Mission & Ministry

MISSION PROJECTS PROGRESS REPORTS

Disaster Relief Work Camp in Louisiana

Last winter a devastating fire burned the home of Mike & Paula Baker and their three children here in Louisiana. Elmwood Presbyterian Church saw this destroyed home as part of their focus on the ministry of Disaster Assistance. Through Wes Patton’s communication with the Presbytery Disaster Assistance program, there will be a concerted effort this June to commence repairs on the Baker home.

The Presbytery Disaster Assistance team has decided to come to Louisiana to work on the home here instead of going to the country of Mexico for a project. As many as 40 people will be coming here June 19-27 to work on the repairs. The workers will be housed at First Church and will shower at the YMCA.

Elmwood Church will feed the workers on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday at Elmwood. First Church will provide a meal on Thursday. You are welcome to help with any of the skills that you may have.

Workers can still help at the house, or with meal preparation, serving, cleanup, etc. If you want to contribute financially to the project, write a check to Elmwood Presbyterian Church, earmarked for disaster assistance. Sessions of both Elmwood and First have approved donations to the project.

English as a Second Language Classes

During the past month, classes of English as a Second Language have been taught at First Church. The class meets on Thursdays at 6 p.m. There are 8 people attending, though no usually all at the same time. There is a time when new phrases and words are taught and then a time for the participants to practice. First Church folks come & converse with the learners, providing feedback to those speaking English for the first time. The class has learned words in English to our current benediction song, "Song of Hope" providing some spiritual nourishment. Most of the people have attended church in the life journey. Most are from the state of Oaxaca in Mexico.

Marilyn & Haines Moss, Jeff & Dawn Barnes, Pastor John & Lisa Helm have come & participated as sounding boards. We are deliberately keeping the class small at the beginning as we develop our own structure for learning. New people do come as people learn about the class through the Louisiana Spanish grapevine.

If you would like to be a sounding board, either let Pastor John know, or just come some Thursday evening and observe what is happening. You may learn some new Spanish words as well! Through the English class, First Church is moving closer to its goal of being a more inclusive church.

Congratulations to Elmwood youth for a success-ful school year and the many awards received!

Jackson Campbell - Honor roll, President’s silver award, Brandon Campbell - Honor roll, academic pin, band letter, and Mitchell Campbell - Honor roll, academic letter, band letter, Spanish I award, Algebra II award.

Bly Haines - Local Science Fair 2nd, County Fair 1st, Recycle Art contest 3rd, Missouri Honorable Mention Duck Stamp drawing, honor roll, Reading Circle Cert. Middle School cheerleading squad for 2010-11.

Zach Patton - Principal’s honor roll, Language Arts award, Social Studies award, 3 Science awards.

Love family; Jeffrey - Honor roll, Nathan - Honor roll, academic pin, FFA State & Area Degrees, baseball letter, Golden Glove award, Boy’s State, Steven - Honor roll, academic letter.

Other Elmwood connections; Kelsey Henderson - Academic letter, Flags letter & honor roll, Cameron Henderson - Honor roll. Hank Calvin - Honor roll and Lyle Calvin - LHS grad, George Washington Carver award, Susan Anderson Outstanding Science Award, Honor roll, academic pin, American History award.

Jennie Calvin - Spanish III award, Honor roll, academic pin, Flags letter, basketball letter, rebound award, Eagle 102 All Area basketball team.

Kayla Shriver - 8th grade grad, High Distinction Honor roll, John Shriver - High Distinction honor roll, AR Reading Cert., both of Houston, MO.