VANCOUVER- Final Pics

The group praying for each other after the foot washing.

Nate and Tom washing K.C's feet and praying over him.

Nikki during worship

Real men hug.

Voodoo Donuts in Portland

The group couldn't resist getting into the fountain in Portland

A couple of pics to prove we are alive!!

This could be a postcard taken by Dr. Slack

Ahhh

Sean and Connor being Sean and Connor

One section of a HUGE WALL OF GUM in Seattle

T

The Group0

They worked hard on this one at Spanish Banks Beach

So, my day was full of cutting banana's and peeling potatoes with a cool contraption. Also, I hate throw up and one of the groups are throwing up left and right:( 

-Leah

Now that is it the last day of our four days in Vancouver, I have had a chance to look back on this week to see what has happened. The fist day was fun (water park!) but I got ditched. The next two days I felt rejected and as a group that was just there. the last day we really bonded with Camp Peace people and had a great time. I'm just mad it was the last day! Overall it has been a great week.

Paige  

vancity

4th day in VANcouver and we went to this wicked suspension bridge and michael freaked out...it was epic. Everything is so beautiful and downtown vancouver is amazing as well. tonight is the last night here and we leave tomorrow for oregon. Awesome so far

/sean sleppy

Van City 8

Today is our last full day of work at our sites. Our group is a wee bit tired but they continue to press on. I've been impressed with some of the conversations we have had in our family time. Last night we looked at POWER, the abuse of it and the POWER that God gives us. It was neat for the students to realize that they have certain powers that they can abuse or that they can use for the glory of God. They realized that what comes out of their mouths can bless or curse somebody, which is POWERFUL. One commented that being an older sibling was a position of power that can be abused or used to His glory as well. 

While some of our work has been different than we originally thought, our students have been challenged on many fronts and I'm proud of them.

Blessings

nate

One of my favorite things about our time so far has been working with the Union Gospel Mission staff. They are incredible people- so passionate about the work they are doing, so full of life and fun, and so encouraging of our efforts. I think a big part of my team's efforts this week is supporting and encouraging the staff. It is so thrilling to be able to pray for them as well as the children from the East Hastings neighborhood. We took them to the beach today (rough, I know) and as I looked out over the water towards the skyline of the city, the words of the worship song "God of this City" were rushing through my head. the lyrics: You're the God of this City 
You're the King of these people 
You're the Lord of this nation 
You are 

[Verse 2]
You're the Light in this darkness 
You're the Hope to the hopeless 
You're the Peace to the restless 
You are 

There is no one like our God 
There is no one like our God 

[Chorus]
For greater things have yet to come 
And greater things are still to be done in this City 
Greater thing have yet to come 
And greater things are still to be done in this City 

Praise God!

Katie Dayton

I have really enjoyed my week so far in Vancouver. The people I have met and the places I have seen are so beautiful! Before I arrived, I really had no idea what to expect. The group I am in is ministering to a local church and helping with their camp for kids. On the first day I was assigned to the kitchen to make snacks and meals. At first I didn't really see the significance in this. I had this notion in my mind that serving God is all about the "big things," like working with the homeless. But over the past few days, I have come to realize that as long as you are serving God it doesn't matter what exactly you are doing. God is in all things, big and small.  

Julia Morin 

12th Grade

Evangelical Christian Academy

Dear curtis and kris / Dad and Mom

 I am having a great time here and it is a great experience for me.  I really like working with kids they are so cool.  I would really love to do this again next year.  and I know that i am getting closer to god also.  This is a great city but it is also a little messed up and its fun to try and fix it.  And i learned how to be a good husband by this one girl named moly.  Sorry dad i havent read yet and i cant read in cars so sorry bout that.

P.S.  I LOVE YOU TWO SO SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,   

Davis Olson     <3

Van City 7

Hey Dad, Paul,

Im working at a kids camp thingy at a church. Im having fun we are taking some cool field trips, and the kids are great. Vancouver is AWESOME. Its beautiful we went to the beach and saw an awesome skyline of the city. All the states we have been in are cool. This trip is so fun. ill see you when i get home. 

Love You,

Michael Fertig

Van City 6

Nate here.

Our team is doing really well. Their attitudes are great and they continue to gel as a family. We actually have "family time" each night as a group to process the events of the day and highlight ways in which God is stretching us and how He shows up in the little things during the day.

None of the students at this site have been able to call home yet and we probably won't until thursday as we head back. We might be able to get a  calling card and try to find a pay phone if possible. I promise you every one of the chillins is doing well! 

blessings

nate

7-21-09

so, i am part of the Nonaimo group, where we are helping at this church just off of hastings and nonaimo, just blocks from where we were last year. at the church we are surrounded by small kids from the city, most of which come from single parent families. these kids are simply awesome! i'm having lots of fun. we've also been sure to help out around the building to serve not only the kids, but the awesome staff that mostly volunteers their time to hang out with these kids; we've madelots of food and cleaned up lots around, played music, sanded tables and lots more. i cant wait for the next couple of days

Peter Hyde, junior, Doherty

Hey everybody! This mission trip has been a blast, but it has been hard work. We took the little campers to a water park! Tough, right? Those water slides can be a real challenge... Anyway, thank God that we're all safe and please pray for our further safety. 

David F. 

hello to everyone from Vancouver! we are having a great time here and are doing a lot for the city including going to a water park (the sacrifices that we make!) Anyways, we are having an awesome time here and don't worry about us we are FINE! RENFREW CREW ROCKS!!!!!

Love,

Paige

Van City 5

It's day two in vancouver and i'm loving every minute of it. 

This experience is helping me grow mentally and spritually in God.

I'm missing everybody.

Laters

 Kc Ward 9th grade palmer 

Van City 4

Today was our first day of ministry in Vancouver. We were split into groups and sent off to different ministries within the city. My group(broadway group) was sent to serve in the east side of Vancouver. We will start to take a group of children on field trips over the next few days. tomorrow we will take them to a water park. We didn't meet the kids today so we helped sort clothes in a thrift shop. 

     Im having a great time so far and I have made many new friendships with FPC kids and the kids from other churches. 

     Connor Jacobs 

Hey, its Felicia and Leah. We made a bunch of sandwiches today around 500 sandwiches at the first place. Than we headed over to the Salvation Army and made some more sandwiches, cut some cabbage and squeezed frozen ham. We were also told that there was a cool guy that made smoothies and so we asked around. The real smoothie maker wasn't there but a sweet young man made us a banana, nut, strawberry and raspberry smoothie. (yessss mama i ate fruit- leah) Nikki just stated that she misses her mom! All in all today has been very good. We are getting ready to eat some din din and then heading over to the beach.

Love Felicia and Leah <333

Hey there,,,, from CANADA....its amazing here..the skies are blue...the trees are green and very tall....the  mountains are big and beautiful...the beaches are salty and refreshing...there isnt one place i havent seen the lord..i cant wait to show you all my pictures...I'm meeting news friends and news people....this journey just keeps going..iam getting closer to god by the hour!!! well, so long...lots of love from me and the big C.... (Canada that is)

Jamie Cross

Vancouver 3

We worshipped this morning at University Pres. Church in Seattle this morning after staying the night there last night. After church we hit Pikes Place Market and saw flying salmon, the first Starbucks, an enormous alley wall full of Gum and several incredible street performers. Crossing the border was a bit crazy. We waited in line for a long time just to be told we had to go back to the US and go to another checkpoint for buses. We ended up waiting over 2 hours, but eventually made it.

We arrived at the "warehouse" which is an Huge youth building with all kinds of goodies, AC and plenty of room. There is one group from Washington State and another from MN. All the Youthworks staff are Canadian eh? We get up super early and begin our work. Some of us will be working at a shelter, others preparing food for the homeless and most of us will be running programs for kids including sports, crafts, skits, music etc. 

Here are random comments made during family time tonight when I asked them, "Where have you seen God?"

* 3 students who haven't been active in the FPC Youth Ministry all said "I feel like I'm a part of this new family and I love it"

* Some were touched by some of the people we have seen already who are in homeless situations.

* Many saw the creative hand of God in the amazing mountain views and sunsets in Butte and coming into Seattle.

The list goes on and on.....these students have bonded quickly!!! I really am amazed.

Continue to pray for us and make comments!!!

God is Good

nate

ps. the students will blog about their thoughts later in the week.

Vancouver 2

We have made it to Butte, Montana. We arrived around 9:30pm and getting ready to go to bed here in a minute. The students were incredible today! It was a long drive but we were blessed with seeing a Bald Eagle and all kinds of wild life on top of an incredible sunset as we arrived into Butte.
Tommorrow we shower at the Ymca here and the head to Seattle.
God is Good
Nate

PS- all your kids have brushed their teeth and said their prayers and I will tuck them in!

Van City 1

It is thursday night and we are having our Pack and Pray before we leave at 6:30 am tomorrow. Our prayer is that You God would show up in every conversation, thought and experience that we have over the next 10 days. Help us to listen with your ears, to see with your eyes of compassion, to go where you would send us and to speak with Your healing words.

Our prayer is that You would continue to change the word through changing us.

God is Good,
Nate

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