October 30, 2014

Announcing Adelante Thrift!

written by Kristen Allen and Jarrett Meek

After many months of planning and site searching, we are thrilled to introduce you to Adelante Thrift, a sustainable community development project of Mission Adelante.  We're excited to announce that we've signed a lease for an 18,000 sq. ft. space at 3720 State Avenue, and with that key milestone under our belt, we can begin the countdown to opening the doors to this new endeavor in the first quarter of 2015!  

Adelante Thrift is more than a thrift store, it is an opportunity to transform our community in a sustainable way.  Our job readiness program through Adelante Thrift  will  provide job opportunities and equip people with the skills they need to obtain employment and be successful in the workplace. Volunteers from our neighborhood and across the city will have an opportunity to serve in a variety of ways as a part of a dynamic team.  And, proceeds from the store will go to help fund ministry in our neighborhood.  We are excited to see how generosity will help transform a community! 

Now that we have secured a space, there is a lot of work to be done, including raising startup capital, building out the space, securing donated inventory, developing systems, recruiting volunteers, and hiring staff.  Here a three ways you can get involved:

DONATE ITEMS:  

Start saving up your clothing, furniture, electronics, and other housewares.  We’ll start accepting donations in early 2015 (not long after Christmas!).  We’ll let you know when we’re ready!

VOLUNTEER:

We will need an army of volunteers to help us get our space ready, and then to help sort, price, and stock items.  There are perfect volunteer opportunities for families, church groups, or businesses!

CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY:  

Our year-end fundraising campaign this year is focused on raising money to launch Adelante Thrift!  Our launch need is $250,000, and the Lord has already provided commitments for $138,300.  We invite you to be part of this innovative community development initiative!  This is an “invest once” opportunity.  Once this project is up and going, it will be self-sustaining and will provide income for other ministry projects.  That’s return on investment!  Please visit our give page at www.missionadelante.org/give to learn how to contribute.

We can’t wait to welcome you into our store, help you find a bargain, and change your treasures into community transformation!.  Learn more about donating items and volunteering atwww.adelantethrift.com.

The Adelante Express Has Moved!

Dear Friends of Mission Adelante,

The Adelante Express blog has moved to www.missionadelante.org/blog!  We invite you to check out the same great Mission Adelante content on our new site!

In His Grace,
Jarrett

A Great Loss and a Great Legacy

To the family of Mon Maya Rai,

We are saddened by your loss. In this time we wanted to take a moment to thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives and the life that your mother and grandmother, Mon Maya, lived. She was a heroic woman of great passion and love for you. We loved her deeply and have had two main feelings when we think of her.

The first is how sad we are. She is no longer with us in this world and we will miss her frequently. She was a light to us, and a great encouragement. Every week when we met for fellowship, she was sure to be there, singing to The Lord and certainly interjecting her own wisdom into the middle of the teaching. Our fellowships will never be the same without her and we will miss her greatly in those times.

Our second feeling is opposite of the first, it is our joy for her. She is now free from her suffering. We know how deeply she loved Lord Jesus and know how she believed in His saving grace and love. In John 14:1-4 Jesus says: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Fathers house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be with me where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” So we know that Mon Maya is with Lord Jesus now in the house of God. And we know that Mon Maya knew the way because she talked about Him all the time.

We know that your mother was proud of all of you. When she looked at you, she was happy with the legacy she was leaving behind. And we know that she hoped that all of you will find the same love that she found in Jesus.

We are so thankful for everyone in the Rai family. Thank you so much for welcoming us into your homes, your lives, and your family. We are honored to have known Mon Maya and been close with her. She was like a mother and grandmother to all of us on staff at Mission Adelante. The memories we have of her we will all keep in our hearts forever.

We love your family,

The Bhutanese Team of Mission Adelante

English Class at the "K"

By Lauren Timberlake, Bhutanese ESL Director

About a month ago, we took twenty-five Bhutanese English students and volunteers to the Royals game together. It was the first time to go to a game for many students--most had not even heard of baseball before. Everyone had a great time huddling together in the stands and learning about a new sport. We admired the stadium, ate peanuts and popcorn, clapped and cheered together. When I watch people from such different backgrounds have that much fun together, it’s easy to see Jesus in it. We are thankful for volunteers and students who want to be friends inside and outside the classroom. And what a year to experience Kansas City baseball---go Royals!

In other news:

• Our level 1 Latino ESL class has a record number of students and volunteers participating this trimester!
• The  Latino Leaders in Training (LIT) kids are excited to engage in enrichment activities every Wednesday. The interactive activities have included healthy cooking, culturally-based art projects, and even some drumming.

Prayer needs:

• Please pray for two marriages in our Latino community that are currently going through significant struggles.
• Please pray that our negotiations on the lease for our Thrift Store location would be finalized and the lease signed this week!
• Please pray for many Bhutanese English students who suffer from chronic pain.

Current needs:

• Compact fluorescent light bulbs for use in our facility.

Important dates:

• Get-acquainted Days: Thursdays, October 16 & 23, 6:30-8:30  Have you wondered what all goes on around here on a typical evening of programming?  Here's your opportunity to come and see for yourself!  Come on up to 22 S. 18th Street, Kansas City, KS 66102.  Please note, the Bhutanese Get-acquainted Day on October 21 has been cancelled due to a festival that will be celebrated by our community that day.

Loving People from Other Places

By Gary Pauley, Latino Outreach Director

I am new at Mission Adelante, and my first trimester of ESL has been quite an experience. The class is full and we have an abundance of volunteers from all over the city. It is an amazing thing to watch unfold.

About our third week into the trimester a lady showed up asking to sign up for English level one. The class was full, and I was about to explain to her that she might have to wait for another trimester. She spoke no English and seemed...exhausted.

"We are new here," she told me. "I have five children and I speak no English. I don't think I can do this without being able to speak to anyone."

I asked her how the transition was going, and how she felt. She began to cry. "It's very hard," she said. I got the idea that there had been many hardships along the way.

We explain to our volunteers that they are not just volunteering to coach someone in English. They are finding connections to new people from other places, and God has a purpose in it all. We encourage our amazing volunteers to cultivate friendships and show the love of Christ in any way they can.

Someone will have that opportunity with this struggling lady. We found room for her in the English class.

News:

• The Latino Leaders in Training Program had fun taking learning on the road last Saturday! We took a field trip to the Ernie Miller Nature Center to go hiking and continue our studies on nature and conservation.  Then we finished the day off with a Halloween party.
• Developing young talent!  Our Latino worship team has become a beautiful, cross-cultural mix of people of different ages and from different places. Our bass player, drummer (age 11), and two vocalist are from Mexico.  Our lead vocalist, pianist, and flautist (age 13) are from Cuba.  And our two guitarists (one a former missionary to Mexico and the other age 14) are from the U.S.

Prayer needs:

• Please be praying as the Bhutanese community celebrates many festivals this month.
• Please pray for a member of our community whose mother is very sick in Cuba.
• Please pray for the Lord to strengthen leaders from our community who are taking on new roles.
• Praise God with us for the way he has created a sense of family in our house churches.
• Please pray for our Thrift Store lease negotiations to be finalized soon!

Current needs: volunteers

• Bhutanese LIT is looking for people to commit to being weekly mentors from 4:00-6:00 on Thursday afternoons!  If you are interested, or would like more information, please contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org.
• Kids Club is growing!  Last week we had 23 kids under the age of 6, and need to add a new Kids Club group!  To add a new group, we need more mentors!  If you like to work with the under-6 set and have Tuesday nights free to serve, contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org.

Important dates:

• Get-acquainted Days: Tuesday, October 14 (Bhutanese)/Thursdays, October 16 & 23, 6:30-8:30  Have you wondered what all goes on around here on a typical evening of programming?  Here's your opportunity to come and see for yourself!  Come on up to 22 S. 18th Street, Kansas City, KS 66102.  Please note, the Bhutanese Get-acquainted Day on October 21 has been cancelled due to a festival that will be celebrated by our community that day.  If you want to check out our Bhutanese outreach, we hope you can make it on the 14th!

The God at Work in the Lives of our Friends

Written by Holly Stetler

Most of us know the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Daniel's friends who found themselves under the rule and authority of King Nebuchanezzer. The three men refused to bow down to an idol made by the king and were about to face their death in a fiery furnace because of it. They refused because they knew and worshiped the one true God that had recently helped them become some of the strongest and smartest men in the king's household. They served King Nebuchanezzer but they were not going to disobey their true king by abandoning the most important commandment. This was the story we shared with our friends at kids club this Tuesday and it was amazing to share what the power of the one true God helped these friends overcome: death!

Sometimes it is hard to get through to kids. Actually, let me rephrase that. It is ALWAYS hard to get through to kids. This story is about three friends who literally walked around in fire and did not even get burned! This story shows us the infinite power of God and how well he cares for those who follow him! However, most of the kids hearing the story didn't seem to be amazed! They recited the story back to me, and most said they probably would have tried to run away if this had happened to them, but it was just a story to them.

I felt discouraged in the moment, but I’m thankful that these aren’t just stories. I’m thankful that God is both powerful and loving. I’m thankful that every week I have a moment here and a moment there with my little friends to share about his unending love. I’m thankful that just like God's intervention on behalf of Daniel’s friends, he is the one who must, too, intervene in the lives of my little friends. I want them to know our Lord and Savior. I want them to feel his unending love and know the hope he brings even when things seem impossible.

I was humbled, and remembered that it is not me, but the Holy Spirit, who will pierce their hearts. I remembered that we are called to communicate the gospel with clarity and compassion through our words and our lives and let God do the rest. Will you pray with me that these children will know his truth? That one day they will hear this story and be in awe that the almighty God loves, cares for and protects his children? May He continue to break through to their hearts!

In other news:

• Megan and Iris, one of our summer interns, traveled to the CCDA (Christian Community Development Association) National Conference last week in North Carolina.   It was a great time of refreshment, networking, and growth.
• Bhutanese ESL students showed Tuesday night that they are mastering the citizenship material. We are thankful for the many volunteers who have invested in their learning and pray each student will eventually reach his or her goal of passing the citizenship exam interview.

Current needs:

• We are looking for an affordable and reliable snow-removal service to plow our parking lot this winter.  If you have any recommendations, please email Sarah at sarahw@missionadelante.org.
• The Bhutanese Leaders in Training program is looking for Thursday mentors!  We need 3 more people to help with homework and enrichment activities from 4:00-6:15pm on Thursdays!  To come check it out, contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org.
• A Bhutanese family from our community recently moved and their new house lacks a refrigerator. If you are able to provide a refrigerator, please contact Drew Hammond at drewh@missionadelante.org.

Important dates:

• Get-acquainted Days: Tuesdays, October 14 & 21 (Bhutanese)/Thursdays, October 16 & 23, 6:30-8:30  Have you wondered what all goes on around here on a typical evening of programming?  Here's your opportunity to come and see for yourself!  Come on up to 22 S. 18th Street, Kansas City, KS 66102.

Turning the World Upside Down

By Hannah Hume, Bhutanese Teens Ministry Coordinator

At Mission Adelante we envision a growing multicultural community of disciples making disciples. This vision is the at the core of everything we do and how we do it. We believe that expanding God's kingdom through the transformation of individual lives is at the heart of God's call for us and is the only way to see lasting change in ourselves, our communities, our cities, and our world.

 As a Kansas City, Kansas resident I often get an front-row seat to the hard and broken aspects of the city. Drugs, domestic violence, bigotry, and unjust systems abound. It can be overwhelming at times. However, I know there is hope. I don't find this hope in government programs, or changing laws, or hungry bellies fed. Laws can always change again, and those who were hungry will be hungry again tomorrow. I find hope in stories of lives transformed, like Narbu.

A couple of weeks ago I sat with 19 year old Narbu in his living room while he shared his concern for many of the young men in our community, and his desire to see them know Jesus and have their lives transformed. Why is this young man so concerned about his peers? Because a few years ago, Narbu himself was in a gang. However, through a series of miraculous events, his Hindu family came to know Jesus. Narbu was exposed to the good news of Jesus as well, and responded with his own personal commitment of faith.  Narbu turned his back on gang life, and is now newly married and an avid participant in a house church and in our teens ministry here at Mission Adelante. He dreams of ministering to and seeing young men from similar backgrounds as his escape their current lives and embrace the full life Jesus offers.

Narbu's is just one of a number of stories like this. Jesus offers good news--not just eternal security, but an invitation to have full life today, and to participate in bringing full life to those around us. When we talk about making disciples, our aim is not to clean people up morally, or to teach a Bible class. Rather, it is to display a daily walk with Jesus that affects every area of our lives and calls others to walk with us, like Paul described in 1 Corinthians when he wrote, "Follow me, as I follow Christ."

I dream of the day when the Mission Adelante community is accused of "turning the world upside down" like Jesus' followers in Acts 17:6 (ESV).  Care to join us?

Prayer needs:

• Please pray for Mon Maya Rai, the matriarch of one of our Bhutanese house churches, as she continues to struggle with health problems, and for the community surrounding her.

Current needs:

• Bhutanese LIT is currently in need of 3 Thursday mentors to serve from 4:00-6:15 on Thursday afternoons.  If you are interested in joining our team, please contact Kristen Maxwell at Kristenm@missionadelante.org.

Important dates:

Get-acquainted Days: Tuesdays, October 14 & 21 (Bhutanese)/Thursdays, October 16 & 23, 6:30-8:30  Have you wondered what all goes on around here on a typical evening of programming?  Here's your opportunity to come and see for yourself!  Come on up to 22 S. 18th Street, Kansas City, KS 66102.

Becoming Found Together

By Drew Hammond, Bhutanese Ministry Logistics Coordinator

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their possessions and property and were sharing with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

Acts 2:42-47 is a great passage. It is one of the first accounts of people gathering together after Jesus was resurrected and ascended to be with the Father.  It’s passages like these that gives inspiration for our vision at Mission Adelante. “We envision a growing multicultural community of disciples making disciples, where immigrants and others are thriving and using our gifts together to transform our neighborhood and the world for the glory of Jesus Christ.” That statement can be played out in a number of ways, through our various programs. For the Bhutanese Teens Ministry, it looks like what happened last night with the launch of our new trimester.

We gathered in the home of one of our staff members with a team of volunteers and invited a group of 6 Bhutanese students to come and meet with us. These students all come from a Hindu or Buddhist background, and are people with whom we have been sharing life. They have all voiced interest in learning more about Jesus and how to follow Him as Lord. In response to their persistent interest, we gathered them together to mimic what we see in Acts 2:42-47, and to become a spiritual family, devoting ourselves to Jesus.

To start off, we spent some time getting to know each other and shedding tears brought on by the spicy Nepali snack we were enjoying. We moved into a time of worship, singing in both Nepali and English.  The teaching time was focused on two passages: Genesis 3:9 and Acts 2:42-47. The focus of Genesis 3:9 was to draw out what it means for us as individuals to be people who choose to be found by God, through the work of Jesus, as He calls for all of us. Then we brought it together by reading Acts as our statement of how we do that together, become a spiritual family. We ended by sharing prayer needs and praises and by praying for those things, some in Nepali and some in English.

Even on our first time bringing this group of people together, we had a sense of awe. Will you pray with us? Pray that many signs and wonders would take place in our lives. Pray for vision and clarity around who needs to be added to this group of people. And especially pray that we would increasingly become of one mind as we worship Jesus as Lord, and learn what it means to follow Him together.

In other news:

• Both our Latino Leaders in Training (LIT) program and our Bhutanese Leaders in Training (LIT) program launched this week, with 12 and 18 students, respectively! They're energetic and ready for a new year of learning and growing together. We are super excited to spend this school year pouring into these kids and their families.
• The Bhutanese outreach had a great trimester launch on Tuesday night!  Many kids and English students were present, and it went smoothly. The Latino outreach launches tonight. Please pray for the ways God wants to work during this new trimester.
• Five community members shared their stories at our volunteer training on Saturday.  Our immigrant community has taken more ownership in training incoming volunteers in the last year.
• Gary Pauley has officially begun working part-time at Mission Adelante overseeing our Latino ESL program as he continues to raise funds to come on full time as our Latino Ministries Director.  We’re excited to have Gary on board!
• Some of our staff members, volunteers, and participants were able to enjoy interesting experiences last week! Twenty five students and volunteers from Bhutanese English class went to a Royals game together. It was a first for many of them, and a great way to connect relationally outside of class. Additionally, a group of 15 Bhutanese teens and volunteers went to see The Blue Man Group at Starlight Theater. They had a lot of fun dancing and laughing!

Prayer needs:

• Please pray for the recovery of several staff members who are ill with the respiratory virus that is going around.
• Please pray for new students and volunteers to make significant relational connections over the next few weeks.
• Please pray for the last steps in our lease negotiations for a site for Adelante Thrift.  
• Please pray for our our High School students that are beginning their Senior year. Senior year is a crucial and busy time for students and many of them have expressed feeling overwhelmed already with homework and preparations for graduation and beyond.

Current needs:

• Bhutanese LIT still needs----- mentors to help with homework and enrichment activities on THURSDAY afternoons from 4:00-6:30.  Please contact Kristen Maxwell if you are interested in helping out at kristenm@missionadelante.org.

Important Dates:

• September 24: No Latino LIT

Connecting to Culture

By Jenny Dunn, Bhutanese ESL Coordinator

A couple Saturdays ago, the Bhutanese volunteers and team had a chance to celebrate our students and the end of yet another trimester of classes. The summer parties are always a special time; they're our most low key parties but are always filled with lots of American culture with the picnic and lawn games as well as Bhutanese-Nepali culture with lots of singing and dancing.

This summer, we had an opportunity to have two outstanding Bhutanese interns, one of who is an excellent dancer. He teamed up with one of our volunteers and choreographed a Hindi dance for a group of us Americans to perform at the party.  We started practicing a month and a half in advance; we wanted the first American dance to be unforgettable. And it was!  It was fun and unforgettable for the dancers as well as for our friends in the audience.

Here are a couple pictures from the "historical party," as said by one of our Bhutanese friends.

In other news:

• We’re negotiating the lease for Adelante Thrift and starting to pull together the team to help launch sustainable community development in our community. Interested in serving on our Adelante Thrift Action Team? Join us at the next Volunteer Orientation and Training on September 13 (see below for details) or email Matt at mattt@missionadelante.org.
• We are having an amazing time with our Cuban family! Five members of the RAICES ("Roots") ministry team are visiting for about two weeks. We have had a lot of great relational time as well as intentional ministry time.  The RAICES team will join the Latino community on our retreat this weekend, where we will be learning about praising God in a variety of contexts.

Prayer needs:

• Pray for our fall trimester planning process. Pray for volunteers, students and kids to be drawn to our programs. Pray that hearts are soft and ready to respond to God’s leading.

Current needs:

• Volunteers for our Fall Trimester, beginning the week of September 15:
• Monday-Thursday afternoons: 20 volunteers to serve one afternoon a week at Leaders In Training, our after-school tutoring and character development program for a select group of 8-13 year old Bhutanese and Latino students.  Contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org or Megan McDermott at meganm@missionadelante.org.
• Tuesday evenings: 8 volunteers to serve at Kids Club, our outreach Bible study for 1-13 year old Bhutanese kids.  Contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org.
• Thursday evenings:
• Volunteer conversation partners for our Adult ESL classes.  Contact Morgan Ham at morganh@missionadelante.org.
• 5 volunteers to serve at Kids Adelante, our outreach Bible study for 5-12 year old Latino kids.  Contact Megan McDermott at meganm@missionadelante.org.

• We are making progress on the house rehab and Christ Community Church has been partnering with us every step of the way.  They are organizing work days this Saturday, August 30 and next Saturday, September 6th starting at 9:00.  We will be installing siding, caulking windows, repairing the porch, and painting.  Email Sarah at sarahw@missionadelante.org for more information or to sign up to help.
• LIT has been gifted tablets to use with LIT this school year.  We are in need of cases to protect the tablets.  If you would like to donate one, check out our Wishlist: LIT Wishlist.  If you have questions please contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org or Megan McDermott at meganm@Missionadelante.org.

Important dates:

• Volunteer Orientation & Training: Saturday, September 13, 9:00-12:30 All volunteers should attend this training once at the beginning of serving with Mission Adelante. It's also a great way for someone to become familiar with Mission Adelante's ministry. If you or someone you know is interested in finding out more about what we do, and about our volunteer opportunities, please plan to attend/encourage him or her to plan on attending this informative training, and to contact Morgan at morganh@missionadelante.org for all the details.
• All Volunteer Huddle & Dessert: Monday, September 15, 6:30 p.m. We encourage everyone that will be volunteering with us during our fall trimester to attend so we can prepare for a great launch. 
• Fall trimester programs launch: Week of September 15

From Barbie Dolls to High Heels: A Coming-of-Age Celebration!

By Megan McDermott, Latino Children's Ministry Director

One of the best parts of sharing life with the community of Mission Adelante is that we are privileged to be invited into milestone celebrations. We love embracing the uniqueness of the different cultures that we serve and celebrating that culture right alongside our friends!  

Within the Latino culture, one of the most important days in the life of a young Latina woman is when she turns fifteen years old.  This milestone, also known as the Quinceanera, occurs when a young girl is presented to her community as a young woman. Before the eyes of friends and family, she receives her last doll, dances a special waltz with her father, and exchanges flat shoes for a "grown up" pair of high heels.  All of this symbolizes the transformation and celebration of  a little girl becoming a woman.  I was blessed to be invited to the quinceanera of a young woman that I have known for many years.


I met Gissel seven years ago when I began serving at Mission Adelante.  At the time she was eight years old and had this very sweet spark of innocence in her.  She has always had a very special place in my heart because of her inherent goodness, compassion for others, and her tenacious spirit.  As she has matured, she has grown up participating in our outreach Bible study, our after-school tutoring program, our teens program, and recently gained admittance to Bishop Ward, one of the best hig schools in Kansas City!  God has blessed us with the opportunity to walk with her and her entire family.  


We have seen the importance of planting the seeds of Christ early in the life of a child and how, when tended over the years, those seeds can grow into strong saplings.  Watching Gissel walk up to the altar with her parents on the day of the quinceanera was a strong reminder to me of God's goodness and faithfulness. Investing in the children of our community requires time, patience, and faith that God is in control.  As I looked at this beautiful young woman, remembering her when she was so young, I found myself praising God for how He has lovingly guided her over the years.  I am excited to see where He will lead her!



In other news:

• We relaunched one of our Latino House churches this weekend.  It was exciting to see some members reconnect who had been absent for a long time.
• We are excited to welcome our Cuban family, Raices ("Roots"), as they arrive in Kansas City for ten days.  We are looking forward to fellowship, laughter, fun, and the Lord to continue uniting our ministries to spread the Gospel.

Prayer needs:

• The RAICES team from Cuba will be in Kansas City for 2 weeks!  Please pray that their visit will be fruitful, that there would be mutual learning between our community and theirs.
• Please pray for Adelante Thrift while we work through the lease for our location.
• Continue to pray for members of our community looking for work. Pray for good pay and healthy work environments.
• Please pray for the health of one of our dear friends in the Bhutanese Community, Mon Maya, as she has been sick for several months.
• The family members of one of our Cuban community members just received visas to join him in Kansas City after a four year wait. Please pray for the Lord to guide them through all that immigration to the US entails, and to provide for their needs as they settle here.

Current needs:

• Volunteers for our Fall Trimester, beginning the week of September 15:
• Monday-Thursday afternoons: 20 volunteers to serve one afternoon a week at Leaders In Training, our after-school tutoring and character development program for a select group of 8-13 year old Bhutanese and Latino students.  Contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org or Megan McDermott at meganm@missionadelante.org.
• Tuesday evenings: 8 volunteers to serve at Kids Club, our outreach Bible study for 1-13 year old Bhutanese kids.  Contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org.
• Thursday evenings:
• Volunteer conversation partners for our Adult ESL classes.  Contact Morgan Ham at morganh@missionadelante.org.
• 5 volunteers to serve at Kids Adelante, our outreach Bible study for 5-12 year old Latino kids.  Contact Megan McDermott at meganm@missionadelante.org.
• LIT has been gifted tablets to use with LIT this school year.  We are in need of cases to protect the tablets.  If you would like to donate one, check out our Wishlist:  LIT Wishlist  If you have questions please contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org or Megan McDermott at meganm@Missionadelante.org
• The RG Asian store is expanding their store to include a restaurant. They are currently in need of a few small tables and chairs.  Please contact David Stetler at davids@missionadelante.org.  
• We are making steady progress on the house rehab, and will soon need appliances.  Please contact Sarah at sarahw@missionadelante.org if you are able to donate an electric range/oven, washer, electric dryer, or dishwasher.
• We want to re-open our resource center well-stocked with food baskets.  Check out this link  http://www.missionadelante.org/serviceprojects/  or contact Molly Merrick at mollym@missionadelante.org for more information about how to get involved.

Important dates:

• Volunteer Orientation & Training: Saturday, September 13, 9:00-12:30 All volunteers should attend this training once at the beginning of serving with Mission Adelante. It's also a great way for someone to become familiar with Mission Adelante's ministry. If you or someone you know is interested in finding out more about what we do, and about our volunteer opportunities, please plan to attend/encourage him or her to plan on attending this informative training, and to contact Morgan at morganh@missionadelante.org for all the details.
• All Volunteer Huddle & Dessert: Monday, September 15, 6:30 p.m. We encourage everyone that will be volunteering with us during our fall trimester to attend so we can prepare for a great launch. 
• Fall trimester programs launch: Week of September 15