July 21-25, 2010 
         

            Twenty-nine Woodlanders make up the Mission team going to LaBlanca Baptist Church just outside Weslaco, Texas. This Texas Border town is where God has been using us for 5 years. Jesus said,  “I’m sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God.  I’m sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in me.” Acts 26: 17-18

            The world's most populated intersection of nations, cultures,  commerce and languages can be found in the Rio Grande Valley. The Rio Grande River flows from arid El Paso/ Juarez on the high desert to tropical Brownsville/Matamoras as it flows into the Gulf of Mexico.  The river flows past cities with productive bustling factors and fast-growing suburbs.  It also meanders past rural, isolated villages where a water tap in the middle of town is a “modern convenience” and just getting there involves  a long, dusty drive.  The differences abound, but the needs are the same — people needing Jesus, people needing a loving touch from God’s people, people needing food, medicine, and education. 

            This border region contains three of the nation's five poorest counties. And the population is projected to grow to 36 million in the next twenty years. Now is not the time to let down our brothers and sisters. Just as the river nourishes the earth, we must continue to nourish our  borderlands with missionaries, volunteers, financial support and most  importantly, the precious word of God.

            In a typical year, through River Ministry, over 800 medical volunteers provide needed health care to more than 40,000 patients in 551 medical and dental clinics. More than 600 abandoned and neglected children are supported, leadership training is provided to locals, and over 100 new Baptist churches are started along the border. Through the abundance of these good acts, River Ministry is able to bring the word of the Gospel to life, which results in over 5,000 professions of faith recorded annually.  More than 10,000 people from Texas and other states minister annually in Vacation Bible Schools, raising goats, evangelism, crafts, revivals, construction, witnessing, gardening, leadership training, medical/dental clinics, strengthening the churches, and encouraging and affirming the Kingdom work that is going on.  The River Ministry, BGCT, has been helping these borderlanders for more than three decades, not only economically and physically, but also emotionally, socially and spiritually.

            We work with the LaBlanca Baptist Church. Pastor, Jose Cavazos and his wife, Imelda, are wonderful examples of missionary, church planters. We are honored to work with them. Below is are schedule and a list of Woodlanders who are going.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY:

Bill Nichols, Team Leader 210-846-0856 mobile
Woodland Baptist Church, 210-493-4501

First Baptist Church Weslaco, Family Life Center
600 South Kansas Avenue
Weslaco, TX 78596-6290
(956) 968-9585

TEAM MEMBERS:

Leo Adams, Doug Aird, Pat Allen, Ted Allen, Bill Bahr, Audrey Ballinger, Alex Cantu, Charles Clark, Brad Dutton, Lauren Hebert, Miles Hurst, Brian Kirn, Erin Kirn, Lance Mayes, Merlin Merritt, John Myers, Elizabeth Myers, Kay Myers (Prayer Leader), Bill Nichols, Curtis Peterson, Samantha Quinn, Rayleen Rumpf, Jerry Rumpf, David Sharp, Lauren Stewart, Becky Upchurch, Patty Villarreal and Anabel Yeiser.

OUR SCHEDULE:

Wednesday July 21
12:15 PM Arrive at Woodland – help load vans and truck
12:55 PM Prepare to depart - Devotional #1 – Bill
1:00 PM Depart San Antonio—we will make a stop to eat
6:00 PM Arrive FBC Weslaco —unpacking & out to eat
7:30 PM Travel to LaBlanca – Orientation & Team Meeting—Devotional # 2 – Becky
9:30 PM Return to Weslaco - Ice Cream Social
10:00 PM Sweet Sleep

Thursday July 22
6:00 - 6:30 AM Rise and Shine
6:30 - 7:20 AM Breakfast served at Weslaco
7:20 - 7:45 AM Announcements/Music/Devotional- Devotional # 3 – Merlin
7:45 - 8:00 AM Prepare and pack to leave for La Blanca
8:00 - 8:20 AM Vans travel to La Blanca
8:30 - 9:00 AM Vans pickup kids for VBS
8:30 - 9:00 AM VBS set up and preparation - - Construction team
9:00 - 9:15 AM Opening Assembly - VBS - La Blanca Baptist Church
9:15 - 11:15AM VBS Rotations
11:15 - 11:30AM Closing Assembly
11:30 - 11:45AM Daily Leadership debriefing with all VBS Leadership
11:30 - 12:00PM Vans return kids to homes
11:45 - 12:00PM VBS Clean Up
12:20 - 12:50PM Vans return to Weslaco for Lunch
1:00 - 1:30 PM Lunch at Weslaco & Devotional
1:30 - 3:30 PM Rest period – Free Time
5:00 - 6:00 PM Supper – served at Weslaco - Devotional # 4
6:15 - 6:45 PM Travel to Homes of Members of La Blanca
7:00 - 8:30 PM Team small groups visit in Members’ homes
8:30 - 9:00 PM Team groups return to LaBlanca Church
9:00 - 9:20 PM Vans return to Weslaco
9:30 - 10:00PM Team meeting/Announcements/Devotional # 5 – Rayleen

Friday July 23
6:00 - 6:30 AM Rise and Shine
6:30 - 7:20 AM Breakfast served at Weslaco
7:20 - 7:45 AM Announcements/Music/Devotional # 6 – Joel
7:45 - 8:00 AM Prepare and pack to leave for La Blanca
8:00 - 8:20 AM Vans travel to La Blanca
8:30 - 9:00 AM Vans pickup kids for VBS
8:30 - 9:00 AM VBS set up and preparation - - Construction team
9:00 - 9:15 AM Opening Assembly - VBS - La Blanca Baptist Church
9:15 - 11:15AM VBS Rotations
11:15 - 11:30AM Closing Assembly
11:30 - 11:45AM Daily Leadership debriefing with all VBS Leadership
11:30 - 12:00PM Vans return kids to homes
11:45 - 12:00PM VBS Clean Up
12:20 - 12:50PM Vans return to Weslaco for Lunch
1:00 - 1:30 PM Lunch at Weslaco & Devotional # 7 - Curtis Peterson
1:30 - 4:30 PM Rest period & Free time
4:30 - 5:00 PM Vans to La Blanca
5:00- 6:15 PM Team take gift items to families with LaBlanca members
6:15 - 7:00 PM Fiesta Block Party preparation
7:00 - 8:15 PM Fiesta Block Party – all eat at LaBlanca – Hot Dog cook-off
8:15 - 8:30 PM Clean up and Vans return to Weslaco
8:30 - 9:00 PM Team Meeting / announcements - Devotional # 8 - Patty V

Saturday July 24
6:00 - 6:30 AM Rise and Shine
6:30 - 7:20 AM Breakfast served at Weslaco
7:20 - 7:45 AM Announcements/Music/Devotional
7:45 - 8:00 AM Prepare and pack to leave for La Blanca
8:00 - 8:20 AM Vans travel to La Blanca
8:30 - 9:00 AM Vans pickup kids for VBS
8:30 - 9:00 AM VBS set up and preparation - - Construction team
9:00 - 9:15 AM Opening Assembly - VBS - La Blanca Baptist church
9:15 - 11:15AM VBS Rotations
11:15 - 11:30AM Closing Assembly
11:30 - 11:45AM Leadership debriefing with all VBS Leadership/expectations for Summer 2010
11:30 - 12:00PM Vans return kids to homes
11:45 - 12:00PM VBS Clean Up
12:20 - 12:50PM Vans return to Weslaco for Lunch
1:00 - 1:30 PM Lunch at Weslaco
1:30 - 3:30 PM Rest period
6:00 – 7:30 PM Pot Luck Supper with Cavazos’& LaBlanca members 
                       (Woodland & LaBlanca contribute) at Weslaco—
                        Video of Week & History of Partnership

Sunday July 25
6:00 - 7:00 AM Rise & shine & pack
7:00 - 7:30 AM Breakfast at local eatery
7:30 - 9:00 AM Pack vehicles and clean up
9:00 - 9:30 AM Travel to LaBlanca
9:30 -12:00 AM SS & worship at FBC LaBlanca
12:15PM Depart for San Antonio - Eat lunch along the way
5:30 PM Arrive in SA - Woodland