August News

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet.” Psalm 8:3-6 This summer many of our youth were driven into the wilderness. We followed Biblical examples. The Hebrews were driven into the wilderness after escaping from Egypt. Although they struggled, they found God in the wilderness - a God who led them, provided for them, and taught them to be a community. Jesus went into the wilderness to prepare for his earthly ministry. In his struggles, he confronted his humanity and discerned his divinity. For centuries, Christians have gone on retreat into the natural world to seek understanding and clarity. Why go on wilderness camping trips? Are not mission trips more valuable? Both kinds of trips are important for our Christian spiritual growth. When we go into the wilderness, we gain a new perspective. Being in the wilderness connects us to the Creator God whose inconceivable imagination formed the masterpiece that is the natural world. Being in the wilderness helps us to connect with the beauty and power of creation and helps us to respect the genius and magnificence of our Creator God. This new perspective helps us to understand our role as caretakers of the world that God created. Going into the wilderness can help us to distinguish our needs from our wants. When we go camping, we have to leave many of our luxuries behind, and although we may not be as comfortable as we are at home, we find that we can manage very well. We also discover an appreciation and gratitude for those luxuries that we miss. We connect with our God who provides for our daily needs. We find our place–we see our humanity and recognize the divine all around and working in us. Finally, like the Hebrews, when we go into the wilderness, we become a community. In order to survive the wilderness, individuals must work together. Sharing a common experience helps us to learn about each other and about the God whose spirit brings us together. We share our struggles and joys. We work out disagreements because we have to keep living together; there is nowhere else to go. Wilderness experiences are important for our life of discipleship. As the psalmist expressed above, the natural world helps us to understand who we are – seemingly insignificant, yet crowned with God’s glory and honor. We are part of God’s big picture, and we are equipped to love and serve. Sara

June News

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:25-26
I have become disgusted with the news media lately, especially the news magazine television shows. It is my opinion that their main purpose is to make us feel paranoid about yet one more thing. We are told that the hospitals may switch our babies or perform the wrong surgery. We hear that service people who come to our homes overcharge us and sit around eating lunch instead of fixing our furnace. We read that other people are going to cheat us or manipulate us or take advantage of us in every way possible. YIKES! It makes one think about building a fortress around our homes and families and never going out again. However, as Christians we are called to live in the world. While these things do happen to people, they do not happen to many people. We waste so much time worrying about what may happen that we miss the blessings that God gives us each day.
This summer I will be taking a group of youth to my favorite place, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Every time I prepare for a trip to the BWCAW, I worry. I worry about the weather, having enough equipment, finding campsites, medical emergencies that may happen, the youth getting along, etc., etc., etc. I could say that my worrying helps me to be prepared, but I could probably be prepared without worry because I have experience. When I get to the BWCAW, something interesting happens, I stop worrying. Somehow the peace and beauty of the lake country helps me to know that we are in God’s hands, and whatever comes our way, God will be with us. God has given me the experience to be prepared and the wisdom to act safely. With trust in God, I can enjoy the beauty that is set before me – the beauty of the natural world and the beauty of the young people on the trip. If I continued to worry, I could not enjoy the gifts that God has given me.
In the scripture above, from the teaching material in the Gospel of Matthew called the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tries to help his followers to understand that God will provide for them each day and God will help them get through whatever each day brings. This does not mean that we won’t face struggles, or that we shouldn’t be prepared, but simply that worry keeps us from knowing and appreciating God’s blessings that are with us each day. Jesus asks us to live trusting that God is with us and active in the world.

May News

“When Jesus was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.” Luke 24:30&31
For the past month Pastor Flater and I have been teaching a first communion class with seven students and their parents. During this class we have been studying seven themes of communion.
REMEMBRANCE – We share communion because Jesus told us to share the meal to remember him. We remember Jesus’ life and his last meal with his disciples; we remember what Jesus did for us.
FORGIVENESS – When we share communion, we know that we are forgiven because Jesus died for our sins and rose again.
CELEBRATION – We celebrate God’s gift of love given to us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Communion is the joyful feast of the people of God.
FELLOWSHIP – When we share the Lord’s Supper, we come to the table with our church family. We also come to the table with Christians all around the world, the saints who have gone before, the saints who will come after us.
THANKSGIVING – We come to the table with a thankful heart for the gifts that God has given to us especially in Christ Jesus.
SERVICE – The communion meal helps to nourish us for a life of discipleship. As we serve and are served the Lord’s Supper, we are empowered to do God’s work in the world.
FUTURE – When we share the communion meal, we get a foretaste of the meal that we will share when we are living together in God’s future kingdom.
Our students are learning the meaning behind the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper so that they will come to recognize the risen Christ in the breaking of bread and pouring of the wine.
Please join us on Sunday, May 4 at the 11:00 am worship service as we celebrate the first communion of our seven students: Brooke Einsweiler, Karin Kragenbrink, Josie Martin, Cole Muehring

April News

“And God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there morning, the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31
The week before Palm Sunday, I was on vacation. I spent my vacation in Hawaii, a place that many people call paradise. Hawaii is a very beautiful state. I spent most of the week on the north shore of the island of Oahu, out of the bustle of the city of Honolulu. One morning, I took a guided hike in the rainforest. The rainforest was lush with life. The diversity of the plants was amazing. There was a species of fern that was so large a single plant could have filled the living room in my house. When we entered the forest, our guide told us not to worry about touching the plants because there were no harmful species like poison ivy here in Iowa. There were no poisonous insects or snakes either. He explained that the native plants of Hawaii needed no thorns or irritating resins in order to survive because there was so much rich volcanic soil and moisture to support the variety of life. It truly did sound like paradise – or at least it was. When the first humans came to the Hawaiian paradise, they brought plant and animal life that was not native. When other humans came they also brought new species. These new species, some called invasive species, have taken over in some areas and have caused the native species to die out. Bamboo was one plant brought to Hawaii. Bamboo is a useful plant because its strong stalks can be used for building, and its shoots make good food. We walked through a bamboo forest, and it was so dense that nothing could grow underneath it. Bamboo thrives in the rich volcanic soil, and the native plants cannot compete. When God created the world, God made everything good, everything to live in balance. However, when humans enter the picture, they disrupt that balance. Humans always seem to be the invasive species. We are greedy, and we like to play God in the natural world. It humbles me when I think that the natural world could survive without humans, but humans cannot survive without the natural world. Today we find ourselves in a global environmental crisis – global warming is affecting climates all over the globe, and we need to pay attention. We can do things to help the environment, and we need to do it now. It is not a problem that someone else should fix – it is a problem that we all need to work to fix. God gave us this amazing world in which to live but God also gave us the responsibility to care for creation. In April, we celebrate Earth Day. It is a good time to make a commitment to being an environmental steward – a good time to care for the good creation that God so generously gave to us.

March News

“I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
Many young adults believe that faith and spirituality are individual matters. The popular term for this commonly held belief about God in our society is “individualistic moralistic deism.” The core belief is that God created, but isn’t very active in the world, and as long as you try to do the right things, and don’t hurt anyone, you will be okay. I have been contemplating this a lot recently, and first of all, I don’t think that it is possible for us to always do the right thing and not hurt anyone. Also I must say that I strongly disagree with this individualistic view of spirituality. Our Christian faith is based on relationships: God’s relationship to us through Jesus Christ, our relationships with others, and our relationship with all of creation. In a world of relationships, can anything truly be an individual matter. Please don’t misunderstand, I believe that we have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, but it is far from individual. Each one of us has to discern what we believe and how God has called us to be disciples. However, as the verse above states, our spirituality is about a connection, a relationship. Spirituality is the part of our being that connects us to God, to one another, and to the world. Because it is a connection, it can’t be individualistic. As I write this article I am in a van traveling to Biloxi, MS for the mission trip. When you receive this newsletter, I will have returned from my third visit to the gulf coast. This trip is a reminder of the connections that we experience through the Christian faith. We are connected to people 1000 miles away because Christ calls us to help each other and to care for one another. The people that we serve in Biloxi often share that they are grateful that others have not forgotten them. The work on their house may not progress quickly, but it progresses because others care. That connection keeps faith and hope alive. That connection is possible because God is active in the building of relationships. As Christians, we are part of a community of believers that keeps us connected to one another and to Christ because of the work of God’s active spirit. We serve others because of God’s work in and through us. There is nothing individual about it. In Christ, Sara

February News

"Jesus said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’” Mark 10:14
The Holy Trinity faith community has welcomed many new babies through baptism this last year. As the worship assistant on Saturday evenings, I have the privilege of participating in the sacrament of baptism. It is an exciting time in worship as we welcome the newest members of the body of Christ and promise to support the children and the parents as they seek to live out lives of faith. As I’ve lived in the HTLC community the past three years, I have been encouraged by the tremendous support given to children and youth by this congregation. As a community we are living out our baptismal promises. During the month of January, the high school students taught the Sunday school classes for the second through fifth graders. Our lessons were based on the story of Jesus blessing the children from Mark 10. This profound story shows Jesus’ care for the least members of society - those thought to be unimportant and not worthy of Jesus’ time. I’m not sure that our children and youth can truly appreciate the significance of Jesus’ actions and blessing because our children and youth are well supported in their church home. They have a congregation who has made the commitment to support a full time Youth and Family Minister. There are caring adults who give their time and talents each week to support a program of Christian education including Sunday school, children’s choir, and confirmation. Children and youth are welcomed and included in worship and are encouraged to participate as worship leaders. There are willing volunteers who staff a nursery for our youngest children. HTLC has helped to support a quality Christian preschool for 30 years. A new Youth Board initiative has recruited over 25 adults, who do not have children in the programs at HTLC, as mentors for our youth. This is an impressive list. I want to thank you for the continued support of our children and youth. Jesus is blessing our children everyday as he works through the members of HTLC. In Christ, Sara

December News

“For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” As a teacher, Christian educator, and leader of youth, I have often heard the expression, “children are the future.” This expression is given as the reason for taking care of children – for providing programs that educate and nurture our future leaders. I have never liked or agreed with this expression. I don’t believe that children are the future so much as they are the present. The phrase implies that we should take care of children so that they will take care of us when we get older. It also implies that children cannot be leaders until they have grown to be adults. I’m here to tell you that this is nonsense. I spend a significant part of my time with children and youth, and I know that I have learned as much, and perhaps more, from them than they have ever learned from me. I am constantly surprised by their wisdom. Children are wonderful teachers. They challenge us by asking, “Why,” and requiring us to think about the answers. They are open to new ideas, and their solutions to problems cut through the perceived complications to find simple, profound answers. In the Gospel of John, Jesus and the disciples were faced with feeding 5000 people, and Jesus was able to provide a miracle because one boy shared his lunch. Children give us hope – we hope that they will get more things right in this world than we did. It is appropriate during the seasons of Advent and Christmas to think about children, especially since Advent is a season of hope as we anticipate the birth of a child, our Savior, Jesus Christ. I often wonder what we are teaching our children at this time of year. Are we teaching them about God’s grace freely given in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Or, are we teaching them that gifts are given only if you are good or rich. Are we teaching them to prepare their hearts and minds to welcome the Christ child? Or, are we teaching them to be greedy as they wait to welcome new toys. Children can lead us by asking the right questions and sharing simple solutions, but are we ready to provide the truth of God’s love and forgiveness and Jesus’ call to discipleship. I hope that we are. I wish for us a season of Advent full of hope and revelation as we prepare for the arrival of the child who will lead us as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of

August 2007

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19&20
As I write this article, I am at Luther College in Decorah, IA with Lara Dohner, Sara Ernster, Sydney Kueter, Kim Wild, and Sarah Wlochal. We are part of WIYLDE or Wholly Iowa Youth Leadership Discipling Event. I am serving as a small group leader at the event, and the aforementioned talented young women are participants learning leadership skills that can be used in their home congregations. The first year participants (Lara, Kim, and Sarah) took spiritual gifts inventories and discussed how their spiritual gifts could be used to help their home churches and in their future vocations to serve the world. The second year participants (Sydney and Sara) have been trained to lead the Bible study for the first year students. Together we’ve been exploring God’s call to church leadership. Most people, who have felt a sense of call to leadership in the church, whether it be ordained or lay, know that following God’s call can be a very frightening and confusing thing. At our opening worship on Saturday evening, Pastor Jen Henry, our event chaplain, told a story from the Cherokee tradition. On the occasion of his son’s entrance into adulthood, a Cherokee father took his son into the wilderness for an overnight. The young man was blindfolded and left to sit by himself all night in the forest. The young man felt scared and abandoned while he sat alone listening to the sounds of the wilderness all around him. After a restless and anxious night, the sun rose. When light streamed through the blindfold, the young man knew his test was complete, and he removed the barrier to see again. As he adjusted to the light, he saw an image of another man. When he had clear vision, he recognized his father and realized that he was never alone in the wilderness because his father had been with him the whole time, even though he did not know that his father had been there. As disciples of Christ, we are called into the world to serve God’s people. We are called to cross boundaries and to leave our comfort zones. It can be a frightening time where we may feel lonely and anxious, but as God promised Moses, Jeremiah, and Mary, God is with us in our struggles, failures, and successes. God is with us even though we forget or cannot see God’s presence. We are never alone. When Lara, Sara, Sydney, Kim and Sarah return, they will need their family at HTLC to help mentor them as they stretch themselves to serve the church. They will need their church family, as do all the youth, to help them grow into discipleship. With God helping them, they will be able to lead us, and with God helping us, we can be mentors and encouragers. It will be a rewarding journey together. Sara

July 2007

O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Psalm 8:1, 3&4
I had a wonderful day last Tuesday. I played hookie from work. Well not exactly, I changed my vacation day so that I could spend the day outside. It was the most glorious day – blue sky, low humidity, 75º, cool breeze. I spent the day in my gardens. I love digging in the dirt and caring for my flowers. As I ate my lunch on the back deck, I watched a flicker looking for tasty insects on my ash tree. It was a treat because flickers aren’t common visitors to my yard. I was serenaded by the wren as he stood guard over his brood in my wren house. My dogs were feeling frisky in the breeze and danced around the yard as they chased each other. God’s creations were providing entertainment during my meal. The next morning, I awakened at 4:30 am to hear a chorus of birds greeting the new day. I don’t usually awaken that early, but I was glad that I got to hear the concert. The birds were praising God by doing what God created them to do – sing at daybreak. As I listened to the beautiful summer music, I thought of Psalm 8 – one of my favorites. God’s creation continually amazes me, just as the writer of the Psalm expresses, and I am blessed to be part of it. Isn’t the creative genius of our God astounding? And how much more astounding is it that our God cares so much for us that Jesus came to express the depths of God’s love. Thank goodness for days like Tuesday – days when I can tune into the amazing gifts of creation that God has given to us. O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Indeed!

Staying Connected

Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 A couple of weeks ago we recognized the young adults in our congregation that graduated from high school. These young people shared their many gifts with their church family as children and youth, and now they have reached a mile stone in their lives. Many will be going away from home to study. We pray that they will find a way to stay connected to the body of Christ in their new environment, and we will look forward to seeing them when they come home to visit. Congratulations to our 2007 high school graduates: Michael Brown, Kari Fordice, William Gibson, Ann Homan, Andy Klein, Frederick Liaboe, Bethany Lichti, Lauren Mattison, Nora Metz, Jessie Nessan, Scott O’Dell, Anna Schattauer, Emily Schmitt, Samantha Smith, Tyler Stumpf, Jill Walters, Louise Warren, and Keri West. This summer 30 youth in middle school and high school will travel from home to experience new connections as they serve in mission. Mission trips are a wonderful way for members of a congregation to connect with God’s people in a new location. Every time that I have gone on a mission trip I come back feeling renewed because I have received as many gifts of ministry as I have given. The youth and I thank you for all of your support, both financially and prayerfully as we embark on our summer adventures. Our rummage sale raised $1892, and with Thrivent matching funds, we took in $2742!! We are able to provide scholarships for some of our youth and pay for our adult chaperones going on the trip. Thank you for your amazing generosity. I am thankful everyday that God connected me to HTLC. In Christ, Sara

Life in Community - Part 2

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God. Ephesians 2:19
Every now and then I hear the question, “Why is our confirmation class three years long – why are there so many requirements?” It is a fair question. In today’s world, when people’s schedules are so full and lives are so stressful, why do we require more? I struggle with this constantly. I see frazzled families and know that our programs are adding to an already hectic lifestyle. My answer is that building community takes time. The purpose of having a confirmation class is not only to teach the youth the important beliefs of the Christian faith, but to help them connect to the community of believers. It takes time and energy to make this connection, and I see that as my number one responsibility as Youth and Family Minister. During our confirmation class time, we spend time exploring the basic beliefs of the Christian church in the Lutheran tradition. The lessons are founded in scripture. I am amazed at the increasing level of biblical interest and understanding that is exhibited by our youth. The concepts are presented in a variety of ways to help the youth connect to the material. We have adult guides, who are leading, but also learning alongside the youth to demonstrate that learning and growing in faith is a lifetime endeavor. We ask the youth to help as worship assistants. This opportunity gives them the experience of learning about worship from many angles, and it gives the congregation the opportunity to meet our youth and see them as responsible leaders. The youth are also required to turn in worship outlines where they summarize their worship experience. It has been my pleasure to read these outlines and to see the youth grow in their ability to connect to the worship experience and to think beyond what they hear in the scripture and sermon. We ask the youth to participate in church and community service to help them understand that living the Christian faith happens daily inside and outside of worship and the Holy Trinity Church building. We provide servant events so that the youth learn that service is something we do, not only as individuals, but as a community as well. In the letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul sends the message that we are adopted into God’s family and into the community of faith. Our former identities matter no longer because we are claimed by Christ in the waters of baptism. It is our responsibility, as members of the Body of Christ, to welcome each other, bear with one another, and encourage each other’s gifts. This doesn’t happen in a short amount of time. It takes time and energy. In our present time where angry young men, who are disconnected “loners”, commit violent acts against a world that seems to them unwelcoming, it is absolutely vital that we make every effort that we can to adopt and welcome our young people. Thank you for your commitment to do just that. In Christ, Sara

Life in Community – Being Connected

…And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. Acts 2:47
Last month, six youth and I attended the NE Iowa LYO Assembly in Mason City, IA. The theme was “Get Connected”, and the event began with a message from Bishop Ulestad in which he used the analogy of a cross country team. In cross country, unlike many other sports, the meet is not over until all the runners cross the finish line with cheers from the spectators. The team supports and encourages each other no matter if the team mates are the fastest or slowest runners. Each member is encouraged to try to do his or her personal best and not compare times to those of others. A cross country team is a community, and the members are connected to one another. One important part of my ministry is to help children, youth, and families connect to the community of faith. It is a challenging task because over the years in American society we have lost our sense of what it means to be a community. The focus of our society has been on the individual, not on community. While individuals are important, and unique gifts and talents of individuals should be honored, we are called as Christians to be part of a community where we use our individual gifts to serve and where we are served by others as we strive to be in relationship with God. In Acts 2:43-47, we can read a description of what it was like in the community of the early Christian church. It tells us that the community met together often. They shared what they had and took care of each other. They met in the temple to share stories of their faith. They gathered in homes to share meals and worship. They reached out to those outside the community and brought in new members. They were noticed by the people outside the community because of the work that they did. This is a wonderful description of community. It does sound idyllic, and we shouldn’t assume that the early church didn’t have its troubles because we know that it did, but we also know that the church survived because the members stayed connected. So how do we stay connected? We come together to worship as we gather around God’s Word and share stories of faith. We share what we have and take care of one another. We reach out to others and invite them into the community. We do these things to stay connected to God and to one another. On Maundy Thursday, April 5th, we have an incredible opportunity to be in community with one another. On that evening we will gather to share our faith story as we celebrate a traditional Passover feast; we will break bread together in a fellowship meal; we will gather around God’s word in worship with communion and foot washing. Jesus gave the example of living in community. He gathered with his friends to share a meal and to teach them to serve one another. I hope that you can join us for this meaningful event as we remember the story of Jesus’ last meal. Sara McCaw

RUMMAGE SALE SATURDAY, APRIL 28

It’s time for spring cleaning. Are you looking for a place to donate your unwanted items? The high school and middle school youth will have a rummage sale in the LFC of HTLC on Saturday, April 28 from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. Any donations of household items including clothing will be appreciated. You may bring your donations to the church after Sunday, April 22 to be stored in the house at 1815 Delhi. If you have a large item to donate, and you need help getting it to church, or if you have any questions, please call Sara (451-6874). The proceeds from the sale will help fund the high school and middle school summer mission trips.

EASTER BRUNCH

Easter Brunch Celebrate Easter with brunch at HTLC. The high school and middle school youth will prepare a delicious brunch featuring ham or veggie egg casserole, coffee cake, fresh fruit, and beverages. Easter Sunday, April 8th fro 9:30 - 10:45 am in the Fellowship Hall. Suggested Donation: $5.00 - adults, 3.50 - children under 10 17.00 - family of four or more The proceeds from the brunch will help to fund the high school summer mission trip to Marquette, MI and the middle school summer mission trip to Duluth, MN. Reservations are not necessary. Thank you for your support.

Tidings Article for March 2007

“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40

The youth of HTLC are spending some time learning about what it means to be one of the least – the hungry and forgotten. On Sunday February, 18 and Monday, February 19, sixteen high school students devoted their time to raising their awareness of world hunger. They pledged to go without solid food for 30 hours. During the time spent together they planned, shopped, cooked, and served a meal at the Dubuque Rescue Mission, and they visited with residents of Luther Manor Nursing Home. They participated in group building activities, and they played a simulation game called TRIBE. The TRIBE game, produced by World Vision, introduced the youth to the struggles and dangers of children who live in Northern Uganda. The children of Uganda, also called “night commuters,” face the danger of being abducted by guerilla soldiers and forced into violence. Children from outer villages travel as far as nine miles each night so that they may be locked up in the nearest larger town so that they will not be abducted. In the morning the children travel back to their villages. These children are poor and forgotten. Besides the dangers of the 19 year civil war, they face hunger and illness. AIDS is an overwhelming epidemic, and many children are born with AIDS or are orphaned because of the disease. Our youth are asking you to be partners in their efforts to help the children of Uganda. They are asking you to sponsor them for their 30 Hours without food. The middle school youth will also participate in a famine event on Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3. Please help the youth live out Jesus’ command to love the least, the hungry and forgotten, who are members of our global family. Thanks to our high school youth Gabe Bonn, Sarah Corfman, Caitlin Donald, Jessie Folken, Tyler Franke, Nate Guetzko, Benjamin Hanson, Sydney Kueter, Evan Rowley, Jeff Saul, John Sewell, Tye Stierman, Kim Stocks, Carly Stork, Ariel Wickler, and Sarah Wlochal for participating in the 30 Hour Famine. Thanks to JoAnn Kopp, Chris and Gretchen Kueter, and Sue Tigges for helping as adult chaperones. In Christ, Sara