Come on a mission to Hollywood in summer 2010!
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Overview
We are returning to Los Angeles next summer for an urban immersion experience in a Latino neighborhood in Hollywood the week of July 11-17, 2010. Last year's trip made a big impact on participants, and students voted to return again this year.
The trip is open to middle school and high school students, including incoming 6th graders. We will participate in a coordinated weeklong trip designed to challenge us to “see the face of God in the city.” It is organized by DOOR, a nonprofit devoted to serving groups and individuals in mission, service and learning experience. The cost of the week $310, which includes an extra night on Friday, so we can have some fun in Los Angeles.
Mission opportunities at Door Hollywood
We will work with agencies that combat homelessness, one of Los Angeles’ biggest issues, doing hands-on tasks like sorting donated coats or painting a house. We will learn about urban life through volunteering in the community, participating in reflection, worshiping together, considering how faith shapes our group's responses to needs in our home community and discovering service as an essential, daily part of living out Christian faith. DOOR partners with agencies that have age-appropriate work for middle school students, such as shelters, WorldVision, or Habitat for Humanity’s housing restoration project, a program targeted to middle schoolers. The city director makes preliminary reservations with agencies based on what they typically need, but that is subject to change, so we will be flexible about our work opportunities.
Accommodations and Meals
We will stay at either Hollywood Presbyterian Church or the DOOR community house (pictured on right). Both the church and the community house have separate sleeping arrangements and showering areas for boys and girls. The community house is an intentional Christian community, in a quiet Latino neighborhood down the street from Paramount Studios, which houses home a neighborhood ministry. DOOR provides the dinners, cooking onsite. Students work chore teams to set up and clean up meals. Agencies either provide lunch or staff help us pack a lunch for the day.
Cost
The cost of the week $310 (This includes an extra night on Friday, so we can have some fun in Los Angeles).
November 8: $100 deposit due
March 1: $210 balance due
Make checks payable to First Presbyterian Church Palo Alto. Students will also need spending money for a couple of meals, a night out in Hollywood, and perhaps an amusement park. Financial scholarships are available, as needed.
Supervision
Matthew Schmidt is the city director of DOOR Hollywood. Matthew is a former sixth grade teacher who loves middle school students. Matthew is assisted by a summer staff of college and seminary interns. DOOR wants a ratio of one adult for every 5-6 middle schoolers. Two adults will accompany the youth, including youth director Marissa Myers.
Schedule: A Regular Week @ Door Hollywood
We will rent a van and drive to LA together, arriving at DOOR on Sunday evening. We’ll work during the day Monday to Thursday. Meals and gatherings occur at Hollywood Pres, less than a mile away from the DOOR community house. Wednesday evening is a free night, where we can explore Hollywood, have some downtime, have some fun. Thursday night is a moment of worship, trying to bring the lessons of the week home. Friday is a day of fun in Los Angeles! Saturday morning is breakfast, clean up, and a road trip home.
DOOR
Door is a Mennonite-Presbyterian partnership that operates mission sites in several US cities. The organization comes highly recommended by pastor friends of mine, one of whom worked this neighborhood in a long-term mission for several years before it became a DOOR site.
For More Information
Contact Marissa Myers, Youth Director, at mmyers@fprespa.org or
