WHY WE ARE HERE

World Changers asks that each participant ask him or herself an important question -- "Why am I here?" As part of youth group devotions Monday night, groups will be discussing evangelism and the importance of sharing Jesus Christ with the people of Chattanooga this week. Youth group leaders will receive Why We're Here cards in their registration packs on Monday to share with students and adults, as well as to discuss with them. There will also be further information for group leaders in their folders when they arrive, and it will be discussed at the adult meeting. Please be praying for the many people in Chattanooga who need Jesus Christ in their lives. World Changers may be the only Jesus they ever see, so pray for many opportunities to share.

WEEK ONE HYDRATION WOES

As many of you know, Week One of the Chattanooga project is going on right now, and it is HOT here. Over the last two days, several adults and students have struggled with the heat, especially with dehydration. With temps in the 90's and very high humidity, we need to HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE! Everyone needs to drink, drink, drink whether you are thirsty or not. Each site will have a cooler with ice. and there will be a water source. We don't want anyone to miss a moment of World Changers!

ENCOURAGRAMS!

When packing for this World Changers trip, don't forget to include some colored pens, stickers, and markers for your Encouragrams! A very vital part of your World Changers week is your visit to your Encouragram envelope where friends and crew mates can place encouraging notes for you and where you may do the same. Encouragrams are a great way to give others a kind and encouraging word to make their day! You may also recieve E-Encouragrams. Tell your friends and parents to go to www.world-changer.net to find out how to get you a message. Remember, however, that E-Encouragrams only can be sent beginning the Tuesday of our project.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

This year World Changers wants to help minister to children all over the world through Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child. World Changers hopes to collect 100,000 boxes this summer, and Chattanooga WC wants to be part of it! Most of you will be familiar with the program, but please visit the website for details at www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/index/. It would be awesome if EACH participant could come to World Changers with a box filled and wrapped!!!

OUR FABULOUS SUMMER STAFF!

When Bobby Boutwell, our Associational Coordinator, took his church group to Indianapolis a few weeks ago for World Changers, the summer staff there told him that Chattanooga's summer staff was the SUPER STARS of World Changers this year, and I believe it! We are soooo fortunate to have Stephanie Baker, Andrew Marshall, Neal Samudre, and Carlee Ammons coming to Chattanooga to work with us. Here are five facts about each:

Stephanie -- Team Leader and Office Manager

• She is from Salida, Colorado
• She just graduated from Oklahoma Baptist university with a degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education
• She will be moving to Moscow, Russia, to teach/do mission work in August
• Her favorite place to be is either in the mountains, on a boat, or around any body of water
• During middle school she raced in downhill skiing and went to the Junior Olympics

Andrew -- Music Leader

• He has long hair
• His pants size is 32 X 34
• All he does is bruth his hair and play his guitar
• He is Man (hear him roar)
• He drives a 1996 Red Saturn SL1

Neal -- Audiovisuals

• He washes his hands before and after each meal and apparently that's a wierd thing to do
• He is 100% East Indian and ironically can't sit indian-style
• He used to sing professionally with a famous acapello group in Virginia until he quit this year to pursue another calling for himself
• He is a junior at James Madison University in Harrisburg, VA, and he studies film and religion with a desire to be a pastor after getting his masters in divinity at a theological seminary
• This is his second year on WC staff, and he likes his action cams to be an interactive experience with the students. In other words, they'll definitely be a fun time!

Carlee -- Mission Communication Specialist

• She is a student at Howard Payne University in the heart of Texas
• She plays volleyball at HPU
• She loves almonds and cashews, and she is a total nut :)
• "The Classic Crime" is her favorite band
• She is a morning person and always has excessive amounts of energy when she wakes up!

THE LADIES WHO KEEP US GOING!

There will be two very special ladies taking care of us at Chattanooga World Changers -- our two First Aid Coordinators! Gail Peistrup and Krystal Smith will be working with us to make sure everyone is well taken care of all week. Gail will be posted at Brainerd Baptist during the day and will make calls to the work sites, while Krystal is working on a crew and will be on call at BBC during the evenings.

Gail is a nurse from St. Louis, Missouri, who is no newby to missions and to World Changers. She began her WC role as first Aid Coordinator in 2001, and since has traved with World Changers to five states and two countries. Gail "...considers it a wonderful opportunity to minister to all anywhere and everywhere God calls." She is very excited about what God is going to do in Chattanooga "for His glory alone!"

Krystal is a newlywed from Fredericksburg, Virginia, who went to World Changers when she was a youth, and now she is thrilled to be able to come again as a participant and a first aid coordinator. She is a full-time paramedic fire-fighter who is going to school to become a registered nurse. Krystal said, "I can't wait to serve God and find out what He has in store for me in Tennessee!"

Don't you feel great about having these two awesome ladies taking care of us!!

Where We Will Work and What Do We Bring?

Since our project is almost here, many of you are asking about where we will work and what you need to bring. Our worksites are mostly in downtown Chattanooga, and these pics are samples of some of the sites. Most of our work will be painting, with some handicap ramps and porch/decks thrown in. So, every participant needs to bring a paint brush, a scraper, a hammer, safety glasses, and work gloves. Chattanooga is well known for its humidity and misquitoes, so insect repellant and sunscreen are essential. Clothing for work should be jeans or carpenter pants, close-toed shoes (tennis shoes or boots are great), socks, tee shirts (with sleeves!), a visor or hat.

For worship and free time, modest shorts, teeshirts (with sleeves again -- absolutely no tank tops or spaghetti straps!), and sandals. The weather in Chattanooga is hot, but the church is very air-conditioned, so a hoodie is a good idea. Check out this list for all the other things to bring!