Yesterday at church was what we call “Habitat Sunday.” That’s the Sunday when the youth group returns from their annual summer mission trip. This year, somewhere around 60 young people and 20 adults went to Cleveland to build houses with Habitat for Humanity.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each one of them, and all the adults, for putting their lives on hold for a week to go out in the world to help people. I am humbled by your sacrifice and grateful for your safe return.

Sunday morning, most of them were in church telling stories about how their lives were changed by the experience. To hear young people talk of doing something to make a difference in someone’s life, well, that’s one church service I can’t get through without a tissue. And while it’s wonderful to help others by building a safe and secure home, the mission trip is about far more than that.

Part of the reason for going is to inspire the youth to make it a life-long habit to pay attention to those who may be less fortunate, and to do whatever they can to help. Another reason is to educate the congregation at large about how we can use our resources — manpower, physical space, financial resources, prayer, building supplies, time and talent — to extend the love of God far beyond the walls of our church. There are many other positive aspects of the Habitat mission trip, and you can read lots more about that on the Habitat Web site.

As for me personally, I look forward to two years from now when Bradley will be old enough to go. I know the experience will be fun and educational for him. But also, secretly, I hope I get to go too. Bring on the rain, bring on the heat, bring on the tears — that sort of emotional story is just the kind of story I love to tell in my pictures.

So I figured I’d get an early start on my personal committment to Habitat by giving the Vacation Bible School parents the opportunity to support this wonderful cause when they buy prints from the VBS galleries.

HERE’S HOW TO ORDER PRINTS
Each VBS slide show has a gallery icon at the bottom right corner. It looks like a square with a bunch of little squares inside. Click that icon. Then click on any thumbnail image. That allows you to see the pictures individually. Each picture’s filename is shown at the bottom. It looks like this: “vbs-thu-053.”

Each print will be mounted on mat board. This makes it easy to frame, or you can simply stand the print up at your desk at work with no frame or stick a magnet on the back and put it on your fridge. Way more durable than an unmounted print!

Suggested donation for a 5×7 is $10 each. Suggested donation for an 8×10 is $20 each. You must place your order with me by September 18.

Make your check out to: “First Presbyterian Church” and marked “YOUTH MISSION” in the memo field. This insures that your donation will directly benefit the Habitat mission project.

Send your check, along with the filenames of the images you want to order to me (Jelly) at 610 Main Street, Metuchen, NJ, 08840. Make certain you tell me what SIZE you want! Please include your phone number and e-mail address in your letter!

(Please keep in mind that no toning changes will be made — if the image is presented as black and white in the gallery, it can’t be printed as a color image.)

On September 19th, I will send one big order to the lab. When the prints arrive a few days later, I will send a mass email letting everone know the prints are in, and you can pick yours up at the church office in the First Presbyterian Church Social Center. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Let me know if you need the username and password to get into the slide shows. And I can’t wait until I can go on the Habitat trip myself. Now THAT’LL be one awesome slide show!

All my love, Jelly