Heart-n-Soul
It's simply a way of life!
Mission Trip to The Working Boys' Center in Quito, Ecuador
"Love Can Build a Bridge" was a song that Amber and Sarah sang often on road trips, but instead of a bridge, July 4-11 2019 (approx. 20 years from Amber's passing), The Minga Crusaders traveled to Ecuador to assist in repairing a house for a needy family in connection with the Working Boys' Center. A total of $15,075 was donated to support The Center, see a breakdown of the funds here.
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The Minga Crusaders were a team of 8 which included: Sarah Honza (Amber's cousin), Bryan Honza (Amber's friend), Lanna Almand (Amber's mother), Tommy Meek (Lanna's friend), Todd Liska (Amber's uncle), Cindy Liska (Amber's aunt), Lane Liska (Amber's cousin), and Sydnie Showmaker (Lane's girlfriend). See pictures, videos, and read about their journey in the Daily Journal.
When deciding on a team name for this journey, the only thing that made sense was to include our school mascot. We wore the name Crusaders across our various jerseys, on pretty well a daily basis, as teammates. When looking up the meaning of crusaders, the words campaigner, fighter, champion, advocate, and reformer are used as synonyms. Pairing that with Minga, an indigenous word for a community work group, brings forward the power of the mission.
About the team Mascot
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Simply, Winnie the Pooh was a favorite of Amber and Sarah, so there was no better character to put on his Crusader gear and lead the way. The ARA on his shirt is Amber's initials, along with the initials for the Angels R Among us Program. For it is the Angels, that watch over us, and the Angels supporting us here on earth, that are leading the way for this amazing journey.
