Missions Trip Update - November 1

THANK YOU AGAIN!


All the parents and students who came on Saturday! The drama practice went very well - thank you Mrs. Mitchell!

This was also the BEST turnout of students who are not going on the missions trip who came to help us - EXCELLENT!

This morning, I gave each of the students (that are going on the trip) an updated financial sheet with your current total amount due. I have added in any money that you have turned in, car wash money, and the Abundant Funds fundraiser money. Parents can turn in money gradually or all at the due dates.

The next due date is to have $600 in your account by February 1st.

All money is due by March 11th ($1050).

THANK YOU!

Missions Team Car Wash

Thanks to all of you for a great turnout to support the 8th missions team today! We thank the Lord for awesome weather,a great team, and $857 raised!


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Saturday's Car Wash

Reminders for Saturday - Meet in Mrs. Mitchell's room Saturday at 8:30 am

Car wash and drama practice/8:30-3:30
9:00-12:30 car wash shift /afternoon drama

Josiah Vega
Tommy Dean
Zach Liebetreu
Amy Romstadt
Rachel McLaughlin
China Haisley
Robin Mitchell
Janine O’Reilly
Julia Perret-Gentil

Parents:
Dillon
Pomanate

Bergmann
Barfield
Dean
Perry
Fenelus
McNabb

12:30-3:30 car wash shift/ morning drama

Arianna Bergman
Dexter Cheal
Jared Horowitz
Andrew Ryan
Mallory Dillon
Celine Gulbronson
Olivia Jones
Haley Morig
Rebecca VanDenstorm
Markie MacDonald
 
Parents:
Vega

Yorty
Romstadt
Horowitz
McLaughlin

Special Guests in 8th grade

This morning, the Rivera family (our missionary contacts for the 8th grade missions trip), are here at FMCS talking with our team that will be going March 30- April 5. The Riveras will also be at the auction/banquet tomorrow night.


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Edwin Rivera and Family

The Rivera Family, our missions partners for the 8th grade trip, will be here this week! This will be a real blessing for our students that no other team has had the chance to experience.

Edwin will be speaking to the 8th graders Thursday at 9:00

The Rivera family will be with us for the Banquet/Auction Friday night - make sure you have your tickets!

New Calendar Dates

TO ALL PARENTS WHOSE STUDENTS ARE GOING ON THE MISSIONS TRIP:


Please mark on your calendar NEW dates that are IMPORTANT:

March 5th and 6th the team will be highlighted and prayed for at the service at First Assembly of God

March 5th at 7:00 pm

March 6th at 9:30 am and 11:00 am

More details later - please reserve the date on your calendars! Thanks

The First Roster For Our 20th Anniversary Team for 2011

This is our roster as of October 3rd, for the 8th grade missions trip:

Ariana Bergmann
Dexter Cheal
Thomas Dean
Mallory Dillon
Celine Gulbronson
China Haisley
Jared Horowitz
Olivia Jones
Zach Liebetreu
Rachel McLaughlin
Robin Mitchell
Haley Morig
Janine O'Reilly
Julie Perret-Gentil
Amy Romstadt
Andrew Ryan
Rebecca VanDenstorm
Josiah Vega

Alumni High School:
Maria Swiersz
Adults:
Mel Mitchell
Lee Mitchell
Pastor Brandon Strickler
Paula Dillon
Dusty Zarick
Dana Barfield
Joe Romstadt
Barbara Dukes
Josh Vega
Dorothy Yorty

Anyone else who plans on going, please get your deposit and application turned into the middle school office.

Thank you

Deadline Tomorrow

8th grade parents:


MISSIONS TRIP UPDATE - Friday is the day! Application(s) and $50 non-refundable deposit(s) - bring to the office tomorrow.

For those of you that may need it - here are some words of wisdom from one of last year's team members, a parent who has been on the trip, and a parent who sent their student after being new to our school for just one year:

'I was not planning on going on the trip, but God made a way for it to happen. That the students that are going on the trip will be set outside their comfort zone and see how God can work through the lives of the people. That the whole class will grow as a family and team, and they will see parts of the world they are lucky not to be in and makes you thankful for what you have in life. And one of the most important thing about going on the trip is that it prepares you for HS and that your relationship with God streghthens through the whole experience. Thank youuu!' - Julie Wagner

'As a parent who has gone twice now with my children on the FMCS Missions Trip--once to Mexico and last year to Texas, I would urge no parent to even begin to hesitate to send their child on this life-changing, incredible trip! Your children will be safe and well cared for by the missions team sponsors. They will be challenged and grow by leaps and bounds in their commitment to God. They will work hard and see how blessed they are for everything they have. And, they will have so much fun and create memories that will last a lifetime, continuing to propel them forward in life and in their walk with God. If finances are an issue in any way, I'd say to still put down the deposit and pray and ask God to supply the need for your child to go. Last year, it didn't make 'sense' financially for us to go, but God made a way, and I can't even imagine having had my son--or for that matter, myself--miss the trip. I've seen this trip make an eternal difference in the lives of our kids and every kid who went, as well as to the people we have ministered to. This missions trip is such a powerful and positive experience. No kid should ever miss it!' - Lisa Sadler

'It is worth every penny, a life changing experience. I was a little concerned with Logan being a new student at FMCS but with your constant FB updates, I really never worried about Logan at all. Just wish he could go again this year. Give my phone number to anyone who is thinking of not going' - Ellen Samuelson

Missions Trip Roster

It may help some parents to know, some of the adults already signed-up to go on the trip:

- Mel Mitchell
- Lee Mitchell
- Paula Dillon
- Dorothy Yorty
- Pastor Brandon Strickler
- Edwin Rivera (missionary)
- Shelly Rivera (missionary)

...hope to see more names coming

The First Meeting

Ok, we have met last night at Open House with parents and I met with the entire 8th grade this morning! All the packets have been passed out.

BY NEXT FRIDAY: We need your $50 non-refundable deposit and completed application (SAME FOR ADULTS THAT ARE GOING. The forms have to be notarized, and Mrs. Dillon can do that in the office when you come in.

Great things are already happening - stay tuned to this blog!

2011 Trip First Meeting

Have you started praying yet? The first meeting of the 2011 8th grade missions team is at Open House, Thursday night, August 19th.

After last year's trip, I am really excited about this year's trip from March 30th to April 5th - I'll be prinicpal and parent this time!

Come to the meeting to pick-up information and ask questions - your life and your student's will never be the same!

Prayer Request

Dear Friends,
Hello there, we are sending out this email to specifically ask for your prayers concerning the different situations here in Mexico. As you all know, the violence in Mexico has been escalating and now here in Samachique where we live; it is hitting very close to home. The drug cartels are totally out of control and are literally at war with each other as well as with the government authorities. In the past few weeks there have been killings within a 10 mile distance of us, and many of the villages that our hospital works in, are now too unsafe to travel to. There have been pick-up trucks with heavily armed men going in and out of Samachique on their way to the other villages and they know that they can do whatever they want. One missionary has reported that there are killings everyday out in the village where he is stationed, but he cannot leave for fear of traveling on the roads to bring him back to the main road where we are at. We know that a few days ago there were 13 people killed in this drug war- and that is just here in our region. This is grievous to us, as many of the people in these villages have been our patients here at the hospital and the birth center in times past. Unfortunately, they have not learned that growing drugs is NOT worth it. This year marijuana crop did not do well in certain parts of the canyon, and so now the Tarahumaras are starting to grow cocaine and opium instead. This is very frustrating to us.
There are no military soldiers out here and the news is not reporting any of these things. In the big cities there continues to be many people killed every day. Right now, there are more people dying on a daily basis in the drug war here in Mexico than in Afghanistan. The cartels are very powerful- even better armed than the Mexican army, and they are threatening and have even killed some of the candidates that are running for different offices here in Mexico. This system here is very politically corrupt.
Will you please remember to pray specifically for this situation here? We do not feel any direct fear of being targeted by the cartels, but there is the travel situation- especially for Edwin as he needs to use the roads to transport patients from our hospital to bigger city hospitals. Also, the concern has been raised that Americans would be a very easy target to be kidnapped by the cartels for ransom. The hospital also has to treat the drug traffickers when they come into the hospital wounded, and that makes for a scary situation at the hospital- especially if/when the other cartel members come by, looking for them. The villages that we have been going to are no longer safe to travel out to. National missionaries that have been here for more than 20 years are saying that it has never been this bad and things are going to get a lot worse.
We know that the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will. We just want to make sure that we remain in the center of His will. We greatly appreciate your prayers. We value you and your friendship and thus would appreciate any words of wisdom, encouragement, or your thoughts about this. We normally do not mind our newsletters, emails, communication being shared with other people, however, at this time we’d ask you not to do so. We value your input and spiritual covering and support.
Love in Christ,
Edwin and Shelley



--
Thank you for your love, your friendship, your prayers and support.
May God continue to lead you and bless you in all you do!

All our love,

Edwin, Shelley, Joy, Abby & Evelyn Rivera.
www.riveraministries.org
www.mexicomedical.org

A Great Ending

Tonight the 8th grade missions team ministered to family and friends. The night gave an opportunity for the team to do all their clown skits and dramas for the "home crowd." We had a great evening of ministry and we give God thanks for a great missions team this year!





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See You Friday Night!

Ministry Night is Friday Night, April 30th at 7:30 pm in the middle school cafteria! See you there!

Letter from the Mayor of Corpus Christi, Tx

Letter from Police Chief in Corpus Christi

FMCS very proud of their missions team and so is the police chief of Corpus Christi, Texas:

Classroom Visits

As any good missionary should do, today the 8th graders returned to their sponsoring elementary classroom and shared the results of their trip!











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Second Grade Lemonade Stand

Thanks to all of you that purchased lemonade to help support Boys and Girls Missionary Crusade! Total coming next week.



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Thanks from the South Texas Children's Home

Missions Team Leads Elementary Chapel

Today the 8th graders took over elementary chapel - clowns, clown skits, video of the trip, pictures and testimonies from Karina Rivera, Jacob Edwards, Carlye Fulton and Brett Billman! Yesterday they had a chance to talk with their peers in middle school chapel about the trip and prayed for the 7th graders - NEXT YEAR'S TEAM! Great job everyone!

One more time - Friday, April 30th at 7:30 pm.

Special Support to Our Missions Trip

Monday, The missions team was visited by Mayor Joe Adame:

and police cheif, Troy Riggs.

MIssions Team On The News in Corpus

http://www.kristv.com/news/teen-missionaries-visit-corpus-christi/

Go to the website and watch the video from KRIS-TV!

The Eagles Have Landed

Praise the Lord, a little late, but all back and safe! Stay tuned for MORE pictures and information on Parent Night! Thank you


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Team Safe in Houston

Almost home!


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Ready To Come Home

The FMCS team is ready to leave Corpus Christi and on it's way to Houston. God has been very good to us here.


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Busy Day!

Finally, right now we are worshipping with the "body of Christ" (Corpus Christi) at Mission 911. We helped feed people of the streets and now we are enjoying worship together.








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USS LEXINGTON!

The USS Lexington is retired and docked in downtown Corpus. Students watched an Imax movie on board, visited the deck and tower, and took a self-guided tour of the rest of the ship.








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Tour of the Ranch

We had a chance this morning to go around the ranch and see all the deers - MANY KINDS! We also were excited watch a four foot rattle snake get shot - you'll hear much more about it later from your kids!








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FMCS Missionaries Make Local News

Check out the CBS affiliate: http://www.kristv.com/news/teen-missionaries-visit-corpus-christi/



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Free Time!

After a great week of ministry, the kids enjoy free time at the pool of our hosts, The Hearn Family.





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More Pictures From The Rec Center

Team starts painting




A word of thanks from the mayor of Corpus Christi





Channel 10 - one of three news teams on the scene


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WOW - Let Your Light Shine

We worked with Mission 911 today and helped them by painting a rec center they use for a boxing outreach. In the past, Evander Holyfield and Oscar De La Hoya have visited. They were very thankful that we painted the entire outside. We were interviewed by three local stations, and met the mayor and chief of police! Check the local TV websites in Corpus for us


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Missions Team will be on the Local News!

Channel 3 and 10 here in Corpus are here interviewing us for their news tonight! More details coming! The team is painting a rec center that is used for boxing ministry


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Sunday Night

Sunday night we were asked to minister to the Awana group at the Summit Church. We were able to do our clown and puppet ministry, as well as passing out balloon animals, Book of John coloring books and salvation bracelets. Josh Matthews and Julie Wagner gave their testimonies.

Meanwhile back at the ranch later...Marissa Petrullo was taken to the hospital. She turned her ankle and may have torn ligaments. She is in good spirits and is on crutches with a boot. Pray for her to make it around the next few days.











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More Pictures From Summit Church Spanish

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Easter Sunday Presentation

This morning we have been honored to present our drama "Were You There" at the Spanish church service at The Summit Church in Corpus Christi. We were thankful for the opportunity to minister in front of over 150 people this morning.





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Worship At The Bonfire

One of our daily highlights - every night praise, worship and prayer by the bonfire




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Home on the Range

Just some of the MANY animals on the Jubalee Ranch





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Saturday Off Of MLK

Thank you for your prayers:
- the weather was sunny, about 80 degrees
- we had about 50-60 friendly people who could not believe that people from Ft. Myers, Florida would come and care about them
- we prayed with all the kids and parents
- they were fed free buggers, hot dogs, drinks and chips
- we had ministry items: salvation brackets and tracts; also candy and ballloon animals
- many thanks to Pastor James, Jennifer and the volunteers from Summit Church

The students are doing great! Time fior them to go back and cool off in the lake.











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