Barrett's Musings: March 2012

Dear Friends and Family;

Greetings from Athens, WV! We trust this letter finds you well and looking forward to warmer Spring weather which should be right around the corner. The reason for writing this letter is to inform you of an exciting opportunity Brandon and myself have this summer.

I was approached back in October by Mike White, the Southern WV Director of FCA to help run some soccer clinics for players and coaches in the West Bank for the West Bank Sports Project. Mike takes a team of coaches each year to minister and work with the young children in a variety of sports. This will be the 12^th year Mike has taken a group of coaches to the West Bank. Soccer is by far the most popular sport in Israel, and because of my knowledge and experience in organizing and coaching in the camp/clinic setting, the prospect was very attractive and after much prayer, I agreed to participate. Brandon has never been on a mission’s trip and Tina and I felt this was a tremendous opportunity for Brandon to use the abilities he has been given to serve The Lord. Again, after much prayer, we all agreed that this represented a fantastic opportunity to serve using the gifts and abilities given to us.

We leave on June 6^th and will be there for 2 weeks. We will run camps in Bethlehem and Nablus in the West Bank (Palestine) of Israel. Coach White is anticipating approximately 500 children to participate in the basketball, swimming, volleyball, and soccer camps. In years past FCA soccer camps have had around 150 children the coaches have worked with. We will interact with various faiths and have opportunities to witness to the children and each camp has an award ceremony in which the gospel is clearly presented to all those in attendance.

We are anticipating God’s hand to go before us and prepare the way. Not only are Brandon and I going to be sharing God’s Word this summer, but Austen is going with his Inter -Varsity Christian Fellowship group at WVU to Kingston, Jamaica’s college campus to do the same during his spring break. The total cost for our trip is around $3,400 each. We have been given some help through FCA and our Church, and are in the process of organizing some local soccer clinics to raise support. However, we are still in much need of help as we look to funds this trip. The team will be taking around 10 thousand dollars worth of give-a-ways for the children who come to camp including FCA Sports New Testament Bibles.

We would ask that you prayerfully consider helping us financially. Any contribution is tax deductable. Checks can be made payable to FCA and mailed to PO Box 840, Beckley, WV 25802 Please write Barrett’s West Bank project in memo line. Brandon and I are asking that you join us in prayer for the children of the West Bank who we will come into contact with. Also, we ask you would pray for us as we prepare our hearts for this mission trip.

If you have any questions you can contact me @ 304-887-0097, or Mike White @ 304-253-2858.

God Bless you and thank you for considering helping us help the kids in the West Bank.

Steve Barrett and Brandon Barrett