Please Pray for Branches Florida City

Late Saturday night, a fire burned down the sanctuary and playground of our partner church ministry Florida City United Methodist Church. Please pray for the staff, students and surrounding community that the devastation be turned to opportunity. Sunday morning service was held outdoors. The Branches program continues. Plans are moving ahead with all the summer activities. May God be praised and lives be changed.
View the local news coverage. http://cbs4.com/video/?id=95992@wfor.dayport.com

Univ of Northern Iowa arrives Sunday

Summer 2010 begins Sunday with the arrival of a group from Iowa. We hit a record high of 93. Hope the group is ready for summer heat also.
We're looking forward to this week's experiences. Many of our partner agencies and ministries have been low on volunteers. Many children's programs are preparing for the end of the school year. Their will be a wide range of variety of projects.

Miami Staff and Dwellers Making the News

In 5 separate articles, online magazines, and newspapers our Miami staff and dwellers have been featured. 

Duke's Faith and Leadership feature this article on Vanessa Silverman and local leadership.
http://faithandleadership.com/features/articles/growing-your-own-leaders

YMToday.com published this article from Heidi Aspinwall on encouraging mission service in the gap year before college.
http://www.ymtoday.com/articles/article.php?aid=2578

Goshen News published an article featuring former Dweller, Isaac Shue is his efforts to raise awareness and help Haiti's recovery.
http://goshennews.com/local/x993506934/Hearts-for-Haiti

In the April issue of Presbyterian's Today, Dweller Megan McCarty is featured for her blogging this year.  Young Adult Volunteers- Ministry of Presence
[I'm sorry the link has been replaced with May's issue already!]

This month's youthworker newsletter from Mennonite Mission Network, features 6 articles from DOOR's national staff for summer activities.
http://www.mennonitemission.net/Tools/Relate/Pages/Home.aspx

Special Summer Offer for Local Miami Dade Youth Groups!

DOOR Miami has been awarded a generous community grant from Dade Community Foundation. This partnership will allow DOOR Miami to open weeks for local Miami Dade Youth groups to participate in a week of service and learning all summer. (Your group must originate from Miami-Dade to qualify for this special program.)
If your interested in bringing your youth group, please contact Marie at 303-295-3667 for availability of the week you wish to participate. Or contact Heidi at 786-261-3667 to discuss details of the week and financial arrangements.
Thank You Dade Community Foundation!!!

City Kids Preparing for Camp Oasis

Please be in prayer for youth, young adults and adult leaders as they prepare to pack it up and head to camp. Camp Oasis is a special long weekend camp in Central Florida for the youth of Miami. It's been happening every Spring Break for about 15 years.
Pray for the youth to be open to the new experiences of attending camp. Pray for the leaders to guide and lead. Pray for the Camp staff in central Florida to receive the group with a welcoming and gentle spirit. Pray for the weather to allow for the many outdoor activities that camp is good for.
We are thankful for God's presence in Miami and in rural camps in central Florida. May God be worshiped and praised in both!

Welcome Auburn University's Campus Ministry

After a fantastic week last week, we are in for another. this week we are hosting Auburn's campus ministry's spring break mission trip. Their previous plans of serving in Haiti were cancelled due to the earthquake. Even now, skilled labor and first responders are needed in country. However, this week they'll be focusing on the Haitian community in Miami and the relief efforts being staged from here. May God be glorified in all that is done and said. May this week open each participant's eyes to interconnectedness of God's people.

Reflections on a weekend retreat by Dweller Megan

Read her post or the blog. Read other Dweller reflections.

We were the only church down south who were crazy enough to make the five hour drive up north. Since we were so far “north,” the weather changed. Our kids were completely unprepared for the cold that awaited us in Leesburg and most of them only showed up with flip flops. Although, to be fair, I think more than anything that most of our kids actually only own flip flops.
I learned a lot about our youth this past weekend. Five hours in a car will do that to any group of people. However, I learned more about their lives and their Florida City culture. I learned mostly by listening. Not by listening to the ridiculous stories they told, or to their complaints, or to their conversations with one another. I learned so much more about their lives by listening to their questions.