Upcoming Sacramento Trip Tomorrow!

So tomorrow I get on a plane and leave for Sacramento.

I am going to 'Head Start' and 'Jump Start', programs both with different purposes but both at the Maranatha Volunteers International Office in Roseville, CA, a suburb city just outside of Sacramento.

First to explain just what all of that previous sentence just meant, I will say that Maranatha Volunteers Int., receives requests from all over the world to construct various buildings. While their primary construction involves churches and schools, they have also built orphanages, clinics, homes, and hospitals. Once they accept a request, they go on the coordinating process of construction plans and managing volunteers for each project.

When a project is confirmed and scheduled, Maranatha announces the opportunity to volunteers through Maranatha print publications, membership email newsletters, and the website. Everyone is invited to volunteer, and there are specialized projects available for various types of groups, such as families, teenagers, or young adults. Each year, an average of 3000 people sign up on a Maranatha project. The result of a single trip is an unforgettable experience of cultural and a christian spiritual growth.

With that all said, Maranatha has an annual mission project called the Ultimate Workout held every summer for teenagers who are within the age range of 14-18 years old. (Freshmen to Seniors in High School). It is a two week mission trip where these young people come together from all over the world and find new friends as they work together on construction projects, medical clinics and with many other local ministries.

Originally created as a way to give our youth spirituality a workout – to keep us healthy – The Ultimate Workout continues to strengthen young people each year. Adult staff members facilitate the project and encourage teens to grow socially, spiritually and as leaders among their peers. Projects typically take place in Latin America where the young people construct churches or schools, teach Vacation Bible School, provide medical clinics, and participate in community service activities. Participants stay with their new family groups in campgrounds close to their respective building projects. Daily worship times, construction work, interaction with local people and bonding with new friends make The Ultimate Workout a life changing experience for many.

Tomorrow as I leave for Sacramento, 'Head Start' is a leadership training for this Ultimate Workout program as I am looking forward to being a leader [possibly a site pastor] for this coming summer's Ultimate Workout. Head Start will take place Friday morning and starting Friday evening, 'Jump Start', a program to give teenaged participants a preview of what Ultimate Workouts are like. I will not only be attending both, but I will be speaking and leading out in a breakout session with another leader-in-training such as myself. I will also be lugging my guitar up north to help contribute to our praise sessions! :)

I'm looking forward to this weekend trip! I'm excited and I hope to meet a lot of new people! Follow me on twitter [aaronnakamura] for throughout the weekend updates as to what I will be doing! Until next time! Happy New Year!!!