Photo: Building damaged in earthquake, Port Au Prince, Haiti, Courtesy, cnn.com.
Statement from the UMVIM Jurisdictional Coordinators on UMVIM Teams to Haiti
Greg Forrester, Northeast Jurisdiction, Lorna Jost, North Central Jurisdiction and Paulette West, Southeast Jurisdiction returned this past Friday, March 5th from their site visit to Haiti. A plan for United Methodist Volunteer in Mission (UMVIM) team response to the earthquake devastation in Haiti has been designed in consultation with President Gesner Paul and other leaders of the Eglise Methodiste d'Haiti (EMH). Due to the earthquake and changes in EMH leadership, a new list of priority projects and needs have been identified by the church.
Conversations with United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) have led to a formalized funded proposal for coordination of UMVIM teams to Haiti. The plan includes a US based calendaring office along with staffing in Haiti to assist in the site planning and hosting of teams. The positions of US-Haiti Coordinator, Haiti-Financial Hospitality Coordinator and Haiti-Volunteer Coordinator have been posted to the GBGM website or you can write Lorna Jost for copies. Pending approval of this proposal, we estimate some volunteers may be on the ground in Haiti by April 1st.
Teams are encouraged to form, raise funds and start considering when they would be ready to volunteer in Haiti. All UMVIM teams will be expected to work on prioritized projects as set by the EMH and are coordinated through the US-Haiti Coordinator with advisement to Annual Conference UMVIM coordinators.
Based on our observations and experience, teams serving in Haiti need to meet the following criteria:
No more than 8-12 members/team.
Team leader has prior experience in Haiti.
Team leader has UMVIM team leader training
Necessary immunizations are up to date (Cholera and tuberculosis may be needed soon - watch the CDC recommendations)
Early Response Training is not necessary but would be helpful
We suggest that team membership include skills/supplies for Vacation Bible School/education, medical, and construction/deconstruction components.
Specialized teams for pastoral care will be needed soon to work with the pastors and lay pastors in Haiti.
We look forward to serving with you in building relationships with our Haitian sisters and brothers to work with them to bring healing to their country.
In Christ's name,
Greg Forrester, NEJ
Paulette West, SEJ
Lorna Jost, NCJ
Debbie Vest, SCJ
Heather Wilson, WJ
Conversations with United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) have led to a formalized funded proposal for coordination of UMVIM teams to Haiti. The plan includes a US based calendaring office along with staffing in Haiti to assist in the site planning and hosting of teams. The positions of US-Haiti Coordinator, Haiti-Financial Hospitality Coordinator and Haiti-Volunteer Coordinator have been posted to the GBGM website or you can write Lorna Jost for copies. Pending approval of this proposal, we estimate some volunteers may be on the ground in Haiti by April 1st.
Teams are encouraged to form, raise funds and start considering when they would be ready to volunteer in Haiti. All UMVIM teams will be expected to work on prioritized projects as set by the EMH and are coordinated through the US-Haiti Coordinator with advisement to Annual Conference UMVIM coordinators.
Based on our observations and experience, teams serving in Haiti need to meet the following criteria:
No more than 8-12 members/team.
Team leader has prior experience in Haiti.
Team leader has UMVIM team leader training
Necessary immunizations are up to date (Cholera and tuberculosis may be needed soon - watch the CDC recommendations)
Early Response Training is not necessary but would be helpful
We suggest that team membership include skills/supplies for Vacation Bible School/education, medical, and construction/deconstruction components.
Specialized teams for pastoral care will be needed soon to work with the pastors and lay pastors in Haiti.
We look forward to serving with you in building relationships with our Haitian sisters and brothers to work with them to bring healing to their country.
In Christ's name,
Greg Forrester, NEJ
Paulette West, SEJ
Lorna Jost, NCJ
Debbie Vest, SCJ
Heather Wilson, WJ
