The second grade and seniors!

PRAISE REPORT - today the 2nd grade had one of the best trips to the Senior Frienship Center. They had a great time talking, doing crafts and reading - the faces of the seniors were beaming!

Math Olympics

Congratulations to the following students who "placed" at the ACSI Math Olympics at SFCA Friday, April 25th:

Reasoning :
3rd place - Sarah Swierz, 3rd grade and 5th place - Tyler Muffali, 5th grade

Computation:
5th place - Kiana Magner, 4th grade and 2nd place - Laura Duke, 4th grade

Over 125 students were in competition today! Members of the FMCS team included:

-3rd Grade: Kyle Glynn, Holly Johnson, Cheyanne Miller, Austin O’Grosky, Sarah Swiersz, Blaire Colbert

-4th Grade: Kianna Magner, Laura Duke, Olivia Jensen, Colin Nelson, Alex Sanabria, Marissa Lee

-5th Grade: Grant Dierksheidi, Taylor Lowry, Zachary Cole, Robin Mitchell, Tyler Mufalli, Brendan Sheets

-6th Grade: Hannah Turner, Grace Turner, Paige Williams, Ashlyn Brown, Mareena Chase, Taylor Derums

-7th Grade: Courtney Schopke, Jordan Gulbronson, Zach Felice, Jordan McBreen, Brian Richards, Anthony Trelli

-8th Grade: Sarah Branthoover, Alexus Medinis, Breena Hambsch, Tristan Buchanan, Hannah Couch, Rachelle Radford

Sharing Good News!

It may not be a MAJOR news story, but it means alot to all of us when our kids venture outside the walls of FMCS and represent Christ and the school. This comes from Mrs. Couch about the 4th grade's trip to Kennedy Space Center: "Our trip was excellent! The guide was great and everything went smoothly!

I wanted you to know that when we stopped for dinner at Whistle Junction, the manager and the three waitresses came in and told us that out of all the school groups they see every year, WE WERE THE BEST! Can you believe it?! they even came in with a plate of cupcakes for everyone! I was proud of their behavior. Thought you'd want to know!"

Thank you to our students, teachers, and parents who chaperoned on that trip!

Mexico - April 13

One final service! We have enjoyed going to this church the last few years because there is no question about the special love that the Pastor, his wife and staff have for the people and you really sense His presence when he arrive! They meet in a tent that is set-up along the side of a mountain - part of the mountain is their stage. They have a great worship band, and we enjoyed ministering with a full service and Pastor Lucas getting another chance to share his sermon from the other night "Love God, Love people." After the service we had a "first" - the Pastor, his wife, staff and youth joined us for lunch together. We scattered the teams at the tables so they could try to interact with each other. After lunch, Rachel McLaughlin and John Meredith joined their worship team for a English/Spanish language worship time - very cool, a glimpse of what heaven will be like! Finally, before all the students had a chance to play together, Mrs. Mitchell used our team to teach them a couple of dramas they could use at their church.

Mexico - April12

This morning is the time that we shop for souvenirs at the Market Place in downtown Juarez. It is a time for the kids to buy things for family, friends, and themselves - mostly things that may turn colors or stop working by the time we leave the county.

This afternoon we traveled to Lisa Hernandez's church in Anapra, an area west of Juarez, lots of poverty and growing. We had about 60 children attend the service after inviting them to come. A couple of our team members, Leo Hinkley and Kim Richards, were able to see kids that they had spent time with them the last time they were here! You can get more information on her ministry at http://www.missionontheborder.org/. Testimonies were given by Christi Kellogg and Katie Edwards. At each service we have been able to distribute kids bibles and bibles to adults, or we left them to support the local church. (they will pass them out to those that need it the most) Lisa shared her testimony of faith, hearing from God and obedience about how a "common girl" from the US. that could not speak Spanish, could be used by God in Mexico!

When we returned, Tim Gamble spoke a message about his faith in God, obedience and what God has him do in the church that we first ministered to on April 10th.

Tonight, Edwin Rivera is explaining about the calling God has on his life and his family's. You can get more information at http://www.riveraministries.org/

Last night we shared verses in 2 Timothy about the DISCIPLINE needed to be a follower of Christ - 3 examples in scripture are of a soldier, athlete and farmer. Today, in a plan totally orchestrated by God, they had great challenges shared by 3 missionaries - Lisa Hernandez, Tim Gamble and Edwin Rivera. We did not plan on those 3 heroes of the faith to talk with the kids today - I really feel that God is speaking to someone on this team to do something totally out of their comfort zone and do GREAT THINGS FOR GOD, maybe on the mission field someday!!!! Pray for our team - one more day tomorrow before we cross the border Monday!

More pictures - click here

Mexico - April 11

Another busy day with two services! First we visited Mision Con Vision Children's Home - an orphanage of 30 children. What a great time we had! Dr. John and Kim Richards applied sealants to the kid's teeth in order to help them last longer. He also helped them by passing out toothbrushes, dental floss and showing them how to use it. There were adults and students that we able to pitch in and assist. While the medical mission was taking place, the students were doing what kids do best - playing! It was great for the children in the orphanage - many of them coming from abused and broken homes - to have someone that would love them and spend time with them. They were able to play on the playground, soccer, and other games. After that time was over, we did a full service for them and prayed over each one of them. We had a great time - our kids were pretty worn out!

Our second service took place at a church that we partnered with last year - Cristo La Roca. Last year, we did our service from a basketball court a few blocks from the church. This year the service was held right at the Assemblies of God church. It was not only our privilege to do the entire service but add a special request - Pastor Lucas was asked "last minute" to be "in season" and preach a sermon to the church! He did a great job speaking on the Parable of the Good Samaritan, used a few of our kids to illustrate, and challenged both the English and Spanish speaking to service for the Lord. It was his first sermon of his life on foreign soil and his first with a translator - we are proud of Pastor Lucas. The kids did another great job in being used by the Lord to reach the people through puppets, dramas, testimonies and clowns. We probably had about 50-60 people attend the service in the small church! Testimonies given by Alexus Medinis, Hannah Couch, Caleb Vigil and Chase Fulton.

More pictures - click here

Mexico - April 10

"Our first day of ministry was a great start. We did two, really 3 services. In the morning, we did a short service for kids 7 and under before they left for a free lunch from the church. Then we continued with more of the service for the older kids. The leader of the ministry in that area told us that, on the average, the girls in this area are pregnant and out of school by the age 13.

In the evening, we crammed over 100 people into a small area outside but they enjoyed every part of the service. It is so amazing to go into an area and hardly see anyone outside - BUT then we hit the streets, take the clowns and God gives us SO MUCH favor with those kids and adults! The Pastor told us that he had never seen more than 50 people come to his church - UNTIL TONIGHT! Testimonies were given by Krystal Richards, Brenna Hambsch, Rachelle Radford, and Derek Anderson. At the conclusion of the services, Christi Kellogg and Derek Anderson have stepped up to the microphone and led the crowds in the sinner’s prayer that they learned in Spanish. (Senora Rivera would be proud). Our group had a very good start to the trip - windy or not, God still moves!"

More pictures - click here

Mexico - April 9

Team prepares for ministry, working on orientation materials!

Mexico - Morning, April 10

It will be easier for me to update this page every day as long as we have the internet connection. It is 1o:30 am our time (12:30 yours) and we are preparing for our first service! Pray for us - calm winds, health, safety, and open hearts of the people of Mexico! Everyone is doing very well! Thank you!

Track Heroes

I am very thankful for Mr. Sanabria, Mrs. Harriot, and our parent volunteers for providing an after school track program for our 1st thru 5th graders. I am so proud to see our students out there working hard in the Florida heat - that is special!

Second Grade Lemonade Stand

I am proud of those 2nd grade students! They are hosting a lemonade stand on April 3rd and 4th for the Gabriel Home AND RAISED OVER $300 IN TWO DAYS. It is an excellent cause - thanks to all of you for your support!

Basketball and Pie for the Heart!

I am very proud of our 6th grade students, parents, and teachers -John Ryba, Jeri Danley and Julie Issenmann - for raising funds to support the American Heart Association with their missions project. Events included special dress down days, a benefit basketball game between the 6th grade and faculty, a bake sale at the game, and a pie-in-the-face halftime special event. Over the last couple of weeks, jars for the 3 teachers mentioned were positioned in both school offices for people to donate a dollar to see who would get a pie-in-the-face at halftime. Miss Julie Issenmann was the winner of the pie! The kids defeated the faculty in front of a great crowd after school on April 1st. Overall, over $500 was raised to support the American Heart Association!

Choir Sings National Anthem

On March 29th, our middle school chorus, under the direction of Mrs. Dorothy Gulbronson, sang the National Anthem at the Florida Everblades hockey game. You can see and hear them sing by clicking here!