This weekend and Mexico Mission Info

This Friday Youth Evening we'll be at church 7.30-10pm

If it is possible we'll try to build it as a prayer and praise night upstairs...

Sunday - Africa Day

English service 11-1pm

Klaus & co. will share their experiences from Africa...

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There have been some questions about the details of the mexico mission trip and the security situation. 

I hope the following info helps to answer these. 

Please pray, discuss, plan in your families and let me know 

by the end of March if you are ready to commit to the project. 

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Basics:

dates: August 19-31/2009
Place: Ensenada
What: Children's ministry
With Whom: in partnership with YUGO ministries
Cost: 250 (lodging and food in Mexico) + 100 for travel expenses (Motel's+food) + Extra money to spend...

= total 400-500 dollars.
The rest we try to fund raise and cover with church support (van rental, gasoline etc.)

The plan:

• Leave Vancouver on 19th of August.
  
• Two nights on the road to California. Nights would be spent in Motels.
  
• 21st of August Arrive in Orange County, CA
  
• We would be staying 2 nights in the church I used to serve in.
  
• 22nd Saturday enjoy OC day! (beaches etc.)
  
• 23rd Sunday: join the morning service in the Church and leave to Mexico around 12pm.
  
• 23rd of August Arrive in Ensenada around 5-6pm
  
• 24-27th Chidren's ministry in Ensenada region.
  
• 1 location in the morning and one in the afternoon.
  
• Evening Chapel is with all the teams at the outreach center.
  
• 28th Explore Ensenada... La Buffadora etc.
  
• 29th Leave Mexico towards HOME! (early morning)
  
• 31st Arrive in Canada
  

Security update:

I have just contacted the YUGO office about the security situation in Mexico and especially in Ensenada. 

Yes there is trouble and violence in some border regions, but the situation in Ensenada does not cause any extra concern. The Ensenada outreach center is in a really nice location and has night guards. It is in a quiet suburb of Ensenada.

Also the border crossing and drive down from San Diego is fine. Also the warfare in Mexico is more between rival gangs and police/army and not directed to foreigners. It has had an influence on tourism, since people react to this kind of news and generalize it. But the facts are that our route is not experiencing an increased threat because of the drug wars. Of course we need to be watchful and alert always! If you have still worries, pray that God would grant His peace, if it is His will that you go on this mission trip. He is able to confirm and strengthen us in His work!

Together in His service,

samuel

Patric who?

Yesterday was St. Patric's day. On my way home from school I saw some people dressed in green going to celebrate in pubs. I wonder how many actually celebrated the legacy of St. Patric...

I learned of Patric when we moved to the US. I had never before even heard his name. And now in my studies of Christian history I was introduced more thoroughly to his incredible life story.
I found this short writing of it and wanted to post it here to remind us of the great men & women of God who have gone before us...

THE LIFE OF ST. PATRICK

The Chicago River is emerald this week. Thousands of small children pinched each other on Tuesday for failing to wear green, and plenty of people in Boston got smooched because they claimed to be Irish. On March 17 each year, every American becomes Irish. Yet, while there seems no purpose to green-sprinkled shamrock-shaped cookies, this celebration honors a great Christian man. He may not have driven any snakes out of Ireland (since they did not exist there in the first place), but Patrick did spread the Gospel across the island. Through his missionary work, Christianity took hold in the predominantly pagan nation with a strength that has lasted to this day.

The man we know today as St. Patrick was born Maewyn Succat in Britain in AD 389. His father was a wealthy Christian deacon, but most likely because the position offered tax incentives and not because the family was particularly religious. Then, when Maewyn was 16, he was kidnapped by pirates and sold as a slave in Ireland. For the next six year Maewyn served his owner by caring for sheep in remote regions far from human company. During this time, Maewyn turned to Christ for comfort and became deeply devoted to God.

After six years of captivity, Maewyn decided it was time to escape. He believed that God spoke to him in a dream and told him to leave Ireland. After a 200 mile walk to the coast, Maewyn escaped back to Britain, and then ended in Gaul (France) where he devoted himself to religious training, studying under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre. There in Gaul Maewyn came to be called Patrick.

Patrick believed he was called to return to minister to the pagans in Ireland. St. Palladius was first sent to Ireland, but when he was sent on to Scotland two years later, Patrick was free to take the job. Patrick returned to the land of his captivity with the mission to preach Christ to set the spiritual captives free. He apparently had a good personality and people liked him. Familiar with the language and culture, Patrick also worked to make use of local customs in order to help the pagans understand Christianity. He used the three-leafed clover, the shamrock, in order to explain the Trinity. Because the nature-worshiping religions saw the sun as a powerful symbol, he developed what is known as the Celtic Cross, with a circle around the central section of the cross. As Patrick trekked across the island, he started churches and schools. Several times he was arrested, and yet he escaped each time.

Patrick ministered to the people of Ireland for decades, a popular, winsome man who loved Christ. Finally, on March 17, AD 461, Patrick died in County Down. His life of service has been celebrated ever since.

Today, over 100 cities hold St. Patrick's Day parades, but relatively few people know anything about the man whose life is being honored. As we drink our shamrock shakes (they only come out once a year) and wear our green ties (they only come out once a year), let's remember a man who devoted his life to the service of Christ, and whose devotion changed the spiritual direction of an entire nation.

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Friday Youth Evening at Liisa & Jarno's place in Langley!

If you need directions, just ask...

Their house is open from 6.30 onwards.

So if you want more time to hang out, arrive early! (Liisa said she will have something to bite for people coming early)

We plan to start the group thing around 7.30...

Sunday English Service 11-1pm

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may there be even a little bit of Patric in me,
samuel

InterNational 3:16 day!

This is my own invention. 

I would really like to see that to be real though...

Anyways we can take it as such.

Read all the 3:16 verses in the New Testament today and see what you can find!

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The other thing is that History Maker early bird sign-up ends tomorrow.

If you want to get the discounted price and haven't signed-up yet, let me know today!!!

I will do our group registration tomorrow.

Enjoy the 3:16 day,

Samuel

HIstory Maker

Spring is rolling on, although it feels like dead of winter!

Anyways we would need to sign-up for the HIstory Maker event held in May 15-17 in Langley. If we get our group signed up before March 17, we get the cost down to 75/ person. The info on the event is below.

Let me know asap if you are coming.

http://historymaker.hm/

Event dates:
Friday May 15
Saturday May 16
Sunday May 17

Times:
Fri 4:00pm - 10:30pm
Sat 8:30am - 10:00pm
Sun 8:30am - 8:00pm

Location:
Langley Events Centre,
7888 200th Avenue,
Langley, BC

Price:
$75

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This Friday we are at Kotikirkko 7.30-10pm

Sunday English Service 11-1pm

Next Friday at Liisa & Jarno's place

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On the run,

Samuel

Up we go

So Friday we are going out defying gravity and testing our limits!

I made the reservation today before the 48 hour limit went up. I gave our number as 14 people. If more people come, it is totally fine, but then our own people need to help with the ropes. Hopefully we get to 16 or over, cause then everyone gets a discount. Those who come just to watch don't have to pay anything. Those who have their own equipment pay their own fee, if we are under 16.

IMPORTANT:

• Bring with you 22 dollars for the climbing (can go down to 18) + extra money, if you want to eat out after.
  
• Remember to fill out the waiver form and get your parents to sign it, if you are under 19!!! http://www.cliffhangercoquitlam.com/Waiver
• COME to the Coquitlam Cliffhanger place at 6.45pm. http://www.cliffhangercoquitlam.com/Home

See y'all there,

samuel

March Plans + summer mission trip!

So now we've been able to scramble together some plans on the run...

This coming Friday ROCK CLIMBING!

7-9pm at Cliffhanger in Coquitlam; We should meet there 6.45pm
http://www.cliffhangercoquitlam.com/Home

IMPORTANT: everyone under 19 need a waiver form signed by their parents!
http://www.cliffhangercoquitlam.com/Waiver

I need to know how many people are coming, because we have to pay for the number we reserve it. So everyone, who wants to come, needs to sign-up by Wednesday 12pm.
If we get 16 people going, we get a discount (22-->18 dollars/person).
So let me know as soon as possible. The people that have signed up this far:

1. Marissa
2. Danica
3. Jesse
4. Sam
5. Liisa K.
6. Jarno (not climbing though...)
7. Tim
8. Niko
9. Justin
10. Samuel

Friday 3/13 7.30-10pm at Kotikirkko
Bible Study

Friday 3/20 7-10pm in Langley at Liisa's and Jarno's place!


Friday 3/27 7.30-10pm at Kotikirkko
Prayer & Praise Night

And remember the Sunday English Service is every time at 11am!
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Here is some info on the Mexico Mission trip:

• dates: August 19-31/2009
• Place: Ensenada
• What: Children's ministry
• With Whom: in partnership with YUGO ministries
• Cost: 250 (lodging and food in Mexico) + 100 for travel expenses (Motel's+food) + Extra money to spend... = total 400-500 dollars.

The rest we try to fund raise and cover with church support (van rental, gasoline etc.)

I need to know, who is in by the end of March!
If I get a team of min 7 people I will go and take you there...
So start signing up now!!!
__________________________________________

Together in His Service,
Samuel