PRAYER REQUESTS FOR FUTURE TEAMS; URGENT NEEDS; UMCOR SUPPLY KITS; BRICK MASON NEEDED; UPCOMING CONSULTATIONS & SUMMITS; VOLUNTEER IN MEXICO

Children in Mexico, courtesy z.about.com. Read more about volunteering in Mexico below....

* PRAYER REQUESTS FOR FUTURE TEAMS

Care-A-Vaners construction team works in Mt. Shasta, CA: August 30 – Sept. 8
Rod and Gloria Castor head up yet another group of nomadic volunteers who will go in mission, living out of their RVs while working on light construction and repair projects throughout the California-Nevada Conference. The Care-A-Vaners have worked this year at Laton UMC, The East Salinas Family Center. Mt Shasta and other locations this year—give us a call if you want to join them in this work.

Korean UMC of Santa Clara Valley Team to Chonbury, Thailand: Sept. 6 – 13
Davis will lead a team to 5 to Chonbury Thailand. He will be joined by, Benson Choi, Jonathan Shin, Angela Shin and Su Song Won of Korean UMC of Santa Clara Valley.

Multi-Church Flood Recovery Team to Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Sept. 13-26
Diane Jackson will lead a team of 23 to do flood recovery work. She will be joined by Connie Bergquist, Greg Bergquist, Andrea Davis, Paul Desideri, William Dornbush, Jennifer Dornbush, Brian Garrison, Brian Gebhart, Karen Hardin, Norm Hardin, Charles Rhodes, Larry Thompson, Wilma Thompson, Don Walton and Nancy Zanolini of Santa Rosa - First UMC Brent Beazur of Forestville UMC Gary Bunas of Santa Rosa - Christ Church UMC Bill Walker and Kay Walker of Novato UMC Kaye Juhler, Melvyn Juhler and Jack Rexroad of Woodland UMC.

Elk Grove UMC Team to the NEW UMCOR West Supply Depot, SLC, Utah: Sept. 28 – October 2
Pastor Kathy LaPoint-Collup will lead the first Cal-Nev Conference UMVIM team to the new UMCOR West Supply Depot! They will be taking relief kits from local churches with them.(See the UMVIM website for details) She will be joined by Giles Popish, Mary Popish, Glenda Groff, Bob Fossgreen, Deb Rowland-Bird, Suzanne Ward and Owen Mosburg of Elk Grove - Elk Grove UMC.

We also lift up in prayer those affected by the recent ice flooding in Alaska near the Yukon River. We pray for the inspiration of volunteers to serve and the safety for all in their recovery effort.

*URGENT NEEDS

CASPER, WYOMING - (08/21/09)Volunteers are URGENTLY needed to help homeowners recover from flash floods that occurred in July. Over 930 homes and 70 businesses experienced flooding from 1 feet to 9 feet! Work includes removing drywall and insulation and doing mold abatement. Housing provided by First UMC Casper. They will also provide access to their kitchen and showers. There is also a campground nearby that has some 30 amp RV hookups for free. To schedule yourself or your team please contact Joy Clark, 307-234-9386, fumccpr@tribcsp.com.

ALASKA - ( 08/21/09) - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2009Volunteers needed NOW to help people recover from ice-flooding. Fly into Fairbanks or Dawson City, Yukon, Canada (passport required). Transportation from these locations can be pre-arranged. Housing is in tents - sleeping bags rated to 0 degrees needed. Food and showers provided. Bring hand tools. For more information see http://www.umvimwj.blogspot.com/ or contact Lori Staats, UMVIM Coordinator, staatslori@gmail.com

GUATEMALA ( 08/21/09) - October 30-November 8, 2009 - Medical mission trip. Urgent need for 1-2 DENTISTS! Location is Lake Panajacha area for medical/construction team from Father Dyer Church in Breckenridge. Very experienced leadership. Contact Theresa Ashton, lravenhouse@gmail.com

Are you from the Cal-Nevada Conference and want to form a Disaster Recovery team to Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, Florida or Kansas?
View the Disaster Recovery Contact List Here you will find the phone numbers, websites and email addresses you will need to get started. Give a call to the area you are curious about and find out more about the specific needs they currently have! It just might be the perfect match for your team. If you settle on a location and date with them, call the Cal/Nev UMVIM office so we can help you with recruiting and preparation. (916) 374-1582

* UMCOR SUPPLY KITS FOR UMCOR DEPOT WEST - WHAT IS NEEDED?

Bedding Kit These supplies provide an important source of comfort for displaced persons. ( 6 items: $50 per kit.)

Birthing Kit Birthing kits provide the essential items to promote a safe, clean delivery and to encourage good aftercare. ( 9 items: $8 per kit.)

Cleaning Bucket (formerly called flood bucket); These supplies enable people to begin the overwhelming job of cleaning up after a flood or hurricane. ( 17 items: $55 per kit.)

Health Kit Health kits provide basic necessities to people who have been forced to leave their homes because of human conflict or natural disaster. They are also used as learning ( 8 items: $12 per kit.)

Layette Kit Layette kits provide basic supplies for their baby's needs. ( 17 items: $35 per kit.)

School Kit In some countries, children don't have books or school supplies. Many have no schoolrooms; classes are held in inadequate buildings or in the open air. School kits provided essential educational resources. ( 14 items: $11 per kit.)

Sewing Kit Sewing kits foster independence rather than dependence. Women can make clothing in their own size and in the style of their culture and foster valuable income-generating skills. ( 5 items: $18 per kit.)

Bulk Materials The material resources program is always happy to receive kits and buckets fully assembled with all required items. However, the UMCOR Sager Brown Depot can also use large quantities of bulk items.

To create a kit first download the specific instructions at the UMCOR website here:
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies/

* BRICK MASON VOLUNTEER NEEDED

Brick mason is needed to oversee the work of putting a brick façade on the new entry at the Red Bird Clinic. Red Bird can provide extra help with volunteers, but a mason is needed to oversee the project and ensure that it looks good when completed. The work would be a couple weeks, lodging is provided, and spending a couple weeks this fall in the magnificent mountains of Southeast Kentucky would be a wonderful thing! Interested persons should contact Harris Jones at hjones@rbmission.org or by phone at 606-598-5133.

* SOUTHEAST ASIAN CONSULTATION

The SE Asian Consultation will take place at Providence United Methodist Church in Charlotte on Oct 1-3, 2009. Rooms are being held at the Comfort Inn Executive Park until August 31st. Reservations until the 31st may be made by calling 1-866-476.8771 ext 5116 to receive the special rate. Please give the reservation group name: PUMC/CHARLOTTE/10-1. On August 31st the rooms not reserved and special rate of $76.46 will be released. After that time, please contact the Comfort Inn Executive Park directly to make reservations – 704.525.2626.”

* THE HONDURAS SUMMIT

Honduras Summit – Sept. 10-12, 2009
Hosted by Christ United Methodist Church in Louisville, KY

The Honduras Summit – the international conference on The United Methodist Church in Honduras – will take place September 10-12, 2009, at Christ United Methodist Church in Louisville, KY. Highlights of the summit include: hearing from leaders (bishop, district superintendents, and pastors) of the Honduras Mission church about the mission and vision of the church; learning about strategies for leadership and congregational development and sustainability for the Honduran church and helping plan for future connections in Honduras; learning how to send effective and successful mission teams; and hearing about the growth of medical mission teams and learning how your team can best participate. For more information and to register, please visit www.ccum.net/HondurasSummit.

* THE CAMBODIA CONSULTATION

Hosted by St. Matthews United Methodist Church in Metairie, LA

The Cambodia Consultation aims to enable United Methodists and others to:
grow in understanding Methodist mission and ministries in Cambodia,
share experiences of Cambodia;
strengthen one another in Christian faith, witness and service,
and encourage new partnerships in mission with the growing church in Cambodia.

Register online at <https://www.signup4.net/Public/ap.aspx?EID=CAMC10E>

* Eastern Europe & Balkan Consultation – Nov. 5-7, 2009

Hosted by West Market Street United Methodist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The November 5-7 event is sponsored by the In Mission Together program of the General Board of Global Ministries. An early November consultation will bring together those who are or want to become involved in United Methodist mission partnerships in Eastern European and Balkan countries.

< http://gbgm-mc.org/global_news/pr.cfm?articleid=5497&CFID=21875984&CFTOKEN=23445338>

* Russia Initiative Consultation XV - April 7-9, 2011

In Oklahoma City, OK.
Dr. W. James AthearnCoordinator, Russia InitiativeGENERAL BOARD OF GLOBAL MINISTRIESThe United Methodist Church
116 Frasher Drive, Clear Brook, VA 22624Tel: 540-662-2066 Fax: 540-662-6998jimathearn@gmail.comhttp://new.gbgm-umc.org/work/initiatives/russia/

* A STORY FROM A VOLUNTEER TO MEXICO - BY MURRAY HAWKINS

After wrestling most of the summer with group cancellations and lack of funds, we were finally able to put together groups for two weeks of service in Jaramillo. The bottom line is that it was one of our best summers yet. Because of the generosity of two congregations and the revenue from participant fees, we were able to roof six houses, purchase materials for the seventh (they will install it themselves), fix another roof, make major structural repairs to yet another roof, install a bathroom for an eighty year old man who was having to trek 200 feet to an outhouse in the dark and over rough terrain, do wiring on a couple of houses and one of our churches, plumb and wire a sandwich/taco shop that a woman (sort of like helping someone with a microloan) was building, replace a water pump, repair the plumbing to another pump, fix church plumbing, and some other smaller jobs.

Perhaps the most fruitful of our activities was a Vacation Bible School that had an average attendance of 35 every day for the two weeks. At the end, families were invited to church to hear about what their children had learned, see them dance and sing, and see their art work. They also heard a short message from the pastor. It was the largest turnout that the pastor had seen since he came to the church a few years ago. He was particularly gratified that so many people felt comfortable entering a protestant church when they had, in the past, been reluctant to do so. Some people told him that they would be returning for worship.

We’re planning to go back again either late this summer or early in the fall. Jaramillo is a town of somewhere over 150 houses, most of which need roofs to keep them dry this coming winter. Incomes are low so people can’t afford the cost of repairs or take the time off of work to do the job themselves, even if they have the skills. We aren’t, obviously, able to roof all the houses. But, slowly but surely, we are addressing those with the greatest need. We have the material to complete one house and need a team to do the work which should take around 2-1/2 days. There are two other houses where we have to start from scratch. Then, there are the other 140 plus houses . . .

The work is rewarding and the families are grateful. One family of lobster fishermen invited their work team to an all-you-can-eat lobster dinner! I’ve never seen so many lobsters. It was truly amazing.

-Murray Hawkins, President of the Joint Commission in Cal-Pac Conference

UMVIM VOLUNTEER NEWS & NEEDS

Photo: Flooding in Casper, WY, courtesy weather.com.

* UMVIM NEWS & NEEDS

1) CASPER, WYOMING - Volunteers are URGENTLY needed to help homeowners recover from flash floods that occurred in July. Over 930 homes and 70 businesses experienced flooding from 1 feet to 9 feet! Work includes removing drywall and insulation and doing mold abatement. Housing provided by First UMC Casper. They will also provide access to their kitchen and showers. There is also a campground nearby that has some 30 amp RV hookups for free. To schedule yourself or your team please contact Joy Clark, 307-234-9386, fumccpr@tribcsp.com.

2) GUATEMALA - October 30-November 8, 2009 - Medical mission trip. Urgent need for 1-2 DENTISTS! Location is Lake Panajacha area for medical/construction team from Father Dyer Church in Breckenridge. Very experienced leadership. Contact Theresa Ashton, lravenhouse@gmail.com

3) ALASKA - Volunteers needed NOW to help people recover from ice-flooding. Fly into Fairbanks or Dawson City, Yukon, Canada (passport required). Transportation from these locations can be pre-arranged. Housing is in tents - sleeping bags rated to 0 degrees needed. Food and showers provided. Bring hand tools. For more information see http://www.umvimwj.blogspot.com/ or contact Lori Staats, UMVIM Coordinator, staatslori@gmail.com

4) Mc CURDY School, New Mexico - September 13-21, 2009. Sponsored by Shepherd of the Hills UMC in St. George. Those interested should contact Mike or Sherry Cummins at 435/272-4577 (home) or 435/313-4112 (cell). Mike & Sherry's email is cummins_m_s@yahoo.com (the spaces between the s m & s are underscores).

5) GUATEMALA - April 30-May 10, 2010. Dental mission trip sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Conference. Both medical and non-medical volunteers needed! Non-medical volunteers to help the dentists and play games with local children. Dental mission trips are particularly satisfying because you can see immediate results of providing pain relief! Learn about health and education-related ministries with the indigenous Mayan people of Guatemala. Contact Mark Ely, marcos@puravida.org, http://www.puravida.org/.

UPDATED INFO ON VOLUNTEERING IN ALASKA DUE TO ICE-FLOODING; PRAYER REQUESTS & LISTING OF FUTURE TEAMS; INFO ON CLEAN WATER HEALTH MINISTRY

Photo: Devastation caused by ice-flooding in Alaska, courtesy http://www.nationalgeographic.com/.

* UPDATED INFORMATION FOR VOLUNTEERS INTERESTED IN SERVING IN ALASKA FOR ICE-FLOODING RECOVERY

Volunteers will be responsible for their own travel expense and should plan on arriving in Fairbanks or Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada. Travel from these two locations is being provided, but must be coordinated beforehand. Coordination for travel from Dawson will handled by Rob, and will require an up to date Passport. Travel through Fairbanks will be done with Arlan DeYong at ajdeyong@gci.net. It might require folks to spend a night in a motel in Fairbanks. Ideally people would fly to Anchorage, rent an RV big enough to house the team and then drive to Eagle. That would provide a better housing arrangement but it would be much more expensive.

Housing at this time is tents and temperatures can get a little cool so they need to bring sleeping bags rated to 0 degrees. They can check weather at http://www.acuweather.com/ or http://www.weatherunderground.com/ for the time they will be there.

Food is being provided and showers are available in the school.

Please bring your own hand tools. You might even want to bring some you could leave there after you are ready to return. I am sure the residents can put them to good use.

This is a remote village and there is little shopping available, so it is imperative that the volunteers come prepared for their own needs for the duration of their stay. It is being recommended that a stay of two weeks is best.

There will be the possible need for teams next year but what that will look like will not be clear until after September.

Thank you.

*PRAYER REQUESTS FOR FUTURE TEAMS LEAVING FROM CAL-NEVADA CONFERENCE

1) A Multi-Church Team to Vava’u, Tonga: July 21 – August 4, 2009
Richard Thompson from Bakersfield – First UMC will lead a team of 15 volunteers from various churches in our conference, Oklahoma and Washington to Tonga. The team will be doing medical work, construction work and an after-school program. Joining Richard will be Ofa Thompson, Rebekah Thompson, Aaron Thompson, Ray Bowles, Fred Cramer, Gerry Stratton and Scott Wallace of Bakersfield - First UMC Larry Kavinoky, Cindy Gyugyi, and Stephen Gyugyi of Palo Alto - Wesley UMC Mark Thompson of Miami, OK. and Wyatt Finn from Olympia, WA.

2) Mother and daughter volunteer to join missionary daughter in Cambodia:
June 23 – August 12
Martha Parker of Mill Valley – Mt. Tamalpais UMC will join her daughter Katherine Parker ( A GBGM UM Missionary) in Cambodia to aid with projects there. Martha’s other daughter Janet Parker has been serving in the region since April 28th and will continue through June 12th. Martha’s background is in nursing and she has a community health and advance practice as the Mill Valley School district nurse. You can check out all the Parker’s activities at Katherine’s missionary blog: http://chad-cambodia.blogspot.com/

3) Multi-Church Medical Team to Coatepique, Guatemala: July 31 – August 9
Doug & Betsy McLeod of Concord UMC will lead another team back to Guatemala. The team of 18 will include doctors, a LVN, a pharmacist and a medical student. They include Maribeth Sayre, Tim Paris, Jill Paris and Robert Kirk of Concord UMC Sidney Warner, Susan Pintar, Rebecca Jensen, Warren Shaul, Anita Shaul and Susan Paslov of Carson Valley - First UMC Judith Rech of Lexington, KY - First UMC Jan Pearson of Walnut Creek UMC Alice Impraim and Wolfgang Meier of Alamo - San Ramon Valley UMC Leslie Lessenger of Benicia, CA. - CCCUCC Michelle Kop and James Lessenger.

4) Lodi UMC to Camp Monte Toyon of Aptos, CA.: July 25 – Aug. 2
Team leader Kathy Baldauf will lead a team of 11 to serve at Camp Monte Toyon. They will be working on a variety of tasks there. Kathy will be joined by James Schultz, Larry Bonadurer, William Davidson, Henry Geiszler, Ina Schultz, Carol Bonadurer, Phyllis Geiszler, Virginia Moore, Virginia Green and Marilyn Field of Lodi - First UMC.

5) Korean UMC of Santa Clara Valley Team to Almaty, Kazakhstan: July 26 – Aug. 6
Team leader Jake Rhee will lead a team of 4 to serve in Kazakhstan. They will serve by fitting eye glasses and providing photo ministries there. Jake will be joined by Yune Oh, Suk Soon Chung, Kee Choi and Benson Choi of Korean UMC of Santa Clara Valley.

6) Assessment Team to Jamaica: August 4-9
Team leader and Interim UMVIM Director Phil Bandy will lead a team of 10 to Fiji to assess new projects there. Joining Phil will be Scott Allread, Frances Allred, Jerry Allred, Nymphas Edwards, Lois Edwards, Weldon Sons, Sandy Sons, Edward Hewitt and Susan Hewitt.

7) Lynnewood UMC of Pleasanton & First UMC of San Diego Team to
Seward, Alaska: August 8-15
Team leader Steve Elliott will lead a team of 9 to serve in Seward, Alaska. They will be doing some construction work as well as teaching VBS classes. Steve will be joined by Gabe Elliott, Becca Elliott, Kim Risedorph, Joy Hamilton, Wendy Kenley, Cyndi Atherton, Amy Atherton and Winifred Stribling of Pleasanton - Lynnewood UMC. Jeanne Runner-Arth of San Diego - First UMC

8) Multi-Church Team to Fiji: August 11-25
Team leaders Judith Church and Virisila Batiratu will lead 8 volunteers to serve in Fiji. They include Katherine Kim, Emma Kolb, Sandra Metzger, Gordon Metzger, Nancy O'Bryon, Beverly Schier, Procsy Vadao and Judith Potor.

9) Care-A-Vaners construction team works in Mt. Shasta, CA: August 30 – Sept. 8
Rod and Gloria Castor head up yet another group of nomadic volunteers who will go in mission, living out of their RVs while working on light construction and repair projects throughout the California-Nevada Conference. The Care-A-Vaners have worked this year at Laton UMC, The East Salinas Family Center. Mt Shasta and other locations this year—give us a call if you want to join them in this work.


We also lift up in prayer those affected by the recent ice flooding in Alaska near the Yukon River. We pray for the inspiration of volunteers to serve and the safety for all in their recovery effort.

* EDGE OUTREACH - TRAINING FOR THOSE CALLED TO SERVE IN CLEAN WATER HEALTH MINISTRY

As you probably are aware, the current greatest avenue for providing compassionate care for people's physical needs is through water.. Right now, a child dies every 15 seconds due to water and sanitation issues. If you join us in addressing this need, we will save many lives, while opening countless hearts to the Gospel.

Our goal at EDGE OUTREACH is to train ordinary missionaries in sustainable WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Health/Hygiene) solutions with which they can empower indigenous people to care for themselves in a way that has a lasting, transformational impact on the community, physically and spiritually. The most comprehensive training for this is available at our International Water Conference, which takes place October 15th-17th.

With classroom instruction and plenty of hands-on training, participants will leave confidently in their abilities to, conduct community assessment and water testing, perform purification, utilize filtration options and methods (including biosand), address sanitation issues, provide health/hygiene education. and deal competently with cultural concerns. Like-minded missionaries from all over the world will receive this training together. At night, people gather around a campfire and share stories of what God is doing on every continent, providing great encouragement and new ideas and approaches for their missionary brethren.

The conference is heavy-duty training designed to equip even people with no previous experience in water to be able to provide effective solutions, and to be able to pass those solutions on to others. The best part is that the indigenous people are able to operate the systems themselves with ease. We also have on-demand training to meet more time-sensitive needs. Imagine a simple, sustainable, high-capacity water purifier installed in a church by a few simple missionaries. The pastor runs it, filling containers with pure water for the community.

The community shares stories of greater health and the love of the people who provided this gift. People who would never approach a church will come for the pure water, and can receive the Living Water of Christ as they do. You can check out our guide to water purification in mission work by filling out the form; it explains how the process works.We also do hand-pump repair conferences. There are hundreds of thousands of broken hand pumps in Haiti, Africa, and the rest of the world that would be usable if given a simple repair (a little piece of leather wears out).

If you teach the indigenous people how to repair them, you will provide water for the thirsty and have a tremendous impact. Aside from the big October Conference, we are also holding water conferences in California Feb 19-20 2010, and in St. Louis in April of 2010. The NLI Purifier:It's a small unit designed for use with the poorest of the poor. It kills all bacteria and viruses in a tank/body of water. It runs off of a car battery and table salt (you can recharge the battery using electricity or a solar panel, if necessary). The instructions for operation were tested on middle school children to ensure that they were easy.

The possibilities for its use in church planting, medical work, community outreach, disaster, relief, etc. are near endless.Put one of these in a church with a couple of storage tanks, and you dramatically expand the church's outreach. It can easily scale up to whatever the needs of the community (up to providing water for 10,000 people).

There are two video clips about the purifier here. The first explains the purifier in a general sense. The second goes through the entire unit and explains what the parts do, how it works, etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ4vT6O7ixU&feature=channel_pagehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhLr2SrjILs&feature=channel_page -- EDGE OUTREACH1500 Arlington Ave.Louisville, KY 40206502.568.6342Cell: 502.558.5876Fax: 502.568.4500http://www.edgeoutreach.com/

HEALTHCARE SYMPOSIUM; UMCOR OPENS NEW OFFICE IN THE PHILIPPINES; UMCOR WEST OFFICE OPEN FOR BUSINESS; PRAYER REQUEST FOR TEAM TO TONGA

Photo: Opening of UMCOR office in Philippines, courtesy David Valera/UMCOR. Read below for more information....

* Cross-Cultural Competency in Healthcare Symposium

American patients are increasingly global in makeup. Some 50 million areculturally diverse and operate under concepts of health and medicine thatare unfamiliar to many healthcare professionals. The Cross-CulturalCompetency in Healthcare Symposium will equip healthcare professionals tosuccessfully care for some of the most distinct and underserved immigrantsand minorities in America.

Details: At Research Medical Center-Brookside Campus in Kansas City,Missouri, on Friday, October 2, 2009. Symposium Info:http://inmed.us/2009_cross-cultural_competency_in_healthcare_symposium.asp For: Physicians, Nurses, Dentists, Therapists, Physicians Assistants, PublicHealth Specialists, Residents, Pharmacists, and all Health ProfessionStudents. CME and CEU credit available.

Symposium Info:http://inmed.us/2009_cross-cultural_competency_in_healthcare_symposium.asp For more information email office@inmed.us, or call 816-835-1899 Nicholas Comninellis, MD MPH, President INMED - Institute for International Medicine http://inmed.us/"Equipping health professionals to serve in medical missions"6700 Troost Ave. Suite 224 Kansas City MO 64131-4401

*UMCOR OPENS NEW OFFICE IN PHILIPPINES

UMCOR will open an office in the Philippines on July 24 to help bring relief to a population vulnerable to natural disasters, civil conflict and extreme poverty. Based on the campus of Union Theological Seminary in Cavite, about 50 miles south of Manila, UMCOR Philippines will serve as the communications hub between United Methodist conferences within the Philippines and the US.

The office will also offer an on-site storage facility for material goods and relief supplies.
Bishops, disaster response coordinators and partner organizations will gather at UMCOR Philippines on July 21-24 to participate in a disaster preparedness training led by Melissa Crutchfield, head of UMCOR’s International Disaster Response and Lisa Jackson, head of special projects, to implement appropriate responses to different phases of disaster.
Support the new office with your gifts to Philippines Emergency, UMCOR Advance #240235.

*UMCOR WEST OFFICE OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND INFORMATION

There is now an UMCOR Depot in Salt Lake City, UT headed by Rev. Brian Diggs. For more information about the depot and how you can volunteer there visit http://www.umcordepots.org/ or http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/work/umcorwest/.

*PRAYER REQUEST FOR TEAM GOING TO SERVE IN TONGA

A Multi-Church Team to Vava’n, Tonga: July 21 – August 4, 2009
Richard Thompson from Bakersfield – First UMC will lead a team of 15 volunteers from various churches in our conference, Oklahoma and Washington to Tonga. The team will be doing medical work, construction work and an after-school program. Joining Richard will be Ofa Thompson, Rebekah Thompson, Aaron Thompson, Ray Bowles, Fred Cramer, Gerry Stratton and Scott Wallace of Bakersfield - First UMC Larry Kavinoky, Cindy Gyugyi, and Stephen Gyugyi of Palo Alto - Wesley UMC Mark Thompson of Miami, OK. and Wyatt Finn from Olympia, WA.

PRIMETIMER EVENT TO SOUTHEAST ASIA; UMVIM MAKES DISCIPLES; NEED FOR INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS & UMVIM TEAMS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Photo: Primetimers enjoying a lunch. Join Primetimers to serve in Southeast Asia. Read below for more information. Courtesy www.westburyumc.org.

* MISSION FOR SENIORS: CAMBODIA & PRIMETIMERS

The final Primetimer event this year has a SE Asia flare as Jeanie Blankenbaker leads the group of older adults to Cambodia from Nov 4-14, 2009. One of the original Mission Initiatives of the GBGM, Cambodia is proud of its growing, young and energetic Methodist Church! In 2003, the UMC in Cambodia joined with three other Methodist agencies for a “one Methodist” agreement, working towards the formation of an autonomous Methodist Church in Cambodia.

For more information on this opportunity to explore the culture of Cambodia and spirit of Christ in its midst, visit http://www.primetimers.info/ and check it out. Deadline is soon approaching!

“A Journey in Mission: Following Christ in Cambodia”Cambodia Methodist MissionPhnom Penh, CambodiaNovember 4 - 14, 2009Event Cost: $1,975.00

* UMVIM IN LAOS MAKES DISCIPLES

In early February former Missionary and former WI Missions Coordinator, Billie LaBumbard took a risk and brought a Volunteer in Mission (VIM) team to Laos. The team included two NP nurses, a Pharmacist, and an English as a Second Language expert. 2009 has been a blessed year for Lao Samphang MC and the more than 2,000 non Christians in a number of districts in Northern Laos that received medical care.

This visit marked the first time a VIM team has come to volunteer, work side by side with Lao authority and the needy in the field. At first, the unknown caused great fear. Most of the work was done in the rural areas. The group was divided into three smaller groups: Group 1 – The ESL team locate in the capital city of Laos was tasked with teaching English to children, women, and men in the church, Group 2 – A Medical team stationed in rural villages that set up clinics to service the community and Group 3 – A medical team that traveled deep into the country side and traveled from village to Village. It was a tough and challenging project but believed or not it has been one of the most effective projects. It was so successful that the Lao authority has requested Lao Samphang MC to continue and expend such program to cover more villages and to be made available to poor villages on an annual basis if possible.

VIM workers are called by God to serve and spread the good news to everyone. The Lord used this team to show love and care to not just those who were Christians but also to the non Christians who were in need of help. As stated by a policeman who traveled with the VIM team, “The Methodist people really care for the sick and poor. Their love shines through in their work. They help everyone who comes to them and do not treat one better than other.” A chief in the village of Bangalo (located in Phoukhoun District) said, “The Methodist people are different from other Christians. We welcome them any time”

There were other words of appreciation. The students at the Phoungsoumboom church expressed great thanks to Yvone who they considered the best English teacher ever. They will miss her greatly and wish that she will come again. The church of Nonphoub village and the Lao authority sends a big thank you to Julie. Just her smile and kindness made many of the sick people well. As for Billie and Mary, your presence with the medical team was a welcoming bright light. The entire Christ community is looking forward seeing you again. A big “THANK YOU” from all of us!

* CHURCH IN SOUTHEAST ASIA IN NEED FOR INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS AND UMVIM TEAMS

As Lao Samphang Methodist Church (LSMC) Council chair, we invite you to be a part of the SOLUTION. We are looking for VIM individual or teams to teach English to our pastors and future church youth leaders. Commitments can be from 3 months to 1 or 2 years. For more information please contact Lao Samphang Methodist Church, P. O. Box 225 Nongkhai 43000, Thailand Lsmethodist@gmail.com or jouayv@hotmail.com

HONDURAS SUMMIT; UPDATE ON VOLUNTEERING IN EAGLE, ALASKA

Photo: Ancient ruins in Honduras, courtesy nationalgeographic.com. Interested in learning more about Honduras, read below.


* HONDURAS SUMMIT



Interested in learning about and/or serving in Honduras? You are welcome to attend the Honduras Summit 2009 held on September 10-12 at Christ United Methodist Church, in Louisville, Kentucky. For more information please visit www.ccum.net/HondurasSummit.








*UPDATES ON SERVING IN EAGLE, ALASKA





If you are interested in serving as a volunteer in the ice-flooding recovery in Alaska please get in touch with Robert Paire and or Rev. Richared Whetsell. Robert's email is robert.paire@gmail.com and Richard's email is whetsell@ak.net.





In addition, please contact FEMA coordinator Carol Gordon 425-367-2368 or Amy BeVille 907-317-9982.





Due to the amazing response, the three villages of Stevens Village, Eagle, and Tanana might have enough volunteers already to get the work of rebuilding homes finished by mid-September. However, currently other villages are being looked at to see what their needs are.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN LOUISIANA AND WASHINGTON STATE

Photo: Part of Camp Indianola in Washington State, courtesy www.campindianola.org. Read below to see how you can volunteer here.

* VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN LOUISIANA

Volunteers! The Grandriver Station of Louisiana Disaster Response is very much in need of volunteer teams to fill its calendar. Teams are presently rebuilding homes damaged by the last two hurricanes. What a great way not only to be in mission, but to "practice" for your upcoming LAVIM endeavors! AND, there will be folks in your church area that will have an interest in disaster work here in the conference that might never consider international or out of state mission. Get more folks involved in mission! Build your church's ministry and enthusiasm! Build the Kingdom of God! Do the Gospel!

Contact Michelle at the phone, e-mail and address below. You can also register your team by going to http://www.la-umc.org/ and clicking on Louisiana Disaster Response.
Tell Michelle I sent you!
Larry Norman
Director, LAVIM

Michelle L. Hadden
Administrative Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator
LA UM Disaster Response-Grand River Station
Located at Grand River United Methodist Church
30825 Hwy. 75
Plaquemine, LA 70764
225-659-7450
grandriverstation@brcoxmail.com

*VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY IN WASHINGTON STATE AT INDIANOLA CAMP

Volunteer Opportunities: 2009 Inter-tribal Canoe JourneyThe PNW Conference will welcome First Nations and Native American elders and Canoe families to Indianola Camp and Retreat Center on August 3-7 for the 2009 Inter-tribal Canoe Journey. Though this event is not open to the public, there are many volunteer opportunities for those who would like support the event and offer relationship to the Suquamish Tribe, who will host.

If you are interested in applying to help, go to the Canoe Journey website at www.tribaljourneys2009.com, and click on Volunteers