End of Year Bash at Ark South . . .
During the final week of the Ark this year, Sue Rose hosted the 2nd Annual Boutique Bash with the addition of a Boy's Bash, too. Sue, with some help from her friends, went above and beyond again this year to send the students off knowing that they are extremely valued and loved.
For both events, the boys and girls had an opportunity to "shop" for free! The back room at the Ark South was entirely transformed into an awesome store. The boys and girls each got to choose five articles of clothing, as well as a couple of accessories, and some toiletries to take home with them.
 
The shop created at the Ark South was different than the shops the kids are used to. Unlike public shopping centers, this shop did not have unrealistically sized models on display suggesting to its patrons an ideal body. Instead, it was a beautifully decorated space with scripture passages reminding the boys and girls that they are "fearfully and wonderfully made" by God, and that modesty is beauty-AWESOME!

In addition to all of the goodies the boys and girls got to take home with them, each child was also sent out with a full belly. At the Boutique Bash and the Boy's Bash alike, there was food a plenty! Generous donors provided pizza, fresh fruit, an assortment of snacks, and all the ingredients to make delicious ice cream sundaes. YUMMY!

New this year to the Boutique Bash was a discussion about purity. Two beautiful young women came in and gave their testimonies to the fifth and sixth grade girls about purity and that purity is often associated with virginity. At a time when hormones are beginning to surface and in a world full of pressure, the women explained how it is easier to make a decision and stick to it prior to being in the midst of a situation which may cause the girls to slide into a decision that they would not otherwise make.

Futhermore, they explained that sometimes love is more about respect tha it is about sex. That is, if a boy really loves a girl, then he ought to love her enough to protect her by waiting until marriage to have sex. The girls were really receptive to the women's stories. While the girls have inevitably talked about sex in their social circles, it is highly unlikely that they have ever heard about sex from beautiful young Christian women who care about them.

THANK YOU to everyone who made the Boutique Bash and Boy's Bash possible this year! From giving donations of food and clothing, to giving of your time and your stories, the boys and girls were blessed by you!

Although the Arks have closed for the summer, we ask you to join us as we continue to pray for the boys, girls, and volunteers until they all meet again in the fall.

What's the Difference - Store brand vs. Un Mundo
First, our coffee beans are roasted within the week by our roaster in Cincinnati. The roast date is of utmost importance! Within two weeks of roasting, coffee beans begin to stale. Ground coffee begins to stale immediately after it is ground. We do not grind our coffee until we are ready to make it, to ensure the freshest cup.

Second, coffee beans are rated on quality level from one to five. One is considered "premium coffee" and five is considered "commodity coffee". They receive the rating based on the number of defects found on the bean, where and how the bean is grown, etc. A "level one" bean which is served at Un Mundo Cafe can only have a maximum of five secondary defects which includes insect damage, small sticks or stones, etc. A "level five" bean, which is found on grocery store shelves, has over 84 primary defects which include rotted beans, large sticks and stones mixed in, etc. For more visit: http://www.coffeeresearch.org/coffee/scaaclass.htm.

Third, we sell only Fair-Trade, Organic coffee beans. Fair-Trade ensures farmers in third world countries are able to compete in the growing global market and receive a living wage for their product. Organic ensures that the beans are being grown without pesticides being sprayed on them. (Did you know? Coffee beans are on top of the list for the amount of pesticides they receive.) Un Mundo Cafe desires to be a place where people of all walks of life can be in community. We are here to bring something positive to Springfield and share the love of Christ through a cup of coffee . . . or a smoothie. We have live music on most Friday nights. A list of events, our menu, and other information is on our website at www.unmundocafe.com

This Race
We at CRC have been thinking a lot about teamwork, running the race, and how we work together when running this race called life.  Please take a moment to read a little bit about our discussion at one of our ltest staff meetings. Look forward to hearing from us about what we're doing while running this race and how the race is going. Thanks to you, CRC community for choosing to run this race with us!

Verse for Thought - 1 Thessalonians 5:13
Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.
Check out a couple News Updates from the Community