CAMBODIA CONSULTATION; ALASKA VOLUNTEER INFO; VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN CHINA, CUBA, & KENYA; SERVE IN HAWAII AT CAMPSITE

Photo: The Great Wall of China, courtesy nationalgeographic.com. Voluteers are needed there to teach English. Read the story below.

* CAMBODIA CONSULTATION SEPTEMBER 2009

VIM'ers!
Let me take this avenue to cordially invite you to attend the next Cambodia Consultation scheduled for September 17-19, 2009 in Metairie, Louisiana. Metairie is part of the makeup of the city of New Orleans, so you can expect not only exciting news about our work in Cambodia, networking with our missionaries and other UMVIMs engaged in Cambodia but that marvelous South Louisiana hospitality and food! (Jambalaya and New Orleans Po-Boys are on the menu!)
Attached is the brochure and registration and you can also register on line at http://events.signup4.com/camcon2009.

Information is also included for two hotels, Radisson and Sheraton, where you can find reduced rates for the Consultation, $79 plus tax, available until 8/28.
Romy del Rosario, Country Director, Svay Youtharoat, Principal of the Methodist Bible School and Tuy Chamroeun, President of the Methodist Youth, Clara Biswas, Irene Mparutsa, Katherine Parker and Esther Gitobu, missionaries, are among others slated to be here from Cambodia.

The deadline for registration is August 31, so please consult your calendars and plan to come. Metairie is the site of the New Orleans Airport (MSY) and Airport Shuttle and the Sheraton will get you safely to your hotel destinations.

If you have questions contact me at 225.346.1646 or LduckN@aol.com.
As we say here, Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez - Let the Good Times Roll! Welcome to New Orleans and the Cambodian Consultation!
Larry Norman, LAVIM Director

* ALASKA VOLUNTEER INFORMATION

Volunteers are still needed and welcome to come and serve in Alaska due to the ice-flooding. You can connect with Robert Paire and Rev. Richard Whetsell whose contact information is found in the blog post right below this one dated July 8, 2009.

Robert recently noted: Alaska is a big place, and I am still learning myself. Dawson City, Yukon Territory Canada, is our nearest neighbor 100 miles up the Yukon River from Eagle. I think you can purchase commercial flights into Dawson, or at least into the provincial city of Whitehorse 200 miles away. Everyday there is a large commercial river boat called the Yukon Queen, run by Holland America, transporting passengers from Dawson to Eagle and back. It’s a very handy way to get into Eagle, the trip only takes about 4 hours and it’s free. The only catch is you will need a passport to travel around in Canada, but I think it’s worth it because the roads into Dawson are much better than the roads into Eagle.

We are having a lot of trouble scheduling volunteers out of Fairbanks. In the first place it’s 360 miles to Eagle, Holland America takes two days to get here. If you drive yourself you will have trouble finding a rental car that will allow you to drive on gravel roads. Not to mention that the roads are narrow twisty mountain roads with blind turns and 1000 foot drops offs.

In addition he notes: FYI if you decide to pursue things a little further on your own the fastest, and probably the easiest way to get into Eagle is as follows:

- Book a commercial flight into Fairbanks
- Spend the night at Golden North Hotel $80/Night 800-447-1910
- Leave Weekday by Everts Air $170 One way to Eagle 907-450-2350
-or-
- Make arrangements through Arlan DeYong to travel by Holland America Coach.

1) Bring a Tent to sleep in
2) It is much easier to get to Eagle from Fairbanks or Dawson City YT than from Anchorage
3) Bring basic hand tools such as tool belt, hammer, tape measure, small pry bar, utility knife as so forth.
4) meals are provided for volunteers by the city.

For more information about serving in the village of Eagle, Alaska go to http://www.eaglecity.org/.

Thank you for your willingess to serve in this time of need!

* TEACH ENGLISH IN CHINA - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Teach English in China for Big Stone Education group. Big Stone hasestablished an educational company in China for the purpose of placingteachers and providing educational management services. Profit from thiscompany provides funding for our charity work in China's rural countryside.Our current big project is a non-institutional sustainable orphanage andorganic farm.We are currently in need of 40 Americans willing to come to China for a yearor more, and teach English to the students in our partner schools.

The employees are paid and managed directly by our company. This will helplighten or eliminate the stress and discomfort caused by the office politicsfound in most schools in China, and allows them to focus on what they camehere to do. Our salary and benefits package is a cut above many of the otherteaching jobs in this province.The benefits include:. 10 month (renewable) employment contract (September - June). 6,500 RMB monthly salary. 20 teaching hours per week. Airfare reimbursement in cash. Private off-campus housing (3-star standard). Private transportation to school each day. International medical/health insurance. 1 all-expenses-paid travel excursions per term (2 per year). Weekends and holidays off. 2 - 3 Chinese language classes per week. Kung Fu classes (optional). Experienced American management For more information or to apply please contact:ChristaWingert@bigstonechina.org

Requirements:. Native English speaker (US, Canada). Good communication skills. Willing to live / work in Henan, China. Above 18 years oldPreferred:. Bachelor Degree (any major). TESOL or equivalent. Teaching experience

* VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN CUBA

Rev. Nick Elliott, former Executive Director of UMVIM, SEJ, will be leading a 12 member construction team to Havana, Cuba. Team will assemble in Miami on November 30 and fly to Havana on December 1-10. We will be working on the Methodist Seminary in old Havana, worshipping in different churches, and learning about the Cuban culture.
Please email NSEUMVIM@gmail.com for an application.

Special consideration will be given to persons who have never been to Cuba. Anticipated cost is $2250 from Miami.

* URGENT NEED FOR PASTOR IN KENYA

There is a critical and immediate need for an additional pastor to assist a Virginia Conference UMVIM team in the training of UMC pastors in the Nakuru District of Kenya in the East Africa Conference. A last minute and unavoidable team member cancellation has led to this vacancy. The focus of the training is basic theological, doctrinal, and pastoral education instruction for approximately 20 pastors. The need is immediate as the team leaves August 13.

The cost of the trip is $3000…with most of the money due now as we make travel and lodging reservations. On such a short notice we trust that the Holy Spirit will touch the heart of the right pastor(s) to assure training commitments are met. Can you help?

Details of the trip:
Dates: August 13 to August 28, 2009 (these dates are firm)
Leave and Return from: Dulles International Airport
Cost: $3000, all inclusive (except for personal purchases and optional safari at the end of the trip)
Place: Nakuru, Kenya, in the Rift Valley, East Africa Conference UMC at a new UMC boarding school

Contact for more information: Rev. Nancy Robinson, 804.264.7856 (H), or 804.873.1487 (C);
call anytime, but hurry!

* WANT TO SERVE IN HAWAII?

Opportunity to work on New Construction at Camp Mekokiko on the Big Island of Hawaii, October 1 - 16, 2009 !! This would be a UM/VIM team open to any who would like to experience a little different work location. Housing is in a mixed dormitory with only 14 beds available, thus setting the maximum size of a team. We do our own communal cooking, have laundry and showers available and all tools needed are provided by the camp. Couples or singles are welcome.

You arrange your own transportation to Kona, HI and we will coordinate meeting members coming in to the airport. Camp is about an hour and half from the airport. Follow on travel is at your discretion, but highly recommended if you have not been to the Islands before. We will have ample time to sight see around the Big Island on our days off (when it rains!) Individual cost (in addition to your airfare) are estimated to be $350, which includes $100 each to the camp building fund, car rental, GBGM insurance, camp shirt and food.

Check the camp out at: www.hawaiipacificmethodists.org/mekokiko.htm
For more information and sign up contact:
Tom and Mary Louise Hager tomterrific3@juno.com
695 Summer Lane White Salmon WA 98672-7400 Phone (509) 493-2445 or cell: (206) 399-3523