I Don't Feel Like I Have Many Contacts For Fundraising. What Should I Do?

First of all, tell Kristi what your financial needs are for the summer. Are you desperate to raise all that you can or is it just a bonus to have extra pocket cash? I just ask in order to know how much direction and effort we need to make together. Here's a few fundraising thoughts...

First, don't decide for anyone else whether or not they can afford to partner with you in this ministry. If they don't want to or can not give, then let that be their decision. You present them with the opportunity by giving them a letter!

PSP is a perfect opportunity to get funds from non-Christian contacts as well. With a little tweaking to your letter, anyone is drawn to helping poor little urban children! So if you have any non-Christian friends or relatives, go ahead and ask them to support you. You may be surprised.

You must have some personal contacts whom could give to you. Start with those who wrote such glowing reviews of you! Teachers, co-workers, club sponsors... The more you ask the greater chance you will have of getting the funds you need.

What Kind of Clothes Should I Bring?

Portland is a casual place. Really, I don't think there is anything you could wear that would look out of place in this city! We have a reputation for being rain-soaked, but you probably won't see much of it this summer. It'll get pretty warm (80s-90s), so you'll want shorts, t-shirts, & sandals for most PSP days. You'll probably want to take outings to the coast and we will have a retreat in the mountains, so bring jeans, sweatshirt, and decent boots or shoes.

PUMP church is a true come-as-you-are place. If you are more comfortable dressing up for church, that's great. If you want to wear shorts & a t-shirt, that fits, too.

As for PSP, youth group rules apply. Only positive messages displayed. No bikinis, please - yes, even for you guys. :-) You need to be kid-active and remain modest. Do some deep knee bends, bend over, run around the room - anything showing that will cause a fifth-grade boys to over-use their imagination? Cover it.

What Are the Transportation Options?

Interns often like to have a bike or some other easy form of transportation, especially if they are without a car. A bike can be brought or you can find one on Craigslist after you get here. Concordia is less than a mile from PUMP, so it is an easy bike ride (or even walk). We have a really great mass transit system in Portland, so you'll be able to get downtown and around with ease. Interns often like to go on bigger outings on Friday & Saturday - the beach, Seattle, camping, etc. You'll need a car for those type of things. With gas prices as they are, everyone should be conscious of sharing transportation costs with the car-owners. The PUMP van is available to interns for work-related outings and errands.

What Do I Need to Bring?

There is nothing that you have to bring for the internship itself. If you want to bring things that you enjoy doing with kids - balls, jump ropes, - you are welcome to, but we have or can purchase those things.

For your living arrangements, you will be in a pretty bare apartment. There should be all the furniture you need. If it needs any lamps or anything like that, we can always make a Goodwill run. The rooms will need to have added: bedding, towels, dishes, cookware, food, coffeepot, clocks, pitcher, tupperware, baggies, foil, t.v., dvd/vcr, fan, paper towels, dish towels...

We are more than happy to help gather a lot of this together through church members donations and some Goodwill runs. But if you have anything that you are particular about or could bring along, that would be great.

Other things you might want to bring: toiletries, Bible, journal, camera, laptop, books, spending money

What Days Should I Fly In & Out of Portland?

As for dates, I'd fly in on the 7th, so you can be good to go for church on the 8th. Church on the 10th is your last official showing. I'd say any flight after 2:00 p.m. on the 10th would work fine.

How Will Donors Be Tracked?

As soon as I get your first check, I will make a google spreadsheet for you. You will receive an "invitation" for that online spreadsheet with log in info. I'll update that spreadsheet as funds come in; you will always have access to it to see where your bottom line is. Be sure to send thank you notes to your donors! You could track those on the spreadsheet, too, if that would help.

Introducing Raleigh - intern

Raleigh is from Goodlettsville, TN and will be attending Lipscomb in the fall for his fourth year of college where he is studying Bible. Raleigh considers himself "very laid-back, very apt to 'go with the flow,' and very flexible". He desires to pour out himself this summer as he works with the kids at PSP. For those of you who know our beloved Kami, she has worked hard to get her friend Raleigh out her to work with us, and we are thrilled to have him!

Someone Wrote a Check to Me Personally Instead of PUMP, What Should I Do With It?

You can go ahead & mail any checks received to PUMP, so that the donor can receive a receipt and tax deduction for it. It will be posted on a google spreadsheet that will track all of your donors.

Introducing Josh & Katina

This is Josh & Katina Harrelson - our PSP Coordinators for 2008. We are so excited to have them working with us this year, and PSP will be greatly blessed by their leadership and gifts. They come to us from New Mexico, where Katina is a teacher and Josh is pursuing his Master's Degree in education.