Teens Prepare For Charitable Trip To Jamaica

With just two weeks to go before they head off to build a church in Jamaica, members of the Opportunity Presbyterian Church youth group are taking care of all the pre-trip loose ends.

They’re learning what to take along and what to leave at home. They’re also taking one more crack at fund-raising.

The 22 teenagers will be at the church’s parking lot, 202 N. Pines, washing cars for donations on Sunday. They’ll be sudsing and spraying from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mary Beth Beuke, the church’s director of youth ministries, said the car wash tops off what has been a long quest for cash. To raise the $700 it costs to send each traveler to Jamaica, the church held auctions, asked for sponsors and had each participant come up with $100 on their own.

All the effort, though, isn’t for a good time, Beuke said. It’s for a good cause.

“Jamaica sounds exotic, but the area where we’re going is fairly primitive,” she said.

Beuke got the young missionaries involved with projects at home first.

The teenagers worked at the Spokane Valley Food Bank and the Union Gospel Mission. They also donated Christmas gifts to the West Central area’s Westminster House, a youth outreach program. They even had to come up with their own outreach project.

“It gets them to think about what true service really is,” Beuke said.

Speaking of car washes…

For those who can’t wait until Sunday, you can get the Edsel polished up today. The youth group at Valley Foursquare Church will have a car wash in the parking lot of Tidyman’s Warehouse Foods, Sprague Avenue and McDonald Road. The group is raising money to attend summer camp. The wash lasts from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Potlucks and more

Valley Fourth Memorial Church, 2303 S. Bowdish Road, will host two potluck lunches on Sunday at noon.

The first is for people interested in “Home Care” small fellowship groups. The second is for those interested in the “Love Your Neighbor” nursing home outreach.

Doug and Adele Cady, former Valley Fourth members and Pullman Campus Crusade workers, will speak Sunday at 6 p.m. The couple is leaving for Florida to work on the Jesus Film Project.

Valley Fourth will also open its gym to all men for a fellowship event. It’s not a revival meeting for dads - it’s hoops.

Any men interested in playing basketball are invited to participate June 12 at 7 p.m. For more information, call 924-4525.