Mission Updates

MISSIONS UPDATE

The Red Bird Mission in southeastern Kentucky is celebrating ninety years of service to the Beverly, Kentucky community. They had a special outdoor concert in July and will have additional speakers and act invitees on October 7th and 8th to mark this very special anniversary.

This past year Red bird Mission's School, grades K-12, provided quality academic instruction and spiritual formation for 152 students even though a year ago it was uncertain if the school would be able to open for the 2010-2011 school year. But God answered their prayers and there is no question that the school will be open for the 2011-2012 school year.

A new partnership with a local hospital secures their medical ministry for thousands needing rural health care. A physical fitness plan, Body Recall, designed specifically for the elderly was implemented this year. Through the Community Outreach educational and training programs scores of families are strengthened to become ore self sufficient.

Red Bird Mission is always appreciative of the many volunteers who come annually to create a healthier living environment by making repairs and improvements to homes of the residents in this regional.

Please remember to keep the Red Bird Mission in your prayers as they continue to minister to the people in this region of Kentucky.

Their website is: www.rdmission.org
Their mailing address is Red Bird Mission,
70 Queendale Center, Beverly KY 40913
Submitted by Martha Richardson

Rich Dargenio

Hello Friends / Family -

It is hard to believe the summer is actually over. We hope you had a good summer. We are thankful for you and so many of your prayers while we were at camps for our assignment and for our local camp trip. So many of you have emailed or called to say that you prayed. The power of prayer is so real when you see kids lives transformed before you eyes. Thanks for being in the battle with us through prayer. Your support and prayers give us much confidence...

As we start the fall we have a few prayer requests to ask you join us in...

1. NEW MINISTRIES: We have targeted a handful of towns to pursue to start Young Life in Northern Ohio. They all involve trying to find and network enough people who would want to provide some critical local ownership. Please pray for Huron, Toledo Urban, Blissfield (MI), Avon, Youngstown, Medina, Chagrin Falls, Westlake, Perrysburg, Mansfield, and Ashtabula. We have contacts and interest in all of these towns that we are following up. We have just hired a great veteran staff (Erik Hofmann in Dayton) to help develop new ministries across Ohio. Please pray for God's wisdom and his Spirit's power that more and more kids are impacted.

2. RICH'S ROLE AS REGIONAL DIRECTOR: A month ago Rich's boss asked him to take an interim position to serve as the regional director of the southern half of the state (the Buckeye Region) as well as Northern Ohio. The role would last as long as it takes to hire a new regional director for the Buckeye Region, probably a couple months to a year. I am excited to serve in this capacity, and I am cautious because it could be a hard pace to maintain. I am delegating some of my responsibilities to some of our senior staff. Please pray for our family's time together and wisdom and God's blessing on the new areas we will be serving.

3. OUR FAMILY: Big picture - our kids are growing up: Anne's first hear in high school, Holly's first year of middle school, and Joe's first year playing tackle football! (see attached photo). God has been so good to our family (see psalm 13:6 - we read it with our kids yesterday morning).

4. THE START OF CLUBS: Across both regions there are around 190 young life clubs starting up in the next 2 weeks with the new school year! Pray for leaders as they are building relationships with kids and many kids would be drawn to club and start considering the person of Jesus Christ.

5. A MINIVAN: There is a staff family that we serve that is in a need of a car for their family. They have been on staff for 10 years and just moved to a few years ago to northern Ohio to restart a ministry in our Region. Because they are rebuilding the ministry, their budget will take a few years to build up. They are pregnant with their third child and really need a minivan to fit all of the car seats. I know they would never ask for themselves but they could use a free or fairly cheap used minivan. Let me know if you know of something or you could help.

Thanks so much for your support and prayers... We appreciate you!

Rich (and Emily) for the Dargenios

Rich Dargenio, Regional Director
Young Life North Coast / Buckeye Regions

David Rask

Dear Friends and Family,

Summer finally arrived in Idaho, a bit later than usual. Crissie and I were able to escape to the mountains over the Independence Day weekend and enjoyed some canoeing and fishing.

The big MAF event in July is always candidacy. We had 5 pilot/mechanics couples and 1 pilot/information technology specialist couple in this class along with some short term people who already have assignments. As part of the candidate committee it is part of my task to participate in interviews and assign regional locations for these families for their future service in MAF. I am continually amazed at the great people God sends our way. Four of these families will be going to Indonesia and two to Africa. As these future MAFers head out to find the support team that will stand behind them in the years to come, I’m sure they would appreciate your prayers.

In the aviation world the other big event of July is the EAA Airventure at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This is the largest aviation show in the world and, somehow, I have never managed to go, until now. MAF has a display at the show. This year we had a Cessna 207 from Haiti on display next to our tent. This airplane was an earthquake survivor and helped significantly in the relief effort. It is on its way to Idaho for some maintenance work and was able to divert to Oshkosh on the way. Most of the airplanes at the show are in near perfect condition. Our 207 was no beauty queen but it did attract a lot of attention as it is kind of an unusual airplane. It was great to connect with many folks who have known of MAF and some who were just learning about who we are and what we do.

I will be following up with a couple of people who might donate their airplanes to MAF as a result of the show. People who own airplanes tend to think of them almost as part of their family. Finding the right fit for an airplane donation can be a challenge and a great joy when it all comes together. I love being a part of that process. I would appreciate your prayers as we work through lots of details. Also, since every aviation service provider has a presence at Oshkosh, I was able to connect with several companies that have products of great interest to MAF as well. I really enjoyed and valued my time at this show and will look forward to being there again in the future.

Our next great adventure is a road trip to Alaska. This is our vacation time and we will be driving a vehicle up for Evan, leaving on Aug. 5. You may remember that he had to get to work so quickly after graduation that he had no time to drive up himself. We are really looking forward to the journey and plan to spend a little time in the Canadian Rockies on the way. We may also have some time to tour some in Alaska after we arrive but, for the moment, we are leaving our plans kind of fluid for what happens after we arrive. We will be initially heading for the Kingdom Air facilities, run by Dwayne and Carolyn King, a name that may be familiar to some of you. Dwayne was the first missionary pilot I ever met when my home church in Massachusetts supported his family, back when I was in Jr. Hi., I think. Dwayne and Caroline are still carrying on the task in Alaska. We are really looking forward to connecting with them. Evan works for Dwayne’s son, David, who runs Last Frontier Air Ventures. They are both located at a private airstrip in the Sutton area.

The Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant where Ian has been working for the last 4 years has not been faring really well during these economic times. This month they found it necessary to give Ian a layoff. So, he is out of work for the present. He still attends his Developmental Therapy sessions each weekday morning and volunteers some at MAF. Please pray for the right opportunities for him in the coming months. We are still really praying for the right opportunities for him to continue to develop more independence and autonomy.

Plans continue to progress for Evan and Lona’s upcoming wedding. The date has been set as December 17 in the Speer Chapel at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas. Crissie has been out searching for the right dress with another future ‘Mother of the Groom’ and has settled on one we both love. I’m still pondering just the right shirt for my ensemble but I’m sure I’ll figure it out in due time (that’s a joke for any of you who are wondering if I’m serious).

Thanks to all of you for your partnership with us in so many ways. We love and appreciate you all.

Blessings,

Dave for Crissie, Ian and Evan.