Hi, Thank you so much for sharing your preschooler(s) with us on Wednesday nights.  Each one is a blessing and a joy and I’m learning so much by getting to know them better.

This month in Mission Friends we are learning about Bobby and Jackie Fuller, who work at the Texas Port Ministry Center in Freeport.  Each year they see about 900 ship arrivals into the Freeport harbor.  Each ship has an average of 25 people on board for a total of 22,500 seafarers representing over 50 countries.  Communication with families is one of the biggest needs.  At the center seafarers find phones, Internet service, and phone cards so they can call and talk with loved ones at home.  The center also provides many recreational items such as table tennis, air hockey and video games.  Hospitality bags with toiletries are distributed to everyone.  As the Fullers and volunteers deliver these bags, whether at the center or on the ships, they are able to share about Jesus.  They are also able to provide Bibles for the seafarers in their heart language when asked.

Our desired outcome for this month is that your preschooler(s) will learn about the Fullers ministry at the Port.  Focusing on the concept area of Community we will help your preschooler(s) discover ways they can work together to share God’s love.  On our first night we worked together to fill some hospitality bags to be sent to the Fullers.  We will play this out several times this month and talk about how we worked together last month to provide some items for Life Among the Nations and for Tempe High School teachers.

Our Bible verse/thought for the month is We work together. (see I Cor 3:9).  Say this with/to your preschooler(s) this month as you observe he/she helping each other and working together.  Try to connect that we work together as the body of Christ to tell people about how much Jesus loves everyone.

I will be away October 12 and 19.  On the 12th the Mission Friends will be joining our Team Kid group to watch a Veggie Tales movie.  They will be watching the first movie in the series “What is in the Bible” entitled “In the beginning”.  Andrea Heaton will come and help Stephen walk the preschoolers over to the children’s building.  She will let you know where to pick them up.

On the 19th Tanya Tan will be helping Stephen.  Thanks Tanya and Stephen for carrying on.

Remember to attend one of the community fall festivals being held by different families from our church.  This would be a great opportunity to talk about “working together” to help people know about Jesus.  Thanks again, I love being with preschoolers.  I laugh a lot and love seeing them learn.

Miss Joni

Wednesday, Aug. 17 Choir and Mission Friends resumes.

Choir will be from 6-6:30 in the preschool building room 3.

Mission Friends will begin at 6:30 on the playground for 5 minutes. Then the group will go to the youth building for a special kick off to our living on mission emphasis. We will be hearing/seeing from Kamber Maine, Jan Lows, Scott Bingham, Joni Ward, Amanda Altiveros, and Chuck Newkirk. Each will be sharing from their mission experiences over the summer helping the kids see how God works and chooses to use us to share the Gospel as we go.

Pick up is at 8:00 at the youth building this week only.