MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

 

 

 

 

The UMVIM WJ office wishes you a very Merry Christmas!

 

 

MISSION NEWS AND UPDATES NOVEMBER 21, 2014

MISSION OPPORTUNTIES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

 

 

 

 

Colorado, August 2015. Please contact team leader Linda Smith for more information regarding a building mission opportunity in the Denver area. The cost is $900, and team members should be able to physically stand, walk and work for 6-8 hours a day. She can be contacted via email at

2014LJSmith@gmail.com.

Colorado, January 2015. Youth Leadership Conference January 23-25th, 2015 at Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp in Hillside, CO.  For more information, please contact Heather Wilson at umvimwj@hotmail.com

Haiti, March 20-28; June 19-28; July 31-August 9, 2015. Additional team members are requested for any or all of these 3 trips to Haiti. The cost is $1700 and includes airfare, room and board, and supplies for the construction project. The main focus of this mission will be teaching English classes at an orphanage and helping build a home for a family. All skill levels are welcome. For more information, please contact Paula Heidrick, pheidrick119@gmail.com.

Guatemala, May 22-30, 2015. Saraland UMC is leading a mission trip to Casa Alleluia, a large orphanage near Guatemala City. They will do light repairs to the campus and work with local children. The cost is $1350 and is all-inclusive, and a $400 deposit is due in mid-December. For more information, please contact Rev. Mike Hoppe at mike@saralandumc.org. 

Honduras, May 10-18, 2015 and Ongoing. The Carolina Honduras Health Foundation clinic in Limón, Honduras hosts 18 volunteer medical mission teams each year at their clinic on the Caribbean coast. A team leader is needed for the week of May 10-18, 2015. Assistance in organizing the team will be provided. Other teams throughout the year need doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, EMTs and pharmacists. If interested, please contact KenHook@CHHF.org. 

 

 

YOUNG ADULT AND YOUTH MISSION MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT:

CASA ESPERANZA, NEW MEXICO

HEALTH AND MEDICAL MINISTRY

 

 

 

We need people who are interested in serving their community in many ways, such as planning resident activities, washing laundry, putting linens away, preparing snacks or meals, cleaning, setting up rooms for our families, and office work. You may be interested in volunteering for a specific holiday, an activity, or a period of time.

Volunteers in the past have purchased groceries for families on Thanksgiving, donated phone cards or have even planned a birthday party for some of the children staying with us. Each volunteer makes an incredible difference for the families who stay at our home. Just like at your own home, there is always so much to do at Casa Esperanza!

We have the ability to accommodate volunteer groups and clubs of all sizes or just one individual. We plan many projects throughout the year, and we are so grateful to be able to say that we can rely on our volunteers to help us check them off our to-do list.

Please call our Guest Services Team to schedule a time to come and tour our facility and to fill out a volunteer application.

www.casanm.org

 

 

 

 

SIERRA LEONE AND UMC MOURN EBOLA DEATH OF SURGEON

 

 

 

The Sierra Leone United Methodist Conference is in shock over the death of Dr. Martin Salia from Ebola. Salia, who was the chief medical officer and only surgeon at United Methodist Kissy Hospital, died after he was airlifted to the United States for treatment.
 
"We are trying to come to terms with the reality of his death," said Bishop John K. Yambasu. "We never thought we would be losing one of our head doctors to Ebola."
 
"He was everything to us," Yambasu said, adding Salia was one of only a very few surgeons in the country.
 
The bishop reported that everyone in the United Methodist office in Sierra Leone was crying and reeling from the sad news.

UMVIM WJ requests prayers for Dr. Salia's family and all those we have lost to Ebola. 

 

 

 

 



MISSION NEWS AND UPDATES FOR WEEK OF NOVEMBER 10, 2014

GRATITUDE TO OUR VETERANS

 

 

UMVIM WJ would like to extend a big "Thank You" to all the men and women who have served our country during this week when we observe Veteran's Day.  God bless you and your service for us all!

CALLING ALL YOUNG ADULTS - MISSION SERVICE OPPORTUNTIES

 

 

Young Adults: Applications for the 2015 Global Mission Fellow program are now available online.  These are the long term mission opportunities for ages 20-30.  Through the Global Mission Fellows program, you can serve internationally (International Track) or in the United States (US-2 Track) for a duration of 2 years.  It's encouraged that the application be completed prior to October 15, so you can interview in November allowing priority placement to begin service in August 2015.  Please visit www.umcmission.org for applications and more details.

NEWS & UPDATES FOR WEEK OF NOVEMBER 3, 2014

 

 
 
 

Team Leader Training

There will be a Team Leader training at Los Gatos UMC on Saturday, November 15, 2014 from 8:30am – 4:00pm located at 111 Church St, Los Gatos, CA 9503.  For more information and/or to register please contact Phil Bandy at umvim@calnevumc.org

 

 

 

Florida Panhandle Volunteers Needed!

 

The Florida Recovery Team of the Alabama-West Florida Conference is looking for volunteers who are able to assist families with reconstruction needs due to the April 29, 2014 floods. Scope of work at this time includes cleaning, painting, flooring, roof repairs, cabinet and insulation installation, and more. To volunteer or for more information, please contact KJ Chafen at kj.flrecovery@gmail.com.

 

 

 

 

NEW CONTACT INFORMATION FOR UNION-ASBURY UMC

If you are interested in serving in Hurricane Sandy cleanup in Maryland, the central location phone number has changed.  To schedule a team to serve, please contact the new phone number for Union-Asbury UMC  at 410.968.1108. Ms. Anika Jackson is the Volunteer Team Coordinator and can be emailed at umcorteamcrisfield@comcast.net.  Her cell number is 443.859.4447.

 

UMVIM NEW AND UPDATES

UMVIM WJ WELCOMES NEW CONFERENCE COORDINATOR

ASHLEY HAWKINS!

 

UMVIM WJ in the Rocky Mountain Conference has new leadership.  Ashley Hawkins is the new UMVIM Conference Coordinator.  She is taking over the position from the amazing Rod Prentice who brought great passion, stability, and service to UMVIM WJ.  Both Rod and his lovely wife, Myrna, will be missed and will always be an important part of UMVIM here in the WJ.  We thank Rod for his service and welcome Ashley to the team!  You may reach Ashely at smashley86@gmail.com.

 

 

UPCOMING TEAM LEADER TRAININGS IN CAL-NEVADA CONFERENCE

 

 

Team Leader Training Saturday, November 1, 2014 
(8:30am – 4:00pm)
Reno First UMC
209 West First Street
Reno, NV 89501


Team Leader Training Saturday, November 15, 2014 
(8:30am – 4:00pm)
Los Gatos UMC
111 Church St
Los Gatos, CA 95030

For more information and to register please contact Phil Bandy at umvim@calnevumc.org. 



NEWS AND UPDATES FOR WEEK OF OCTOBER 6, 2014

BOARD OF GLOBAL MINISTRIES TO MOVE HEADQUARTERS FROM NEW YORK CITY TO ATLANTA, GA

The United Methodist Church’s global mission agency will create a network of offices around the world linked and accountable to headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, beginning in late 2016. Part of the plan requires the approval of denominational financial and program coordinating entities.

 

Directors of the General Board of Global Ministries in a historical action on October 3 voted to set up offices in Africa, Asia and Latin America. A new Georgia-based headquarters would also have mission responsibilities in the United States.

 

“Mission today in the United Methodist Church is from everywhere to everywhere,” said Bishop Hope Morgan Ward of North Carolina, president of the board. “It is a means of grace in which all give and all receive. We want to embody this theological understanding in our operations for the sake of more fruitful mission engagement.”

 

The agency’s main office is currently in New York City, where it will remain for the next two years if the plan receives the needed endorsement. The Atlanta office is slated to be in property bought from a local church, which will continue to use a part of the facilities. The property purchase is subject to the approval of two denominational entities, the General Commission on Finance and Administration and the Connectional Table, which serves a coordinating role for the church’s several agencies.

 

Global Ministries’ goals are to make disciples of Jesus Christ, strengthen churches and communities, alleviate human suffering, and foster justice, peace and freedom. The United Methodist Church has 12.5 million members worldwide, with seven million of those in the US.

 

A master plan of mission to be developed over the next two years will be adapted to the several contexts represented by the regions and the US, according to Thomas Kemper, the Global Ministries chief executive, who is a German layman and former missionary in Brazil.  “Offices could have a combination of programs suited to local and regional opportunities,” he said. “We have many details to be worked out regarding the network of offices and the headquarters.”

 

The exact locations of the three regional offices will be announced later, according to Bishop Ward, but the one in Africa will most likely be in a French-speaking country in recognition that The United Methodist Church is multi-lingual. The directors gave authority to decide on the locations to its executive committee, in consultation with the agency’s staff cabinet.

In two resolutions approved on October 3, directors approved the regional operations plan and voted in principle to buy the property of Grace United Methodist Church in Atlanta for the headquarters.

 

The regional office measure was unanimously approved by directors; the property purchase received one negative vote. Thirty one of 36 directors were present and voting.

“O God, we stand unified in these decisions and ask you to guide those who will carry them out,” Tonya Murphy, a director from Atlanta, said in a prayer following the votes. “Guide us so that you God are glorified and our work leads people to you and to salvation.”

 

Scope of Mission

The agency at present has 340 missionaries in 60 countries, including the United States. It has personnel, projects and partners in a total of 120 countries. Missionaries are from all parts of the world as mission-founded churches in the Global South take their places as full partners in global evangelism and social service. UMCOR engages in major domestic and international disaster response and development work. A global health unit relates to more than 300 Methodist hospitals and clinics around the world and supports programs to eradicate preventable disease, such as malaria and AIDS.

Bishop Ward commented in an interview on the move of mission headquarters to Atlanta from New York City, where Global Ministries’ predecessor agencies date to the first quarter of the 19^th century.

 

“New York has been a wonderful mission home, serving us well for many years, and there is indeed a sense of grief in leaving it,” she said.” However, as we embrace our calling to lead the church in mission engagement into the future, we considered the need for a location that is more accessible, economical, land advantageous for partnership in mission.

 

“We are working with a downtown church to purchase its facility at a favorable price. This location is in a diverse and vibrant area, is accessible by public transportation, has on-site parking, land offers proximity to collaborative institutions, particularly in the fields of mission, theology and global health. We will transform the facilities beyond the sanctuary into ecologically responsible office and meeting space. The lower cost of living in Atlanta will be helpful in the process of professional and technical hiring as we move into the future.”

 

Global and Local Mission

“Grace United Methodist Church in the Midtown section of Atlanta has voted in principle to sell us its property, almost a full city block, with the provision that it be given a cost free lease to continue its ministry from the site,” Kemper explained. He and board financial staff explored the offer, finding it would substantially reduce office space costs on an ongoing basis. An education building joining the sanctuary can be renovated over the next two years.

 

“We are excited by the possibility of working in a context where the local and the global come together in mission,” Kemper said of the shared space arrangement with the Grace congregation. “Midtown Atlanta is an area where communities join, making for a multiracial, multicultural and mixed income neighborhood. I see it as a laboratory for local-global mission engagement.”

Bishop B. Michael Watson of the North Georgia Annual Conference welcomed the decision of the Global Ministries’ directors to accept the Grace church offer and locate the agency’s headquarters in Atlanta. “The United Methodists of Georgia are deeply committed to mission, to spreading the good news of God’s love in Jesus Christ throughout the world and to serving all people in Jesus’ name. Having the headquarters of the General Board of Global Ministries within our community will strengthen our mission outreach and encourage us to connect our mission enthusiasm with that of other United Methodists.”   

 

Encouragement to locate the headquarters in Atlanta, according to Kemper, came from major United Methodist and other universities and international centers in that area, including two of the denominations theological seminaries, Candler School of Theology of Emory University and Gammon Theological Seminary, a part of the historically black Interdenominational Theological Center. Other potential partners are the Carter Center, an international development organization, and a number of colleges, including Clark Atlanta University, a historically black United Methodist-related school. Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health is an anticipated partner for the agency’s renewed emphasis on Global Health.

 

“We at Candler and Emory are thrilled with the opportunity for new forms of collaboration with Global Ministries,” said Dr. Jan Love, dean of Candler. “We look forward to the ways in which the expertise that each brings to the table will enhance God’s mission around the world.”

Dr. Love noted that Candler has historically included mission and evangelism as key components in its curriculum and that partnership with Global Ministries “will further expand opportunities in these areas in the future.” The board for several years more than a decade ago had a missionary training center in Atlanta, using staff resources from Candler and Gammon.

 

Kemper, the mission board executive, noted that the several colleges and universities in the area will be important to both training and recruitment of young adults for mission service, including its new Generation Transformation program.

 

Global Ministries currently has 166 executive and support staff member at its New York headquarters. Roland Fernandes, the deputy for finance and administration, said that an undetermined number of executive staff members will be invited to relocate to Atlanta. Employees whose positions are phased out in New York because of the move will receive benefits under established United Methodist policy, and receive help in finding new positions.

 

“We have two years to work out these details in total transparency and with due consideration to the loyal service of our employees,” Fernandes said.

 

 

Melissa Hinnen

Director of Content and Public Information

mhinnen@umcmission.org

GIVING TUESDAY - DECEMBER 5, 2014

Please donate to an Advance ministry on Tuesday, December 5, 2014 and your donation will be matched!  For more information please go to www.givingtuesday.org.  Please note that donations given to Individual Volunteers will not be matched even though many of them have Advance numbers.

CALLING YOUNG ADULTS TO MISSION!

Generation Transformation is an initiative of Global Ministries to increase opportunities for young adults to engage in mission throughout the UMC Connection. The program opportunities available are:

• Global Mission Fellows - US2 Domestic Track and International Track - Age 20-30, 25 month commitment
• Global Justice Volunteers - Age 18-30, 10 week commitment
• Individual Volunteers - Age 18 and up, flexible commitment anywhere from 2 months to 2 years

Please see http://www.umcmission.org/Get-Involved/Generation-Transformation/Global-Mission-Fellows/Become-a-Fellow/Application-Timeline/application-checklist

 

 

Children's Disaster Services Training in Portland, OR

October 24 - 25, 2014

 

Children’s Disaster Services, a ministry of the Church of the Brethren, trains and certifies volunteers for specialized child care after disasters. CDS volunteers work cooperatively with the American Red Cross, providing a safe environment and a comforting presence for children impacted by traumatic events.

For more information:

 Local Contact: 

Rhonda McDowall

503-228-8349

CDS office:  (800) 451-4407 option 5

(410) 635-8734  -  cds@brethren.org

www.ChildrensDisasterServices.org

.

UMVIM MISSION NEWS AND UPDATES FOR WEEK OF 9/15/2014

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

 

 

1. Kenya, December 31, 2014 - January 19, 2015. Team Leader Debbie Welden is seeking additional members for her mission to Kenya. They will be working with their partners in-country to convert a school classroom into a library, as well as following up on ongoing clean water projects. The cost is $4,400, and the only skill required is a willingness to participate. For additional information, please contact Debbie at deborah.welden@gmail.com.


2. Applications for the 2015 Global Mission Fellow program are now available online. These are the long term mission opportunities for ages 20-30. Through the Global Mission Fellows program, you can serve internationally (International Track) or in the United States (US-2 Track) for a duration of 2 years.

It's encouraged that the application be completed prior to October 15, so you can interview in November allowing priority placement to begin service in August 2015. Please see www.umcmission.org for more information on how to apply.

3. Bahamas Methodist Habitat is looking for an After School Coordinator and Spring and Fall Semester Volunteers. Please check out www.methodisthabitat.org for more information.


4. A reminder of volunteer needs - assessors and teams - in Colorado from the 2013 floods: Please check out www.rmcumccoloradoflood.com.  United Methodist Recovery Projec.

5.  NICARAGUA, Dec 1-12, 2014. It's now fall and we know what is around the corner! But also around the corner are chances to go to sunny Nicaragua with an ISLA group! Included is a unique Dec. 1-12, 2014 trip "Natural Health & Cultural Context" that uses the backdrop of La Purisima holidays to also explore alternative or complementary medicine programs in a developing country. We'll be traveling to some different places in Nicaragua, including the island of Ometepe, and spending time at a rural clinic with Natural Doctors International, all for the same low trip price of $1,450 plus airfare. Give us a call at 612-819-8877. Spread the word! 

6. March 4-16, 2015. Ubuntu to Cambodia, led by Roberta Eddy, W OH Conference. Ubuntu Journeys are for women only! Contact Roberta Eddy, Shawnee Valley District, Mission Coordinator and Administrative Assistant, 740-851-5243.

7. August 4-17, 2015, Ubuntu to Cameroon, led by Marcia Florkey, W OH Conference. For additional information, contact team leader Marcia Florkey, Deaconess, 937-232-6990. 

8.   The Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum—September 21-27: The Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum (PIEF) of the World Council of Churches invites member churches, faith-based communities, and civil society organizations around the world.  The event will be observed September 21-27 with the theme of “Let my people go!” Please check out www.umcmission.org for resources and ways to observe this week.

9. Jim Truitt, PNW UMVIM Disaster Response Coordinator, extends "an invitation to the younger generation to reach out and help the people who need our help the most." — with David Valera and Jim Truitt.  Check out the following link to see the video

 https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152286734511456&set=vb.69400621455&type=2&theater

PRICE INCREASE FOR UMVIM INSURANCE FROM NORTHEAST JURISDICTION

 

Keeping up with insurance industry standards, Seven Corners is increasing the price of insurance by $0.05 per day.This means $0.35 to $0.50 per average journey. This increase will take effect as of Wednesday, October 1, 2014.  For more information and/or to apply to receive insurance for your UMVIM team, please visit www.umvimnej.org.  Please remember that Global Ministries no longer offers accident insurance to short-term volunteer teams.  You may now apply and receive insurance for your UMVIM team from the Northeast, Southeast or NorthCentral UMVIM Jurisidictional offices.

 

 

INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER TRAINING - SPOTS STILL OPEN FOR OCTOBER 2014

 

 

 

Your life can be changed by volunteering in mission. Become an individual volunteer. The opportunities for volunteers are diverse, including such positions as case managers for refugees, teachers, pastors, camp directors, children and youth assistants, and health care administrators and practitioners. The length of service is a minimum of two months and can extend to two years or more.

 

October 22-26 2014 National Christian Conference Center near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
Nearest airport – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania International
nationalchristianconferencecenter.org - See more at: http://www.umcmission.org/Get-Involved/Volunteer-Opportunities/Types-of-Volunteers/Individual-Volunteers/Orientation-and-Training-Schedule#sthash.q4bhYFzc.dpuf
 

 

VOLUNTEER NEWS & UPDATES FOR SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

WE DID IT - VOLUNTEERS COMPLETE HOUSES IN GALENA, ALASKA

GOD IS GOOD!

 

 

100 days, 189 volunteers and 21,000+ volunteer hours later we will hand over the keys to all our houses in Galena today! All of the houses are complete with the exception of one window that required special handling. It will be installed by the State of Alaska when it arrives in Galena. The homeowners can begin moving in.

Jim Truitt
UMVIM Disaster Response Coordinator
PNW Conference United Methodist Church
253-797-1680 (C)

WELCOME TO THE NEW UMVIM CONFERENCE COORDINATORS FOR

THE DESERT SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE

 

Bill Sanford and Chris Spencer served as the UMVIM Conference Coordinators for the Desert Southwest Conference and did an amazing job!!!  UMVIM WJ would not be
the same withought their passionate efforts, experience, and skills over these last several years.  We will miss them as part of the UMVIM WJ team and trust that God
will continue to use them in mighty ways. 

UMVIM WJ welcomes Jen and Victor Hammond to the UMVIM WJ teams as the new UMVIM Conference Coordinators for the Desert Southwest Conference.  We
look forward to serving with them.  Please give them a shout out to say hello and welcome them aboard.  Their contact information is:

Victor and Jen Hammond

Desert Southwest Conference

UMVIM Coordinators

desertswumvim@gmail.com

Victor – 520-424-6821

Jen – 520-431-9590

 

 

UPDATE ON SOUTH NAPA EARTHQUAKE

 

 

 

Thank you to all who have contact me and sorry for the delayed response.  As you all know,

we had an earthquake here in Northern California early Sunday morning. 

This 6.0 magnitude earthquake caused hundreds of injuries and extensive damage in Napa, CA.  For all of us in our roles as volunteer leaders, we started thinking about how to help and if we might soon be putting together volunteer teams headed to Napa.  At this time we do not expect to deploy any of our conference ERT volunteers or issue a request for any from outside the California-Nevada conference. 

The hardest hit area was Napa and I accompanied Norm Harden, our conference

Disaster Response Coordinator, to Napa Sunday afternoon to get a first-hand view of the situation. The community had already rallied and cleanup was already well under way.  Damage reports are still coming in and there over 100 buildings that were "red tagged", including First United Methodist Church in Napa.  There is a lot of cleanup needed at this church but they are prepared to handle this locally themselves and do not at this time request we send any teams to help them.  We have been in close contact with other pastors in the area and conference leadership and we do not know of any needs for volunteer help.  We have also been in close contact with UMCOR and they are standby to respond in assistance.

There is a lot of repair and rebuilding work ahead, but it too early to know if there are future needs where volunteers for UMVIM teams might be appropriate. 

 

EBOLA OUTBREAK AND INSURANCE FOR UMVIM TEAMS

As of August 25, UMVIM will no longer provide insurance to any volunteer or team going into any and all countries with active Ebola cases. According to the World Health Organization, in the last 5 months there have been 1,350 deaths due to the Ebola virus, which continues to spread in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, with 221 new cases reported just between August 17-19, and there are now cases as far south as Congo.

For several reasons, it has been difficult to control the spread of Ebola, including the increased disbelief of the people living in this region, and the lack of compliance with the advice of health workers and government sanctions, as they are in contradiction to many of their cultural practices. Liberia’s President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has imposed a nationwide curfew and quarantined communities, and many have retaliated with violence.

It is difficult to determine what will happen with the Ebola Outbreak and where it might spread. If there are any active cases in in the country prior to your departure time, we recommend rescheduling for a later date. When the time is right to plan mission travel into these countries again, here are a few suggestions of what to discuss with your team as you prepare to leave:

1. Discuss with your team what you would do if you were quarantined and whether the potential risk is worth what you can possibly wait and do later in 2015 after this disease has been controlled.

2. Discuss with your partners in West Africa what precautions are being made regarding the Ebola Outbreak for persons in your destination country and those coming into the country.

3. When you do go, please register with the U.S. State Department's STEP program and contact the Embassy directly in your destination country to let them know of your plans to bring a group of volunteers there. Provide them with where you will be and what you will be doing. Ask them if they have any advice regarding your travel there and what type of assistance could they provide if you encountered any problems.

4. Leave information with the church and someone who has connections perhaps with your US senator in case you were to need them to assist you.

NEWS AND UPDATES FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 21-25, 2014



WASHINGTON WILDFIRES

 

Firefighters are finally containing the massive Carlton Complex Fires in Eastern Washington (52% contained as of Thursday, July 24th). The other wildfires burning near Chelan, north of Wenatchee, and south of Cheney are also being contained. Thanks be to God . . . and thanks be to the firefighters!

Photo courtesy of the Washington State National Guard, by SFC Jason Kriess.

As the firefighters begin to stand-down and rest up for the next fire, the communities affected by the fires begin to seek relief and recovery. Hardest hit was the community of Pateros. Our Conference Associate Lay Leader, David Reinholz, posted a great report on the situation in Pateros yesterday. If you haven't read David's report and looked at the pictures he took, I urge you to do so.

Also hard hit was the Methow Valley, where the destruction was more widespread, the towns of Twisp and Winthrop being spared from a direct encounter with the fires. Throughout the more than 250,000 acres burned by the fire the power is out. Restoring power is one of the highest priorities of emergency managers.

 

 

BAHAMAS METHODIST HABITAT NEEDS INTERNS

 

 

Bahamas Methodist Habitat is looking for some Fall and Spring Semester Interns! We are looking for someone to help run teams, work in the office, and help with after school. If you or someone you know might be interested please email Brenda at methodisthabitat@gmail.com.

GLOBAL MINISTRIES SEEKS VOLUNTEER

 

 

The General Board of Global Ministry seeks experienced volunteer to support agricultural work, manage finances NEW YORK CITY (GBGM) - Una Jones, Assistant General Secretary for Mission Volunteers at the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, recently issued an urgent appeal for volunteers to help fill the ministry gap left by the death of Tshala Mwengo (in an April car accident) until more permanent help is secured. There is a need for an experienced individual to support the agricultural work and manage the finances of the Mujila Falls project in Zambia. Interested volunteers available for three-to-six month short-term assignments can contact Una Jones at ujones@umcmission.org.

EBOLA OUTBREAK NEWS

 

 

 



Please be informed on information from the CDC regarding the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. This is the largest outbreak in history and they are working hard but struggling to contain it. The CDC has urged that no unessential travel occur to Seirra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia. Here is a link to this "Level 3" Warning: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/ebola-liberia. Note that there are only three warning levels used by the CDC (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices) and this is the one urging the highest caution. Please be sure to keep your teams scheduled to travel to these areas or even near these areas within the next 6 months posted--share this information.

UMCOR RESPONDS TO THE IMMIGRATION CRISIS AT THE BORDER

 

 

 

 

The current immigration crisis involving  adults, accompanied minors, and unaccompanied minors crossing into the U.S. along our Southwest border has been labeled a humanitarian disaster.

UMCOR’s has responded by supporting the conferences most affected with grant funds for hospitality, material supplies where needed, and collaboration with our ecumenical and governmental partners.

In the U.S.,  UMCOR always works on invitation of the episcopal leadership of the Annual Conference that has been affected by a disaster. In this instance, UMCOR has released emergency grants of $10,000 to the Southwest TX and Desert South West conferences upon request of Bishop Dorff and Bishop Hoshibata.

UMCOR is currently engaged in grant discussions for ongoing coordination of relief services for the areas of McAllen, Laredo, Brownsville , and Nogales.   Bishop Dorff  announced the appointment of Rev. Javier Leyva to oversee the coordination of Immigration ministry response for SWTX conference  - a position that will be supported with UMCOR grant funds.  The Holdings Institute – a UMW property –   within SWTX has been meeting the hospitality needs of immigrant arrivals in their area and will become part of a response plan with SWTX.  UMCOR is in discussion with the WJ Council of Bishops about ongoing coordination needs for the entire region including the Methodist conferences on the Mexican side of the border.

UMCOR has supported the Mexican Border Ministry Network (16 sites)  in the past with grants for blankets, socks, and medical supplies.  The MBMN  and the neighboring churches have been providing hospitality for the persons who have been processed through Immigration and then released to appear at  a later date.  The individuals (sometimes with children) are being dropped at bus stations and mission centers without notification to  the regional groups or physical resources to continue their journey.  UMCOR will be supporting these ministries through conference grants.  A delivery of 18,000 health kits was recently released in the areas of McAllen, Laredo, and Brownsville to help support the hospitality needs of those arriving.

UMCOR has been in continuing conversation with FEMA, ICE, DHS, HHS, and the White House Office for Faith-based initiatives to get greater access and insights to the processing of arriving immigrants to be able to provide needed services.  UMCOR will continue to support the faith groups in the area so that they are able to assist and offer hospitality.  At this time, the conferences are not asking for any outside assistance or donations of supplies from outside their region. UMCOR will work with them on the possibility of teams coming to assist to provide respite for the local church hospitality teams who have been tireless in their work. 

In the area of Unaccompanied Minors – UMCOR – along with most faith organizations – are included in a conference call each week with officials from FEMA, ICE, DHS, HHS, and the White House Office for Faith-based initiatives.   

Since their detention has been declared a “national security issue” the only persons with access are Dept. Homeland Security and ICE contractors.  NO groups are being given continual access for Spiritual and Emotional Care or visitation.  There has been limited access by our Episcopal leadership.   UMCOR and the Bishops are continuing to pressure our governmental agencies for access to little or no avail.. but we continue to dialogue. The government has clearly stated that the children held in detention facilities have no unmet needs and are not accepting donations of supplies or funding towards their care.

 JFON (Justice for our Neighbors) – which is supported by UMCOR is sending volunteer attorneys to the area on request of the government to help expedite some immigration proceedings with legal representation.