...a little over a week...by Lee Clarkson

Hey Everybody,

It's strange and exciting to realize that we've been planning this trip since November of '07... and now we're a little over a week away from FINALLY going. I was originally excited to go, but once I got to know the rest of the group and learned details of the activities and projects we'd be doing, my excitement grew. I can't wait.

Yes, I'm a little nervous about unknowns of the culture and the language barrier. Yeah, it hasn't been too fun getting poked with needles and taking pills (I got sick presumably because of a typhoid vaccine pill I had to take). But I have a feeling it is all going to be more than worth it when we arrive in Oaxaca. I am looking forward to meeting people, serving them, and being able to touch their lives while we are there. And I know they will touch my life as well.

I am going into this trip with an open mind because I'm relatively new to these type of trips. I went to Mexico four years ago and built a house for a family there was very gratifying. I have no reason to believe this trip will be any different. Sure, being around people 24/7 brings out sides we've never seen before, but this is a very tight-knit group from what I can tell. We will all have fun and I'm excited to see what God has in store for us and what He has to say to us.

I want God to be glorified in this trip, and I am confident that He will be. Thanks for praying for us and this trip!

In Christ,
Lee Clarkson

A Group Full of Love

Hey Everybody,

Hopefully you're having a great week. Only 12 days until we leave for our Oaxaca Mission '08! I'm having a hard time containing the excitement. These pictures are from our Mexican dinner and meeting at Randy and Joanie's house on Sunday night. What a great group of people. Its going to be a lot of fun flying together, working together and serving Christ together. I know that we will be an encouragement to each other and the people that we see. John 17 says that the world will know us by the way that we love each other. The way we care for and serve each other is different than what the world sees, where everyone only helps each other so that they can get something from the other, but Christ calls us to wash each other's feet, regardless of the way that person responds, because we are serving Christ, through serving each other. When the world sees the way we love each other, they will want to know what is different in our lives. That is when we get to tell them about that difference...Christ in us, the hope of glory! My prayer is that we will each love each other on our trip to Oaxaca, and that God will give us the strength when the people we encounter see our love, to tell them about the difference Jesus makes in our hearts. I hope you have a great week. Send me a post through email, it'd be great to hear your perspective.

In Christ,
Ryan Thorson


Here's Daniel, just hanging out!

The Girls...

The Guys...

Two Crazy Amigos...

Blog Buzz...13 days and counting!

Hey Everybody,

Hopefully you're starting to 'spread the word' about the blog and continuing to generate excitement about the incredible things God is going to do through us and for us while we are there. I have already heard from some of you that have forwarded the blog site onto friends. I will try to write updates each day so they can consistently check the blog and remember...YOU can write posts, email them to me and I will post them on the blog. I had a great time at Applebee's with some of you tonight, telling silly stories and talking and it made me look forward to being able to spend so much time with each of you, we will definitely be close. Both Kealy and I are so thankful to be a part of such a great group of people, and to be a part of the body of Christ. Each of you reading this blog can play a part, through prayer and in whatever way God might ask you to give...just reading this blog and sharing in the excitement is an encouragement to those God has called to go to Oaxaca on July 7th. It's going to be a great trip. Don't forget, next Monday after bible study, Oaxaca Fiesta from 8:30-10:00. We'll hang out, have chips and salsa, sings songs, tell stories and see the debut of the puppet shows! Have a great night.

In Christ,
Ryan Thorson

Blog Creation!!! A Chance to Chronicle The Experience

Hey Everybody,

Parents, family, students and everyone else interested, our mission trip to Oaxaca is just around the corner. Two weeks from tonight we'll be having a hard time sleeping, waiting for that 3:30 AM meeting at the church to begin our trek to Latitude 16° 58’ N and Longitude 96° 44’ W, Oaxaca city, Mexico. God has already gone before us and is going to do some great things through us and for us while we are there. It was a joy being a part of our last 'official' meeting tonight, sharing our anxieties and excitements, hearing the way that each of you will be listening for God's voice while on our mission, as well as eating some incredible enchiladas! I am confident that God will speak to each of us in just the way we need to hear, and He will use us to be His hands and feet to a hurting world. This blog will be an opportunity to chronicle our trip; before, during and after, with pictures, words and thoughts. Feel free to post comments, or email ryan@salemec.com with a post and we'll stick it on the blog. While in Oaxaca, we'll hopefully have access to internet, where we can post updates and pictures for family to pray and to see the incredible things God is doing in our lives and the great fun that we'll be having. I'm real excited to see the way that God will change each of us and your faces when you see kids running up to you, wanting you to put them on your shoulders and spend time with them. Each of you that are going on the trip are incredible and God is going to use you in a great and mighty way. For those you of that aren't going but are reading this blog, you too, play an intrical part in this mission trip. We need and covet your prayer in preparation for this mission, for safety and protection, both physical and spiritual, and that God would speak to us and use us on this mission. Also, your emotional and relational support, as well as anything that God might be calling you to donate or give to the trip. Each of us is a part of the body and family of Christ that is called to give in different ways, and we ARE a family, one that is blessed by God to give from what we have been so richly given. Let me leave you with one final thought in relation to prayer; remember to "not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understand, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" (Phillipians 4:6). God anxiously waits to hear from His children, and longs to give them peace which goes beyond anything we can truly understand. As we prepare for this incredible trip, with all its excitement and preparation, give over to Christ any anxieties you may have about our trip and wait for the peace that only He can give. I love each of you very much. This is going to be a great trip.

In Christ,
Ryan Thorson