Just a few pictures.

Here are just a few pictures so far... we'll whet your appetite so you have to come to the Shareholder's dinner on the 30th!

1. Our lodge at Heifer Ranch.

2. Hayride!!

3. The urban slum in the global village

4. The cowboy men (they dressed up for dinner)

Last but not least... a God sighting on the way.

Today we did some service in the morning (I got to herd sheep and move chickens!) and then we did high ropes in the afternoon... we've been a little sidelined by weather this afternoon - there's a thunderstorm watch and we've been hearing thunder for hours. We were supposed to have the "Heifer County Fair" this evening, but I'm pretty sure they're going to cancel it. We'll just have a longer Bible study and devotion. :)

Tomorrow morning we have our final class "take action" and then we get back on the road!

Keep up the praying!

natalia

The International Village

It's lunchtime... and we're just getting back to food and air conditioning from being out all night at the International Village. Basically, you get placed with a group from your church and put into a village that is based off of real homes in other countries. There were 6 places: Appalachia, Guatemala, Thailand, Zambia, Refugees and Urban Slum. Our students were placed in Thailand, Zambia and Urban Slum. We all had different difficulties and had to deal with a lot (over and above the heat and humidity). Each group got a food basket, and not everyone had food, and not everyone had all kinds of food (for example, the Urban Slums had rice only, Thailand had rice, eggs and onions, Zambia had rice, potatoes and carrots, Guatemala had water rights and a ton of food, and Appalachia had wood rights and no food) - so you had to trade for most of those things. It was interesting to see some people hoard and/or get greedy when they had a lot, and also to see some people be really generous with what they had. Then each "home" had to cook dinner (adults could not help) and do all the chores, etc. The adults had to be elders or 2-year-olds. Most of the adults around here choose to be elders, able to give advice and needing a little extra help, but mostly self sufficient. Brent, Amanda and I all chose to 2-year-olds. I'm proud to say that the Heifer Ranch staff said no one (ever) has take on those roles to the extent we did. (Amanda ran away when her family wasn't watching her, I ate some of the food when they didn't feed me when I was hungry, and Brent peed *aka poured his water bottle in someone's sleeping bag* when they didn't take him to the bathroom this morning). All in all I think the kids had a really great and difficult experience, and I think they learned a TON about life for a large portion of the world's population. I'll let the students talk more about it at the Shareholder's dinner, but I think it was a really amazing experience for them, and almost everyone handled it really well with maturity and heart. I'm very proud they call me "mom."

This afternoon we're working some more and taking classes. It's really hot (we're in a heat advisory) so they're being pretty careful with us soft MinnesOtans. Tonight I'm going to surprise the kids with a trip into town to get ice cream. It will be a treat after such a difficult night and hot day. :)

Keep the prayers comin!

Natalia
aka: little mama (my two-year-old name)

Heifer Ranch - Day 1

So we're here. We got into Heifer Ranch last night around 7:30pm. It was a little later than we'd planned because of bad storms in Kansas City so we waited our departure time to be safe, and drove a lot slower to keep the van safety rating as high as possible. We're in a great lodge, and praise Jesus it's got air conditioning! It's so hot here. We stepped out of the van in Perryville and it was 103 degrees... with dewpoints in the mid 70s. Whew! We're just not used to it.

Today was our first day of work and "courses." Before lunch and after lunch there were service projects around the farm and also learning classes people could take. It was difficult to organize because it wasn't an even split, and some projects only took two people, some took 8. Very confusing. BUT - when all was said and done, everyone worked half the day and took a class for half the day.

The classes they had today were "People, Land and Livestock" where they learned about sustainable agriculture and got to make tortillas and hang out with some livestock, "Caring for the Earth" ...I don't know what their little food tidbit was but Jenna said she learned so much and she came into the lodge saying she was going to save the planet, so I guess that's good. Look out planet! The other class offered today was "Just Dough It" where we literally made a pizza from scratch. We ground wheat into flour, we picked and smashed tomatoes, we milked a goat and made cheese. It was pretty sweet.

The "service" projects around the farm are basically helping run the farm. Some people worked in the organic garden (which is a CSA for people in Little Rock) and some people did construction and some people herded sheep, and other people got to landscape and learn about the herb garden. It was difficult work, but all in all students really enjoyed it. It's kind of fun having time to gather before dinner and listen to all the stories about what people did today and how they liked it. Tomorrow we take a ranch tour, do ropes, and then head into the International Villiage for our overnight. Can't wait! (I get to be a two-year old!... this should be FUN)

Prayers for health and safety with the heat would be greatly appreciated!

Natalia

Kansas City!

So we made it to Kansas City! We only stopped once in southern MN and once in Iowa so when we stepped out of the van into - oh - 75 degree dewpoints, it was quite the shocker. It was literally the thickest air I've ever breathed. Holy cow.

Anyway, the drive was great: easy and uneventful, and half as long as last year. :)

We're spending the night in Liberty (just outside of KC) and then we'll be on the road again tomorrow!

Off to lead devotions!

Mission 2009 is almost here!!!

Wow! Can you believe it's time for another mission trip? I'm so excited for this experience. Saturday, July 11th, I embark with three amazing adult leaders and 23 high school students for Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas. While we're there, we're going to be learning a lot about farming, sustainability, poverty, hunger and how this all ties with our faith. It's going to be an amazing trip and I'm excited to share it with these students!

A few housekeeping items:

Mission meeting: July 9th at 6pm.
Sending service (for anyone and everyone) at 9:30am on July 11th.

Please pray for the leaders and students as we prepare to leave and work and learn!

Natalia

Final Post

Hey yall

So the pictures are finally all up!

Check them out at http://popyouth.myphotoalbum.com


If you are a parent, or if you are a monetary contributor to this trip, please plan on attending the Shareholder's Dinner on Thursday, July 31st at 6pm.


I have been doing trips for 5 years now and I can honestly say that I have never been on a trip with such a great group of kids. You all impressed me with your various moments of grace, leadership, great faith and understanding. It has been my great blessing and privilege to have planned and experienced this trip for and with you. I love you guys.


Blessings to all for a great trip!

natalia
aka mom

We're back!!

Hey faithful blog readers! Just wanted to let you know that we made it back safe and sound! We spent the afternoon and evening at the Gronli abode again - it's so gorgeous there. Dan took some group members on a hike and some of us did outdoor yoga and we just sat and enjoyed the scenery. Adults went to bed and the kids stayed up all night... and at 4am mountain time we left for MN. We had a beautiful sunrise and a great day for driving. We pulled into Prince of Peace at 8pm and now all are happily and safely at home!

Thanks for all the prayers - we had a great trip!

Remember - shareholders and parents are welcome at the Shareholder's Banquet on Thursday, July 30. Invitations to come! Hope you can make it to hear more about the trip and what we did!

natalia