Damage done during earthquake in Mexicali, Mexico April 2010. To learn how you can help please read below. Photo courtesy, telguone.com.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY IN NORTH DAKOTA
Greetings and I come with an opportunity for service this summer in North Dakota. The GBGM Missionaries at Spirit Lake Reservation have a "Travelling Vacation Bible School" during June and July.
There is a small van available for 2 or 3 people who will visit at least 7different churches during these 2 months - basically leading VBS. All materials for the school are provided as is gas for the van. Housing will be provided in the churches and food by the church members.
There is no stipend for this placement. If you are interested please let me know and I will then put you in touch with the folks there.Thanks Nancy -- Nancy EubanksConsultant - Individual VolunteersGlobal Ministries 731-772-0458 or nteubanks@gmail.com
Haiti Team Scheduling and Other Haiti News
Teams may register for serving in Haiti through Susan Meister. Details and information can be found on the first edition of the Haiti UMVIM website to be launched this week. Currently that link takes you to the UMCOR page on the GBGM site.
Please let Heather Wilson at umvimwj@hotmail.com know of Haiti teams that are already registered, ready to register, or just forming. There are numerous good volunteers and team leaders waiting to join teams to get the requisite experience in Haiti before leading their own team. A great way to increase our outreach to Haiti is invite members who can return with their own team in a year or so. Please send team dates, team leader with email address and phone number, and the conference you are from.
Remember the first work to be done will consist of rubble removal/deconstruction, medical assessments and Vacation Bible Schools. The schools are closed due to building damage. Building engineers are reviewing building standards for the best possible way to rebuild as needed by the Haitian people. Keep in mind the goal is to work with the people of Haiti and to help them with their needs. Please consider scheduling into the fall and certainly into next year and beyond.
Please let Heather Wilson at umvimwj@hotmail.com know of Haiti teams that are already registered, ready to register, or just forming. There are numerous good volunteers and team leaders waiting to join teams to get the requisite experience in Haiti before leading their own team. A great way to increase our outreach to Haiti is invite members who can return with their own team in a year or so. Please send team dates, team leader with email address and phone number, and the conference you are from.
Remember the first work to be done will consist of rubble removal/deconstruction, medical assessments and Vacation Bible Schools. The schools are closed due to building damage. Building engineers are reviewing building standards for the best possible way to rebuild as needed by the Haitian people. Keep in mind the goal is to work with the people of Haiti and to help them with their needs. Please consider scheduling into the fall and certainly into next year and beyond.
In addition, the UMW School of Christian Mission study on Geography is Haiti for 2011. If you have some information about your projects or stories about children in Haiti and are willing to follow up on it - please contact Delia Halverson.
She writes: I am honored to have been asked to write the 2011 children's mission study on Haiti for the Women's Division of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries. I am beginning to compile the information I need and will be writing it over the summer. Do you (or someone in your church) have any stories/experiences with Haiti that you think would be helpful in such a study? I'm particularly interested in stories that tell about the daily life of children in Haiti (school, food, religion, etc.) as well as information related to the mission projects that children can support to help the needs of these children.
Of course, I will also write about the impact of the 2010 earthquake on the lives of these children, so stories or information on what you (your church) have experienced with this will also be helpful. I'm sending this out to all those on my Christian education mailing list. If you know of someone else who might be helpful to me in this writing, please forward this to them. http://www.deliahalverson.blogspot.com/
EARTHQUAKE NEWS FROM MEXICO: HOW YOU CAN HELP
From Murray Hawkins, President, U.M. Joint Commission for Church Extension/Hands Across the Border, (909)793-5171
Rev. Felipe Ruiz, District Superintendent in the area most affected by the recent series of earthquakes and aftershocks in the Mexicali area has sent me his description of the damage to the area and the following summary of the needs that he found on a trip this past Sunday to the church nearest the epicenter: "I invite you to pray and join our efforts to help our brothers (and sisters) in faith, who in addition to our prayers need food, bottled water, toilet paper, feminine napkins, items of personal care, candy to bring a little joy to the children, more blankets, tents and later on, rebuilding of some homes.
But above all, they need our most fervent demonstrations of love." When you hear news reports of aftershocks shaking Southern California, remember that the big quake and those that follow are centered in Mexico. It is almost like the news reports are suggesting that the shocks that we are feeling don't take place south of the border. In fact, that is where the main damage has been done. In fact, even the smallest aftershocks appear as terrifying events to those who went through the "big one" on Easter Sunday, sending them running into the street in fear.
Many are afraid to go back into their homes or places of business. In Mexico, this has been, and continues to be, a terrible and traumatic event. The UM Joint Commission is the Cal-Pac Advance Special that handles this sort of assistance to the Methodist Church of Mexico. Any of the things above are needed now, and will be for the near future. On behalf of the Joint Commission/Hands Across the Border, I would like to ask that your church pray this coming Sunday for our brothers and sisters in Mexico and I would also ask that you begin to collect some of the requested items.
Please call me and let me know what you are doing. I will arrange to have the items picked up and taken to Mexico. Donations for "Earthquake Relief" should be sent to:Joint Commissionc/o Rev. James F. Oliver13340 Del Monte, 4DSeal Beach, CA 90740-4556
