COS Youth Join Forces with 209 Other Youth 

From Across the State 
to Bring Hope to Joplin!  








See the picture of Pastor Robyn below helping the youth in their first mission assignment for Monday!

COS Youth were given the mission of watering 161 trees in 1 of the parks in Joplin during this extreme heat. The trees were planted in memory of the 161 people who lost their lives due to the tornado.  Pastor Robyn reports that over 20,000 trees were lost in the tornado and to date 7,000 have been planted to replace the huge loss.  Bringing life and hope to Joplin can be as simple as keeping trees alive during this hot summer so that future generations in Joplin will find hope through God's creation.  One of the first rebuilds in Joplin was a community park near the hospital which was destroyed.  The children of Joplin had no safe place to play but now the park offers hope, safety, fun, and of course TREES!

COS Middle School Teens Go To Joplin!

Today, over 20 middle school age youth were commissioned and left for Joplin, MO to bring hope to people living there who are still rebuilding their lives after the 2011 tornado tore through the center of town.  We pray that all will stay cool and safe while doing God's work in this mission field.  We are so proud of these young people who are not afraid to answer His call to be the "hands and feet of Christ in the world".  God bless you!

Habitat for Humanity Volunteers

With the 100 degree weather, there has been a decision to end work this Saturday between 10:30 and 11:00 AM.  We are leaving the decision up to each individual as to whether or not they even want to work the 2 or 2 1/2 hours.  We will schedule other make up work days when the weather cools down.  The foreman will be at both sites in St. Charles from 8 AM until about noon.  Contact Donna Weaver for directions to the work site and for further information at donna_weaver@coswired.org

Here are some great links to Habitat for Humanity information:

www.habitat.org        
www.habitatstcharles.org   for information about our local resale store if you have building material donations

June 22,2012 Received this note from Kelly Bogda:  We left our church home in Colorado Springs this morning. The group went to Canon City, CO for some fun. We took the group to the Museum of Colorado prisons and then on a white water river rafting trip. We are now enroute back to Kansas Wesleyan in Salina, KS tonight. Should arrive very late. Will return to COS around 5pm it so on Saturday.

Wednesday and Thursday on the Youth Mission in Colorado

They spent the last 2 days working in the forest around Colorado Springs.  Wednesday,they harvested willows and  planted them in a river bed to grow and eventually disrupt the water flow which will help clear the sediment from the water supply.  They also worked on erosion control on a hillside and dry river bed.  

On Thursday they worked at the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. This national park is about 10 miles from a current forest fire. They were working to help clear up areas in the forested area in case the fires reach this area. They were working to save this area for the future!  Great work guys!  Some down time was spent at the Garden of the Gods climbing rocks.  

Please keep the COS Youth Ministry Team in your prayers this week as they bring people into a relationship with Christ through finding and offering HOPE.

Youth Mission to Colorado Planting Hope for Tomorrow

June 19, 2012  Church of the Shepherd's Youth Mission Team is working in the forest around Colorado Springs that was ravaged by previous forest fires, planting saplings to help reforest the area.  It is hot, dirty work in rough terrain but God is working through this awesome team to bring HOPE to future generations.  The youth are proving to be excellent stewards of God's creation!  As the fruits of their work today grow, we at COS pray that their relationship with their Father in heaven also grows.  

Isaiah 14:7-8  "All the lands are at rest and at peace; they break into singing.  Even the pine trees and the cedars of Lebanon exult over you . . . ."