Mary Philip of Davis UMC will lead a team back to Mumbai and Jamked, India to continue work there. She will be joined by Alex Achimore, Carol Jewell and John Jewell.
San Ramon Valley UMC Youth Team to New Orleans, LA: December 27 – January 3
Michael Stephenson will lead 10 volunteers to New Orleans to continue hurricane recovery work there. He will be joined by Kyle Behring, Connor Finney, Meghan Flanagan, Daniel Glover, Evan Preece, Maddie Preece, Hannah Stephenson, Ben Ten Elshof, Corinne Wright and Emily Wright of Alamo - San Ramon Valley UMC
Connectional team to Palestine: December 28 – January 13
Tana McDonald of Grass Valley UMC will lead a team back to Palestine. She will be joined by Shirley Azim of Yuba City - First UMC Patricia Lee Brothen of Lakeland, MN. - Valley Baptist, Shelby Howe, Donald Lee, Rosann Mackey and Jean Martinsen of Grass Valley - Sierra Pines UMC, Lawrence Williams and Sharron Seymour-Williams of Sparks - Sparks UMC and Robert Joehnch.
Individual Volunteer to Vatukarasa, Fiji: January
Judy Church of Modesto First UMC will return to Fiji to continue work there.
Cal-Nev Volunteer join another conference team to Guatemala: January
Anita Shaul of Carson City First UMC will join up with a team from another conference to work in Guatemala.
Eureka First UMC team to New Orleans, Louisiana: January 9-16
Ken Blackshear of Eureka First UMC will lead a large team back to New Orleans to continue hurricane recovery work there. A list of volunteers was not available at the time of this posting.
Medical team to the Philippines: end of January through February
Rev. Paul Cabotaje of Stockton St. Paul’s UMC will once again lead a large medical/dental team to the Philippines. A list of volunteers was not available at the time of this posting.
Sierra Leone, Summer 2010 - There will be two work teams between June 12 and July 15. Each team will be about 2-1/2 week sin duration. One team will emphasize health and health-related concerns while the other team will emphasize construction. Basic skills needed: workers willing to try anything, with limited tools; workers of all ages. Special skills needed: doctors, dentists, nurses, eye doctors, teachers, file clerks, carpenters, nutritionists, laborers, nurses' aides, teachers' aides. Contact Hope and Les Law, 303-642-3693, lhlaw@hope4salone.org, www.hope4salone.org. Donate a birthing kit for women and babies in Sierra Leone! See attachment.
Guatemala Nov.19-27 2010 - Experience Guatemala, partner with national ministers; work may include opportunities to build extensions onto churches, teach Vacation Bible School to local children, encourage Guatemalan pastors and their wives, and participate in other outreach/social ministries. Time will be spent in the capital as well as rural areas. Trip is open to all ages 14-94! Contact Rebecca Patterson (turtlerap05@gmail.com; 719-440-5625). An informational meeting will be held January 10, 2010 at 7:00pm at Sunrise UMC, Colorado Springs.3)
See www.rmcvim.org for a listing of additional mission teams you can join!
UMCOR OPENED TWO NEW OFFICES IN 2009
UMCOR opened two new offices to serve disaster needs in the US and abroad.
UMCOR’s Western Jurisdiction Office and Depot in Salt Lake City opened its doors in May to serve as a material resources depot to assemble, store and ship UMCOR supply kits. The facility provides new opportunities for kit ministry in the Western Jurisdiction and helps reduce shipping costs and efficiency when areas affected by disaster are in the western part of the US or in Asia.
UMCOR Philippines opened in July to help bring relief to a population vulnerable to natural disasters, civil conflict and extreme poverty. UMCOR Philippines serves as the communications hub between United Methodist conferences within the Philippines and the US. The office offers an on-site storage facility for material goods and relief supplies.
Support these two offices by giving to Material Resources, UMCOR Advance #901440, or Philippines Emergency, UMCOR Advance #240235.
YOUTH OPPORTUNITY IN HONDURAS - SIERRA SERVICE PROJECT
Sierra Service Project (SSP) is excited to announce the dates for the 2010 Honduras Service Project. Sierra Service Project, the United Methodist-affiliated youth ministry organization, is organizing four teams of high school juniors and seniors, and young adults, for a service-immersion experience in Honduras in 2010.
Trip dates are June 23-July 7, 2010 and July 14-28, 2010.
Participants will have the opportunity to be immersed in the culture and life of one of the poorest countries in the Americas and will work alongside Hondurans to build two simple, but safe and dry, homes. To date, SSP has constructed 28 homes in Honduras with plans to build eight more in 2010.
Open to mature high school juniors or seniors, and college-age young adults, this service experience is a great opportunity to meet other young people interested in social justice and service in Central America.
The trip cost is $1,700 if registered by December 31, 2009 ($1,800 after December 31). Cost includes airfare to and from Houston, Texas or Los Angeles, California, and includes all meals, lodging, and transportation within Honduras. A deposit of $400 ($500 after December 31) is required to hold your spot and airline seat.
Visit the Sierra Service Project website or call the SSP office at 916.488.6441 for more details and registration information.