Hidden Treasures

There's a Teenager in the House!

2011-12-29T11:31:00.001-08:00

On September 8, 1998, a delightful and most wonderful little girl was born into our family. Over time she has made us laugh and enjoy life more than we ever could have imagined. And now, 13 years later, our sweet Caroline is officially a teenager! She has embraced teenhood with a high sense of maturity, light-heartedness and responsibility, and we are super proud of her. She is in 7th grade now and continues to school at home but also enjoys her composition and science classes at Brighton Academy. She celebrated her birthday with some of her special friends with an overnight and with the Mission Adelante community at church. It was a great time and she felt very loved. (For all of you KU fans, notice the shirt she is wearing with the birthday donuts. It is from the 1988 basketball championship. I bought it back when I was single at KU after we had just won the tournament. It was stored away for my first-born child and now 23 years later, Caroline proudly wears it. :)

Welcoming New Members to the Family

2011-12-29T10:33:00.000-08:00

Family is such a beautiful thing and this Fall we were blessed to welcome to new nephews to our clan. In August, sweet Lucas Owen Hammond was born to my brother, Mike, and his wife, Christine, living in San Francisco. I was able to take a little trip in October to meet their first-born. It was love at first sight and extra special to see what a great daddy my big brother is. In November, precious Owen Wardell Meek was born to Jarrett's brother, Luke and his wife, Holly. He is receiving lots of love from his two older siblings and ten cousins. We are so thankful for both of them. (first picture is of Luke Hammond and I, second is of Owen Meek on Thanksgiving)

Summer Bible Camp Fun

2011-11-11T13:20:00.000-08:00

For the last several summers at Mission Adelante, both Emmanuel Baptist and Shoal Creek Community Churches have come to KCK and have summer bible camps for the kids in the ministry. These two weeks are some of the best days of the summer. This year, both the Bhutanese and Latin communities were brought together to make the events even more fun-filled.

Cookies Anyone?

2011-11-11T13:10:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me (Kristen), knows that I love to bake. Come on, it's all about chocolate, isn't it? Ministering cross-culturally can be challenging at times as you try to navigate the language barriers of your new friends. I have found though, that we all have at least one thing in common: the love for food. Our Latin friends are more than interested in learning how to bake the delicious and simple desserts that we often take for granted, such as chocolate cookies. So it is fun for me to invite several of the women in our church community over to build our friendships as I teach them the recipe to chocolate chip cookies. It is good for them to hear the lesson taught in English while I also get time to practice my Spanish, too. Our next cooking session will be how to make puppy chow! Yum!

Piano Playing Girls

2011-11-11T13:04:00.000-08:00

Caroline and Annie have been playing Suzuki piano for four years now, taught by the wonderful Charlotte Garwood. We are continually impressed with their progress and what they have gained from all of the practice and discipline required from learning a musical instrument.

Play Ball!

2011-11-11T12:33:00.000-08:00

Charlie had his second summer of playing ball in a team league and boy, did he have a great time. This summer he joined the local KCK RBI league right here in our neighborhood. RBI is an organization committed to reviving baseball in urban areas while teaching boys and girls about teamwork, leadership and life skills. Charlie made some new friends as he gained more experience and training in a sport he loves. If you want to learn more about KCK RBI here is their home page link: kckrbi.org

Summer Fun!

2011-11-11T12:16:00.000-08:00

What an incredible summer we had! Mission Adelante and our family was blessed to have six super fun interns working with us this summer and they were COOL! As a mom, it was an extra special treat to see these young godly men and women taking the time to invest in our own four kids. Our family soaked up their energy for Jesus and our community. It truly was a blessing to have them share life with us.

Catch Up Time!

2011-11-11T12:11:00.000-08:00

Hi Friends,

If you haven't noticed, this blog has been pretty silent for some time. Since Jarrett spends much of his energy on the weekly Adelante Express, the girls and I have decided to post some of the daily moments that go on in the life of the Meek family. We'll try and catch you up on the fun we have had in 2011 for the next several posts. So we hope you will enjoy hearing from us and seeing some snapshots of our family life and ministry.

Caroline and Annie Playing with our Worship Team!

2010-01-12T06:54:00.000-08:00

One of the most fulfilling dynamics of our ministry with Mission Adelante has been the opportunities it has produced for our whole family to engage in ministry together. From English classes and Bible studies in our homes, to the involvement of our children in Kids Adelante and LIT, Mission Adelante has been a family endeavor. At times this mixture of work and personal has been difficult for us, but we recognize that genuine ministry is a lifestyle, not a profession that can be compartmentalized. Moreover, we consider it a tremendous blessing to have so many of our family's arrows pointed in the same direction.

The latest in the list of satisfying ways our family has been able to participate together in ministry is the integration of Caroline and Annie onto our worship team as pianists. Three years of piano-playing has given them the confidence and ability to improvise with chords and play along with familiar worship songs without a great deal of prior rehearsal. So, over the last month, Caroline and Annie have each had a turn playing on the worship team on at our Sunday evening worship services. This has become one more reason we are thankful for this calling God has given us!

Nayeli’s Baptism:Three Generations of Hope

2009-06-02T14:20:00.001-07:00

The ups and downs, the mundane, everyday routines, and the overwhelming challenges of urban ministry can cause a person forget why he began in the first place. But there are certain special divine moments in which God demonstrates his power in the lives of people and brings about the kind of fruit that causes us to rejoice and feel a renewed sense of conviction for the calling He has given us. The baptism of Nayeli, a participant in our Leaders in Training Program, was one of these moments.

I would not hesitate to declare our pilot year of the LIT program a resounding success. But it was not without its challenges and disappointments. We ended with nine of the 13 original participants, losing one to poor attendance, one to behavioral problems, and two because their parents had other plans for them. Each child who was not able to continue left a hole in the hearts of the volunteers as we all wrestled with feeling we had lost the time and love we had invested in them.

Along the way we made adjustments to our math and reading workshops and we will make even more before we start again in the Fall.

Despite the challenges we faced in this pilot year, there were a lot of things to celebrate. Fifteen amazing volunteers served throughout the program and made a real impact academically. One of our students applied to and was accepted in Sumner Academy, a magnet school in KCK for the brightest students in the district. And, for the nine students who completed the year and received their plaque at the Spring party, there was a tremendous sense of accomplishment and camaraderie that resulted from LIT.

Nayeli’s baptism, three weeks ago, was by far the highlight of the LIT year for me because we have been through so much with her. Two years of Kids Adelante, personal crises, a father in prison, and periods where it seemed like her behavior was turning for the worse. And there she was, affirming her faith in Jesus, a new creation in so many ways. And fittingly, her mom was baptized after her. And finally her grandmother. Three generations coming to Christ, beginning with the youngest. Praise God for his gracious work in the lives of lost and broken people like Nayeli and like me.

Reproducing Ministry

2009-06-02T14:16:00.000-07:00

Last year our Board of Directors began working on a five year plan that includes reproducing our ministry two additional locations in the Kansas City area. Little did we know that we would have the opportunity to make an impact in Salt Lake City, UT and Hickory, NC before the first quarter of 2009 was complete.

Tony and Tanya Pruitt, long-time personal friends of the Meeks, are now living in the Salt Lake City area and attending a church that has been very successful at reaching Mormons. This church, called Alpine, also has a desire to launch a ministry to Hispanic immigrants in the heart of Ogden, a blighted city with a dense population of Latinos. At the end of February, Jarrett had the privilege of spending a long weekend on site with the Pruitts and other key leaders from Apline, dreaming and brainstorming ideas for this new ministry. While Alpine is still in the planning stages, the meeting was productive both strategically and relationally.

On the other side of the country in North Carolina, the Meeks’ former missionary colleague in Bolivia, Brandon Martin has just launched a ministry modeled largely after Mission Adelante. Their first ESL and Kids Adelante-like programs began in March with 18 adult English students, a small group of kids, and strong volunteer support. We are so excited to see Brandon and his wife Joy fulfilling their calling together and enjoying God’s grace in the beginning of their new ministry.

As far as our plans to reproduce Mission Adelante sites in Kansas City, we are still praying for the Lord’s direction and provision, as we look for the right places and people to start this work.

A Thank You Video from the Meek Family

2008-11-13T06:07:00.000-08:00

Enjoy this home video of Meek family highlights from 2008 as a "Thank You" from our family for your support for our ministry with Mission Adelante.

Thank You from the Meek Family-2008 from Jarrett on Vimeo.

Integrating Ministry and Personal Life

2008-10-28T10:26:00.000-07:00

Missions has taught me that ministry is a lifestyle, not merely a vocation. One of our greatest blessings (and greatest challenges) over the past few years has been learning to live out our calling in a way where personal life and ministry life are blended into one.

Mission Adelante began by building friendships in a local ice cream shop, having English classes and Bible studies in our home, and inviting neighbors over for dinner. Which category do these activities fit into? Ministry or personal? The wonderful answer is both! Now, when we take a family walk to that same ice cream shop we pass no fewer than five homes where Mission Adelante families live. And, when many of them are out on their front porches or in their yards playing, a family walk to the ice cream shop becomes a ministry opportunity!

Our children get to experience the blessing of being involved with our ministry as well. This Fall we launched a “Leaders in Training” program for pre-teens that meets Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons for tutoring and character development. As home-schooling parents we were excited that Annie and Caroline get to participate in this program as a way to supplement what we are doing with them academically and allow them to build cross-cultural friendships.

Of course, the challenge in all of this is that if ministry is our work, and it is intertwined with our personal life, then how can we avoid always being “at work?” Indeed it is a mixed blessing. There are deep ravines on either side. Compartmentalizing ministry into a professional activity strips it of its authenticity. On the other hand, neglecting personal and family needs in the name of ministry is a recipe for disaster.

Enjoying and embracing the blessing of an integrated ministry lifestyle while learning how to overcome its inherent challenges is one of the keys to surviving in ministry for a lifetime. Please pray for us as we continue to learn how to live out our calling in this way. Pray for God to help us know how to minister as a team and to each other.

God's Metric: Enduring Faithfulness

2008-03-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

"Victory belongs to those who believe in it the longest." Those inspiring words were spoken by the commander of an Air-craft carrier in the movie Pearl Habor. They were true in that context, and they are true in ministry. Ministry, especially cross-cultural ministry, requires persevering faith in the ultimate victory of God. Everyday battles are won and lost. Peoples' lives are destroyed by the enemy and by their own poor decisions. Pastors and missionaries who are desperately looking for results and confirmation that they are winning battles struggle with their own sin, and with the discouragements and disappointments of people who seem to love God one day and then crash and burn, or disappear, or turn on them the next. How can a person stay in ministry for a lifetime?

The only real answer to that question is, "by God's grace." Ministry by its very nature is a pouring out of oneself. When lived out as Jesus modeled it is sacrificial, it gets involved in the messy lives of sinful people, it endures abandonment, and yet it always believes in the ultimate victory of God's kingdom. It does NOT believe in the ultimate goodness of the human heart. On the contrary, it must come to peace with the fact that that so called "goodness" is a myth, in order to avoid disillusionment and synicism. Instead, enduring ministry comes to believe in the certainty of God's ultimate victory and rejoices in it.

Over the past two and a half years since we began Mission Adelante, mixed in with some glimpses of exciting ministry fruit, we have experienced a lot of these disappointments and discouragements. Several times during those discouraging seasons, Kristen and I have lain in bed asking ourselves, "what if this ministry doesn't grow?", "what if nobody responds to the gospel?", "what if we were left to do this alone?", "what if immigrants never open up to us on a personal level." Each time we have asked those questions God has only solidified and increased our commitment to this calling and ministry. While we currently enjoy measurable results and occasional victories in Mission Adelante, God reminds me that He is measuring "Enduring Faithfulness."

Will we continue to believe in His ultimate victory even when all we see are disappointing defeats? By His grace we will. Over the years, please make this your number one prayer for our family.

Caroline, Annie Finish Suzuki Piano Book One

2008-03-11T07:24:00.000-07:00

After about 17 months of piano lessons, Caroline(9) and Annie (7) are finishing book one of the Suzuki series! It has been a great experience for our whole family! What began as hours of peck, peck, pecking annoying rhythms such as "MI-SSI-SSI-PPI HOT-DOG" has metamorphasized into beautiful music echoing off the plaster walls and the hard-wood floors of our 1922 home. Caroline and Annie have both become good young pianists, playing songs such as Claire da Lune, and Musette. And Charlie...well Charlie always takes a bow with the girls after their lessons even though he hasn't begun playing yet.

What has been most exciting to me is the girls' continued enthusiasm for it. They don't seem to view practice as drudgery and they often sit down at the piano to try their hand at making up their own melodies. I have become a believer in the Suzuki method which emphasizes playing familiar songs by ear before learning music theory. This gives young children enough early success to keep them interested while gradually introducing the necessary skills of sight reading. And, the repetition required to master the songs progressively instills fingering mechanics. Of course, our instructor, Charlotte Garwood, has just the right balance of discipline and patience and genuinely enjoys teaching. This combination of method, instructor and emphasis on parental involvement seems to be working marvelously for Caroline and Annie. They are excited to discover what come next in book two!

God's Soverienty in a Risky Plan

2008-03-07T08:54:00.000-08:00

Before Jesus ascended to Heaven He gave His disciples what is now referred to as "The Great Commission". He told them to "go and make disciples of all nations." Disciples of Jesus learned this process from the Master. Jesus' method of making disciples was investing his life in them. Walking, talking, eating, doing ministry together, praying together, teaching them. It was a much more integrated approach than Sunday school or a Bible study program.

From a human standpoint it seems awfully risky that Jesus entrusted the future of His church in the world to a rag-tag group of wavering disciples. And yet that was His plan; call, equip, and send. And sending was not alone, but with the power of the Holy Spirit.

From the beginning, our passion and mission with Mission Adelante has been to "Serve Hispanic Immigrants to Christ and mobilize them to serve". For us this is just another way of saying we want to do what Jesus did with His disciples. Serving is the beginning of calling immigrants to a knowledge of a loving and gracious God. As we build relationships and invest, and walk alongside, and teach, we hope that the Holy Spirit will work to bring them to a place of being able to invest in the lives of others as well to share the gospel and bring them to maturity.

Leticia received Christ as her savior in January of 2006. Since then we have invested our lives in her in many ways. Last week Leticia began doing an introductory evangelistic/discipling study with two other Hispanic women. It was not a Mission Adelante scheduled event. It was Leticia initiating and meeting by herself with these women with the promise of walking alongside them to see them to maturity in Christ. And so the miracle of the Great Commission continues, and I stand in awe at the sovereignty of God in His seemingly risky plan that the nations should know Him.

Quick Updates

2008-03-06T08:54:00.000-08:00

Internship-Mission Adelante is planning a summer internship for emerging leaders in cross-cultural ministry. Megan McDermott (left), a current volunteer, is the first to sign up. The program will require interns to live in the neighborhood for the summer and will include ministry training and practical experience. Please consider making a financial contribution to help us cover the costs of the internship! Funds are needed to cover the costs of housing, ministry and training expenses, and a modest stipend for each intern.

Building Remodel-The scope of our building remodel project has increased significantly. We are working with an architect and a general contractor on a plan that will include a combination of professional contractors, plus skilled and unskilled volunteers. Contact Seth Sears (seths@missionadelante.org) to sign up for a Saturday workday this year or to offer your skills!

Compelling Compassion-Graciela's English class prayed for her husband to get a job, God answered this prayer through one of our prayers and two weeks later Graciela and her husband were visiting our worship celebration. Compassion in the name of Christ is compelling!

Multiplying Leaders-Some preliminary evidences of fruit are suggesting that God is accomplishing the full cycle of our mission, "Serving Hispanic Immigrants to Christ and Mobilizing them to Serve." Leticia, who received Christ two years ago through Mission Adelante, is now discipling two new Hispanic women. Elaine, another recent convert is nearly finished with her basic discipleship study and is preparing to teach it to a friend whom she invited to our worship celebration last Sunday!

A Lifestyle of Befriending the Friendless

2007-12-25T08:20:00.000-08:00

Suburban Christians often have a genuine desire to befriend the friendless yet struggle with the cultural, geographical, and lifestyle chasm that exists between them and those whom they would serve. Mission Adelante has discovered a cross cultural mission field on our own doorstep and we are passionate about helping you tap into it!

Abundant volunteer participation has been one of the most significant blessings and fruits of the Mission Adelante ministry. There are currently about 45 volunteers serving in ongoing roles with Mission Adelante. More exciting than the numbers though are the people. Some of them have made a lifestyle out of serving broken people. Felipe and Morgan Ham and Bill Medley have been volunteering on the front lines with Mission Adelante since before we began in 2005, now over two years ago. Valerie Kalny has kept our books since inception. Our board members also fit into that category of those having served since inception. They include Scott and Paulette Robinette, Ben Kalny, Dru Shiner, Ethan Vaughan, and Paul Nobrega.

Todd Jones, Susie Simpson are now completing their second year of service. And a majority of the rest have served for multiple trimesters including Chris and Veronica Lang, Mary Ann Bettis, Caren Collins and others who are nearing the two year mark..

We praise God for the incredible partners we have in this ministry. And we praise Him for the ways He is working in their lives through serving.

Immigrant Kids in a Cultural No-Man's Land

2007-12-21T08:19:00.000-08:00

“That’s where my dad is,” said Felipe as we passed the Wyandotte County Detention Center. “Yeah”, said Emanuel, “We go there to visit him”. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Only three weeks earlier I had greeted their father at the door as he picked his 4 kids and 3 nephews/nieces up from our Thursday night outreach Bible study.

Eleven of us had squeezed into two cars and we were on our way to a local Columbian restaurant to drink Mango smoothies and play UNO. When we arrived I asked Nayeli, the oldest sister, about their father and got a shrug and a mumble. It was clear she didn’t want to talk about it.

There was “Mango en leche” for everyone. And “Skips”, “Reverses” and “Draw Fours” were almost as plentiful as the laughter. And yet I wondered how these children, could laugh when their father/uncle was in jail.

Immigrant children are in a cultural no-man’s land. As they grow, they learn English quickly and integrate into some aspects of American culture through the school system. Yet, their parents often lag behind in both cultural integration as well as language acquisition. The gap widens and a young teenager finds himself in cultural flux; not really a part of American culture, distant from his parents, and highly susceptible to negative peer influences. With a father in prison the deck is stacked against these children.

And yet I am hopeful that in the case of Felipe, Nayeli, and their siblings and cousins that God will use Kids Adelante to fill the cultural gap they live their lives in as well as the gap their incarcerated father has left. And, I have hope that they will find a relationship with the Savior of the world.

Mission Adelante Christmas Update

2007-12-20T15:22:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from the Mission Adelante Team!

As we head into this weekend and then the Christmas break I wanted to update you all on a few recent happenings in the Mission Adelante community and give you some creative ideas for year-end giving.

A Grand Finale
With snow falling and temperatures dropping God brought record numbers of Volunteers and immigrants to celebrate Christmas and the end of another trimester. Some 150 plus people turned out to enjoy a catered Chinese buffet, great jazz music, an awards ceremony, and a brief evangelistic message. An army of volunteers helped put the event together and donate services and items to make it happen. Several kids received awards for memorizing scripture verses and perfect attendance at our program, while a few kids were selected for special awards including leadership, servant heart, and enthusiasm. Sara’s husband, Pedro confessed after the party that he hadn’t wanted to come, but that his wife had dragged him along against his will. With a big smile on his face he said, “I had a great time! This is the first time I’ve ever enjoyed an event like this.” We are praying that God will use this event to open doors for us to connect relationally with the friends and family members of our kids and ESL students.

The Power of Giving
On Monday night I stopped by the home of Nayeli, Felipe and Emanuel with a van load of gifts contributed by members of a Heartland Community Church small group. When Nayeli came to the door I told her I needed some help unloading some “stuff” from my van. “What stuff?” she asked. “Just some stuff”, I replied. She called her brothers and we all went out to the van. When I opened the back hatch their eyes opened wide and their mouths dropped. “It’s all for you”, I said. In a matter of 30 seconds my van was unloaded and I was inside watching the kids looking for their names on each gift. Their mother, Luz, and their grandmother were there watching too. A few weeks ago I had learned that their father was in prison.

Nayeli, Felipe and Emanuel are an interesting trio. They connected to Kids Adelante through a VBS program we did last summer with the help of Emmanuel Baptist Church. Most kids connect with us because their parents are in our English program. Nayeli and Felipe had perfect attendance this trimester and Nayeli set the bar high for the other kids in the oldest group by coming with her verse memorized nearly every week. She received the leadership award at our party on Saturday.

After watching the kids excitedly investigate their gifts, I took the opportunity to circle the family up, share a verse and pray for them. Felipe said he wanted to pray too, but when his turn came he didn’t know what to say. So, I told him to repeat after me. To my surprise, everyone in the room repeated the prayer after me, including their mother and grandmother. Afterward they began to ask about our Bible Study and how to be a part of it. I extended an invitation to our Christmas worship celebration this Sunday night. They accepted.

We continue to be convinced that God works through compassionate service, caring relationships and His word to draw people to Himself. Thank you to all who have played role in this process through giving or volunteering.
Please pray with us for them, that God would bring them on Sunday night the 23rd. That they would feel welcome in our community and home, that His word would take root in their hearts, and that they would be reborn to new life in Christ.

Year End Giving Ideas:
Mission Adelante relies significantly on year-end giving to meet our ministry and operating budget each year. This year we are praying that God will provide $25,000 toward our 2008 ministry budget through year-end giving. We invite you to consider being a part of meeting this goal in one of the following ways.

Cash contribution: You may send checks to Mission Adelante, 251 N. 15th Street, Kansas City, KS 66102.
Gift Cards: We need gift cards to places like Home Depot, Office Max, and Dick’s sports.
Non-Cash Assets (like automobiles): Mission Adelante has a foundation fund set up through the Servant Christian Community Foundation. SCCF specializes in converting assets to cash for ministry organizations. If you have an asset such as a vehicle that you are considering selling, why not save yourself the hassle and use it to make a kingdom impact. SCCF makes it really easy for donors and ministries, and they are very efficient. Please contact Connie at chougland@servantchristian.com for details on how do this!

Thank you for your interest in Mission Adelante and your part in it. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

In His Grace,
Jarrett Meek

Thank You!

2007-12-01T08:22:00.000-08:00

You have believed in God’s power to work through us. You have encouraged us. You have helped confirm God’s calling in our lives. You have prayed for us. You have supported our ministry financially. You have been our friends. You have served along with us. We are so grateful for you and your support! Thank you!

Welcome Lucy to the Team!

2007-12-01T08:21:00.001-08:00

On May 16, 2007 Lucy Rose Meek was born into the Meek team! What a blessing. Though Lucy has been by far our easiest baby, our family has had a challenging year adjusting to having four kids in the midst of our demanding ministry and homeschooling schedule. Kristen is a true hero of the faith!

Members of our family occupy their time as follows: Caroline-reading about and drawing horses, Annie-playing piano, Charlie-race cars, swords, football, Mommy and Daddy—trying to maintain sanity!

Though we often feel like we spend ourselves, we are more confirmed than ever in the calling God has given us with Mission Adelante. Thank you for your prayers and support!

2007 Mile-Markers

2007-12-01T08:21:00.000-08:00

· A New Building for Mission Adelante

Thanks to generous giving by Heartland Community Church, we were able to purchase a building for Mission Adelante at a key location in our target neighborhood. Having been a funeral home in the past, we undertaking a significant renovation project to resurrect it to a new life and a new purpose. Volunteer opportunites in the new building should abound through the first half of 2008

· Raul Contreras passes citizenship exam

This very day, after four trimesters in our ESL program working with Todd Jones and others, our neighbor, Raúl took and passed the U.S. citizenship exam in English!

· Growing a church

Mission Adelante’s church plant has shown even-paced growth throughout the year. Ten people have now received Christ through our ministry. Though every gain seems to be hard-fought, we now average 22 adults and 18 kids at our monthly worship services and have three home-based Bible studies meeting on Sunday nights.

· Servant Christian Foundation Passion Award

In November Mission Adelante was recognized along with 21 other local, regional, and international ministries at the Thurman Mitchell Passion Awards. It was a tremendous honor and boost for our team!

Welcome Lucy Rose Meek

2007-05-23T15:29:00.000-07:00

Lucy Rose Meek
One Wednesday, May 16, we welcomed Lucy Rose into the Meek family. She was born with a full head of black hair, evidence that she is trying already to fit into the Hispanic culture we are immersed in. Kristen and Lucy and the rest of us are doing great thanks to the support of great friends and family. Please pray for Kristen as she adjusts to being a mother of four!

Serving Hispanics to Christ and Mobilizing them to serve
The launch of our summer trimester last Thursday represents a significant milestone in the ministry of Mission Adelante. Leticia Flores, the first woman to receive Christ through Mission Adelante in January of 2006 has graduated from our English program and is now serving as a volunteer. Though other Hispanics have been mobilized to serve in various ways over the last year and a half, Leticia is the first to take on a weekly volunteer role. It is so exciting to see how God has worked in her life! We are hoping that Alejandro Zarate and Elena Hernanadez will join Leticia this week! Please pray for these new members of our volunteer team to find a great sense of joy in sharing their lives with others.

Discipling Program
This is the year for Mission Adelante to establish a clear pathway for discipling new believers and equip our immigrant friends who have received Christ to invest in others. Last Sunday night we kicked off a thirteen week discipling program that emphasizes one-on-one spiritual mentoring in the foundations of the faith. Seven Hispanic immigrants are participating in this with the hope of 3-4 more joining in the next 2 weeks. Please pray that the Lord would foster a deep desire in these new believers for communion with Him and a passion for investing in others.

Facility Process
We are marching forward slowly and deliberately toward acquiring a facility to house our ministry. Seth Sears has been running point on the inspection process and our board of directors will meet this weekend to discuss these findings. Our closing date is scheduled for July 12. Please pray for our board of directors to discern well our next steps in light of the inspection reports.

Departures
On a sad note, Allie and Allen Arias have decided to end their apprenticeship with Mission Adelante to spend a season investing more intentionally in building a foundation for their marriage outside the ministry environment where the needs of others can become overwhelming. We will miss them personally as well their unique ministry gifts. Please pray for Allie and Alllen as they seek to grow in this next phase of their lives together.

Returns
Earlier this month Megan Schoff returned to the Mission Adelante neighborhood after spending a month in Costa Rica doing Spanish immersion training. We can see a huge difference in Megan's Spanish ability and confidence and we are excited to see how this training will benefit Megan in her roles in Mission Adelante. We look forward to sending the Sears family to Costa Rica in August for the same purpose!

Thank You!
We are tremendously grateful for your love and support for our family and for Mission Adelante. I praise God for giving me the privilege of serving in this way.

In His Grace,
Jarrett Meek