Last But Not Least...

Andy makes up the tenth member of our intern team this year. Andy came out to PSP a few summers ago with his youth group from Chattanooga. He has a ton of cross cultural ministry experience, including mission trips to Mexico, Dominion Republic, the Bahamas, Hurricane Katrina relief, and others. He obviously has a heart for helping those in need in the name of Jesus. Welcome, Andy!

Fundraising Details

Questions are coming in about how to raise funds. Use the packet I sent out as a guide and send me your specific questions. At this point, we "encourage" you to raise the $3000 to cover your own expenses, but you do not have to raise any money. You will still be paid the $800 stipend. If you raise above $3000, we will talk to you about possible ways to use the extra funds, including sharing some with other interns.

If any of these details change, I will be sure to let you know.

Flexibility With Dates?

Someone sent a note asking if they can come in a few days earlier than Saturday, the 6th of June. As long as we know you are coming, we will make sure you have a place to stay! Just let us know when & how you are arriving, so we can make arrangements.

Internship Dates & Transportation

This year's internship runs from June 7 - August 7. You'll want to arrive by Saturday, June 6, in order to get moved in and ready to go on Sunday, and you can leave Friday evening, the 7th or any time that weekend.

Please let me know your transportation plans - if you plan to drive or if you are flying. Definitely let me know dates & times of your arrival as well, so we can be sure to meet you and help you get settled in! It will also be helpful to know how many cars there will be amongst the ten of you. You'll have access to the PUMP van, but it's always good to have a car or two for errands and personal outings.

Intern Team Is Set!

The 2009 PSP Intern Team

guys: Jake, Raleigh, Andy

girls: Heather, Chelsea, Meredith, Shawna, Elizabeth, Cassi, Noel

Noel is Coming!

Noel is a familiar face to those of us at PSP, because she has come so many times with her youth group. She is going to be a great asset to the team as she loves on the kids that she has gotten to know over the years. We're so glad to have her with us!

What 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 or comfy shoes 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.

Detail Questions

Some of you are starting to throw questions my way, which is great! There will be a lot of details that you think of in the middle of night as you contemplate your summer adventure. You can look back through posts on this site that will answer some questions like transportation, clothing needs, and that kind of thing. If you don't find what you need or you need clarification, definitely ask! And for you old interns, please chime in as you have the first-hand experience that will offer the best perspective on some things.

Introducing Elizabeth!

Elizabeth comes to us by way of Abilene Christian where she is studying ministry. She would eventually like to work in urban ministry and then direct a non-profit. She's coming to the right place for experience! She has a heart for the hurting and those who are without hope. We're excited to have her with us!

Meet Shawna

Shawna is finishing up her second year as an education major at Seattle Pacific University. Shawna reports that one of her first cross-cultural ministry experiences was when she came to PSP as a shy (& shocked!) 15-year-old youth group member. She has since spent time ministering to the poor and disadvantaged in a number of ways. She has a heart that will be a blessing to our team and to the children with whom we work. Welcome, Shawna!

It's Cassie!

Cassie has been a familiar face to those of us at PUMP and PSP. Last year she spent a lot of time volunteering with us, especially during weeks when we were short-handed. She has spent a lot of time at PUMP, helping watch our own kids so the adults can focus once-in-a-while! She will add a great component to our team as someone who is both fun-loving and trustworthy. I'm so glad she's with us this year on a full basis!

As the Executive Director of the non-profit branch of PUMP, Heath is your main man for all things PSP. There are three volunteers for whom you will see a lot this summer as well.

Lori (pictured on right) is the one who organized this whole PSP thing ten years ago! She works tirelessly on our reading program, along with Amber, a local teacher who has volunteered every year to help coordinate this important piece of our program. Lori is married to Kerry and has three beautiful girls, the youngest of whom is fighting a battle against leukemia (& doing great!). Lori & her family live far away from PUMP, so it makes the trip in a challenge - meaning we don't get to see her as much as we'd like!

Casey (center) is our link to the middle school volunteers that help out each year at PSP. She has a great memory for all the details and the children who have been PSP in years past. She started our first year as an intern, has directed several years, and has been a cornerstone on the PSP team. And yes, Lori is her sister.

And there's me, Kristi. I focus most of my PSP energy on intern recruiting and care. I was on staff for many years at PUMP, so this year is a new role as total volunteer for PSP again. I have a private counseling practice where I focus on play therapy with children & family health. I am married to Allan - the guy who makes the PSP t-shirts and generally makes PUMP look good to the outside world. I have three kids, two of whom will be in the program this year.

We love working with you, our interns, and look forward to getting to know each of you better! Thank you so much for your faith and dedication.

Intern Team

Whenever we are going into the recruiting process for interns, we have a vague range as to how many interns make for a successful summer. We always know though, that the number is not important at all compared to the quality of the team and the individuals who make up that team. This year the Lord has given us quite a surprise! He has flooded us with amazing candidates for this year's intern team (as He's also done with potential visiting youth groups). In response, we will have a larger number of interns this year than we normally have. We are excited to see how the Lord plans to use this crew, because we truly believe He has something important in mind.

As soon as I get confirmations and photos, I'll post updates on Noel, Shawna, Elizabeth, and a few others!

Here's...Meredith!

Meredith is an English Education major, finishing her junior year at Western Kentucky U. She describes herself as a "whirlwind", full of high energy, idealism, & spontaneity! Meredith has the great goal of being an English teacher in an inner city school, to help kids who have been turned away by others. It is because of that Godly spirit that we are thrilled to have her join us this summer!