MOVE08-Saturday-Middle School

Today, the last day, the final moments, what can I say? Oasis and Lifeline students are the most AMAZING people ever! Today we were at Manowe, all working together. Oasis students split into two teams, one was in charge of raking and removing leaves from one of the pastures, the other team was in charge of painting the cabins at The Summit. We pulled the team together in the Dream Center for a gourmet lunch of grilled hot dogs, chips and snacks. We had the chance to hear from Randy about the impact our teams have had at Manowe in the last year with all the work we have done. It is really good for the kids to hear the positive effects of their hard work. The remainder of our time was spent cleaning up, and putting the finishing touches on the projects we began, and having some INCREDIBLE team fellowship time. As tired as I know everyone is you would never know it by watching them work and play together today. I have so many wonderful memories from this trip that are going to make me laugh, cry and just sit back and reflect on how amazing middle school students really are. I watched each one of the kids grow and change in so many amazing ways. They are each wonderful and incredible individuals who put a major dent this week in Bringing Up There Down Here and letting Others Know They Matter.

-Tammy Lausman (MOVE08 Middle School Team Leader)

MOVE08-Friday Evening

Friday evening the MOVE08 team had a chance to go and play for a little bit! The team loaded up the busses, after some serious showers (see last posts) and headed down to Chippewa Bowling Lanes for an evening of pizza, pop and bowling!

It was amazing to walk in on the team and see them having fun, encouraging and loving on each other! Usually when you take 50 people and stick them together for a few days to work hard all day long they are ready to get away! Not this team though! It is evident that they truly care about each other! You can see it in the way that EVERYONE celebrates when someone gets a strike or a spare even if it's someone that they were "competing" with for a high score. There were special handshakes and high fives going on and even a little day early celebrating of Steph Rorie's birthday!

I am so proud of this team! They get it! They have served and loved others for the last two days! They have served and loved each other for the last two days! I think they truly are showing how much Other People Matter through their lives! It seems to me that they may have truly earned the right to wear these. You might just see the team tomorrow night at the 5:30 service at GCC. The MOVE team leaders decided again to end the trip by returning to GCC for church because we are a part of GCC, all the student ministry programs, all the mission trips and camps are proudly a part of GCC, not some seperate silo ministry. So the leaders saw it fitting to "end" the trip where it all began!

Continue praying for the team! On Saturday both the middle school and high school teams head out to Manowe to work some more in the morning and then spend some time in the early afternoon processing and debriefing on the whole trip! It will be a great day!

MOVE08-Friday-High School

Today, once again, was an incredibly exhausting but successful day as we headed to Benton Harbor to work with Habitat for Humanity. These guys worked so unbelievably hard though and I am very proud of them. As we arrived this morning at the work site, we discovered that we would be spending the day creating an 8’ clearing in a heavily wooded area along a fence which divides this new neighborhood that Habitat is building with a government subsidized neighborhood. They wanted us to do this in hopes of creating unity between the two communities. For five hours they cut down trees and shrubbery, hauled it away, fought with thick vine patches, and found many treasures to take to the trash pile (such as a bicycle, car window, etc.). Several of us also spent the day painting one of the recently built homes. We were also able to meet and spend some time with a few of the kids who live in the subsidized homes. As we loaded the bus to come home we looked as though we were sporting thick tans when in reality though it was simply layers of dirt and sweat! It was a great day! Everyone worked like crazy and we were able to really accomplish a lot, along with making some amazing memories.

-Stephanie Rorie (MOVE08 High School Team Leader)

MOVE08-Friday-Middle School

Today for the Oasis team was a perfect mix of seriously intense labor and a crazy amount of fun. We began our day at the Center for the Homeless. We picked up where Lifeline left off yesterday with all their hard work in the new garden. While part of the team laid the landscaping fabric and then topped it with two tons of pea gravel, the other part of the team was weeding around the building and planting more flowers. From the Center we headed to Hope Ministries where we picked up some of the guests of Hope and we all went to a nearby park and splash pad. A splash pad for anyone who is wondering…is a really fun playground with water shooting out from all types of neat objects. First we had a picnic lunch in one of the pavilions with our new friends. While some were soaking up a mass amount of water, others remained under the pavilion to get to know the adult women who joined us from Hope. Our students were OUTSTANDING as they interacted with the young children from Hope as well as some kids from the nearby neighborhood. While the others were getting wet, I sat and talked with the mothers from Hope who had joined us. I was blessed to hear only a small portion of their lives, but they are all working through their present circumstances with grace and positive attitudes. They are doing this with the help of the wonderful programs available at Hope and The Center. There were a couple of women who told me they attend GCC and they were so excited to be spending time with us. Today was full of God’s powerful love. Everyone walked away with some really special memories that will be with us for the rest of our lives.

-Tammy Lausman (MOVE08 Middle School Team Leader)

MOVE08 Bloggers

Hey everybody just wanted you to know that in addition to following along with the MOVE08 team here you can also hear from DC Curry and Jeff Myers.

DC's got some pictures posted from earlier today. I can't wait to see what happens tomorrow!

-Johnny

MOVE08-Thursday-High School

I cannot begin to tell you how incredibly proud of these kids I am! They worked harder than I ever thought possible today. We began our day at the Center for the Homeless where we worked from 10 am until 1:30pm building a garden and serving lunch to the residents. These few hours were full of roto-tilling, pulling weeds, planting, cleaning, serving food, planting some more, and did I mention roto-tilling?!?! Through the sweat, dirt, blisters, and sore muscles these kids never let down, working as hard as they could the entire time with smiles on their faces. From that point we headed to Hope Ministries (formerly known as Hope Rescue Mission) where we picked up their residents and headed out to Bendix Woods where we spent several more hours pulling fallen trees and branches out of the wooded areas… not an easy job to say the least! Even still, these kids were full of smiles and having a great time. They served as hard as they could today and as leaders, we are so proud of them. Needless to say though, I think everyone will sleep well tonight! Thank you for your prayers today! They have made such a difference! Continue to pray for sunshine as we head to Benton Harbor tomorrow to work with Habitat for Humanity.

-Stephanie Rorie (MOVE08 High School Team Leader)

MOVE08-Thursday-Middle School

Today was the MOST AMAZING DAY! The Oasis team started off the day at Faith Mission in Elkhart. We were put to work at the Thrift Store. If you have never been there it is a place for residents of Faith Mission and the public to purchase gently used items such as clothes and household items. The funds raised at the Thrift Store go back into the programs at Faith Mission. The students worked today assisting the staff and residents of Faith Mission sorting through donations that people have left and in organizing the warehouse. The work that our students did today saved the staff of Faith Mission about 2 weeks of work. We then headed to the main center of Faith Mission and we were given a tour of the facility where we learned about all the programs that Faith Mission provides to residents of the Mission and those in need from the Elkhart area. We enjoyed a picnic type lunch on the lawn at Faith before heading to our next destination, Hannah’s House, in Mishawaka. Hannah’s House is a place that provides guidance and assistance for pregnant girls and women in need. The team worked inside cleaning from top to bottom. Windows, doors, baseboards, cupboards, nothing was left unturned. Outside we worked on washing the siding of the house, cleaning out the shed, pulling weeds, and cleaning the fences. The staff at Hannah’s House was so grateful for all that the team accomplished. They provided us with yummy cookies and plenty of cold bottles of water. I am so proud of each and every student and leader on this team. Everyone is having a GREAT time, keep praying for our team and the work we have ahead over the next few days.
-Tammy Lausman (MOVE08 Middle School Team Leader)

MOVE08 HAS BEGUN!

The MOVE08 team met up last night at the Marriott downtown South Bend and after dinner from Chic-Fil-A the team had some time to prepare for the next few days. They had a chance to talk about what it is they'll be doing and to remember how much of an impact it can make on the lives of those we are serving. They had a chance to pray and bring the whole trip to Jesus.

Prayer is such a huge part of what we do in ministry and we've seen first hand more this summer more reasons than ever to continue to press in through prayer. Heading into the first week of middle school camp 2 weeks ago and then starting up the MOVE08 mission trip, we have remembered that there is an enemy who hates every thing we are doing on these trips. He hates every person we are serving and loving and he hates every single step the students and leaders are taking closer to Jesus. That is why it is as important as ever to pray for the MOVE08 trip.

Here are a couple specific ways to pray for the team over the next few days.

• Pray for team unity. That the team will continue to serve and love and encourage each other as we engage the various mission opportunities.
• Pray for the leadership. There is a tremendous team of adult leaders who have taken time off of work and time away from family to help lead this trip. Yes, part of what they do is supervise your students but they also help lead and mentor and help the students process EVERYTHING that is going on.
• Pray for those we're serving. Pray that through our actions they may see Jesus more clearly. Whether it's because they have a need that is now met or because they've never seen students serve so passionately, that they would see Jesus as a result of their interaction with the team.
• Pray for the trip logistics and safety. Safety while traveling and working. Good health. Good weather.

I am so incredibly proud of this team and you should be too! They are all stepping up and engaging! They are making a difference right here in this community!

We'll post more details later today to recap all the great work accomplished today!

Johnny

MOVE08-High School Waiver

Hey team, click on the link below to go to a page where you can download and print the MANDATORY waiver to participate in the Habitat for Humanity work project on Friday.

This form is ONLY needed for the HIGH SCHOOL team for MOVE08. Bring with you on Wednesday evening to the Marriott.

http://tsrorie.googlepages.com/home

MOVE08 LAST MINUTE REMINDERS!

Hey MOVE08 TEAM! Here are a couple last minute reminders for you!

Below you'll see posted the packing list of what you need to bring as well as the schedule for both the middle school and high school teams of MOVE08 including emergency contact numbers.

ALL students and leaders need to be at the Marriott in downtown South Bend by 6:30 pm on Wednesday June 25th. Parents can check students in and will be able to know the remaining financial balance if there is one as well as give instructions to the team leaders on any medications.

After getting settled into their rooms, the team will gather together for dinner and prepare for the trip. The trip will officially be over Saturday evening at 6:45 PM at GCC. The team will be returning to GCC for the 5:30 service on Saturday.

This trip is going to be an amazing experience! The leaders have been working hard for months to line up all the details so that we can have a great trip! The whole team has engaged through the meetings and the workday! We've all been praying that God will use us for these few days in an exceptional way as we go out into OUR community and make a difference as we show other people how much they matter to God and to us! I couldn't be more proud of the leaders, I couldn't be more proud of this team! Let's keep on praying, let's keep on preparing! MOVE08 started 4 months ago when you first decided to take a leap of faith and fill out that application and all your preparation and prayer and support letters and meetings and journaling has led up to this. It is time to MOVE...

MOVE08-Middel School Schedule

Here is the tentative schedule for the MOVE08 Middle school team along with trip locations and emergency contacts.

MOVE08-Schedule-Oasis

Wednesday, June 25th

6:30 p.m. - Meet at South Bend Downtown Marriott in Mtg. Room

7:00 – 7:15 p.m. – Take luggage to assigned rooms

7:15 – 8:00 p.m. - Dinner

8:00 -9:00 p.m.- Opening gathering in Mtg. Room

9:00 -10:00 p.m.- Small group time in Mtg. Room

10:00 p.m.- Back in rooms

10:30 pm - Lights out

Thursday, June 26th

7:00 a.m. – Wake Up Call

7:30 – 8:00 a.m.- Breakfast Mtg. Room

8:00 -8:30 a.m.- Quiet Times – Mtg. Room

8:30 – 9:00 a.m.- Load up the bus

9:00 – 12:30 p.m.-Travel to & Work on site @ Faith Mission - Elkhart

12:30 – 1:00 p.m.- Lunch

1:00 – 1:30 p.m. – Load Bus travel to Hannah’s House

1:30 – 4:00 p.m. – Work on site @ Hannah’s House

4:00 – 4:30 p.m. – Clean up – load the bus

4:30 – 5:00 p.m. – Travel back to hotel

5:00 – 6:30 p.m. - Clean-up – pool time

6:30 – 6:45 p.m. – Travel to Mall – Food Court

7:00 - 7:30 p.m.- Dinner at the UP Food Court

7:30 – 7:45 p.m.- Back on bus travel to hotel

7:45 – 8:00 p.m. – Walk to East Race for Day Recap / Team Debrief

8:45 – 9:00 p.m. – Walk back to Hotel

9:00 – 10:00 p.m. - Hang out time at hotel (pool, games)

10:00 p.m. - Back in rooms

10:30 p.m. - Lights out

Friday, June 27th

7:00 a.m.- Wake Up Call

7:30-8:00 a.m.- Breakfast outside / lawn of Football Hall of Fame?

8:00 -9:00 a.m. - Quiet Times/Small Group outside / lawn of Football Hall of Fame

9:00 - 9:15 a.m.- Load the bus

9:15 – 12:00 p.m. – Travel to & Work on site @ Center for the Homeless

12:00 - 12:10 p.m.- Load the bus travel to Hope Ministries

12:10 – 12:25 p.m. – Pick up residents and travel to park/play ground area

12:25 -4:30 p.m. – Picnic lunch and fellowship time spent with residents of Hope Ministries

4:30 – 4:45 p.m. – Load bus

4:45 – 5:00 p.m. - Travel back to the hotel

5:00 – 6:30 p.m. – Pool time / clean-up for evening activities

6:30 - 6:45 p.m. - Load busses

6:45 – 7:00 p.m. – Travel to Chippewa Bowling for dinner and team activity

7:00 - 9:45 p.m. – Dinner & Bowling – FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

9:45 – 10:00 p.m. – Load busses – Travel back to hotel

10:00 p.m. - Back in rooms

10:30 p.m. - Lights out

Saturday, June 28th

7:00 a.m.- Wake Up Call

7:30-8:00 a.m.- Breakfast in Mtg. Room

8:00 – 9:00 a.m. – Pack up – Load buses

9:00 - 10:30 a.m. – Quiet Time / Small Group time on bus to Manowe

10:30 - 12:30 p.m. - Work on Site @ Manowe

12:30 -1:00 p.m.- Lunch

1:00 - 3:30 p.m.- Work on Site @ Manowe

3:30 – 4:00 p.m. - Clean up / load busses

4:00 – 5:00 p.m.- Back to GCC for 5:30 service /Team Debrief on the way

6:45—Mission Trip is OFFICIALLY over and parents can pick you up at Granger Community Church.

MOVE08 Trip Locations-Oasis

South Bend Downtown Marriott

123 N St. Joseph Street

South Bend, Indiana 46601

574-234-2000

Granger Community Church

630 E. University Drive

Granger, IN 46530

574-243-2500

Manowe

63412 N. M66

Sturgis, MI 49091

269-659-6112

Faith Mission

530 S. Main Street

Elkhart, IN

574-293-3406

Hannah’s House

518 W. 4^th St.

Mishawaka, IN 46544

574-254-5309

Center for the Homeless

813 S. Michigan Street

South Bend, IN

574-272-4642

Hope Ministries

532 S. Michigan St.

South Bend, IN

574-235-4150

**While the majority of the worksites are confirmed and finalized there is the chance that there may be some slight changes in the overall schedule. For that purpose the addresses and phone numbers of the trip locations are merely for informational purposes and in case of extreme emergencies.**

MOVE08 Emergency Contacts-Oasis

The following numbers should only be used in the case of an emergency. To follow along with what the team is doing and where they’ve been serving check out the team’s blog at www.move08.blogspot.com. There you will not only be able to see what the team has been up to, but you’ll also be able to leave comments with words of encouragement and support for the team.

Emergency Contacts

· Tammy Lausman – MOVE08 - Oasis Team Leader

o 574-339-5785

· Phil Whybrew – MOVE08 - Oasis Team Leader

o 574-261-5735

MOVE08-High School Schedule

Here is the planned itinerary for the high school MOVE08 team along with trip locations and emergency contacts.

MOVE08

Tentative Lifeline Schedule

Wednesday

6:30 pm Meet at South Bend Downtown Marriott in Mtg. Room and settle

into rooms

7:15-8:00 pm Dinner

8:00-9:00 pm Opening gathering in Mtg. Room

9:00-10:00 pm Small group time in Mtg. Room

10:00 pm Back in rooms

10:30 pm Lights out

Thursday

7:00 am Wake Up Call

7:30-8:00 am Breakfast in Mtg. Room

8:00-8:30 am Quiet Times/Small Group in Mtg. Room

8:30-9:00 am Load up the busses

9:30-12:00 pm Work on Site @ Center for the Homeless

12:00-1:00 pm Serve Lunch & Join Residents for Lunch at the Center

1:30-2:00 pm Travel to Hope Ministries

2:00-6:00 pm Work at Hope Ministries

6:00 pm Back to the hotel/cleanup

6:30 pm Dinner in Mtg. Room

7:00-8:30 pm Hang out time at hotel (pool, games)

8:30-9:15 pm Day recap time in Mtg. Room

9:30 pm Back in rooms

10:30 pm Lights out

Friday

7:00 am Wake Up Call

7:30-8:00 am Breakfast in Mtg. Room

8:00-8:30 am Quiet Times in Mtg. Room

8:30-9:00 am Load up the busses

9:00-10:00 am Travel to Benton Harbor/Small Group time on bus

10:00-noon Work on Site @ Benton Harbor Habitat for Humanity

12:30-1:00 pm Lunch on site @ Benton Harbor Habitat for Humanity

1:00-4:30 pm Work on site @ Benton Harbor Habitat for Humanity

4:30-5:30 pm Traveling back to hotel

5:30-6:30 pm Cleanup time

6:30 pm Load up busses for dinner and team activity

7:00 pm Team activity (Friday Fun Night!)

10:00 pm Back in rooms

10:30 pm Lights out

Saturday

7:00 am Wake Up Call

7:30-8am Breakfast in Mtg. Room

8-9 am Pack up and Load buses

9-10:00 am Quiet time on bus

10:30-12:30 Work on Site @ Manowe

12:30-1 pm Lunch

1:00-2:00 pm Work on Site @ Manowe

2:00-4:00 pm Debriefing from trip

3:30-4:00 pm Clean Up

4:00 pm Back on busses to head to GCC for the 5:30 service

6:45 pm Mission Trip is OFFICIALLY over and parents can pick you

up at Granger Community Church.

MOVE08 Trip Locations-Lifeline

South Bend Downtown Marriott

123 N St. Joseph Street

South Bend, Indiana 46601

574-234-2000

Center For the Homeless

813 S Michigan St

South Bend, IN 46601

(574) 282-8700

Hope Ministries

532 S Michigan St

South Bend, IN 46601

(574) 288-4842

Granger Community Church

630 E. University Drive

Granger, Indiana 46530

574-243-3500

Benton Harbor Habitat For Humanity

785 E. Main Street

Benton Harbor, MI 49022

269-925-9635

**While the majority of the worksites are confirmed and finalized there is the chance that there may be some slight changes in the overall schedule. For that purpose the addresses and phone numbers of the trip locations are merely for informational purposes and in case of extreme emergencies.**

MOVE08 Emergency Contacts-Lifeline

The following numbers should only be used in the case of an emergency. To follow along with what the team is doing and where they’ve been serving check out the team’s blog at www.move08.blogspot.com. You will be able to both see what the team has been up to, but you’ll also be able to leave comments with words of encouragement and support for the team.

Emergency Contacts

· Stephanie Rorie-MOVE08-Lifeline Team Leader

o 574.361.3432

MOVE08 Packing List

MOVE08 Packing List

· 3 days worth of work clothes including

o Shorts must be fingertip length, preferably to the knee

o Shirts and T-shirts must have sleeves and not be tight

o Work shoes (tennis shoes or boots as long as they’re closed-toe)

o Work Gloves

o Socks and undergarments

o Trash bag for your dirty clothes (helpful when repacking)

· Toiletries

o Shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, brush/comb, deodorant,etc.

o We will have towels and washcloths in the hotel

· Regular clothes for evenings including

o Jeans/shorts-once again fingertip length

o T-shirts/Sweatshirt or jacket

o Regular tennis shoes and/or sandals

o Bathing suit for hotel pool (girls one piece only)

o Something clean for church Saturday evening (everyone will get their team shirt to wear to church, but clean jeans/shorts)

· Everything else

o Bible, journal and pen

o Prescription Medicines-Must be in original containers

o Sun screen-we will be working outside on some days

o Bug Spray

o Camera (optional)

o Hat/sunglasses (optional)

o Snacks for the hotel room (optional)

o iPods (optional, but must be left in hotel rooms, some students like having them to fall asleep to, but they are not to be brought to the worksites, bring at own risk)

o Cell phones (optional, but must be left in hotel rooms, there will be no reason to have them with as parents will have emergency numbers for a contact and the urge to check your texts or voicemails will be a distraction)

· Spending Money

o ALL meals, transportation and lodging is covered

o There is a small snack shop/Starbucks in the hotel

o We will have a team activity on Friday evening, the cost of which is covered, but you may want some money for extra snacks.

o $15-$30 should be plenty

· What NOT to bring

o Do NOT bring tank-tops, cut-off t-shirts, two piece swimsuits, short shorts, offensive or crude shirts… You get the point. Dress with respect and modesty in mind.