who believes in the sovereignty of God, I trust that God has a purpose for you on this team. One of our tasks on this trip is to simply pay attention. We need to pay attention to what God is doing in and around us. We need to pay attention to the things God is speaking to us, the things to which he is calling us, and the role that he is giving us to play on this trip.

Expectations: If you've been on a mission trip before then you probably already know what I am going to say, and that is, "Expectations are our Enemy, Flexibility is our Friend." Even as we discover the things that God is doing in and through us on this trip we must remain open to God's prerogative to completely alter all of our plans. So, as you prepare for this trip, pray that God would make you aware of the things that you are holding on to, the things that will prevent you from being completely flexible, completely available for His use.

Prayer: As I watched the DR'08 Team video last week I was struck with the idea that this year's trip needs to be centered on the theme of PRAYER. As I day dreamed about that a little I saw students on the team circled in prayer in Jamaica, calling on God. If that dream is going to be a reality I recognize that we are going to have to prepare. That is the reason we have set up the prayer partners system. If we are going to be a team of prayer, we need to start praying today.

Accountability: I believe that we hinder our own spiritual growth when we refuse to allow ourselves to be transparent with others and to give someone permission to challenge us to take things to the next level. It is my goal that each of your prayer partners (along with the encouragement of your leaders) will facilitate your growth through regular accountability.

James 5:16

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.

Start a Journal: I didn't mention this in the meeting but I think it would be a great exercise for each of you to begin. Journal your thoughts as you look ahead to the trip. Journal your prayers. Journal your questions and struggles. This process will help you get more out of the trip, and can make it easier for you to identify the themes and movements of God in your life as you try to discern what God is up to as he forms your life.

Reminders:
Check your email regularly.
Turn in payments on time (see payment schedule on fact sheet) and with the donation record.
Apply for your passport if you haven't already.
Email me your T-Shirt size.
Print and sign the liability waiver and turn in to me or the business office.
Pray regularly with your prayer partner.

Next Meeting: Sunday, December 14, 3:00-4:30pm

Team Meeting June 6th!

Just made the final arrangements for our long awaited team meeting. It will be Friday, June 6th from 5:45 - 7:30 @ the Meade's (4266 Springbrook). I want to start right away with the meeting stuff so please be sharp!

I also want to include parents (one or both) at this meeting so that everyone gets a chance to meet each other and get all the info. Parents sometimes enjoy meeting other parents (I know... it's weird).

I'll have a whole packet of info for parents with flight times and all that jazz. If you are a parent and you can not make it to the meeting just let me know and I will get you the packet.

For the meeting, we will be eating dinner at the Meade's. They are providing the burgers, dogs, and beverages. We all need to bring a passing dish.

Seniors & Freshmen: bring desserts
Juniors & Sophomores: bring sides

This is an important meeting so please make plans to be there with the team!

In the mean time... email me with all of your questions and I will be sure to have answers for you at the meeting.

10 days till we leave!!!

Thanks,

Mr. n

Recap: Team Meeting #4 - "What should we do?"

Thanks to everyone for making last night another great team meeting. Here's a short recap of what we covered.

1. Each of you received a detail sheet to give to your parents. This paper contains important info like Costa Rica contact info, updated flight info, details about our final team meeting on the 9th, our departure plan, health info reminder, luggage guidelines, and a what to bring list. Make sure you give this list to your parents!!!

2. We read the following verses from Luke, and were reminded that an encounter of faith in God's truth always leads to action in our lives. I posed the question, "What should we do?" as we have all been given this great opportunity to show the love of Christ to the people of Costa Rica. Time was spent journaling (in your new super cool - and free - journals) about what that might look like and about what we expect to see God do on this trip.

Luke 3:7-15 (NLT)
Here is a sample of John's preaching to the crowds that came for baptism: "You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee God's coming judgment? [8] Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God. Don't just say, 'We're safe—we're the descendants of Abraham.' That proves nothing. God can change these stones here into children of Abraham. [9] Even now the ax of God's judgment is poised, ready to sever your roots. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire."
[10] The crowd asked, "What should we do?"
[11] John replied, "If you have two coats, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry."
[12] Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, "Teacher, what should we do?"
[13] "Show your honesty," he replied. "Make sure you collect no more taxes than the Roman government requires you to."
[14] "What should we do?" asked some soldiers.
John replied, "Don't extort money, and don't accuse people of things you know they didn't do. And be content with your pay."
[15] Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah.

3. We finished off with some small group prayer circles. I want to encourage all of you to keep praying for this trip and keep asking God to move you. Keep asking Him "what should we do?" and then watch for how He may answer us on this journey.

A final word... Keep journaling about your expectations and thoughts. It will be cool to see how God shapes all of us on this trip.

Recap: Team Meeting #3 - The chemistry of a TEAM.

I don't know what to say other than... what an incredible meeting. The whole way home I kept thinking about how awesome this group is and how I'm glad to be a part of this team (and I'm glad that I went ahead and kept pushing for a trip to happen this year.)

Thanks to each of you for taking the faith step to sign up for this trip. I am excited (if you couldn't tell) about what God is going to do in and through us on this journey. We may have bumps and things that don't work out the way we would prefer, but I believe God will use it all to shape us and to create opportunities for us to influence others for the sake of His kingdom.

So, I'm pretty sure this was the best team meeting ever. Kathie put together some incredible food which may end up leaving us disappointed in Costa Rica, but I say it was worth it for the cilantro cream sauce alone. After we partook of the"ambrosia", we talked for a few minutes about what makes a good team. Here's the list of characteristics we put together:
* honesty, sacrifice, unity, dedication, communication, cooperation, flexibility, expectation, care/concern, encouragement, respect, common goals, patience, helpfulness, dependability, commitment, and humor.

The question left to ask is... what is it going to take for each one of us to be that kind of team member? Our goal is to have everyone embody these characteristics and therefore literally be an indispensable player on the team. Over the next few weeks I'd like each of us to consider what things may need adjustment in our lives in order to be the kind of team player that we all described. Focus in on a characteristic or two and really try to live that out for the other team members in the next few weeks. We'll talk about the results when we get together at the next meeting.

We read the following verses from Ecclesiastes that serve as a reminder to us that everything we are doing for this trip is bigger than anything we could do on our own. It'd be easy for someone to go buy a ticket and fly to Costa Rica... but impossible for an individual to try to accomplish what we will do as a team. This concept served as another reminder that we must be team players to get the most out of this experience. We'll accomplish more when we stick together.

Eccles. 4:9-12
Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. [10] If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. [11] And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? [12] A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

1. We made a few other administrative announcements at the meeting of which you will want to make a note.
2. If I didn't get your birth date and your passport number or soc. number. I need that info by Wednesday. It is necessary for the travel insurance.
3. Flight times were announced and due to our later departure time we have decided to forgo the slumber party the night before. We will, however, still have our pre-trip training meeting on the 9th at JCS.
   
4. Money raise over and above the team goal will go toward the general fund for all participants. This is for the sake of the team, and the IRS. (I am learning as I go on this whole thing.)
5. If you have received your passport recently and haven't told me your passport number please do so immediately.
6. Our team shirts are scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Don't get too excited though because I won't pass them out until the day before we leave. You'll all need to wear them on the 10th for our flight out. It makes it easier to see everyone in the airport.
   

Thanks again to everyone for making the sacrifices necessary to be on this team. I appreciate you all and am seriously looking forward to a great trip with you.

Preliminary Flight Info

I apologize about the sudden change in our meeting which was scheduled for this evening. Sickness does not work according to schedules.

If you have less than $650 turned in as of now I will need the balance immediately. We need to purchase these tickets and they must be purchased all together. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.

Recap: Team Meeting #2

I hope everyone enjoyed our team meeting last night at the Drake's. In case you zoned out for a minute or couldn't remember everything when your parents asked you what we talked about... maybe this will help.

What temperatures should we expect?

• Day = 70-80
• Night = 30-40

What will be our housing accommodations?

• We will be staying at 3 YWAM houses that are a part of the YWAM base in as suburb of San Jose called San Francisco. San Francisco is a district of central San José, in the southern neighborhoods. 22,000 people live in this highly developed zone of southern San José, usually known for families with low resources.
• All meals will be prepared by YWAM staff.
  
• We do the dishes.
• Everyone is required to bring one fitted sheet for the bed you will be sleeping on. You will also need to bring your own pillow and blanket or sleeping bag.
  

Who is providing our in-country transportation:

• YWAM will take care of this for us.

What kind of work projects will we be doing?

• there are several possibilities in the works and it is difficult to say exactly what needs will be most important when we arrive, however, here is a short list of the kinds of things we anticipate working on:
• home building
• home repair
• construction cleanup & assistance
• church repair and maintenance (painting)
  
• cleaning parks
• Special Olympics soccer day

Can we drink the water?

• Some may try to convince you that the tap water is “safe” because it is part of the municipal water system, however, experience has taught us otherwise. We will not be drinking the water from the taps in Costa Rica.
• Plan on buying a bottle of water at the airport once we land in Costa Rica. This means you'll need a little cash in your pocket. (Remember you cannot carry a water bottle on the plane!)
  
• We will be providing purified drinking water for the entire team during our stay in Costa Rica.
  
• You will want to pack an empty water bottle or "sport bottle" in your bag that can be easily refilled throughout the day. (we will have a 5 gallon jug to dispense purified water while on location)
  

What is the currency & exchange rate?

• We kicked around some guesses as to what the current exchange rate was for Costa Rican Colon. Click here to get today's rate.

Do they have toilet paper?

• Yes they do. But do not put toilet paper in the toilet. The plumbing is not designed to handle toilet paper so you must put toilet paper in the small garbage can next to the toilet.
• Also, no drinking from the "little drinking fountains" in the bathrooms. (they aren't drinking fountains!)
  

How much spending money do I need and what do I do with my valuables while I'm there?

• A general rule of thumb is to try to remember that you are on a mission trip. It's fine to want to bring a few things back but nobody should single-handedly try to revive the economy of Costa Rica. I'd suggest not bringing ton’s of money. This will help you resist the temptation to buy things on impulse. I don't want to tell people what the proper amount is so let me just leave you with this bit of advice that also happens to be the speed limit in Montana: Be reasonable and prudent.
  
• You are responsible for your money at all times. Don’t leave it laying around.
• We also recommend that you keep money in separate places, so that it can't all be lost at once.
  
• As with anytime you are traveling, you will want to wear a backpacks that cannot be easily accessed, and keep your wallet in your front pocket.
  

What if I need a band-aid?

• Kathi Meade and Robert Morgan will both be bringing team med kits filled with the basic medical necessities (including Imodium).

What are the basic things I'll need to bring?

• As our departure date approaches we will be providing you all with a more detailed checklist of what to bring, but for now here are a few essentials that we discussed:
• Passport
• Copy of Passport (for Mr. Neill to carry)
  
• Light leather gloves for working
  
• Clothing should be nothing special
• Light jacket or sweatshirt that can be easily removed as temperatures change.
  
• Shoes to work in (no working in sandals)
• Bible, pen, & notebook or journal
  
• Bedding
• 1 fitted sheet
• sleeping bag or blanket

What NOT to Bring?

• personal audio players (MP3 players)
  
• cell phones
• video games
• machetes
  
• necklaces
• bracelets
• firearms
• throwing stars

How much can my bags weigh?

• 50 lbs. is the NEW maximum weight limit for bags. Weigh them before you leave the house.
  

What are the carry-on requirements or restrictions?

• Space does not permit me to go into the detail necessary regarding what can and cannot be packed. The TSA has provided a detailed website specifically dedicated to this issue. Please take the time to click here and read the requirements.
• Click here for the current regulations regarding liquids.

• We recommend packing 2 changes of clothes in your carry on just in case you have a luggage "issue".
• At present we are planning on flying Continental. You can read their baggage requirements here.

• don’t allow anyone that you don't know carry your bags at any time.
  

How do I call home or send e-mails?

• There are a couple of ways that we are planning on keeping in contact while in Costa Rica. I plan to keep this site up and running and to make a daily post so that everyone will know what we are up to. We have not yet learned if the YWAM base has on site internet access. If not, I will try to hit an internet cafe and post from there.
  
• As for phone calls... Most homes do not have landline phones because of the popularity of cellular technology. However there are places (similar to an internet cafe) where phone calls can be made. You may want to purchase an international phone card before leaving. I've heard that AT&T is a convenient prepaid card to use. Check those out here.

New Meeting Date Added! (Edited Version)

Mark your calendars! We have added a new team meeting date on Saturday, June 9th (the day before we fly to Costa Rica). We will be meeting here at the School at 7:00 pm and Robert will be going through some training materials with the team.

Following the training session, the guys will be heading over to the Drake's and the girls will be going over to the Meade's to get a few hours of sleep before we leave (around 2:30 am). This will make it easier for us to assure that all are present and accounted for and to have all our luggage loaded up well before our departure from Jackson. We'll be taking a JCS bus to the airport. So, plan on a fun night together before we head to Costa Rica.

Next Meeting Date Changed

I've moved our Monday, March 19th meeting to Saturday March 24th. Robert Morgan at Ultimate Goal will be in town to do chapel here at JCS on Friday, March 23rd @ 8:05 am. Since he is in town he wanted to meet with us as a team and get to know us a little more.

The Drakes have opened their home to host us for Saturday evening, March 24th from 6-9pm. Plan to eat before you come and we'll just have snacks and hang out with Robert . It would be great if everyone could bring either a 2 liter or a bag of chips. (Find the Drake's house here)

Ironically, I have a previous engagement planned for that day, but didn't want to pass up the opportunity for the rest of you to get to know Robert while he is here. Please let me know if you are unable to attend this meeting.

Parents are welcome to attend the chapel on Friday morning, March 23rd in order to get an opportunity to hear from Robert and to meet him personally.

Recap: Team Meeting #1

We had a great first team meeting at my house tonight. It was cool to see everyone together in the same room and to get to hear from each of you why it is that you want to go on this trip. Here is a quick list of things to do after tonight's meeting.

1. apply for passport. If you haven't applied for your passport this needs to be your #1 priority in life. It can take some time and we don't want anyone getting their passport the day before we leave (like last year). apply today!

2. type support letter. Priority #2 is getting our funds for this trip. Use the sample letter I gave you to get an idea of what to include in your letter and write your own so that it is personalized. Nobody wants to get a letter from you that I wrote. Remember that you are responsible to bring in all of your money for this trip. If you receive more than what you need you may choose to save that for next year, or contact the donors to see if it may be applied to others who have not raised their support. You may not use extra funds received as spending money. I will keep a running total of all of the checks that come in. You may indicate in your letter for checks to be sent to you, or directly to the school with "c/o Mr. Neill" in the address and I will process them through the business office. If you choose to have checks mailed to your house make sure you bring them to me as soon as possible so that we can get them cashed and get tax receipts printed. I will give each of you a list of all those who donated money before we leave on the trip so that you can contact each donor for personal thank yous. You may also want to include the team website in your support letters so that those who support you can get a glimpse into what we are doing on this trip. Some have used bookmarks or postcards with a picture of themselves as both a fundraising letter and a reminder for those who are supporting you financially or through prayer.

3. check out the website. If you are reading this then you can check this off your list of to do's. But make sure to navigate back to this site on a regular basis so that you can be up to date on the latest stuff. Remember to be doing all you can to learn about Costa Rica. Read about their customs and their dominant religion. Find out statistics about the climate and about the population. Check out the things that you may see in the city. If you learn something interesting send me an email or post a comment on this blog so everyone can learn too. If you find an awesome website with cool info pass it on and I'll add it to the link list on this site. Make sure you tell your parents about this site also so that can be informed about all that is going on.

4. check your e-mail. I sent you all an email today. If you didn't get it then click here and send me an email. If you did get it make sure you reply to me so that I know i have your address right in my database. E-mail is the easiest way for me to let the whole team know what is going on and to send out updates. If you don't have an email account... well... you ought to get one, they are really handy.

5. start praying. As if I needed to say this, right. We've already seen how prayer has been an important part of this team coming together. We only had two applications in one week ago and now we have a group of 18. That's pretty cool and the trip is still months away. We've got lots of time to be praying about this trip and to be looking for ways God is at work.

I have three suggestions regarding your prayers.

• pray specifically. don't just say "God, bless this trip." Instead, tell God the specific kinds of things that you are hoping to see (not talking about tourist attractions). What does blessing look like to you? Ask God for those things.
• pray earnestly. Don't let this be another one of those routine prayers that we all have from time to time. Get serious about the discipline of prayer and really spend some time talking with God.
• don't do all the talking. One thing that I think we can easily overdo in prayer is talking. We get done and say amen before we have given any time for God to say anything to us. Consider praying and before closing in prayer, try opening your bible and reading some psalms as a way of listening to God. After that, sit for a while and be still. I know what you may be thinking, that sounds like it could take a while. Exactly. That's why prayer is called a spiritual "discipline"... it takes discipline.

6. mark your calendar. The next team meeting in on Monday, March 19th from 7-8pm.