FROM THE LOCAL MISSION SCENE…

MISSION (WEEK) ACCOMPLISHED

Mission Week 2006 was a wonderful success! Thanks to the many who volunteered their time to be in service to our Galveston neighbors. YOU made the week a success!

We began strongly with over 80 volunteers on Saturday, June 3. It was a very solid week of accomplishment with some teams working daily through June 10. There were 12 projects at 8 different sites all the way from 11 th to 99 th Street. Work included painting, siding, yard work, kitchen/bath remodels, debris removal, and the replacement of stairs, porches, windows and doors. Others worked to support the sites by preparing meals, delivering meals, working with children, answering the phone and running errands.

Critical to the success of Mission Week were our site leaders. Many thanks to Connie Green, Cy Green, Bobby St. Clair, Mark Dillard, Paula Glenn, Bill Glenn, Dave Lang, Mike Nichols, Tony Olsen, Dennis Bertolino, AJ Halvorsen, Tony Contreras, Amanda Matthys, Mary Jo Urbani, Gary Seale, Larry Fly and Roy Smith. Thanks for your hard work and leadership.

Then there are those who worked to keep our hardworking teams going. Crew chiefs for meal preparation were Bob Hutchinson for breakfast, Jenifer Leonpacher for sack lunches and Barbara Rabek for Family Night. We wouldn’t have been able to accomplish much without tools – thanks to Roy Jones for providing much of our critical equipment. And finally, thanks to Ken Jencks and Elaine Olsen for digitally chronicling the many sites and faces of Mission Week.

Children were also in service to our Galveston neighbors. They participated in beach cleanup, preparing hygiene kits for The Luke Society, planting flowers and vegetables at work sites, and cooking (yes cooking!) a meal for others. Thanks to Vivian Pinard and Renee Templer for leading this energetic tribe!

And finally, thanks to Jim Davis for chairing the event. It took months of preparation and he enjoyed seeing it all come together. As he was leaving one of the completed sites, a very happy client wanted one more thing… to give him a hug! May everyone who participated in Mission Week feel the joy and appreciation in that hug.

AND THERE’S MORE!!

There is always more to be done. On the heels of a very successful Mission Week, a fresh and energetic group of seven youth from Grace Community Church from Georgetown contacted Vivian Pinard at the church to find out what projects they could help with. They spent the whole week on projects in Galveston. They finished two ongoing Mission Week projects including painting new siding and yard cleanup. At other sites, they installed lattice work around the base of a house and replaced storm door screens. With still more energy, they also assisted two local organizations, Jesse Tree and Gleanings from the Harvest with inventory, stocking and deliveries.

Thanks to Scott and Laura Milton and their fabulous group of youth from Grace Community Church for all of the work. Galveston was certainly blessed by your presence!

ALWAYS MORE TO DO…

Many residents in Galveston are still in need of help. The Missions Council, through the efforts of Vivian Pinard and Jim Davis, maintains an ongoing list of requests for help from Galveston residents. Some are completed during Mission Week. Some are beyond our expertise. Some are completed here and there by individuals. And others wait a long time. The one thing they have in common is that they all require volunteers.

If you (or a group) are interested in taking on a project, you can contact Vivian Pinard at the church. During the year, the Missions Council will also schedule a Mission Day when there is an appropriate group project. If there are enough volunteers then we can move forward with the project. This is a great opportunity to be in service to those who cannot do these things for themselves.

Mission Week Begins June 3 - June 10, 2006

Thanks to all who participated in Mission Week. It was a wonderfully successful week and much was accomplished throughout Galveston. Check out the Mission Week pictures submitted by Elaine Olsen and Ken Jencks.

Mission Week 2006 will kick off June 3! This is the largest outreach program of Moody Church with an impact on the whole Galveston community. The projects we will fulfill would otherwise be unobtainable either physically or financially by the benefactors. The Mission Week desk will be open every evening Monday through Wednesday in the atrium, please drop in and find out how you can help. Meals will be provided and delivered to all job sites. We will complete our Mission week by gathering and giving praise on Thursday evening for a Family Night Picnic.

To volunteer to help with Mission Week, contact Vivian Pinard at 409-744-4526 for more information.