Leap Into Action with a Mission Work Night
Did you know that because of leap year, we have an extra day this year? What better way to use it than to serve God's people? The women of Central Baptist Church invite you to join together in mission on the evening of Friday, February 29 as we make roller bandages to send to the Congo. Roller bandages are made from old sheets. They are torn into strips, sewn together and rolled and shipped to the Congo. In the Congo they are used in hospitals and clinics for many useful purposes. In this process, we transform something no longer usable to us and make it into something of great use to our medical missionaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo. If you would like to use your extra day this year to make a difference to the lives of people half way around the world please plan to join us in Merriam Hall on Friday, February 29. We will begin the evening with a baked potato bar from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and then begin our work. Childcare will be available beginning at 6:30 p.m. It is a great opportunity to share with one another as we serve Christ.

Used Sheets Needed
If you have cotton or cotton blend sheets you no longer need, please consider donating them to become roller bandages for the Democratic Republic of Congo. They can be white or colored and of any size. Holes are not a problem. If they are worn from years of wear they are perfect for our need. They will be transformed into a useful product on Friday, February 29. If you have sheets to donate, please bring them before the end of February and leave them on or in the trunk located in the stairwell to Merriam Hall.

Upcoming Mission Projects
The following are several opportunities for mission work through Central Baptist Church:

Domestic Project
Victoria Goff of ABC/GRR announces that the Second Blitz Build of homes on the Gulf Coast (post Katrina) will begin April 28, 2008 with the Blessing of the Build and end with the Dedication of the Homes on May 14, 2008. Cost will be available later this month. The following is the schedule and who is needed: Week 1: April 28th through May 4th, Lots of volunteer help will be needed Week 2: May 5th through 11th, Skilled help with fewer volunteers needed Week 3: May 12th through 17th, Many volunteers needed.

International Project
Kukra Hill, Nicaragua is a 40 minute panga boat ride up the Rio Escondido from Bluefields. Kukra Hill is a community of about 18,000 people. The Bethel Baptist Church of Bluefield working with our International Ministries Missionaries Ketly and Vital Pierre are in the early stages of planting a new church in Kukra Hill. They have received a donation of land to construct a church building and are seeking volunteers and funds to assist in construction. More information is available here. A small group is being put together for a possible early March 2008 trip. Dave and Carol Matheson have recently returned from an extended stay in Nicaragua and will be returning to Nicaragua in April of this year. Then we are formulating plans for another larger group to go down sometime in November 2008. This trip will be hard work in fairly primitive conditions. The estimated cost for this trip will be in the neighborhood of $1,500 to $2,000 and financial aid scholarships may be available through the Outreach Area. We realize that this is rather sketchy information at this point but we would appreciate anyone that thinks they may be interested in participating in either or both projects to please contact Brett Miles (529-1233 or bmiles52@sbcglobal.net) or JR Heikes (483-3086 or faithjr@insightbb.com). Outreach Area Coordinators Brett Miles JR Heikes.

Discovery Team
Listed below are several Discovery Teams that have been organized for 2008. There are still spots available. For more information, click here.

Tunisia, Africa: March 24 - April 5 Join this vision trip to better understand how ministry in North Africa is sharing hope and changing lives. Cost: $940

Mexico: March 15-22 or April 20 - 26 Immerse yourself in and around Tijuana, experiencing the issues your brothers and sisters across the border live with everyday. This trip is designed for college students. Cost: $450

Thailand: June 12 - July 21 An Xtreme Mission Adventure for 19 to 29 year olds. Xperience Jesus' call to mission as you have never imagined! Click here for details and an application. Cost: $2,600

Poland: June 19-30 Engage in ministry at the children's camp of the Baptist Union in the town of Wisla. The team will be doing construction/renovation work on the camp as well as minister to children. Cost: $980

Jamaica: June 20 - 29 Engage in service through construction as well as partner with the church in evangelistic outreach in the local community of St. Ann. Cost: $825

Slovakia: July 3 - 14 Participate in construction as well as evangelistic outreach activities within the community together with a local Baptist church in the town of Nove Zamky. Cost: $980

China: July 7 - August 4 Teach conversational English to Chinese middle school English teachers in rural and minority schools. Participants in this Amity Foundation program will be part of a four to six person team. Cost $1,250

Brazil: last 2 weeks of July Be a conversation partner and help teach intensive English classes to Brazilian missionary candidates at JAMI, the cross-cultural mission agency of the National Baptist Convention (CBN) in Belo Horizonte. DVD available from 2006 classes. The team is limited to 6 qualified people. Cost: $425

Thailand: November 13 - 26 Serve in a rural village, as part of a team providing clean drinking water, and Jesus, the Living Water to those who thirst for both. Outreach includes VBS, medical, servanthood, sports, and drama. Come Experience a Hill Tribe culture, see God at work in amazing ways! Cost: $1,450

Myanmar (Burma): Late fall Prepare to be blessed and inspired as you are introduced to the people and ministry of the Myanmar Baptist Convention in the place where American Baptist Foreign Missions began. Call or email us for a brochure. Cost: $1,000 (estimate)