Over the years, God has blessed us and led us to so many different places to GO and help others and/or grow faith. Every single trip was radically different from all the others...but every single trip changed us forever...mostly in good ways! And students grew and gave and gave and grew. Here's the list:
--We traveled to Tijuana, Mexico to build churches and houses in 2004 and 2006...
--We climbed some serious mountains in Colorado in 2005 and 2010...
--We did Hurricane Katrina-reconstruction work in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi in 2007...
--We did inner-city work with the homeless and needy in Denver in 2008...
--We did Hurricane Ike-reconstruction work in Galveston in 2009...
--We got rocked (in a good way) by 175 kids while doing a VBS in Miami, Florida in 2011...
It's 2012. We're excited about this summer. Once again, we're following the tragedy in order to bring help, hope, and healing to an area that desperately needs it.
On May 22, 2011,
an F5 tornado hit Joplin, Missouri, and killed 160 people, injured over 1000,
and caused terrible devastation.
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Everything listed below applies to last year's Miami Trip.
Everything will change for our 2012 trip.
Check back soon for updates.
Be praying.
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Cost: $600 plus some travel money
Transportation: 47-passenger Bus
Type of Work: There are four areas of growth targeted for this week:
Spiritual Growth/Service--VBS for area kids.
Physical--Various labor opportunities during the week.
Personal Devel--Leadership development in the evenings.
Relational--Day at the Beach
Why Are We Going: To bless Haitians living in the area & to expand our comfort zones.
Latest Updates:
6/9--Added "To-Bring" List!
5/20--Updated meeting dates.
5/15--Uploaded editable example support letter (doc file).
5/2--Moved 5/8 meeting to 5/15. Not even I'm crazy enough to try and have a meeting on Mother's Day!
4/19--Payment dates and Prep Meeting dates posted. Support letter example also posted.
4/8--Found out today we will be helping put on a VBS (Vacation Bible School) during the week we are there. We'll also be doing other physical labor. For more info, check out the FAQ at the bottom of this page.
3/23--Fundraisers--Get ready. We encourage every student to send out letters asking for support. And we've scheduled the other two fundraiser events we will do.
"Marathon for Missions" will happen on Saturday, June 11.
Applebee's All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast will happen on July 9.
More information about each of these events will be coming soon.
3/21--We are now taking a 47-passenger bus to Miami instead of 4 12-passenger vans! This way, we can drive straight through, we have the toilet with us, and we can all experience the same shared experience. This will not add to the individual total cost of the mission trip.
Background Info:
Want to Go?:
1. Pray continuously.
2. Talk to your parents…get their input.
3. Pray some more.
4. Mark your calendar—keep July 14-21 totally free.
5. Complete the following forms (download forms above):
MissionMiami Student Application Form
--Make sure it's signed by both student and parent/guardian.
--Application must be accompanied by $100 deposit.
--When complete, place app/deposit in the MissionMiami Box located
in the HighPoint Lobby.
--Adult Leaders-complete the Mission Miami Leader Application Form.
HPY Consent & Agreement Form
HPY Discipline Agreement
PPM Indemnity Form
6. Place all forms in the HPY Registration Box in the HighPoint Lobby.
7. Customize the Miami Example Support Letter and send it to friends and family.
8. Keep up with the payment schedule and make sure to be at every prep meeting.
9. Keep praying and hang on. Check this site often for the latest information.
Miami Prep Meeting Dates:
May 15--(3:00-4:30pm)--HighPoint Youth Room
May 22--(1:15-2:45pm)--4th/5th Grade Room
June 5--(1:15-2:45pm)--Worship Center
June 12--(1:15-2:45pm)--Worship Center
June 15--(6:00-7:30pm)--Worship Center (VBS Lesson/Craft Prep)
Payment Dates:
Miami Application--$100 deposit due with application.
May 1--$150 payment (total due $250)
May 15--$150 payment (total due $400)
June 5--$150 payment (total due $550)
June 12--$100 payment (total due $650. This includes money needed for the road.)
MISSION MIAMI FAQ:
Who Can Go?: High School Students. This includes Seniors that are graduating this year and current 8th-graders that will be moving into HS in the Fall of 2011.
What Does It Cost?: $600 + extra money for the road + 10 days of your summer. This cost covers all food, lodging, transportation, tshirt, hotel stays, and registration with sponsoring organization.
Where Will We Be Staying?: Our sponsoring organization is Praying Pelican Missions. They have made arrangements for us to stay at the church building where we will be working all week (see below). They only have 2 showers, so we'll be on a schedule!
What are the Sleeping Arrangements?: We will be sleeping on floors. This means everyone needs to bring a mat or air mattress as well as a sleeping bag/pillow. ONLY SMALL CAMP-PILLOWS PLEASE! Students and Leaders will be split into separate rooms by gender.
What Church Will We Be Working With?: Highway Memorial Baptist Church in NorthEast Miami. Click here to visit the website. It's a church of about 400 people (mostly Haitians). They put on a Vacation Bible School every week for 6 weeks during the summer--targeting a different community each week. We will be heavily-involved with this during the week we are there.
Regardless of your decision about this trip, thanks for being a Jesus-follower!
