Haley Wins Humanitarian Award!!

Congratulations to our own Haley Peterson, West Seattle High School Junior, Hope member, Youth Grouper, Mission Team Member, and recent recipient of the "2010 Block Award" for Conduct and Humanitarianism at a banquet hosted by the Seattle Chapter of the American Jewish Committee's Student Human Relations Program!!

Haley cited her involvement in Hope Lutheran Mission Trips as impactful to her understanding of human need in other parts of the country, and other parts of the world. She has accompanied Hope on trips to Mexico and New Orleans, and is a member of the current Team training to return to New Orleans this summer to continue the work of rebuilding homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Haley mentioned loving kids in Mexico, and painting and scraping floors as part of her work in New Orleans, here are photos to prove it!

We're PROUD of you, Haley! And so is the God in whose name you serve! Way to REPRESENT!!

Hope Helps Harvest!

Hope's Youth Group travelled last night to the Kent Warehouse of NW Harvest Food Bank to sort and package food for distribution to homeless families in Seattle. I was surprised by the scope of the operation as we entered a HUGE warehouse stacked with pallettes full of TONS of donations from a variety of sources. We got a quick orientation to the facility and their work, washed our hands thoroughly in preparation for handling food, put on some plastic gloves to protect our hands, and went to work unloading and sorting several pallattes of donations from a recent Food Show. We ran across several exotic containters of delicacies many of us had never heard of, and we got a chance to sample some pure Ecuadorian Chocolate!

After the job was done those who needed them were given community service hours by the NW Harvest coordinator, then we headed back to Hope for pizza and to discuss the experience. We wrapped up with a devotion based on James 2:14-17. Some key lines in that scripture are...

"What good is it to SAY you have faith, when you don't do anything to SHOW that you really DO have faith?" and "If you know someone who doesn't have any clothes or food, you shouldn't just say 'I hope all goes well with you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat.' What good is it to SAY this unless you DO SOMETHING to HELP??"

Last night we took the time to actually MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the lives of those people who will receive the gifts we processed. Their lives will be better because we were willing to listen to the God who encourages us to not just TALK faith, but to LIVE IT OUT by the things we do for others. We plan to return to NW Harvest, and other Community Service organizations, on a monthly basis with our Youth Group. Watch for the next opportunity to put your FAITH into ACTION, and come SERVE WITH US!

"Gospel Journey" Youth Bible Study Continues Sunday Mornings at 9:15am

We gather in the Youth Room at Hope Lutheran on Sunday mornings 9:15-10:15am for donuts and OJ, have a short sharing activity, then watch the next video segment in the reality-TV type Bible Study called "The Gospel Journey". The story is about 7 teens from very different faith backgrounds (Presbyterian, Athiest, Episcopalian, Pastor's kid, City Girl, Wiccan, Agnostic) who hang out in the Rockies for some extreme outdoor adventures (white water rafting, rock-climbing) and talk about 10 BIG QUESTIONS people have about God and the world (like "how do you know God is real?", "how did we get here?", "what happens after you die?"). High School and Middle School watch together, then we diverge into separate groups for discussion with a leader.

The people on the screen are real people, like you, and they are searching for answers, like you. Come and be a part of the conversation through May. See what God has to say to you!!

Rummage Sale Benefits Katrina Mission Team!

Come and check out the selection at our HUGE RUMMAGE SALE this Saturday, May 8, 8am-3pm in the Lower Parking Lot at Hope Lutheran!! We have all kinds of treasures to choose from, and loads of furniture!! Thrivent will match funds raised up to $800 (at 50 cents on a dollar) so that means if we can raise at least $1600 they will give us an additional $800 to help get our Team to New Orleans to repair homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina! Come early to find the best deals, and support our Team!!

Mission Team Learns Drywall!!

With the expert help of Professional Contracter and Dad, Wayne Machmiller, the Mission Team was introduced to the world of Framing and Drywall. We now know how to put an inside wall together from the studs up, and how to cut, attach, tape, mud and finish drywall. THANKS WAYNE!! Check out the intense Construction Photos!! (Wait - are those POWER Tools?)