UNC Charlotte's Campus Ministry :: UCF

March 10

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:10:44 +0000

Some Highlights from Allie.

Sunday: Church service in Chimal at the Methodist Church. We all introduced ourselves and told why we were there and what we hoped to accomplish this week. Then Colby spoke for about 20 minutes and Melina translated. Not exactly a sermon but a nice address about our purpose and our relationship to God and each other. Afterwards we played soccer with the kids in the yard behind the church and had a wonderful picnic lunch that was prepared for us by the members of the church…of course wonderful Mexican food prepared in an outdoor fire.

Monday and Tuesday: We broke into teams of four. Some of us went out to the camp and helped move dirt and rocks, preparing the floor of what will be a dormitory to sleep 12. Julieta and Alfredo hope to operate the camp for less fortunate and at-risk children, as well as for retreats for pastors and church organizations. In our construction labors we ran across two snakes, a tarantula, and two scorpions, but we kept our distance. Tuesday the team mixed and poured concrete for the floor. Another team stayed in Tepe and worked with the school that Julieta runs. They teach 19 children, ages 6 to 16, learning English, reading, science, math, history, the Bible, and other subjects. We help the children by having them read to us in English and correcting their pronunciation, answer their questions, explain their mistakes to them, and even help in the subject areas of math and science. Most of the curriculum is Christian-based, so there’s always a relgious bent and moral to the lessons.

The third group spent the days working with a mobile dentistry unit that comes to Tepe periodically to offer free dental work to the children and the whole community. Some of these children have never seen a dentist. The mouths of these people were SO bad!!! One little girl about eleven had about 4 teeth that were good. The rest were rotten, infected with gum disease, and full of pus. She was terrified and screaming as four or five of her rotten teeth were pried and pulled out in pieces. The first time she’d ever been to a dentist!!! The poor quality of the water they drink, the junk food and caffeine they eat, and the fact that oral hygiene is not emphasized at all are the causes of most of these problems.

A trip to the local market was an incredible experience: lots of colorful and aromatic foods being prepared and sold, vegetables and fruits of all kinds including a variety of cacti (which we had for dinner last night—cooked, they looked a lot like green beans), wonderful fresh-squeezed fruit juices and smoothies, clothing, automobile parts, odds and ends, household items, live animals (roosters, chicken, rabbits), gorgeous pottery and leather items.

An amazing experience was getting to return to the home of the farmer, Margarito, and his family that we helped get electricity for three years ago. They live in a shack in the middle of a field on a dirt road, but they are a happy group. Margarito has been sober for three years and is farming to provide for his big family. The conditions are bleak but they welcomed us proudly.

Everywhere we go, we are welcomed so warmly by everyone. They always express their gratitude for our bring here. We have more work ahead of us today and tomorrow: painting the interior of the Chimal church, working with children at a ´community kids club, continuing our work to build the dormitory on the farm, and visiting with locals and encouraging the children to attend school and church. We’re all staying with local families who could not be more gracious and hospitable.

Tuesday March 9

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:36:07 +0000

This is the street where the school is located and some of the team members are staying in Tepetlixpa. It’s a beautiful day here and everyone is happy. -Allie

Monday March 8

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:01:09 +0000

The groups are working well. Today we had just one dentist, so it will be hard to give attention to all people, but tomorrow we will hve the other dentist, and more of the guys will get involved. Colby shared yesterday at church, he did incredible good! Was a blessing. Also last night we visited some families in the community, we saw Ivon, and hopefully tonight we’ll visit Margarito and his family (the family in the mountain). Today there are people working in school, with the dentist and at camp. - Julieta

Volcán Popocatépetl Webcam

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:50:50 +0000

For weather type shots, see Mexico’s Secretary of Government webcam of the Popocatépetl Volcano below. Parents – if you see smoke … that’s normal. Popocatépetl is an Aztec word meaning “smoking mountain.” Popocatépetl is one of the most violent volcanoes in Mexico, having had more than 20 major eruptions since the Spanish arrived. Because Mexico City is the largest city in the world, Popo is one of the most observed volcanoes in the world; and evacuation routes and plans are well known and practiced.

View Larger Map

Sunday March 7

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:07:00 +0000

Team arrived on site last night and everyone is doing well. Stephanie is in flight and will arrive on time in Mexico City in a few hours. The group went to church this morning and they are actually still there (2pm EST) and probably will be there awhile longer. Sundays are very restful days in Mexico and the team will not be able to get any “work” done and will spend the day making new friends and learning a lot about the culture in the homes and at the tables as guests. They all feel very welcomed and its a great way to start a week of service. -Steve

Saturday March 6

admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:17:11 +0000

All flights landed safely in Mexico City on time. One of our students, Stephanie, was delayed in security and missed her flight. The next flight available is Sunday, so she will be arriving Mexico City 3pm on Sunday March 7. I have not heard from the team members, but I did talk on the phone to Alfredo on the ground in Mexico City where he and others are at the airport waiting for the teams to come through customs. -Steve

Keeping in Touch

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:48:45 +0000

This page has been set up for you to keep track of your family and friends. We will post updates as we get them. If anyone needs to get in contact with a student while on the trip, please call the campus pastor, Steve Cheyney at 704-779-1587 for help with this.

Communication
We live in a very accessiable world. However, there will be times when the team members are not able to reach the U.S. via internet or cell. Don’t worry. It’s a good thing! If there is an emergency or tragedy back home, please do not call your son or daughter directly – even to leave a voicemail. Word of tragic news back home could come at a point that is inappropriate. We want to take every precaution necessary and therefore do not want to add a second tragedy on top of another because a student hears his granddad died, while the student is laying tile on a roof – a situation that already has dangers without word of tragedy. In the event of an emergency we will contact the team leaders and have them relay the news in a pastoral way.

Messages
We encourage you to post messages below that will be shared with the team.

Central Piedmont – Johnson & Wales

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:12:56 +0000

While our weekly worship takes place on Tuesdays across from UNC Charlotte, we meet in multiple locations – including CPCC and Johnson & Wales. If you are interested in specific ministry taking place for either CPCC or Johnson & Wales, let us know below:

[contact-form]

Worship This Tuesday

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:19:42 +0000

7:30pm – Worship
6:30pm – Dinner before worship

click here for directions to Advent Lutheran

Lent is a powerful time. It is a time to prepare for Easter … the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a time to prepare for what resurrection means and brings. It is a time to prepare for what resurrection does and will do. All this, of course, if we can really prepare. How do we prepare for God’s grace? Lent reminds us that we shouldn’t jump so quick to the good stuff of resurrection without taking time in the wilderness. Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness … so can we. There is no resurrection without the wilderness – Jesus suffered and died first. Lent reminds us why Jesus suffered and calls us to suffer with others. Some think Lent is a depressing time. But Jesus did say blessed are those who are poor, and blessed are those who are meek, and blessed are those who mourn. Suffering is a blessing that shatters our own intellect. We have been cross shattered … shattered in search of resurrection.

Join us during Lent for a four week series we are calling Cross-Shattered, Tuesdays at 7:30pm across from UNC Charlotte at Advent Lutheran.

Tuesday February 23: Cross Shattered I

Tuesday March 2: Cross Shattered II

Tuesday March 9: UNC Charlotte Spring Break

Tuesday March 16: Cross Shattered III

Tuesday March 23: Cross Shattered IV

Tuesday March 30: Holy Week Service

We meet every Tuesdany night in the Gym of Advent Lutheran,
across from UNC Charlotte, 8840 University City Blvd.

Small Groups

admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:08:59 +0000

Women’s Bible Study

Thursdays | 7pm | UCF Student Center

Interested contact Valerie at vljustic@uncc.edu. Deny yourself…passionately pursue Christ…become a disciple…defend your faith…share your faith…act shrewdly…love your enemies…do justice. This is tough stuff! But so is college, especially the first year. This is the perfect group to be in to help you live the Christ-like life.

Game Plan for Life

Mondays | 7:30pm | The House | Men’s Group

Interested contact Jake at jwest14@uncc.edu. What’s better than a men’s Bible study where we can discover together what God really wants from us in life? How about chicken wings and Monday Night Football?

Music Ministry

Tuesdays | 5pm | Gym of Advent Lutheran

Anyone interested in singing, playing an instrument, helping with sound or tech stuff – this is the group for you. Interested, contact Brad

Intramurals

UCF has 3 on 3 Basketball, Flag Football, CoEd Volleyball, the Par 3 Golf Challenge, 5 on 5 Basketball, Dodgeball and Softball teams. If you are interested in a particular team or want to sign-up, contatct Jessica. Also watch for new posts for specific sports teams.

Explore the Call

Wednesdays | 12:30pm | Student Union, Student Orgs Complex near windows | Starts January

This is a group that offers support to help students explore and respond to God’s call in their lives.

Project Sundridge

Mondays | 3:30pm | Hickory Grove Presbyterian

This is a group of UNC Charlotte students through UCF that regularly serve the Sunridge community and other children in conditions of poverty. It is a student-led program housed within a church, Hickory Grove, that is in the heart of that community.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Mondays | 5:30pm | UCF Student Center
Fridays | 5:30pm | UCF Student Center

AA is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. AA meets in our UCF Student Center every Monday and Friday at 5:30pm.

offers support to help gifted young people explore and respond to God’s calling in their lives. Our mission is to advance excellence as we encourage caring, capable and courageous young adults from diverse backgrounds on their journey to become pastors and scholars—the next generation of leaders for the church.