The Update

This morning a dozen or so NSL students went to Maple Lakes park, just up the road form the Maple Grove Community Center.

The reason is that NSL adopted this park, meaning it is ours to keep up. The hard working and servant-hearted students that were with this morning picked up a whopping 6 bags of (rather nasty looking) garbage.

So Kudos to the wonderful help from our faithful crew this morning. You made Maple Grove a little better this morning, and made me very proud.

For the first month since we adopted Melanie, our Compassion child from Ecuador, we collected the full $32 needed to pay for her health care education and nourishment. Thanks to those of you who were generous in giving 2, 3, 5, and even 20 dollars!
Hopefully this will start the trend of making our goal each month. On behalf of Melanie, Gracias!

A great many of our students helped out with the childcare for Sunday's annual meeting. From the smiles on the kids' faces it's easy to see that you all did a wonderful job, so an extra thanks to all of you who helped!

Kudos to the Alpha Team Special Forces Saran Wrap Candy Heart Strike Force that managed to strike Luke's car Friday night, even when it was parked directly in front of the two story window at the Becker Retreat. Bobber and Boone (Senior High Leaders) along with Brian and Amy Hanson, paid a little visit to the Becker Retreat and prettied up Luke's ride. In fact, there are still candy hearts and twinkies frozen to his car!
The pictures say it all, you guys are awesome!

Kudos to our very own Jess Anderson, Brian Hanson, Joe Kraemer, Bob Fiebranz, and Jason Dyer Snowflake for their loverly gesture to some kids in need of play. The 5 of them went to Mary's Place, a shelter in north Minneapolis and spent time playing with the kids. Unless you've tried it, it's hard to really understand the amazing amount of energy it takes to keep up, put up, and defend yourself with this crazy bunch of kids. So a tip o' the hat to you for making the Big Guy proud and living out what NSL is all about!

Welcome to 2008. Last year was a great one for us and a big fat thanks to each of you for your part in all the amazing success of what God is doing in and through Northwood Student Life. I'm really excited about what's ahead. 2008 promises to bring us:

• Our first all-youth mission trips
• Our first ski trip
  
• Even more growth in both age groups and the addition of even more amazing leaders
  
• The start of traditions, with second times at Spring Blitz, the Becker Retreat, and 30 Hour Famine, etc.
  
• And plenty of stuff we don't even know about yet

So enjoy today, and may it be the first in many great days in 2008.

Yesterday Katie and I got some much appreciated help from Spencer, Rockie, and Olivia as we ripped the carpet and pad up from the basement of our new house. Spencer hauled stuff to the dumpster, Rockie was a stair-carpet ripping fiend, and Olivia came up with an awesome (and easier) way to get up the stuff glued to the floor. A huge thanks to you three for helping us get closer to being at home in our new place.

A side note for everyone else, here's our new info:

Luke & Katie Trouten
5193 Kahl Ave. NE
Albertville, MN 55301

763-515-3244 - Home

Since yesterday was the last day of "Pastor Appreciation Month" I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for your kind words and encouragement over the past weeks. I enjoy the support that Northwood has for it's staff and the many ways that it is shown. Katie and I are both very excited to be here, and we are glad to see the same is true for many you. So for the cards, comments, and gifts... thanks!