Here we cooooooooooooome!!!!

Campers need to arrive at Mercy Street

Sunday, August 12 @ 10:30am

Mercy Street will hold an early check-in

Saturday, August 11 @ 5pm

to organize campers luggage by cabin- this is MANDATORY

If your mentee attends Heights Prep
 they will need to be picked up at Mercy Street
on Wednesday, August 15th at 9pm.

A packing list has been mailed to your student;

below is a list of what they should bring:

Bedding(twin sheets or sleeping bag) and blanket

Pillow

2 Towels and washcloths

8 Loose fitting T-shirts

8 Modest shorts

2 pair of jeans or long pants (for horseback riding)

Underwear (10)

Socks (10 pairs)

Flip flops or sandals for the pool

One piece swimsuit and shorts to wear over them

(If all the student has is a 2 piece, a dark shirt and shorts will need to be worn)

2 sets of Pajamas

Closed toe shoes-one for wearing around camp, one for getting dirty

Toiletries

Insect repellent

Flashlight

Bible

Pen/Pencil

Notebook

Medication, if needed

Arrive back on Friday, August 17th at 5pm at Mercy Street

MAN UP!

"Be the last of a dying breed, it's time that we MAN UP"

- Christian rap group 116 Clique 

     This summer as we tried to reimagine what our time might look like with the middle school boys group memories of boy scouts starting filling our mind.  It seemed like the boys needed to be challenged out of their comfort zone, try new things, and begin to be challenged to step into MANHOOD in a way that would honor Christ.  I knew sashes and tight pants would not go over well with the boys.  So we decided to go off the theme of this new hip hop song put out by Lacrae and friends called MAN UP.  This song boldly challenges young men to grow up in Christ and to wrap their identity up in him, living unashamed for the gospel.  Our message this summer has been just that.  The most MANLY thing someone can do is to surrender their life to Jesus Christ and have the courage to follow him regardless of the cost.  Each Sunday night we have been reiterating this message though a bible study that starts at 6pm at Mercy Street.  Throughout the week the boys have had a chance to attend huddles (in lieu of merit badges) to gain a skill or try something different.  Thusfar, we have offered photography, rock climbing, car maintenance, cooking, and nutrition to name a few.  In July, we will teach them how to edit video, build picnic tables, mountain bike, and canoe.  It is a packed full summer!  If your mentee is in middle school and is just sitting around the house this summer be sure to call up Garrett and get him plugged in.  It's time that we MAN UP!

CLICK HERE to watch the MAN UP You Tube video

OUR BRIDGE BUILDER: THE BRIDGE

Wikipedia defines a bridge as "a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or a road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle."


Jesus is our great high priest and our bridge builder.  There had to be a way to bridge the gap between God and man.  Jesus Christ is also our bridge!  He is the only way to peace and life everlasting.

As our mentees continue to grow up and walk through middle school and into high school and beyond they will encounter many obstacles that will try to keep them from getting where they need to go.  Will we point them to the ultimate bridge builder and bridge, Jesus?  For He is ultimately the only one that can help them.  Not their family, not us, not money,  not education, but JESUS! 

Eighth graders from Edison and Heights Prep participated in a Bridging Ceremony at their school last week.  The purpose was to acknowledge their achievements from middle school and look forward to their future education in high school.  A huge THANK YOU to all the mentors that showed up to cheer their mentee on!  And current seventh grade mentors....I look forward to seeing ya'll next year.

To read or not to read?....

Summer is fast approaching us...this means many teens have the opportunity to turn their brains off with no school and veg for three months solid.  Is this ideal?  NO! 

Reading is a beautiful thing.  A necessary thing.  A life thing...  And sometimes there needs to be some motivation to do so. 

Would you challenge your mentee to read books this summer?  

This list of books below are highly recommended by Reading teachers in West Dallas and will allow you to interact with your mentee about real issues and plots.  Maybe one book you could go to the library or Half Price Books and pick out a book together that interest your mentee... Ex. animals, cars, Asia, etc 

Maybe come up with a little reward system to affirm their reading?!   Here are a few ideas:

Reward System:

Book 1 - $5 card to Sonic or another restaurant

Book 2 - Nice Dinner and Movie

Book 3 - Day trip, maybe tubing

Book 4 - $40 cash

We would REALLY encourage you to suggest to your mentee to start out reading an easier book so he/she doesn't get frustrated. 

Easy

*Chronicles of Narnia

Carry on Mr. Bowditch

The Giver

Kairo

*Bridge to Terabithia

Tears of a Tiger

Moderate

The Glass Castle

Monster

*Hunger Games (3 books series)

*Gifted Hands

Do Hard Things

Run Baby Run

Difficult

Unbroken (great for boys)

Joker One (great for boys)

Redeeming Love (great for girls)

*Kite Runner

*Count of Monte Cristo 

*The Hiding Place

Uncle Toms Cabin

*** asterisk means there is a movie to watch after the book is read! *** 

HAPPY READING!

Summer CAMP Application Due May 18th....

If your mentee has never been to camp before PLEASE take responsibility & make sure he/she has the incredible opportunity to attend.  Please help him/her get the application in on time ... just print it off & get the parent or guardian to fill it out right then and there as you wait.

Summer Camp 2012 - August 12-17 

Once again, Mercy Street is blessed beyond measure in our partnership with Pine Cove Christian Camps!  We're excited to be going to Pine Cove Outback located in Columbus, Texas from Sunday, August 12th to Friday, August 17th.  

The total cost per student is $30.00.  

*Please CLICK and read the below document titled Application Introduction, it has all details.  

Camp Requirements
1) May 18th - Applications Due (click below) with $30.00 application fee will hold the spot for your student.  Mentor Coordinators have will inform you by June 1st if your student has been selected to attend.
2) Work Days - If your student is attending camp, they will need to complete two work days in the month of June.  These dates will be communicated to you closer to the time.
3) Behavior - there are behavioral expectations (discussed in application below) that all campers must obey before applying, during the application process and while at camp.  If your student has a difficult time adhering by these expectations, they will not receive the opportunity to attend camp.
4) Eighth Grader - If your mentee is in the 8th grade and desires to go please contact Garrett or Jill.  The spots are more limited and the selection process is more intense.  Thanks!

Introduction

6th and 7th Grade Application

Mooooooooooooore Questions?

Middle school kids want to be honest and want to be known… ask authentic questions and you’ll get authentic answers... they are old enough to process the truth... so give it to them… ask away… please YOU be ready to be answer the questions authentically as well!

·        Where were you born?

·        If you could have anything, what would you wish for?

·        When, Lord willing, you are a Mom/Dad what will you do different than what your mom is going now?  Be more, what?  Do more, what?

·        What would your dream vacation be?  Why?

·        What is the most sick or injured you have ever been? 

·        Tell me a story about one of your scars?

·        If you had $50 how would you spend it?

·        What has been the happiest moment of your life?

·        What has been the scariest moment?

·        Do you think God is real?

·        If you could be REALLY good at one thing- what would it be?

·        What percentage of the time do you think you tell the truth?  Why do you sometimes lie?

·        Do you know any stories in the Bible?  What do you think is a cool story?

·        What qualities do you look for in a friend?

·        What in life brings you the most joy?

·        Do you have a favorite song?

·        Are your grandparents living?  How do they show you they love you?

·        Why do you think people get married- do you know anyone that's married- what do you think about it?  Will you get married you think?

·        If you could change one thing about the way you look what would you change?

·        Do you like a boy/girl?  What is his/her name?  Why do you like him/her? 

Why Wait Well? and How?