There was a record turnout of seven kids for Mileposters 2009 Christmas caroling, on a very snowy day (photo) – their third straight year — visiting the Woods Run fire station, St. Thomas shut-ins, and a former teacher, who was very pleased. Afterwards they enjoyed hot chocolate at McDonald’s. They also sang at the Christmas Eve service, in a special effort to raise the balance needed to pay off St. Thomas building renovations, bringing in over $1,500.00.

A special Games Night was held in December, with a lesson from the Bible about Advent, and combined with Movies Night, watching a claymation version of The Little Drummer Boy. Christmas treat bags were provided by Kent and Jennifer Nelson, who also brought special Christmas games. Ten children were in attendance.
Mileposters skaters went to the Neville Roller Drome on January 16 for skating lessons and practice; there the tenth pair of Mileposters skates was purchased — brand new. Afterwards, the skaters enjoyed food and fellowship at the McDonald’s in Bellevue (photo). The first skating fundraiser is planned for February, maintaining the focus on Christian servanthood throughout the year.

February is the second anniversary for Mileposters Games Night, held on the second Sunday of each month, with a Valentine celebration planned. Our special guest will be LCMS author Frederic Durbin, on break from his university teaching duties in Japan. Since the first time, over forty different children have participated. Movies Nights were added last year, on the fourth Sunday of each month. Other activities have included train rides, visits to the Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum, off-site Bible clubs, and various community gatherings on Troy Hill. January’s Games Night was a card game special, including Uno, Old Maid, I Doubt It, and the Scrabble card version.
The second month of this year will also see an early start to tandem cycling activities, as a Moose Rack (to accommodate a Burley Piccolo trailercycle) is installed on the bike belonging to our fifth trail mom, a former teacher from Germany, who is a professional clarinetist, touring the world with her pianist husband. She was with us on our September ride on the Ghost Town Trail, when we stopped at the old ironmaking furnace in Vintondale, PA; the Indiana County Department of Parks and Recreation saw the picture of our group taken at the site, and plans to include it in their new parks brochure, which will be released in March. Our newest trail mom is especially interested in long-distance rides. A prospective sixth trail mom has also agreed to join us for roller skating.
Thanks be to God and to all who assisted in Mileposters fundraising efforts for 2009. While the goal for the year was to raise $6,000.00 for area Lutheran ministries, the total came to over $10,000.00. A special pizza celebration is planned for the fifth Sunday in January, at St. Thomas Lutheran Church, with guest speaker Terry Nelson Taylor, PALM (Pittsburgh Area Lutheran Ministries) president.















