AHMEN: The Next Generation

Good Morning Team Leadership, Friends, Family, Fellow & Future Volunteers:

If you grew up watching Gene Rodenberry's original Star Trek series, you have to admit you were pretty excited when Star Trek: The Next Generation came out over twenty years later.  There were new characters, new weapons, and new worlds to visit, and most importantly, a new timely drama reflective of its 1960s predecessor was back in your living room each week.  I personally benefited from hours of "energizing" from one room of the house to another with my Captain Picard, and X-Men, action figures.  As a kid, I was tickled as pink as a phaser fire when the excitement of my parents' generation arrived in mine.

We humans have to keep the passion alive, don't we?  We constantly have to revamp what is valuable about society to ensure the good works, or good programming, is not lost through time.  It is the same way with AHMEN!

What future AHMEN leaders to you know?

Every year team members identify projects they would like to pursue.  A novice or veteran volunteer sees something that sticks in their craw.  Instead of losing focus by adding these new projects to your own team's schedule, encourage/facilitate those members to build a team of their own.  It doesn't have to happen overnight, but there is one important step those new team leaders have to take.

In order to keep the big ball of glory that is AHMEN  rolling into the future, we must identify the next generation of leadership.  In order to do, those burgeoning members must go through team leader training, and I would like to schedule a team leader training for September.

Please send me the September Saturday you prefer and the name of the individual in need of new training or refresher course.

Training costs $20 and will last from 10 AM - 2 PM at River of Living Water United Methodist Ministries at 1401 Jones Dairy Road in Jasper, Al.

See you there!

My Most Successful Team to Date ... Because of You!!

Sooooo, in my last blog post I asked whether you thought the Río team stuck to its schedule while in Honduras this year. If you guessed that we threw the schedule out the window “and my suitcase out there too” then "tonight I'll be staying here with you!"

We were a very successful team in part because we made a detailed schedule with which we could alter our daily plans. Without a plan in place, we would have been totally lost, and there was too much at stake just to “wing it.”

We were also a very successful team because of the tremendous amount of support we had back in Walker County, Alabama through our chief fundraisers. I wish to extend my sincerest gratitude to Briana Camp, Windy Williams, and Brenda “Nana” Williams for all they did to raise the money our team needed to provide enough water filters to share clean water with over 1000 children and adults!

Thank you to all the businesses and churches who sponsored our team's fundraising for Sawyer Water filters through Water With Blessings.

Camp's Therapeutic Massage

Walker Recovery

Carl Cannon

Holladay Insurance Company

Southside Excavating

Gunters Body Shop

Pumpkin Center Baptist Church Explorers & Bodybuilders

We also would like to thank B & B Discount Tires and Witcher Office Supply  for their donations!

Finally, thank you to all the individuals who sponsored this team!

Nath T. Camp Jr.

Alice Leeth

Grady Cockrell

Jane Roberts

James Hubbard

John Williams

Savanna Johnson

Jennifer Key

Gavin Franklin

Gage Franklin

Emily Arthurs

Cory Camp

DJ  Calvert

Saedie and Klaire Williams

Klayton Williams

Ben Camp

Anabel Camp

Corbitt White Jr.

Hailey Terry

Without the support of our "Domestic Missionaries" AHMEN teams like Río de Agua Viva simply would not exist.  

If you would like to be a part of our team as a fundraiser, donor, prayer partner, and/or team member, please contact me today!

It is not the team members who travel to Honduras who are etching away at injustice.  It is not just the donors and fundraisers.  The prayer partners can't do it alone, but together, we are the difference.

Río de Agua Viva's 2015 Schedule: How Did We Do?

Good Morning Friends and Neighbors!

Below you will find a our team schedule before we arrived in Honduras.  I'm taking bets now on how well we stuck to it!  Read on, comment below, and share on Social Media!

If you would like to explore going with us next year or joining one of our fundraising projects, contact me today!

Together, we are the difference.

_________________________________________________________________________________

A.H.M.E.N. Río de Agua Viva June 1-10, 2015

As an extension of AHMEN's Community Empowerment Program, the AHMEN-SIFAT Initiative, we seek justice for Honduran families through appropriate technology, water quality analysis, public health & business education. We aspire to be culturally sensitive and respectful of the environment as we not only carry out our mission for this year but plan for future teams.

Day 1

4:00 AM – Arrive at Birmingham Airport. Meet team at Delta Terminal

5:30 AM – Departure for Atlanta

7:24 AM – Arrive in Atlanta (Time Changes to Eastern)

9:45 AM – Departure for San Pedro Sula

11:13 AM – Arrival in San Pedro Sula (Time Changes to Central but 1 hr behind Al)

11:30 AM – Go Through Customs, Collect Luggage, Meet w/ Polo the Van Driver, Depart for La Ceiba, Atlántida (Team Planning of Games for Jewelry School Lessons in Van)

1:00 PM – Tentative Stop for Quick Lunch at Local Honduran Restaurant

4:15 PM – Arrive at Cruzadas de Evangelio to Meet With Sister Eleanor and Our Honduran Counterparts

5:00 PM – Depart for Villa Helens in Sambo Creek

5:30 PM – Arrive at Villa Helens, Check In, Eat Dinner (If we arrive after 6 we will not be served.)

7:00 PM – Go Over Plan for Next Day, Free Time, Unwind, and BED!

Day 2

6:00 – Morning Stretches, Medidation, Tai Chi, Swimming (All Voluntary)

7:00 AM – Breakfast at Helens

7:45 AM – Departure for Los Laureles

8:05 AM – Arrival at Los Laureles for Business Education Lessons

12:30 PM – Lunch in Van On Way to Shalom (Discuss Feedback from LL)

1:00 PM – Shalom Arrival: Christian Women's Empowerment by Nelly

4:00 PM – Strategic Planning for Cusuna and Raista

5:00 PM – Journal, Blog, Write a Story for Website!

6:00 PM – Dinner

7:00 PM – Go Over Plan for the Next Day, Free Time, Unwind, and BED!

Day 3

6:00 – Morning Stretches, Medidation, Tai Chi, Swimming (All Voluntary)

7:00 AM – Breakfast at Helens

7:45 AM – Departure for Los Laureles

8:05 AM – Arrival at Los Laureles for Business Education Lessons

12:30 PM – Travel to ASI-Jutiapa Workshop to Observe, Photograph, and Interview. Rent Pick Up Trucks. Lunch En Route.

3:00 PM – Strategic Planning for Cusuna and Raista

5:00 PM – Journal, Blog, Write a Story for Website!

6:00 PM – Dinner

7:00 PM – Go Over Plan for Next Day, Free Time, Unwind, and BED!

Day 4

6:00 AM – Meet Outside of Restaurant at Helens with All Luggage Ready to Leave

7:00 AM – Depart for Cusuna, Colón

9:45 AM – Departure for San Pedro Sula

12:00 PM – Arrival in Cusuna, Unload into Mission House, Orientation

12:30 PM – (1) Follow Up Sessions with ASI-Cusuna Under Dr. Byron Morales (2) Interviews w/ Community Agents (3) Help set goals and explain contacts (4) Award T-Shirts and ID Cards

5:00 PM - Journal, Blog, Write a Story for Website!

6:00 PM – Supper Time and Planning for Next Day

7:00 PM – Go Over Plan for Next Day, Unwind, and BED!

Day 5

6:00 AM – Morning Stretches, Medidation, Tai Chi, Swimming (All Voluntary)

7:00 AM – Breakfast

8:00 AM – Departure for Raista, Beach Driving, and River Cruising!

12:00 AM – Welcome to the Jungle! Load the canoe and head up river :-)

2:00 PM – Begin 1^st Round of ASI-Raista

5:00 PM – Journal, Blog, Write a Story for Website!

6:00 PM – Dinner and Feedback

7:00 PM – Go Over Plan for the Next Day, Unwind, and BED!

Day 6

6:00 AM – Morning Stretches, Medidation, Tai Chi, Swimming (Voluntary)

7:00 AM – Breakfast

8:30 AM – 1^st Full Day of ASI-Raista

12:00 PM – Lunch

1:00 PM – Afternoon Session of ASI-Raista

5:00 PM – Journal, Blog, Write a Story for Website!

6:00 PM – Dinner and Feedback

7:00 PM – Go Over Plan for Next Day, Unwind, and BED!

Day 7

6:00 AM – Morning Stretches, Medidation, Tai Chi, Swimming (Voluntary)

7:00 AM – Breakfast

8:30 AM – Second full day of ASI-Raista

12:00 PM – Lunch

1:00 PM – Afternoon Session of ASI-Raista

5:00 PM – Journal, Blog, Write a Story for Website!

6:00 PM – Dinner and Feedback

7:00 PM – Go Over Plan for Next Day, Unwind, and BED!

Day 8

6:00 AM – Morning Stretches, Medidation, Tai Chi, Swimming (Voluntary)

7:00 AM – Breakfast

8:30 AM – Closing Sessions of ASI-Raista

12:00 PM – Lunch

1:00 PM – Depart for Palacios

2:30 PM – Arrival in Palacios, Unpack, Relax, Journal, Blog, Write a Story for Website!

6:00 PM – Dinner

7:00 PM – Go Over Plan for Next Day, Unwind, and BED!

Day 9

6:00 AM – Have Stuff Packed and Ready Outside of Hotel Ready to Leave for Villa Helens

3:00 PM – Arrival at Villa Helens, Meet Van and Return Pick Up Trucks

6:00 PM– Dinner; R&R

Day 10

6:00 AM – Morning Stretches, Medidation, Tai Chi, Last Swim (Voluntary)

7:00 AM – Depart for Airport in San Pedro Sula

10:30 AM – Arrive at Airport in San Pedro Sula, Check In, Eat Breakfast

12:35 PM – Depart for Atlanta

5:53 PM – Arrive in Atlanta (Back to Eastern Time)

7:45 PM – Depart for Birmingham

7:44 PM – Home Sweet Home!

*All times and activities are subject to change. Sit back, relaxe, and enjoy the ride!