*VOLUNTEERING IN TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES by Sue King, UMVIM Coordinator, Cal-Nevada Conference Much of news and conversation is filled with gloom and despair regarding the current economic situation that our country and others around the world are facing. The concerns are undeniably real and can affect us and our loved ones personally and often with serious consequences. It is at such times that we as people of faith are called to remember whose we are and who we are called to be. We are not alone. I was reminded of this last Saturday at Epworth UMC in Berkeley. Forty people took six hours out of their free time on Saturday to attend an UMVIM team leader training....to gain knowledge about leading mission teams that help the many people in our world who are hurting and often forgotten. Instead of reacting to their own economic situations by turning their focus and limited resources INWARD, they were preparing to look OUTWARD and EXTEND the hand of Christ. Beginning last year, a few people have asked me, “How is the economic situation affecting the Volunteers in Mission? Are there fewer volunteers going?” I can only say that the numbers of people wanting to serve continues to grow...this last training had the highest attendance ever! And, 2008 was another record year for volunteer numbers! Some churches are choosing to do more local trips in addition to usually scheduled international and hurricane response missions. It isn’t that volunteers haven’t been touched by the economic decline—it is because they know it, too, they want to help others they see hurting around them. Yes, I am getting more frequent and urgent requests from churches and economically fragile communities here in California-Nevada Conference. They want to be UMVIM sites and receive volunteers help AND encouragement. Maybe you saw the Oprah show about the situation in Sacramento? Or, read the Sacramento Bee article about what Cameron Foothills UMC and others are doing to feed folks who have no option but to live in “tent cities”? This week I was assessing a site in Laton, CA and saw the orchards of older walnut trees that have been bulldozed and fields laying fallow because of drought in California—unemployment in Fresno County is 35% already. Those numbers include many of the agricultural workers who are at risk economically even in better times. It is such a time as this that we are called to true compassion that result in deeds, not just platitudes. Over the next few weeks, I encourage you to take frequent looks at our UMVIM website to see what new local project has been added. There will be new ones every day. Remember who you are.... and whose you are. We are not alone when we reach out to another.....in prayer, in word, in actions. In mission together, Sue UMCOR’s Sri Lanka office is working on the ground with other humanitarian aid organizations to provide emergency assistance to thousands who are being forced to flee from intense fighting in the northern region of Sri Lanka. Thanks to an umbrella grant from the US Agency of International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), UMCOR is reaching the most vulnerable to provide 60,000 emergency kits that include water, glucose, and biscuits as well as help build 4,400 emergency shelters and 800 duplex-toilets for displaced people fleeing to Vavuniya. In addition, UMCOR, working with the Ministry of Health and USAID/OFDA, provided World Health Organization standard emergency health kits and basic medical supplies to provide treatment to 50,000 hospitalized people in Vavuniya, Mannar and Padwiya where hospital resources are particularly strained. Support this effort to help displaced people in Sri Lanka by giving to Sri Lanka Relief and Development, UMCOR Advance # 3020630. |
