MUP-DAT is hosting a mission trip, January 8 − 14, 2012, to Birmingham, Alabama in response to the April 2011 tornadoes.  There is a $240/person fee.  Scholarships are available.  Contact Kathy Montgomery, 573-639-0378 or jomontgomery@gmail.com or Jim Cruickshank, 573-220-6696, jcruick@ktis.net  if interested.

Five of our group were experiencing a mission trip with Covenant for the first time and the other seven were veteran participants. This huge endeavor to rebuild is a joint effort of the Presbytery of South Louisiana, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Project Homecoming.

In 2007, churches in the Presbytery of South Louisiana hosted 4,446 volunteers, contributing 156,640 hours of work ($2,662,880.00 worth of labor) to gut 212 homes, reconstruct 59 homes and working on another 40 more in various states of completion. One wonders about how the home owners feel toward this myriad of people who come here to help put their homes and lives back together, and I quote from our home owner's daughter Jarlene Crawford, “after all we've gone through, I really think the renovation is done better with volunteers. The work is just better.” (There were seven members of her family who lost their homes and have had to go through renovation.)
On Sunday evening our very capable and knowledgeable Village leader, Kerry Herdegen, 25, gave us a very in depth report of all the work that has been going on in New Orleans over the past three years. He prepared us emotionally and spiritually to be ready for our week's work.

The next morning we met Jessica Jennette, the work site manager, who assigns the work projects to each to the groups living at Olive Tree for the week. Our group was divided into two groups of six and then we spent the rest of the week working hard; meeting, relating and learning about the life stories of our families of the homes we were working on; experiencing a little of the flavor of New Orleans; and laughing and having fun with each other. Having organized mission trips since 1999, I can tell you that you form very special bonds with those people who participate in them.

I strongly encourage anyone who has the opportunity to experience a mission trip to do so. You'll be glad you did.

Pam Stouffer,
Covenant Presbyterian Church
Marshall, MO

Please keep the people in the affected areas of Myanmar and those
working to assist the survivors in your prayers.

Work scheduled for weeks of June 8-14 and June 15-21, 2008

Dads, call your sons and sons call your dads, then reserve
your space by calling Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (toll-free) at 866-732-6121.

The most serious damage was reported in the Suffolk area, near Norfolk. Two other tornadoes were reported in Brunswick County and Colonial Heights, a Richmond suburb. PDA National Response Team members Carol and Dave Thalman of Winchester, VA, and Beth Goss of Herndon, VA are enroute to work with the Presbytery of the James in its response to this disaster. Please go to the Presbyterian Church USA website–www.pcusa.org/give/online/projectDR000015 for most recent updates or to donate.

A highlight of the site is BenefitsConnect, an online tool that provides active Plan members secure access to their personal benefits information. Not only can members submit changes to their contact information and dependent status, but they can use online calculators to estimate their pension and death benefits.

Not a super fisherman? Don't let that limit you, ask your friends to donate $20 to the Food Depot anyway! Email Pastor Michael McCormack at mike@presbykv.org or contact the presbytery office for an ANGLER'S PACKET to sign up!
EVERYONE CAN FISH FOR HUNGER!