Quality Partner Communications

We had a great seminar this morning and yesterday afternoon sharing ideas on communication between partners.   Daniel did a great job presenting and I assisted.  We highlighted our website, the blogs from both congregations and Facebook.  

Now Katy, Mallory and I will say our goodbyes and head for the airport.  

Our Passports Get 7 Stamps from 7 Countries - In Only 2 Hours!

This morning we "visited" seven countries on a whirlwind tour.  They told of their needs, their dreams, their joys.  All seven countries are in need of additional U.S. churches to partner with individual congregations.  Dick Arnold from In Mission Together is ready to help with that task.  

Slovakia

Bulgaria

Hungary

Macedonia

Serbia

Poland

Czech Republic

Eastern European & Balkan Consultation

The Eastern European & Balkan Consultation is being held in Greensboro, North Carolina and has representatives here from 9 countries including Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Serbia, Bulgaria and 12 states from the USA.

We are singing, learning about each other's cultures and dreams, finding ways we can work together, ways to build strong IMT (In Mission Together) partnerships between the churches and how we can help share God's love.  

This afternoon and tomorrow morning, Daniel Topalski and Patti Bacher will be co-leading a seminar on  Quality Partnership Communications. 

We had our picture taken with John Wesley and were feeling "strangely warmed"

This really nice lady, Barbara James, picked us all up at the airport

 and was waiting with these fun signs.

At the airport - leaving for North Carolina

The group from Russe flew to North Carolina on Wednesday, followed by Katy, Mallory and Patti on Thursday.  

The Last Night in Wisconsin

Our last evening together was filled with eating a yummy dinner at The Lorelei, exchanging parting words and gifts and then stuffing everything into suitcases in preparation of heading to the consultation in North Carolina.

An Afternoon at Vida Nueva UMC and Peace UMC's Preschool Program

The afternoon was a fun one meeting Pastor Ricardo Torres from Vida Nueva and learning of their growing Spanish speaking congregation.  Malinda Stensberg then gave us a tour of Peace Nursery School that Peace UMC has been running for the past 45 years.  What wonderful programs both churches have! 

A Busy Morning Downtown Green Bay at the Food Pantry, Homeless Shelter and Various Churches

We had a whirlwind morning touring the food pantry at First United Methodist Church, visiting St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, and then meeting with Father Blair from St. John's the Evangelist Catholic Church and touring their homeless shelter.  

Packers vs Vikings - Green Bay Culture Includes A Game Called Football

We cooked enough chili to feed an army and got together to cheer on the Packers. The rules of American Football were explained and the third quarter rally was fun. At halftime Joni VanDrisse led us in a bit of Yoga and stretching and for those who don't enjoy the game of football... there was a lively game of Uno.