Just a few things

Travel Insurance

Just to clear the air, travel insurance WILL be included in the cost of the trip for both Germany and Uganda _tag trips. Travel insurance is not something you are responsible for! I know there has been some different communication out there, but allow this to answer that question!

Pick up your financial report tonight at _tag. 

Team Uganda: pick up details for this Saturday's meeting at the hub tonight at _tag. 

Important Notices for Team Uganda

Team Uganda Passports

Team Uganda. Most of you should have your passports back by now. We are sending someone on our staff to Washington DC to get Uganda Visa's so that the majority of our team receives their visa's prior to entering the country. While it is not NECESSARY to get your visa in advance, it will help when we arrive in country if most of us have already received visas. So, here is what we are going to do. If you already have your passport, please bring it to Saturday morning's team meeting. Our staff member is leaving early on Monday morning, so if you forget to bring it on Saturday, you will probably be out of luck. Again, it is not a probelm if you don't have your passport back yet, but if you do, it will expadite the arrival process if we can get visa's done in advance. If you send your passports with us to Washington DC, they will be back by May 6th so it will only take a couple of days.

Team Uganda Team Meeting on Saturday

Ladies and Gentlemen, fun and exciting things will be planned for Saturday morning. We will be meeting from 9-12. Location information and directions will be found at the hub on Wednesday at _tag, so be SURE to stop by the hub to grab the Saturday morning plan. If you are unable to make it on Saturday please let Tarah know. Otherwise, we are planning on everyone making it.

Monday, April 20th.... the word.

Greetings Pals,

Good meeting yesterday. It was so fabulous to be with you. We are excited to move forward with you all. Good things are in our future.

Couple of reminders:

Financial Dedline: THIS WEDNESDAY

Fundraiser Cards:
Were due on Sunday.. (yesterday).. so if I dont get them from you by Wednesday the money owed for the cards will be due instead of the cards. If you don't wish to be responsible for the cost of the cards, get them to the hub on Wednesday.

Uganda: Check this out to see the mud hut homes we will be building!

Facebook Photos of Sarah Livingstone Zijjan


Parents:
Yesterday your student received dates for future team meetings as well as the Drama Training Sched. Take notes! : )

Thanks all. Have a wonderful week

This Sunday's Rally

Hey Everyone! Hope you all had a stellar Easter and got to spend some time with your family. Alright, here's the skinny on whats going on with Unite Tours. This Sunday, April 19th, we will be having another rally. Woot! You will be getting financial statements, and summer calendars to keep you updated on future team meeting schedules, summer team times, and additional _tag awesomeness! At the rally you will be also having team time to further connect with your fabulous team.

Fundraising Cards Due

We need you guys to make sure and bring your unsold, fundraising cards or the money that you have from selling them. You are held responsible for all unsold cards that you do not bring in or have the money to cover them. So don't forget! Finally, 50% (also known as half haha) of your money for the trip is due THIS Wednesday, the 22nd. You can either bring it to the rally on Sunday, or you can just bring it to _tag and turn it in at the hub. There are no exceptions or flexibility on this guys, so again, please don't forget!

Team Germany

We just wanted to give you all a quick update on what's going on! We are so pumped about this trip and what a wonderful transition we have all made and the other team members gained. All is going well and smoothly, praise God! We have received a few update emails on exactly what we will be doing as a team. Germany and most of Eastern Europe is a dark place spiritually so we are so glad to have a joyful and life giving team like you all! Here is an email we received so that you all can better understand what we will be doing: (This will be helpful info for you who have been asking for info to include in your support letters.)

"The students will be able to connect with other youth groups in the area through Jeff Serio.
However, most of the time, your tribes will be serving with Church on the Way, the first non-denominational, charismatic evangelical fellowship in Germany! Now, over 30 years later, the fellowship has grown a network of over 400 fellowships in unity in Germany. The missionaries we support there are Fabi and Kathrin. Your students will be able to connect with them and their youth programs. Berlin is less than 1% Christian. The students and youth of Berlin need great encouragement. Your students will be a tremendous blessing as they spend time getting to know these students and their families. The main point of the week is develop strong relationships so that as a fellowship, we will continue in prayer and friendship to build up this family of believers in Berlin. This is a tremendous step in laying the foundation for future trips. So, it will not look like traditional trips where we work, work, work. Our physical work will be in painting rooms. However, the majority of the time will be spent in worshiping together, praying and getting to know the community. Our desire is for deep connections so that the students will return here with broken hearts for the lost in Germany, and bonded hearts to the people of Church on the Way."

I don't know about you guys, but we am SO excited to meet and grow in relationships with the people and youth in Berlin! How awesome is it that we are studying community right now in _tag and now we get to live it out not only in _tag but around the world!

Wrap Up

In Psalm 107 David speaks of men going out into the deep sea, and in verse 24 it says, "They saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep." We are so proud of you guys for venturing and pushing out into deep waters, not just staying in the harbor. We are expectant of seeing that Lord's wondrous works in the deep waters of missions this summer.

We hope you all getting as excited as we are! It's coming quick and we are so stoked to have you all be apart of this wonderful opportunity. See you all on Sunday!

April 2 Update

Fundraising Opportunities

Last time you met with your team you were brainstorming fundraising options that you could do with your whole team. Our Next UT Rally will be on the 19th, so come ready to move forward on those ideas. Fundraisers are a great way to work together as a team.

**Mandatory Mexico Parents Meeting**

If you are going to Mexico with jv_tag or _tag, we are holding a mandatory Parents meeting for all parents and students participating in this trip. It will take place THIS SUNDAY, here in the _tag offices in the WPC. Please come at 11:00AM and plan on meeting for about 45 minutes.

There have been some changes that need to be communicated to you all as soon as possible. We apologize for the late notice of this meeting.

Fundraiser Cards

Note that the next UT rally that is held will be the deadline for turning in any excess cards that were unsold, as well as turning in all the money from the ones that you sold. You will be responsible for 5$ per card that is not turned in by the 19th-- so remember to bring them.

This Week's Update

Hey Pals,

Alright. Here are just a couple of things.
Numero Uno: 25% deadline is THIS Wednesday. WHOO HOO! Don't be scared... that just means that you only have 3 more deadlines, and then you're off!!!

Numero 2: We are reserving plane tickets for both Mexico trips and Uganda tomorrow. At this point, if any of you are unable to come on the summer trip, your hard earned money as well as all donated money, will go to your teammates. Refunds will not be available. However, I believe that this summer is going to be lifechaning for each of you, and I can't wait for you ALL to be a part.

Thats all for now. Keep raising money! E-mail me with any questions. Oh, and lets sell those fundraiser cards! We want both the $500 and $250 to go to you guys.

Fundraiser and Mexico Info

Hey Friends,

Welcome to the _tag missions blog! This will be the primary place for you to get the most up to date information on your missions trips. Updates will go up every Thursday, so get in the habit of checking things out on a regular basis. Parents, this is for you too.

Looking forward to this weeks Rally. We will have some time to connect as a team and get to know each other a little bit more. You will also receive an update on how much money has come into your missions account at this time. Some of you may be surprised! :)

Fundraisers:

Ok, so you all know about the current fund raising opportunity. Those little savings cards can be sold for $15 a piece making you $10 of profit per card sold. That means if you can sell just 3 in one hour, that’s 30 bucks an hour!! Well, as if that wasn’t good enough, the global department of New Life Church is awarding a $500 discount off the price of your trip for the person who sells the most cards. $250 off the trip will be given to the person who comes in second place. This is a church wide competition, but don’t be afraid. Just practice your “Would you like to buy some girl scout cookies” face, and get those things sold!!! This is a huge opportunity, and I’m expecting 1^st and 2^nd prize to go to one of you. The deadline is Sunday, April 19^th. Sell, Sell, Sell!! (Don’t forget to keep track of how many you have sold, and label any profit “fund raising $” to keep it separate from other money that may be coming in.)

Mexico:

For you high school and junior high students going to Mexico , your ears may have perked up as Mexico has been in the news lately. The US Dept of State has recently released some statements about the dangers of traveling to Mexico at this time and the increased threat of violence along the US- Mexico Border. The warning is especially towards traveling in the areas of northern Mexico , including Tijuana , Chihuahua City and Ciudad Juarez . (Which by the way, we will not be traveling to.) I recently spoke with our contact in Mexico , Paul Lewis. Paul insisted that while this threat is a legitimate concern in some areas, it in no way has affected their city or state. Paul also said that while this seems like “news” to us, it is much of the same thing that has gone on for years in pockets of Mexico . He explained that the Mexican government is becoming more stabilized because the president is beginning to finally fight against much of the crime and corruption. As we are hearing about these things, in some ways it just reflects a more stabilized government. The government is no longer siding with the dealers and kidnappers.

Paul was not in the least bit concerned about the safety and protection of our team and had the utmost confidence that the current threats and dangers in some areas of the country will not be compromising the safety of our mission. Our teams will be flying into the Harlengton, TX airport and will cross into Mexico through a Mexican Charter Bus Company. This city connects to the Free Trade Bridge which was built in 1992. The purpose of this bridge as told by the Dept of Transportation is to “serve as the most convenient and safe crossing points for all citizens and tourists of both U.S. and Mexico , as well as facilitate the crossing of all freight and import-export trade in a timely and efficient manner.” Paul assured that this check point is the safest and most secured of the check points. Additionally, we will be chartered by a Mexican bus company accompanied by Paul and his team, and we will be headed straight to Victoria . Victoria is the capital city of the State, and has not seen any of these incidents. Our teams will be staying in a Holiday Inn, which is the best hotel in the City.

At this point, our staff feels more than confident in the safety of this mission. We are taking every precautionary measure to be assured that the safety of this trip will not be in question. This post comes as an answer to some of your questions, and additionally to address the questions of friends and family members. Paul reminded me that violence is in different pockets of the country, and is not affecting every single area. (Thank the Lord.) Similarly, imagine if something were to happen in South California, we in Colorado would probably be very unaffected. This is a great reminder to all of us to keep the Country of Mexico in our prayers. We will pray that the kingdom of God would be established in these areas, and that the Lord would use us to minister to the people of Mexico in a powerful way! If you have any further questions, please let me know!

Tarah MacAlmon