A Journey of Firsts

Written by Drew Hammond, Bhutanese Ministry Logistics Coordinator

Spring break for many people is a time to go to the beach, take a cruise, try surfing, or do anything else that involves bright sunshine and escaping the tyranny of winter clothes. However, a group of five Bhutanese-Nepali student leaders from Mission Adelante chose to spend their spring break in the bone chilling air of “the windy city,” Chicago, Illinois.

The trip was the first official activity of the Leadership Training Project, (LTP), for the Bhutanese Teens Ministry. The Leadership Training Project is a year-long leadership development program for emerging youth leaders. The program has two components: mentoring and learning through leading. Students will be mentored by an adult in leadership skills and taught about how to follow Jesus, the ultimate leader of men, as Nepalis and in a way that honors and celebrates their Nepali culture and family. Students will also participate in opportunities to serve and lead in the Bhutanese Community, and in our Kansas City neighborhood. The leadership skills they develop during this program will help them to grow spiritually and build their character, as well as to teach them necessary skills for school, future jobs, and how to be good and productive members of their families and communities.

The objective of the trip was to transform us from a group of individual students working to organize the Bhutanese Teens Ministry into a team of leaders equipped and empowered to lead the Bhutanese Teen community at Mission Adelante. One great way to make a group of people into a unified team is to share new experiences. Our journey to Chicago was full of new experiences. For example, none of us had ever navigated the subway and bus system of Chicago before. It proved very complicated for a group of people from Kansas City without experience with such a massive public transportation system. Many times during our trip we relied upon help from local people from Chicago at times when we got off the bus at the wrong stop or rushed from one train to another, hoping not to be late to our next destination. We returned from our journey knowing the Lord had used our transportation challenges, as well as others, to draw and bind us together as a team.

Will you pray for the LTP team? Pray that we will be bound together as we embark on our journey to love and follow Jesus as our Lord.

In other news:

• It has  been an exciting time for the Latino Outreach as more and more of our teens step up to mentor kids during our Thursday night Outreach Bible Study.  We praise God for teens that are using their gifts to transform our neighborhood and the world for the glory of Jesus Christ!

• The Latino LIT kids are very excited for a trip to the Omaha Zoo this weekend! The trip is a reward for all of their hard work this year.

Prayer needs:

• The lease negotiations continue as we try to secure a space for Adelante Thrift. Please continue to pray for this process and for the next steps that need to happen to make the thrift store a reality.

• As we wait for the House of Representatives to legislate immigration reform, please pray against actions that will polarize the discussion and pray for a willingness to cooperate in ways that are productive.

Current needs:

• Is your church planning a VBS program this summer? Once your VBS camp is over, please consider giving your program materials to a Burmese Chin woman who is starting a children’s outreach program for Chin children in the community. Please contact Kristen Allen at kristena@missionadelante.org to learn more.

• We are looking for people who have knowledge and skills with literacy intervention for teenagers. Many of the Bhutanese teens are in need of reading and English help outside of school. Mission Adelante would especially like to offer this help to our five teenage interns this Summer. If you or someone you know has helpful resources or suggestions on this topic or would be interested in volunteering your skills this summer, please contact Hannah Hume at hannahh@missionadelante.org.

• Our LIT students earn "Mission Adelante Money" for exemplary behavior and doing extra academic work, which they can spend at a Reward Store once each trimester.  We're in need of items by March 31 to stock that store!  Ideas include sports equipment, craft supplies, bedroom decorations, or any small item that would appeal to 8-14 year old students.  If you would like to contribute, please contact Megan McDermott at meganm@missionadelante.org or Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org.
• Every August we have the chance to bless the almost 200 students who are a part of the ministries at Mission Adelante with backpacks for Back-to-School!  We are currently looking for churches and organizations to host Backpack drives for the back-to-school season!  Would you consider hosting a backpack drive as a summer service project, or as a part of your Vacation Bible School? If you would like more information on packing backpacks for us, and meeting this tangible need for our community contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@Missionadelante.org.

Important dates:

• Optional Bhutanese ESL Training: March 30th at 2:00 on the topic of Hinduism at Jenny Dunn’s house.  Email Jenny for details: jennyd@missionadelante.org.
• Bhutanese Spring Party: Saturday, April 12, 5:00-8:00 at First Baptist Church, 2900 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66102. Please come and help us celebrate the accomplishments of our ESL, Teens, Kids Adelante, and L.I.T. students this trimester and honor volunteers with sustained service.
• Latino Spring Party: Saturday, April 13, 5:00-8:00 at Bethany Community Center.  Please come and help us celebrate the accomplishments of our ESL, Teens, Kids Adelante, and L.I.T. students this trimester and honor volunteers with sustained service. Bethany Community Center is located on Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas (66102) between 11th and 12th Streets, behind the fire station.