In 1994, a group of people from the Detroit Lakes,Mn and the surrounding area, went down to help Bethany Outreach Mission, in Alamo, Texas. Some worked State side in the Alamo mission doing construction projects. Others went to one of Bethany's missions in Mexico, and built a roof, a 2 room apartment, and several bathrooms in just one week. This experience, moved one couple, Alan and Alanna Weibye of Detroit Lakes, to return year after year during their vacation to help in any way they could. Some times it would be digging drain fields and water lines, then times painting walls or repairing small things, planting gardens, teaching stitchery or whatever they would find that needed to be done.

Their hearts became knitted with Bethany Outreach Mission. Inspired by the people of the nission that gavthemselves so sacrificially. The people seldom had time for themselves. It became ajoy to bring encouragement to them by helping wherever there was a need,..

During the 2001 trip, Alan was asked to speak, and as he spoke, these words came out of him. He felt that the people already in the mission field are the fishermen and that we were sent to help repair the nets and the physical things that allow them to keep fishing. People helping people to help people A net mender would be anyone who would help repair the nets of God's fishermen. Sort of missionaries to the missionaries. A pastor friend came up later to explain that net mender in Greek meant to make better or perfect. What a witness that was to us!

After six years others began to join them, first one, then two, then five, now the team numbers 20. Coming together, they laughed,

worked, played, prayed, painted, cleaned, wired buildings, networked computers, replaced walls, dug a new drain field, and some even stenciled a bathroom.

Come be a net mender, all it requires is a willingness to serve.