GREETINGS IN 2012 FROM UMVIM WJ

GREETINGS & HAPPY NEW YEAR IN 2012!

Dear Friends in Mission:



What a joy to greet a new year! I want to thank you all on behalf of UMVIM WJ for your support and efforts in this mission ministry. God continues to work through each of you as UMVIM mission trips continue to inspire, uplift, and challenge.



Please check out the "Want to Join A Team/Future Teams" Page because there are several teams to Gulport, MS, Haiti, Mexico, and many others that would love to have you join their team. Also on this page find out about the Native American Ministries in the Dakotas that would love to welcome you.



In addition, more information has been added to our "Training Events" page with ERT trainings, Disaster Academies, Team Leader Trainings, and forums that are there to help deepen your mission experience.



As always, our Youth Listing page continues to grow and if you are a Young Adult there are amazing mission opportunities for you and the application deadlines are coming up in February and March.



Thank you again. It is an honor to serve Christ through service to you.



Your Servant,

Heather Wilson
UMVIM Jurisdictional Coordinator
Western Jurisdiction

MISSION NEWS FOR YOUNG ADULTS; INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER UPDATE; NEW BLOGSITE FOR MISSION

YOUNG ADULTS IN MISSION

In the summer of 2011, one of the largest classes of young adult missionaries (25) in recent history were commissioned for service in a joyous celebration at the Interchurch Center in New York City. The newly commissioned missionaries recited a covenant prayer:God, today I join my sense of self and purpose with you and yours. Your work is my work, your deep sacrifice is my sacrifice, your full integration of Christ's path has shaped a way of life for me that now moves to the next level. I will push until I find the "tipping point" where the needs of all people are met and we can rejoice together for life abundant….

If you are 20-30 years old, consider applying to become a US-2 or Mission Intern in 2012.

Get more information and the application.

Photo: Commissioning service of US-2s and Mission Interns
Photo Credit: Cassandra Zampini



INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER NEWS


While recovering from heart surgery, Robin Hurley was swamped with phone calls and prayers from the many Individual Volunteers whom she had met just a few months before. Although Robin and the group trained for only four days, the Individual Volunteers "became part of a family," according to Nancy Eubanks of the Individual Volunteers program.While the number of Individual Volunteers is holding steady at about 70, the goal in 2011 was to make the placement sites sustainable so that Individual Volunteers can work and live together for anywhere from two months to two years and then move on, leaving the resources and the housing with the local community. The trainings include theological grounding, spiritual enrichment, and practical nuts and bolts information. Consider becoming an Individual Volunteer.Photo: Loretta Davidson is a United Methodist individual volunteer in mission in Talanga, Honduras, where she works with children and their families.


NEW BLOGSITE FOR MISSIONARIES AND VOLUNTEERS - MISSION MUSINGS


Launch of the Mission Musings BlogMusing about mission?

Join the hundreds of readers of the Mission Musings blog at gbgm-umc.blogspot.com.Musing about mission? Join the hundreds of readers of the Mission Musings blog at gbgm-umc.blogspot.com. The blog is updated weekly with personal reflections from volunteers, missionaries, and Global Ministries staff. Writers inspire through sharing their struggles and joys as they engage in service and justice ministries in new ways, in new places, and with renewed hope. Join the conversation at the Mission Musings blog.

WHY GO UMVIM?

WHY GO UMVIM?

Why UMVIM?

You may be wondering what UMVIM is and what might it add to our mission experiences for youth and young adults. Well, below is an introduction to what UMVIM offers. We hope you’ll check it out and contact us to engage in our training and certification opportunities. Thanks!

A) The projects are :

Approved by the conference in which they reside,

Vetted by the Conference UMVIM coordinator in conjunction with the Conference Board of Global Ministries ( or alternate committee, task force),

Home grown, usually started by a church or group within the church that sees a need and makes it happenOf the Wesleyan tradition of mission (as much as possible!)

There is a huge list of UM projects in our connection that need our help. Why not help them!?

B) UMVIM Team Leadership Training (TLT) helps ensure that :

Teams will go where invitedTeams will have leaders that are trained in and will convey to their teams aspects of cultural sensitivity, spiritual growth, personal relationshipsTeams will abide by Safe Sanctuary guidelinesTeams will act on the three simple rules of: Do no harm, Do good and Love God.

C) The definition of an UMVIM team is:

“A United Methodist Volunteers In Mission (UMVIM) team is one that serves locally, nationally, or internationally where it is invited, works in a ministry endorsed by the host Methodist church, partner church or agency, or Non-Government Organization (NGO), and serves in cooperation with the local host group. The intent of this guideline insures that the presence of the team will not interfere with the authority and integrity of the church leadership, thereby strengthening and upholding the local church. The team will have an UMVIM trained leader who provides training for the team, insures completion of proper forms and insurance coverage and is in communication with annual conference and jurisdictional UMVIM leadership.”

-Lorna Jost

UMVIM Coordinator

North Central Jurisdiction

CONNECT WITH THIS GREAT UMVIM INFORMATION AND TRAINING AT: www.umvim.info and this blogspot at www.umvimwj.blogspot.com.

YOUNG ADULT MISSIONARY OPPORTUNTIES

STEP OUT!

YOUNG ADULT MISSION OPPORTUNTIES

If you are between the ages of 18 and 30 years old apply to become a young adult missionary!! There are many opportunties and application deadlines are coming up. They are:


1. US-2: Serve within the USA for 2 years. Deadline: February 5, 2012.


2. Mission Interns: One and a half years served outside the USA and one and a half years served inside the USA for a total of 3 yrs. Deadline: February 5, 2012.


3. Global Justice Volunteers: Serve internationally for 2 to 3 months. Deadline: March 5, 2012.


4. Placement Site Application for Mission Intern Program deadline: March 15, 2012.

Have questions and want to find out more info? Check out http://gbgm-umc.org/youth/serve or call 212.870.3620 or email youngadults@gbgm-umc.org.

2011 SPECIAL ADVENT MESSAGE

2011 SPECIAL ADVENT MESSAGE

Mission Volunteers, teams, and individuals…thank you for all the passionate volunteer work you have been part of this year and for allowing God to use you by working with others using your amazing generosity, love, and faithfulness!

As we all know, Advent is a time of waiting and preparation. Therefore allow me to encourage all Mission Volunteers to spend this Advent season to evaluate our 2011 volunteer involvement and prepare our volunteer plans for 2012.

2012 is unpredictable, but we need to remain faithful in our volunteer spirit of giving. Giving is when we first give of ourselves to make a difference in God's mission around the world.

Merry Christmas and may God bless you during this special time of the year.

-Una Jones

Mission Volunteers

Assistant General Secretary

****

Volunteers are important resources in all kinds of mission institutions, in local outreach ministries, in our work with our mission partners, and in our cooperative efforts with the ecumenical community.

The United Methodist Church recognizes the important role of volunteers in enabling the church in mission to the world. During the 1996 General Conference of the United Methodist Church, a structure was approved for GBGM that makes Mission Volunteers one of the six major program areas.

The responsibility of Mission Volunteers Program Area is to provide support and resources for all global mission volunteer programs including linking with the UMVIM program, as well as facilitating all the other ways that volunteers get involved in ministering to others and providing service for mission programs.

WESTERN JURISDICTION MEETS UMVIM TEAM GOAL TO HAITI

WESTERN JURISDICTION (WJ) MEETS OPERATION RESURRECTION 2010 UMVIM TEAM GOAL TO HAITI

After the devastating earthquake in Haiti in January 2010, the leaders of the Western Jurisdiction set up a plan to respond as a jurisdiction to the Haiti recovery efforts. The plan is called "Operation Resurrection 2010" and it made 4 goals for the WJ to meet in order to aid Haiti after the earthquake.

The first goal was for people of the WJ to learn Haiti, its people, history, and culture. The second goal asked that the WJ send $100,000 to UMCOR for Haiti recovery efforts. The third goal was that 25 UMVIM teams from the WJ would serve in Haiti by 2015. The fourth goal asked that the WJ replace the 23,000 Health Kits that had already been shipped out from UMCOR Depot West.

Debbie Irby, the UMVIM Conference Coordinator for the Yellowstone Conference, recently came back from leading an UMVIM team to Haiti which included Bishop Elaine Stanovsky, Bishop to Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain Annual Conferences. This team marked the 25th team to Haiti from the WJ!!!! As such, the WJ has met its 25 UMVIM team goal just under two years after the Haiti earthquake, well before its 2015 deadline!

Thank you to all the UMVIM Conference Coordinators who have led teams to Haiti and/or been a part of an UMVIM team to Haiti. Many thanks also to all the men and women who have served in Haiti from the WJ! Finally, thank you to the Bishops and leaders of the WJ for their continued support of mission through UMVIM!

The WJ continues to send teams to Haiti. Contact your UMVIM Conference Coordinator and/or Heather Wilson, UMVIM WJ Jurisidictional Coordinator at umvimwj@hotmail.com to see how too can serve in Haiti on an UMVIM team!

Photo: Volunteers in Haiti from Vashon UMC in WA, courtesy, www.vumcmissiontohaiti.blogspot.com.

NEW PROJECT SITE IN USA; TEAMS FOR SENIORS; TEAMS NEEDING VOLUNTEERS UPDATE

NEW UMVIM SITE IN USA - INDIANA

CREATIVE WOMEN OF THE WORLD/HAPI
HAPI (Haitian Artisans for Peace International)

Artisans make embroideries that we assemble into greeting cards and there are other similar assembly jobs. The training is done that day in Ft. Wayne and is easily learned. Most jobs are sit-down jobs except for ironing. There are other simple sewing and warehouse organizational jobs that we may do if there are no cards to assemble when you want to come. Creative Women of the World is the main distributor for HAPI. CWOW is dedicated to providing design and business training and marketing opportunities for women living in extreme poverty around the world so they can use the power of creativity to sustainably support their families. Along with Haiti, we work with artisans in Tajikistan, Turkey, India, Kenya, Mexico as well those living in poverty in the US. Other countries continue to be added. www.CreativeWomenof theWorld.com is our website and should be activated very soon. (ADVANCE #3020490 UMVIM Project # NCJ-INC-1011-01 Updated 10/13/11). Contact Lorelei VerLee, 260/414-7203, 7616 DiSalle Blvd Suite A, Fort Wayne IN 46825


TEAMS FOR SENIORS 2012

Are you 50+? Then check out our "Teams for Seniors 2012" page found at the top of this website. Some of the upcoming places of service in 2012 include: 1) Jamaica; 2) London, Oxford, and Stratford - Upon -Avon, England; 3) Border (US/Mexico) ministries working with migrants.


TEAMS NEEDING VOLUNTEERS

There are new teams looking for volunteers to such places as Haiti, Nicaragua, and the Holy Land. If you are interested, please check out the "Want to Join A Team?" page found at the top of this website to see the full listing of Future Teams and Teams Needing Volunteers.