Bowling This Thursday Night!

Who: YOU! Bring a friend! :)
What: Bowling!
Where: Chalet Bowl
When: This Thursday, Dec 23rd at 7:30 pm
Why: To have fun!!
How: if you need a ride, contact Jill Branham! (253)-377-4489

$13.50 for game and shoes! :)

Monday Update 12/20/10

THIS WEEK:     ~  MERRY CHRISTMAS! ~

Monday - TONIGHT! All girls are invited over to Heather's house for hot chocolate and to watch the movie, "Elf"! 8:00 - 10:00 pm. Call Heather if you need directions! .

Wednesday - There is NO Wednesday night YG this week or next week! We will resume youth group on Wednesday, January 5th.

Christmas Eve Services - Come to Harbor Covenant for Christmas Eve! Service times are 6:00 and 8:00 pm!  

SF Calendar Update!

                 For those of you going on the SF Mission Trip, our first meeting will be on Sunday, January 9th, NOT Wednesday January 19th. There was a typo on the calendar in your packets. Come on the 9th for our first training meeting!




FORGETTABLE FACT: Surveys say: nearly 10% of American households dress their pets in Halloween costumes.

PARTING SHOT: Q. What's white and red and goes up and down and up and down? A. Santa Claus in an elevator!

Winter Youth Group Calendar!

It's here! The Christmas present you've ALL been waiting  for! The Winter Youth Group Calendar! 


Please click on this link to take you to the website to download the calendar: Click Me! I'm the Winter Calendar! 


We will also be mailing the calendar to those of you who are on our mailing list. If you have not been receiving snail mailings from HCC but would like to, please talk to Heather Maher.

Monday Update 12/13/10

THIS WEEK:

Wednesday - Combined middle school/ high school Christmas Party! Come at 6:30 (yes, 6:30, NOT 7:30) for a night of celebrating Christmas together! 6:30 - 8:00 in the Sanctuary.

Sunday - No 9:59 Sunday School this week. Sunday School will resume on Sunday, January 9.

FORGETTABLE FACT: Whale oil was used in automobile transmissions as late as 1973.

PARTING SHOT: Q: What do reindeer hang on their Christmas trees?A: Horn-aments!

 

Monday Update 12/6/10

This Week:

Wednesday - To Whom Shall We Go? Come for a youth group night focused on experiencing the big picture of Christmas! 7:30 - 9:00 pm in the Sanctuary. Please also bring any money you would like to donate to our Charity Water-Well building fund!

                   - Prayer Group - If you would like to come pray with us before youth group, we meet in rm 8/9 by the kitchen at 7:00 pm before youth group starts!

Sunday - No 9:59 Sunday School, but go to the 11:00 service!

FORGETTABLE FACT: More than ten people a year are killed by vending machines.

PARTING SHOT: Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent.



SF Poinsettias!

SF POINSETTIAS ARE NOW HERE! Make sure to pick up your poinsettias from the youth pod at church before 7:00 pm Friday 12/3!

Monday Update 11/29/10

THIS WEEK:

Wednesday - Chinese New Year! Although "the real" Chinese New Year isn't until Frebruary, this Wednesday we will be celebrating our new year in our own chinese way! Come dressed in your best ninja/mulan/chinese garb for a night of Chinese fun!  7:30 - 9:00 pm in the Sanctuary

Friday - Poinsettias arrive! If you sold poinsettias for the SF Mission Trip, you will need to PICK UP YOUR POINSETTIAS this Friday from 2 - 7 pm

Sunday - No 9:59 Sunday School, but go to the Children's Pageant and support the kids!

Beach Freeze 2011

       We are over half-way full for our Beach Freeze Winter Retreat! If you still want to go and have not turned in your forms, get them in ASAP! Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

FORGETTABLE FACT: All polar bears are left handed!

PARTING SHOT: What do you get when you deep fry Santa Claus? Crisp Cringle.

Monday Update 11/22/10

THIS WEEK:

Wednesday - Thanksgiving Eve Service! Come at 7:00 pm to celebrate this Thanksgiving together!

                   - Unofficial Movie Night! If you "so happen" to stop by the Galaxy Theater this Wednesday night, and you "so happen" to see the movie, Tangled, you might just see our youth group seeing the movie together! This is an unofficial youth group event, so remember, we will not be buying your tickets or scheduling your ride! We will be seeing the movie at around 9:00 pm

Thursday - Thanksgiving! Eat lots of Turkey!!

Sunday - 9:59 - This will be our last Sunday School class for the year 2010! There are no Sunday School classes during December, but we will pick the classes up again in January.

             - Advent Dinner! - Come at 5:00 in the Sanctuary for our start to the Advent Season! The night will include a light supper, communion, and music. Bring your families!

SF MISSION 2011

            - Thank you all for turning in your poinsettia money and forms! REMINDER: Poinsettias will arrive at church on Friday, December 3rd. You will need to pick up your poinsettias before 5:00 pm that day.

FORGETTABLE FACT: Nearly 22,000 checks will be deducted from the wrong account over 

                                                                                         the next hour.

PARTING SHOT: What's round and bad-tempered? A vicious circle.

Please stay safe and warm in the snow! 

Monday Update 11/15/10

THIS WEEK:

Wednesday - MAD (Make A Difference) Nite! Come and learn about 3 different ways that YOU can make a difference with YOUR life! 7:30 - 9:00 pm in the Sanctuary.

                   - Beach Freeze Registration also opens this Wednesday! Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis, so make sure to get your forms in quick!

Sunday - 9:59 classes continue! Meets at 9:59 upstairs, then we will break for our classes.

SF Mission Trip 2011

            If you are going on the SF Mission trip, your 16 poinsettia orders are due THIS WEDNESDAY! Please bring your completed forms with you to youth group and put them in the lock box outside of the youth pod.

             Also, if you are looking for a way to raise money, the 20s-30s group at church is looking for a couple people who would be willing to babysit this coming Sunday. If you would like to earn some money for SF in this way, please contact Heather ASAP!

FORGETTABLE FACT: Giraffes chew in a figure eight motion!

PARTING SHOT: What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.

Monday Update 11/8/10

THIS WEEK:

Wednesday - 6:00 pm Girls Dinner! All girls are invited to a women's dinner in rm 8 & 9. Come for a time of good food and getting to know the women of Harbor Cov who care about you and want to get to know you! 

                              - 7:30 pm Brussel Sprouts! Come for a youth group night of fun, focused on a specific story from the Bible. Meets in the Sanctaury.

Sunday - 9:59 Sunday School classes! Meet upstairs in the big room, then we will split into our classes! The next chunk of classes for the highschool are the Prayer Experiment and Story Tellers.

SF Mission 2011

           If you are going on the SF mission trip, make sure you are selling your poinsettias! Your 16 (yes 16) poinsettia orders are due on Wednesday November 17th! Get out there and SELL!

FORGETTABLE FACT: A coffee tree yields about one pound of coffee in a year.

PARTING SHOT:Where did the farmer take the pigs on Saturday afternoon? He took them to a pignic.



Monday Update 11/1/10

THIS WEEK:

Wednesday - Praise and Worship Nite! Come for a time of worshipping our amazing God, through music, games, silence, and prayer. 7:30 - 9:00 in the Sanctuary.

Sunday - 9:59 Sunday School continues! Meet upstairs this week to hear about our upcoming set of classes. Meet at 9:59 am.

SF Mission 2011 - Poinsettia Sale!

                      If you are going on the SF 2011 Mission Trip, you need to start selling your Poinsettias NOW. Your 16 (yes, 16, not 14 as it says in your packets) poinsettia orders are due by Wednesday, November 17th! If you have questions, call Heather at church.

Candles for Sale!

We are currently selling BEAUTIFUL candles! They are $5 each, and all proceeds go to the summer 2011 student mission trips! For each candle you buy, you will also be entered into our raffle for a Thanksgiving or Christmas Candle Basket! Stop by the youth pod at church or contact Jen or Heather if you are interested!

FORGETTABLE FACT: The first TV commercial: a Bulova watch ticking onscreen for exactly 60 seconds

PARTING SHOT: Why was Cinderella thrown off the basketball team? She ran away from the ball.             





Monday Update 10/25/10

THIS WEEK:

Wednesday - Story Tellers Nite! It is SO important for us to hear each other's stories of how God has worked in our lives. Come hear our "mysery person"'s story this week! 7:30 - 9:00 pm in the Sanctuary

                               - SF Mission Trip Parent Meeting! - Starts at 6:00 pm in rm 101

Sunday - Halloween! (just in case you forgot)

                     - 9:59 Sunday School classes continue! Starts at, you guessed it! 9:59 am in the 2nd floor class rooms.

SF Mission Trip 2011

                     If you have signed up for the SF Mission Trip, our first meeting is THIS Wednesday at 6:00 pm in rm 101. This is a PARENT meeting, so make sure to let you PARENTS know!

FORGETTABLE FACT: Why do puppies lick your face? They're instinctively looking for scraps of food.

PARTING SHOT: It cost 7 million dollars to build the Titanic, and 200 million to make a film about it.



YG - D Nite Video!

Monday Update 10/18/10

THIS WEEK:

Wednesday - "D" (Disciplines) Nite! - Come this week to have fun, see your friends, and learn about an important discipline of our faith. 7:30 - 9:00 pm in the Sanctuary!

Sunday - 9:59 continues! We are in the middle of our current 3 week series of classes! Meet upstairs at 9:59 am, then we will break into our classes.

S.F. Mission Trip 2011

                  - We still have a few spots left for the trip! If you are interested, grab an orange application and turn it, along with your deposit, into the lockbox outside of the youth pod. Hurry, these spots won't last!


FORGETTABLE FACT: Hummingbirds can't walk.
PARTING SHOT: What did the mother broom say to the baby broom? It's time to go to sweep.

Monday Update 10/11/10

THIS WEEK:
                           

Wednesday - To Whom Shall We Go? A night focused on the verse John 6: 68 - "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." Jesus is IT! There is no one else greater who we can turn to than Jesus. We will discussing this topic this Wednesday! 7:30 - 9:00 pm in the Sanctuary

Sunday - 9:59 Sunday School continues with our new 3 week series! Come at 9:59 am. Meet upstairs first, then we will split into our classes.

                       
S.F. Mission Trip 2010
                  - If you want to go on the S.F. Mission trip next summer, you need to turn in your applications and deposit NOW! Spots are still available, but they are going fast! Put both your deposit and your application in the lock box right outside of the youth pod. Applications are available in the youth pod as well.


FORGETTABLE FACT: Kilts are not native to Scotland. They originated in France.
PARTING SHOT: Knock, knock. Who’s there? Reed. Reed who? Reed between the lines.

Monday Update 10/4/10

THIS WEEK:

Wednesday - Our annual LIP SYNC! Come at 7:30 pm for our hilarious Lip Sync Competition! We will be selling snacks in the back. Bring your friends!

                                - If you are performing a Lip Sync, you need to give your song to Heather or Mike by TUESDAY, OCTOVER 5th. Yes, that is tomorrow!

Sunday - 9:59 Sunday School continues. Meet at 9:59 am upstairs. 

FORGETTABLE FACT: The average human body contains enough fat to make seven bars of soap.

PARTING SHOT: What's gray, eats fish, and lives in Washington, D.C.?  The Presidential Seal.

Monday Update 9/27/10

THIS WEEK:

Wednesday - Praise and Worship Nite! Come for a night focused on praising and worshipping God together! 7:30 - 9:00 pm in the Sanctuary.

Sunday - 9:59 Sunday School continues. Meet upstairs then we will split into our different class! Starts at 9:59 am.

Lip Sync!

            Next Wednesday, October 6th, is our annual Lip Sync! If you have not signed up yet, you need to sign up on the Pink Sheets by Tuesday, October 5th. For those of you have signed up, you also need to give your song to Heather or Mike by October 5th. Yes, that is Tuesday, October 5th!

FORGETTABLE FACT: Pumpkin rule of thumb: the darker the shell, the longer the pumpkin lasts.

PARTING SHOT: Why were the teacher's eyes crossed? She couldn't control her pupils.

Monday Update 9/20/10

THIS WEEK:

Wednesday - Brussel Sprouts! Come this week to find out what in the world we are doing with brussel sprouts! 7:30 - 9:00 pm in the sanctuary. BRING YOUR BIBLES!!

Friday - Taco/Game Night at the Ruriks! 6:00 - 10:00 pm

Sunday - 9:59 Sunday School. Meet upstairs then we will split into our classes!

Parent Seminar!

                   - Come this Sunday night, the 26th, for our dicussion on teen (and pre-teen!) use of the internet and technology! Begins 6:30 pm, ends 8:00 pm.

FORGETTABLE FACT: There are 92 known cases of nuclear bombs lost at sea.

PARTING SHOT: How can you get four suits for a dollar? Buy a deck of cards. 

Monday Update 9/13/10

THIS WEEK:

If you missed the Summer Dessert last week, here is the Panama Slideshow!

 (Videos can also be viewed from tab on the right)

Panama 2010 from Heather Maher on Vimeo.

Wednesday - The Welcome Movie! Come for our first youth group of the year! Including popcorn, games, and of course, our annual epic Welcome Movie! 7:30 - 9:00 pm in the Sanctuary

Sunday - 9:59 Sunday School classes at, you guessed it! 9:59 am. Meet upstairs FIRST. THEN we will split into our classes!

FORGETTABLE FACT: Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

PARTING SHOT: What did the rug say to the floor? Don't move, I've got you covered.

Monday Update 9/6/10

THIS WEEK:

Wednesday - Our annual Summer Dessert! Come for food, stories, and pictures from our summer youth group trips! 6:30-8:30 pm in the Sanctuary.

Sunday - 9:59 starts! Meet upstairs (yes, upstairs) to hear about what's going on this Fall in 9:59.

             - Fall worship starts! Services are at 8:30 am and 11:00 am.

FORGETTABLE FACT: The Pacific island of Nauru's economy is almost entirely based on bird droppings.

PARTING SHOT: What do you call a calf after it's six months old? Seven months old.

Fall 2010 Calendar

If you did not receive a Fall 2010 Calendar in the mail, here is the online copy!
You can also click the link on the right under "Current Youth Group Calendar" to view it!


Fall 2010 Station Calendar Update

Monday Update 8/30/10

THIS WEEK:

TONIGHT!
            Our Annual Tacoma Rainier's Baseball game!! Meet at church at 4:30pm to prepare.

Sunday
            We will have a special service this week ONLY at 9:00 am due to Labor Day. Mike will be preaching! Fall service times will resume the following Sunday at 8:30 and 11:00 am

Next Week!
                  Wednesday, Septmeber 8th, come for our annual Summer Dessert! Bring your parents and friends! 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm.


FORGETTABLE FACT: A group of kangaroos is called a mob.

PARTING SHOT: There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.

Monday Update 8/16/10

THIS WEEK:

Wednesday - Super Big Lunch! Come to Crescent Creek Park (aka City Park) for a picnic lunch together! Noon - 2:00 pm. Bring $2, lunch will be provided for you! (If you're unsure which park it is, it's the park with the tennis courts by Donkey Creek)

                             -

Sunday - 5:00 service and BBQ! Come for church and dinner, and then stay for "Fiddy Cent" Cones!

Next Week:

     Tuesday - Rurik Farm Day!

                            Location: Silverbow Farm (near Key Center)

                                       DIRECTIONS TO SILVERBOW FARM

                           Time: 2-8pm - Carpool meets at Harbor Cov at 1:30pm
  
                           Activities: Heated pool; beach combing; hopefully tubing with ski boat if weather is ok; frisbee golf; hanging out; BBQ dinner

                           What to bring: swimsuit/towel/sunscreen; snacks and/or drinks to share; beach shoes
 
 
FORGETTABLE FACT: The most common time for a bank robbery is Friday, between 9 and 11 a.m. The least likely time is Wednesday, between 3 and 6 p.m.
 
PARTING SHOT: What do you get if you cross a chicken with a cement mixer? A brick layer!

Tuesday Update 8/10/10

THIS WEEK:

Wednesday - Guys/ Girls breakfasts! Guys will meet at 9:30am at Mike's House and Girls will meet at 10:30 am at Heather's House. Heather's House does NOT have a lot of parking!

                               - Sara Rodenbucher's Birthday Party! 3:30-7:00 pm. Carpool meets at HCC at 3:00 pm. See previous blog posts for Sara's address.

Sunday - 5:00 pm service, complete with BBQ!

FORGETTABLE FACT: Dragonflies can travel up to 60 mph.

PARTING SHOT: If you are an average American, in your whole life, you will spend an average of 6 months waiting at red lights.

Oasis 2010

What an AWESOME week we had at camp! Filled with crazy thunder storms, fun afternoons boating and tubing, and learning about how to love God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength! To hear stories about our week together at camp, come to our Summer Dessert on Wednesday, September 8th!

Below are some pictures from our week. To see more, visit our youth group photo website, the link can be found on the right side of this page.

Sara Rodenbucher's Birthday Party!

HEY EVERYONE!

You are all invited to Sara Rodenbucher's birthday! This coming Wednesday, August 11th, from 3:30 - 7:00 pm. Her address is 14936 Fairview Lake Road SW, Port Orchard, 98367. To carpool, meet at church at 3:00. Heather can take 4 people, but needs to be home by 6:00 that night. Other drivers might be able to stay later :)

PLEASE let Heather or Sara know that you are coming ASAP! :)

Oasis Summer Camp 2010

Hello Everyone!

           This week we head out on yet another adventure, to Summer Camp 2010! It's going to be awesome, and I'm personally looking forward to relaxing in the sun and spending time with the students from Harbor Covenant, Chapel Hill, and Believers Fellowship!

           Unfortunetly, Bridgeport State Park does not have internet service (at least, none that I am aware of). We will be posting our travel updates with our Twitter account (see tab on the right side of this page), and hopefuly uploading some pictures along the way.

            Please be praying for my friend Tyler Gorsline, our camp speaker this week, as well as energy and wisdom for our adult leaders, and for open hearts for our students, so that their lives will be changed from their experience at camp this week.

            Below is all the travel information you will need for our trip!

                   In Christ's love,

                    - Heather


Oasis 2010 Summer Camp Information

During our week at camp, here is the important information you will need:

Dates of Camp:

- August 2nd – 6th – We will be returning to Harbor Covenant Church at approx. 6:00 pm on Friday afternoon

Contacts:

- In case of an emergency, contact Erin Miller, the receptionist at Harbor Covenant:

                 o Office –253 - 851 – 8450              o Cell –253 - 441 – 5699

- Staff:

o Mike Stelle – Associate Pastor of Students Ministries

                  Cell – 253 – 241 – 6375

o Heather Maher – High School Ministries Intern

                  Cell – 925 – 963 – 6656

Camp Site Info:

- We will be camping at the group camp site at Bridgeport State Park, just outside of Wenatchee.

- For complete Park information, please visit the Washington State Parks website :

o http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Bridgeport&subject=all

- The Bridgeport State Park phone number is (509) – 686 – 7231

New Look for Our Blog!

Check out the new sleeker, cleaner look for our blog! Complete with the current youth group calendar, photos, videos, and the most recent updates about our group!

Monday Update 7/26/10

This Week:

VBS
         All students are invited to come help with Vacation Bible School this week from 9-12! Come be with kids and have fun! If you have questions of how you can help, contact Heather or Mike!


Oasis Summer Camp
      If you are coming to Oasis, YOU NEED to turn in your registration forms ASAP. We are meeting at Harbor Covenant at 6:00am next Monday the 2nd and returning to Harbor Covenant by 6:00pm on Friday the 6th.

*Keep checking this website and our Youth Group Calendar for info on our next hang out!





FORGETTABLE FACT: Leonardo da Vinci was dyslexic, and he often wrote backwards.
PARTING SHOT: If a long dress is evening wear, what is a suit of armor? Silverware.

Monday Update 7/19/10

THIS WEEK:

        

WEDNESDAY - Guys/ Girls Breakfast! - Come in your pj's for some delicious time together! Girls meet 10:30 am at the Rurik's, guys meet 9:30 am at the Stelle's.

SUNDAY - Movie night at the Rurik's! Come at 7:00pm (after the 5:00 service) for a giant movie night!

Summer Calendar
             If you did not receive a summer calendar in the mail and would like to see our upcoming events, please click on the link below:
                   Summer Youth Group Calendar


Forgettable Fact: When you walk down a steep hill, the pressure on your knees is equal to three     times your body weight.
Parting Shot: The first rule of holes: If you are in one, stop digging.

Panama Pictures

Hello everyone!

         If you would like pictures from the trip, they are now posted on our youth group SmugMug site, click here:   HCC Panama SmugMug Pictures

At that site you can download or order prints of the pictures that you like!

If YOU have pictures from the trip, please give me your TOP 20 pictures so I can put on the SmugMug site. TOP 20 ONLY. No pictures of Susie Q's shoe lace or the pictures of the inside of your pocket that you didn't realize you were taking.

Email them to me at heathermaher09@gmail.com or put them a cd and drop them by church.

Thanks all!

-Heather

Monday Travel Plans

Ladies and Gentlemen! Leeeeeet's get ready to rummmmmmmmmmbleeeeeeeeee!

Here we go!

Flight #873 to Houston Arriving 2:10pm
Flight # 667y leaves Houston 5:30pm arrives Seattle 7:58 pm
    ON that flight is: 7 people:

          - Heather M
          - Bogie
          - Julie
          - Chandler M
          - Adam C
          - Fran B
          - Sarah B


Flight # 806 to Newark Arriving 4:15
Flight # 1834 leaves 8:15 arrives in Seattle at 11:33pm

   ON that flight is 11 people:

          - Mike Stelle
          - Kayla Stelle
          - Jim Graffe
         - Patti Graffe
         - Erik L
         - Katlyn L
        - Joel
        - Greg
        - Trevor W
       - Raliegh W
       - Bill W


Flight # 876 to Houston arrives 6:04 pm
Flight # 1888 leaves 7:00 pm arrives in Seattle at 9:41 pm

    ON that flight in 16 people:

              - Bryan
              - Lillian
              - Chris Herron
              - Marisa M
             - Ashley Smith
             - Anna C
             - Katie W
              - Janna
              - Casie L
              - Carin
              - Jordan
              - Keegan
              - Hunter
              - John B
              - Ally
              - Ashley Stakset

We will be on touch with you all throughout the day. Once we land in the State we will call home. See you in Seattle!

     Love,

    Heather

More Travel Updates

Hey Everyone,

        I know you all are confused and worried about the change of plans today, but rest assured, we are all ok. We are staying the night in the Veneto Hotel again tonight, we ate dinner, and are all together.

        What happened today is that we all got through security at the Panama airport, found out our flight was delayed, and then continued to find out that our flight was cancelled due to the plane still not being fixed since yesterday.

       Here is the new plan: After speaking with Continental, our group is now flying home in 3 groups tomorrow. Two flights go through Houston and one flight goes through Newark. All flights will be home in Seattle by Monday night.

      It's late here, and we are all in need of some sleep. I know you all would like specific flight information, but we want to double check in the morning to make sure our flights are secure before we post any info up here.

     But really, we are all doing very well, despite the confusion and change of plans. The group was in good spirits today, playing games while waiting, some of which were HILARIOUS to watch (silent football, coom cha, etc...),  encouraging each other, and even praying together as a group in the airport. As Ally Brome continues to remind us, "Write your plans in pencil, and give God the eraser!"

    Know that we are all ok, and that we will be updating you with information as soon as possible!

             Goodnight from Veneto,

                   - Heather

    

Travel Updates!

Okay!

   We are at the Panama Airport, and through security about to hop onto our Houston flight. But we have new plans as of now:

   We are now on 3 flights in order to get a group of us home sooner. The 1st flight is TONIGHT and leaves Houston at 9:30pm. It will arrive n Seattle at Midnight.

    The 2nd flight and 3rd flights on Monday are still the same as posted before. The only thing that has changed is the people who are on each flight.

   On the flight TONIGHT is: Flight # 467 Continental:

       - Casie
       - Fran
       - Lillian
       - Eric L.
       - Greg Rurik
      - Bill W.
      - Katlyn L.
      -Trevor
      - Raleigh
      - Keegan
      - Adam
     - Sarah Brooks
     - Bogie
     - Julie
     - Heather M.
     - Katie Wolff
     - Joel


  The rest of the people on our team are coming home on Monday. Specially who is on the morning flight and the evening flight is still subject to change and we will let you know once we land in Houston tonight exactly who is on the Monday flights.

   Thank you all for your prayers, patience, and love from home. We are all still well, and our spirits are still high.

   We will continue to be in touch!

      love,

   Heather

Panama 2010 - Day... 13???

Hey Everyone!

       Well, as you all know by now, we are not home in Gig Harbor. For some reason, God wanted us to stay in a 5-Star Hotel last night!

        We are still together, still safe, and still well. The story is that yesterday we made it onto our flight, but something with the gas pump was broken, so we had to exit the plane. It was actually quite funny! We were sitting in our seats, and the flight attendant came on the speaker in Spanish announcing something that most of us didn't understand. But then all of a sudden people stood up and grabbed their bags and we just thought... "uh oh...that's not good!"

      After 4 hours of relaxing in the luxurious Panama City airport, playing cards and napping on the chairs, Continental arranged us to stay in the Veneto Wyndham Grand Hotel, complete with food vouchers for our meals. And this hotel is BEAUTIFUL! I opened the door to my bathroom and angels started singing. Bathroom. From. Heaven.
      So we are safe and well and being very well taken care of. But here is our plan for getting home:

      This afternoon, Sunday, we are taking the 4:30pm flight to Houston. Flight # 1950. We will arrive in Houston at 8:10pm and spend the night in another hotel provided by Continental.

      Monday: We are split into two groups to get home to Seattle. There is a 7:55 am flight and a 5:30pm flight.

      The 7:55 am flight is flight # 167 and will arrive at 10:31 am in Seattle. Here are the people on that flight. The assignments were according to Continental, and we did the best we could to make sure that families were together and that there were adults with the students in each group.

     - Marisa Mason
    - Chris Herron
    - Fran B.
    - Trevor
    - Raleigh
    - Bill
    - Ashley Stakset
    - Ashley Smith
    - Ally B.
    - Joel
    - Jordan
    - Hunter
    - Janna
    - John B.
    - Chandler Mason
    - Kayla Stelle
    - Greg Rurik

The afternoon flight is flight # 667 leaves 5:30 pm and arrives in Seattle at 7:58 pm. Here are the people on that flight:

    - Keegan Amrine
    - Adam Caswell
    - Casie Lively
    - Sarah Brooks
    - Eric B.
    - Julie Elliott
    - Mike Stelle
    - Heather M.
    - Jim Graffe
    - Patti Graffe
    - Bryan Amrine
    - Lillina Amrine
    - Katie Wolff
    - Katlyn L.
    - Eric L.
    - Anna C.
   -  Carin C.

Again, we have been doing our best to stick together and make sure that everyone will get safely home as soon as possible. Continental is being VERY helpful, so rest assured, we are in safe hands.

We will be in touch with you all. If you have any questions, please contact Jill Branham (253) - 377 - 4489. She is our contact person at home, relaying information to you all.

Once we get in the States it will be a lot easier for each person to call home. Until then, keep checking this blog for more information.

Again, we are all safe, and livin' the hi-life here in the hotel! :o)

     Love to you all,

  Heather and the Joel Rurik