* NEWS FROM CAMBODIA On Tuesday, my sister Janet, Piseth, Irene and I went down to Kantebopa Children's Hospital to donate blood. In order to get a transfusion, the family of the patient has to supply donations of blood equal to what is transfused. When school is in session, CHAD facilitates students at the Methodist Bible School to volunteer to help needy families. You can read more about the young boy, Viriak, that CHAD has been helping to get quarterly transfusions in a story by Irene at http://chad-cambodia.blogspot.com/. There is also a story by a volunteer from the recent UMVIM Medical Team from Colorado. Thanks to the whole team! You can continue to support medical welfare for children like Viriak and those in Kratie with a donation through http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/advance/donate.cfm?code=3020542. It has been great to have my sister Janet volunteering here for the last month. We've been working with the small-business development at Mau Bourn's church, and following up on some of the recommendations in the mid-term evaluation of the CHAD program by our partners in the Methodist Church in Finland. -Katherine Parker, Global Ministries Missionary to Cambodia * WHAT IS AN UMVIM TEAM? An 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 these guidelines is to insure that the presence of the team will not interfere with the authority and integrity of the church leadership, hereby 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. * WAYS TO SERVE & VOLUNTEER Individual Volunteers - Individual volunteers, either single or as married couples, are needed for short term projects. The usual length of service is from two months to two years. The individual volunteer is expected to cover the cost of transportation and personal expenses in the place of assignment. Because they are viewed as missionaries by the host community, the individual volunteer should possess a growing Christian faith and understanding of mission. Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills are of great benefit. Contact the Individual Volunteer program or email Landon Taylor at ltaylor@gbgm-umc.org. Work Teams -Ten to twelve persons from a local church, district, or conference commit themselves to work on a construction project in a mission setting (usually a church, school, or clinic building). Disaster Response Teams - After a major disaster such as a flood, hurricane or earthquake, volunteer teams initially respond to help with clean-up and assessment, and over the long term assist in reconstruction of damaged areas. Medical Teams - Teams of physicians, dentists, and other medical personnel serve one to three weeks in places where medical attention in needed. Medical personnel may also accompany a work team. For more information about any of these programs contact your UMVIM Annual Conference Coordinator listed on the left-hand side of your screen. You are needed! * THE ADVANCE IN INDIA - HOW YOU CAN HELP "Slumdog Millionaire" swept the Academy Awards. Yet the subject of the movie is not new to the Methodist Ministry in Mumbai, India, which has been helping street children for decades. Tune in to this three-minute video to witness the real-life story of hope for street children in Mumbai. The Methodist Church in Mumbai supports 20 centers for street children in 13 impoverished communities. Children from 1 to 14 years old have a safe place to receive a meal, health care, recreation, and a simple education. Older children are taught technical skills like chalk making and weaving. The children also learn Bollywood dance steps. After all, Mumbai is home to the largest film industry in the world. "As portrayed so well in the movie, 'Slumdog Millionaire,' many street children are forced into a life of begging either by family members or by unscrupulous adults who used them for their own gain," said Max Marble, Office of Creative Ministries, The United Methodist Church, Missouri Conference, and the maker of the series "MissionCast." "It is my hope that the movie will continue to draw attention to the plight of street children the world over." Support these United Methodist Advance projects to continue providing hope to the street children of Mumbai. |
