Huntsville Times publishes mission trip article

This article, written by Lucia Cape, appeared in the July 22 edition of the Huntsville Times. (Click here)

May 22 mission team commissioning

“You gave

me hope.”

Noelhia said this to Latham’s 2003 Nicaragua Mission Team. Click photo for the litany used in the 2011 commissioning service.

April 3 fund raiser

Nicaragua luncheon nets $2,254 for mission trip!

Change for Chacraseca fund raiser

On March 27, the Latham congregation collected a wheelbarrow full of donations for its upcoming mission to Chacraseca.

Team selects t-shirt design

On March 27, the team chose the mission team t-shirt design modeled by (L to R) Charlie Sheen, Bruce Springsteen, and the Rev. David Thompson, Sr.

Ideas to consider for the luncheon and coin cups collection

Sunday, March 27 will be our next meeting and the coin collection during SpiritLink and the traditional service. I had an idea about how to do the collection and need your help thinking it through. My idea—start the service with the reminder that the coins will be collected at the end of the service, mention again that this money pays for house and scholarships, and have extra cups for people who left theirs at home—checks are welcome! Then during the last song (which would need to be coordinated with Chris) invite people to come to pour their coins into a wheelbarrow. We could have a series of photos scrolling as people bring their donations maybe starting with the one of Hughey hauling kids in a wheelbarrow? Then a repeat for traditional?

What do you think? What if the coins overflow the wheelbarrow? We have a medium-sized red one that we can clean up for the occasion. Then what has been done with the coins in the past? Please weigh in so we can have a plan by mid-week to share with Chris & Hughey.

We will talk a lot at our meeting about the April 3 lunch. I am rounding up classes to help with the room setup and kitchen, but we still need to decide on menu and finalize table decorations. I anticipate spending most of that Saturday on prep.

Jim is working on the t-shirt and has several designs to share this week. We'll have a chance to vote via email. We'll also discuss the bracelets again—how many to get, if they are for sale or just reminders for the home team.

Please read chapter 5 of Radical for our discussion, and let me know if you're not planning on eating.

March 6: Team status

The Nicaragua luncheon is scheduled for April 3. We will incorporate into the luncheon a recognition of our Methodist women missioners, both on the home and travel teams. This means we will need to get busy with menu planning and logistics at our meeting next Sunday (March 13).

As promised, I will have a check list of the paper work needed based on yesterday's mission leader training. I will also have the final budget estimate and date for making the second payment (NOTE -- it's not due on March 13, you will just find out the final amount and payment date).

Change for Chacraseca coin cups were distributed today as people left the services. The response was good, and we'll have extras to distribute next week between services. Thanks, Amie, for getting the volunteers (especially those good looking blond boys!).

For the March 13 meeting, please bring with you your passport or two copies of your passport for me to have on file. And read chapters 1-4 of Radical. Lunch will be available for $5 -- let me know if you don't plan to eat with us.

And finally Mark heard from Juan Pablo yesterday. He got our donation and was very grateful. Says he feels good and was working with Leslie. He's looking forward to our trip.

Mission team reading schedule

Please read the indicated chapter(s) in David Platt’s Radical prior to the team meeting:

Team meeting dates	Radical chapter
March 13	1-4
March 27	5
April 10	6
April 17	7
May 1	8