NIU Men's Soccer Mission Trip to Uruguay

The Northland International University men's soccer team will be going on a mission trip to Uruguay, South America in August 2010. During the trip the team will be playing exhibition games, conducting children's soccer clinics, ministering in a variety of churches (singing, testimonies, preaching, and fellowship) and doing work projects for a Christian camp. The team will be assisting veteran missionaries, many of whom are Northland alumni. They include: Dan and Becca Vallette serving in the city of in Paysandu, Sergio and Andrea Duarte in Fray Bentos, Andy and Kolette Thompson in Salto, and Bob Vallette in Colonia. These missionaries serve with the Gospel Mission of South America. You can read more about their ministries at www.gmsa.org.

Each of the team members has stepped out on faith, believing that God would have them go on this trip and trusting Him to provide the resources. The cost for the trip is just under $2000 per person. If God would lay it on your heart to help us, we would greatly appreciate anything that you could provide. You can donate online at "northlandministries.org/invest". When donating online, please select the "Uruguay Mission Team". If you would like to donate toward a specific individual team member, select the "In Honor Of" line and insert the name of the team member you wish to support.

Above all things we would love to have your prayer support as we make this trip. You can pray for the following:

Final preparations - soccer practices, ministry activities, and itinerary
Safety in travel - air and ground transportation
God's financial provision
Opportunities to share the gospel (at exhibition games and clinics)
God's work in our own hearts
Scheduling details and final planning
That we would be an encouragement to the missionaries
Strength and good health throughout the trip
That God would use us in any way He sees fit

We will be updating this blog occasionally throughout the summer and then daily while we are on the trip. Our current plans are for the team members to arrive back at Northland on August 1, 2010 to practice soccer and make final ministry preparations and then to leave out of Green Bay, WI on August 5. We will return to Northland around August 20.

Thanks for your support both in prayers and finances. We are excited about this opportunity and are looking forward to seeing how God is going to use us and change us on this trip.