18 Mar We are going on a trip!

Greetings from a rather cold and snowy Colorado Springs.

Kelly and I want to share with you an opportunity we have to be a part of the disability ministry community by attending the DISABILITY AND THE CHURCH (DATC) conference May 1-4, 2024, in Orlando, Florida.

I (Tait) was on a discussion panel when the DATC conference was online due to the Covid lockdown in 2021.  I am excited to come back this year to participate as an in-person panelist, to talk about my experiences of being a ministry leader who also lives with a disability.  Kelly looks forward to taking a pre-conference ministry intensive called “Creating A Trauma Informed Children/Youth Ministry”.  She hopes that the information she learns from the intensive will help her better relate to individuals she works with.

Both of us are excited for opportunities to see old friends and make new friends as we participate in the conference as well.

We are also excited to spend four days after the conference visiting with Kelly’s parents who live in Fort Lauderdale. The purpose of this part of the trip is two-fold. First, we want to spend time with Kelly’s Dad, who is now living with a dementia diagnosis. And secondly, we want to spend time relaxing with each other.

As excited as we are about both parts of this trip, we know we can’t do it without partners to come along side of us to help us financially.

Our financial needs for the trip are as follows…

• Transportation
  • Two round trip airline tickets
  • Wheelchair Accessible Van Rental
  • Gas for the van
• Hotel accommodations in Orlando
• Money for food

Although we do not have specific amounts for the needs listed, we feel that a total of $3000 will cover those needs.

Would you prayerfully consider being one of our financial partners by giving a donation of $50, $100 or $200?  If those amounts do not work for you, a donation of any amount would be greatly appreciated.

If giving by check, please make it out to Mephibosheth Ministry with Tait’s initials (TB) on the memo line. Then mail it to us at the address below.

If you would like to give electronically, please head to  https://mephiboshethministry.org/donate/ and click on one time donation. On the bottom of the page you will see the opportunity to direct the donation to a specific individual.  Please put TB on that line so the ministry knows that it should go to Tait’s account.

Both ways of giving, by check or electronically, are eligible for tax deduction.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and consider our request.

Sincerely

Tait Berge

&

Kelly DeBardelaben Berge

510 North Royer

Colorado Springs, CO 80903