TEAMS NEEDED IN SIERRA LEONE; FUTURE TEAMS; INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER TRAINING EVENT; VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SERVICE IN GUATAMALA & TAWAIN

Students at a school built by volunteers with Operation Classroom in Sierra Leone. Volunteers are needed, please read below.....Photo courtesy, andersonsmattumc.org.

* TEAMS NEEDED TO BUILD & REBUILD CLASSROOMS IN SIERRA LEONE

The following primary schools in Sierra Leone need vim teams to assist it construction and reconstruction:

. UMC Primary School Masori, Mile 91, Yonibana District (reconstruction)2. UMC Primary School, Bonganema, Moyamba East District (Construction)3. UMC Primary School Lowoma, Kenema District (Construction4. UMC primary School Baoma, Bo District (Rehabilitation)5. UMC Primary School Yamandu Bo District (Construction)6. UMC Primary School Moyamba Junction (Construction)

Please contact :

Joe Wagner
Operation Classroom, Inc.PO Box 246Colfax, IN 46035765.436.2805www.operationclassroom.orgocmission@frontiernet.netwww.operationclassroom.org

* FUTURE TEAMS

International Team to Mumbia, India: December 26 – January 16
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.

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 TRAINING JANUARY 21-24, 2010

If you feel the call to serve as a short-term missionary either in the USA or internationally anywhere from 2 months to 3 years, then the Individual Volunteer program may be just for you. There will be a training event next month at the Aldersgate Retreat Center in Pacific Palisades, Jan. 21-24th.

Please contact Landon Taylor for more information at ltaylor@gbgm-umc.org.

* VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR TEAM GOING TO SERVE IN GUATAMALA

There is a VIM trip to Momostenango, Guatemala planned but they are in need of additional members to complete the team! The date for the trip is April 5 - April 11, 2010. The projected cost per person is $1000 with a deposit of $100 (make check to Crystal River United Methodist Church).

The primary project will be to construct a retaining wall in the church courtyard to prevent mudslides into the church complex. This courtyard is used to minister to the children throughout the week and on Sundays. We will also share the love of Christ through Bible School. If you would like to share this information with others, we may be able to complete the team and hold our group travel rate. Thank you so much.

Contact information: Christine Dial Phone # 352-794-3584
email: cd1945@aol.com
2600 N Comanche Pt
Crystal River, FL 34429

* VOLUNTEER NEEDED TO TEACH IN TAWAIN

Taipei City. Methodist Graduate School of Theology in Taiwan. Request for volunteers to teach Old Testament and/or Church History for semester starting September 2010. Credential requirements include Th. D or Ph. D. Language: English, some understanding of Chinese helpful. Request volunteers stay 3-6 years. Housing available. For more information, contact Landon Taylor at ltaylor@gbgm-umc.org

UMVIM Sites in the Oregon/Idaho Conference; Desert Southwest Mission Festival Lifts Up UMVIM Ministry; Individual Volunteer Training in the WJ

Photo: Alton Collins Retreat Center & Camp in Oregon. They are accepting volunteers, read more below. Courtesy, www.gocamping.org.

* UMVIM SITES IN OREGON/IDAHO CONFERENCE

Interested in serving stateside? The Oregon/Idaho conference has several great locations for volunteer teams. They are listed below. For more information, contact Brenda St. Clair, the Oregon/Idaho UMVIM Coordinator at jgbrndr@cabelone.net or at 208-520-7527.

CAMP SAWTOOTH/CAMP & RETREAT CENTER, P O Box 68, Fairfield, ID 83327, Dave Hargreaves, SawtoothUMCamp@hughes.net .
Open in June-Sept only. New building projects and trail maintenance. S.A. Max 16 RV. S. A. Max 16, RV.

ALTON L. COLLINS RETREAT CENTER, Rev. Todd Bartlett, director@relianceconnects.com , 32867 SE Highway 211, Eagle Creek, OR 97022 503/637-6411, toll-free 888/567-6411. Grounds, organic garden, and trail maintenance. Adults. limited RV parking.

CAMP LATGAWA / CAMP AND RETREAT CENTER, Eva LaBonty and Greg Clensy, Latgawa@gocamping.org, 13250 South Fork Little Butte Creek Rd., Eagle Point, OR 97524, 541/826-9699. Camp, building, and trail maintenance. S, A, RV.

CAMP MAGRUDER, Steve Rumage, Director, 17450 Old Pacific Hwy. Rockaway Beach, OR 97136. 503/ 355-2310; F: 503/355-8701. director@campmagruder.org
Carpentry, general maintenance, and grounds work. S, A, RV parking. Max 6-12.

SUTTLE LAKE CAMP & RETREAT CTR, - Jane Petke, 29551 SW Suttle Lake Rd., Sisters, OR 97759, 514/595-6663, F: 503/595-2818, suttle@gocamping.org.
Make a difference through carpentry, general maintenance, cutting wood, trail improvements, renovation of small cabins, and construction of wooden bunk beds.
J, S, A.


WALLOWA LAKE CAMP & RETREAT CTR, David and Ingrid Cook, 84522 Church Lane, Joseph, OR 97846. 541/432-1271. wallowa@gocamping.org.
May-June or Sept-Oct : Construction of cedar deluxe yurt cabins.
Summer only: kitchen, maintenance, housekeeping volunteers.
A. Max 16.

* DESERT SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE LIFTS UP UMVIM MINISTRY AT ITS MISSION FESTIVAL

The Desert Southwest Conference held its first Conference Mission Festival November 7th and it was a huge success. Bishop Carcano was present and shared a Spirit-filled message and UMVIM was a focus of the festival. Pastor Mel Muchinsky of Cross in the Desert UMC lead the way in putting the event together and he and his team did an incredible job. Below, please find a report on the event.

REGISTRATION AND ATTENDANCE

Well, the Design Team wasn’t sure if the event would happen or not! Two weeks before November 7th, we only had a dozen people registered. As we came closer to the event, registrations started to come in and on Friday, November 6th we had a total of 128 signed up. Of these, 96 ordered lunches which were prepared by UMOM - New Day culinary school. There were several "walk ins" that morning, bring the total official count to 141. Worship service was attended by 160 people (all right, it was really 162 but let’s round things off).

WORKSHOPS

Eight workshops were presented and, although some people were disappointed with the three cancelled ones, they nevertheless attended the ones presented. Workshops were better attended at 12:30 pm then at 9;15 am - don’t know "why?" but maybe people were finally getting used to the schedule or maybe the "buzz" was that they were all well presented. Several people told me they were considering new mission projects because of these workshops.

Faith in action: volunteers in missionHeather Wilson, Western Jurisdiction UMVIM coordinator. The whys, how to’s and needs for VIM volunteers and churches.
"…as a fire by burning": mission motives and methods

Let by David Alberts, former Program Counselor for Missions in the Central Illinois Conference and current senior pastor at St. Matthew UMC in Mesa. Does your congregation need to catch a vision for missions and learn creative means for transforming good intentions into action? Here is real help based upon the vast mission resources available to United Methodists and the experiences of successful mission-centered churches.

Making new disciples for missions
Led by Glen Simpson and Relevance Young Adult Ministries, the official young adult ministry of the Desert Southwest Conference. Young adults gravitate to churches that are making an impact. Today’s generation of young adults are embracing service, social action and missions. In a survey conducted by Lifeway Christian Resources, 66% of young adult churchgoers vs. 47% of young adult non-churchgoers agreed that meeting the needs of others is an essential element to this generation.

Encouraging effective collaboration
Moderated by Candace Sherwood, Community Relations & Events Manager, UMOM New Day Centers. As resources grow scarcer and individual and community challenges more complex, Missions often need to join forces to make headway. Collaboration is more than a buzz word, it's a whole new way of getting work done. This workshop will demonstrate how collaboration offers the chance to access resources and leverage outcomes in ways to make Mission success possible.

General cross-cultural issues
Ministering with a different culture has its challenges! Whether your dealing with people in another culture as a volunteer or rubbing elbows with those right in your own congregation, this workshop will give insight how to establish relationships.

Providing job support as a mission project
Moderated by Lisa Armijo from Arizona Women’s Education and Employment. Started in 1981, AWEE has changed the lives of 60,000 individuals through life and career success planning, training and support. Techniques will be shared as to how churches can respond to people’s needs during this economic recession.

Rethinking church
Hosted by Stepehen J. Hustedt and the Desert Southwest Conference Communications Commission. What if church wasn’t a place you go? What if Church was a thing you do? This workshop will how to reach out to un-churched individuals between 18 and 35 with a secondary audience of 35-50. Research shows that young adults a looking for a church that does what it says it does and has a mission focus. What does this mean to how we tell our story as United Methodists?

Increasing global ministries missionary covenants
Facilitated by Judy Witt, DSC Secretary of Global Ministries. Special Sundays offerings, The Advance, as well as individual & church partnerships with missionaries/countries/specific projects are just some of the opportunities available. Can we help establish ten new covenant relationships in this quadrennium? Come and see!

TABLE DISPLAYS

We had 17 display table reservations but 22 showed up! I nice problem to have; we just made room for more. Besides the "regular" displays, we had some interesting and unique ones from local churches.

Association of Arizona food Banks
Desert Foothills UMC - Agua Prieta
Duet - Elaine Dinse/Meryl Ahart
Faithworks - Glen or Jan Allen
Fountain Hills UMC - Pam Novak
Give Ye Them to Eat - Hendersons
Global Ministries - Judy Witt
Habitat for Humanity
Hope for the Hopeless
In Mission Together - Mel Munchinsky
Justa Center - Scott Ritchey
NOMADS - Dick Bulkeley
Shepherd of the Hills UMC - Cleo Perry - quilts
Shoebox Ministry - Laura Borgeson
Sidewalk Ministry - Billie Fidlin
St. Matthew UMC - Bulgarian UMC - Andy or Kay Rountree
UMOM - New Day - Helping Hands - Candace Sherwood
United Methodist Women - Carla Whitmire
Wesley Center - Betty K. Mathis
WHEAT - Hand to Hand Project - Ada Davis

WORSHIP SERVICE

The service opened with the SON Worshipers from St. Matthew UMC providing prelude music. The congregation joined in with the singing of A New Hallelujah! The Band also sang Children of God and Thank you, Lord. The One Flock Choir sang Multiply Your Love. Two excellent talks were given by Bishop Minerva Carcaño and Heather Wilson, UMVIM Coordinator of the Western Jurisdiction. There certainly was the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the service, one would have thought all these individuals and groups sat down and planned the service because of its unity and theme but in fact they didn’t!

The Agua Prieta Liturgical Dance group had an excellent presentation both during the service and later on the Patio. Flags representing different countries throughout the world brought us closer together as a global community (these were loaned to us from Payson UMC). There was no registration fee charged for the event in order to make it accessible as much as possible to all who wanted to attend. To those who wanted a lunch, the cost was $10.00 but anyone could have brought their lunch with them or lunched off the hospitality table. An offering was taken which totaled about $1,300.00 which paid for all the costs of the event! What a blessing!

OVERHEARD COMMENTS

Why did we wait so long to have this?

(After the worship service) I just need to sit here for awhile and reflect on what I’ve seen and heard.

What an inspiring and uplifting worship service!

I’m disappointed that the workshop on immigration issues was cancelled.

What wonderful hospitality - the snack table has variety.

Can we keep the flags up in the sanctuary longer?

I just connected with another group - didn’t know we had so much in common.

We just got two good ideas for a mission project that will be introduced next January.

I haven’t seen some of these people for a long time - it’s great!
　

* INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER TRAINING IN THE WESTERN JURISDICTION JANUARY 2010

If you feel called to serve as a couple or as an individual for 2 months to 3 years as a mission volunteer, then the Individual Volunteer ministry is for you! There are sites all over the nation and the world needing and wanting volunteers. For more information please contact Landon Taylor at ltaylor@gbgm-umc.org and go to http://www.individualvolunteers.info/.

There will be an Individual Volunteer Training event in Pacific Palisades, CA, January 25-27, 2010. Please contact Landon Taylor for an application and more details.

FUTURE MEDICAL TEAMS LISTING; INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER TRAINING

Photo: Medical mission work in Africa, courtesy, umvim.org. If interested in serving this way, read below.....

* FUTURE MEDICAL TEAMS LISTING

From Cal-Nevada Conference:

March of 2010 Team Leader: Roland Nyegaard of First UMC Modesto
Ph: 209.526.2459

July 29 – August 8, 2010
Team Leaders: Doug & Betsy McLeod of Concord UMC
Ph: 925.212.7459
Email: MAC4160@comcast.net

From Pacific Northwest Conference:

January 2010
Medical Team to Ganta Hospital in Liberia contact Ronda Cordill at r_cordill@Hotmail.com

2010
Honduras
Congo
Rwanda
Months to be determined, contact Ronda Cordill at r_cordill@Hotmail.com

From Desert Southwest Annual Conference

October 2010
Medical-VBA-Construction Team to Guatamala
Contact Bill Sanford at bill@desertsw.org

From Southeast Jurisdiction

Doctors and health care professionals needed to complete a medical team to Danli, Honduras, Feb. 6 - 19, 2010. The team will see, treat, and dispense medications to rural peasants in this small community about two hours from the capital. There is a construction team at work in Danli as well. Cost of the trip is $1425 from Des Moines, IA but travel arrangements can be altered if necessary. Contact Beverly Nolte before November 6 for more information.

Beverly Nolte
5221 Village Run Ave. #604
Des Moines IA 50317
515 266 4186 home
bnmedical@aol.com

* INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER TRAINING IN WESTERN JURISDICTION

If you are interested in serving in mission ministry as a couple or as an individual then come to the annual Individual Volunteer Training that will be held at Aldersgate Retreat Center in Pacific Palisades, CA in January 2010. For more information about the Individual Volunteer Training please visit http://www.individualvolunteers.info/ or contact ltaylor@gbgm-umc.org.

News from Indiv. Volunteer - Kathy Staroksa; Individual Volunteer Training

Photo: Children in orphanage in Georgia where Individual Volunteer Kathy Starotska serves, courtesy Kathy Starotska.

*NEWS FROM INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER IN GEORGIA Went to the orphanage with the "girls" today. They have about 100 kids ages 6-16. They were very enthusiastic, to say the least, to meet an American. They are speaking some English already and Marina has introduced the brushing of teeth. Some of them are doing this for the first time. Marina said some of the staff is a bit put out because the brushing causes them extra work. I only stayed for about an hour as the kids were getting all wound up and had to start their lessons. Thought I could stay to see how the teaching is going but I was too much of a distraction. Kids looked good and immediately started the "clinging" we experienced in Russia and didn't want me to go. The facility is nice in that the buildings are separated with lots of grass and trees and includes a jungle gym for the little kids. * INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER TRAINING Interested in serving for 2 months to 2 years as an Individual Volunteer? Come to the training held at Aldersgate Retreat Center in Pacific Palisades, CA June 25th-28th. For more information about this amazing ministry contact Landon Taylor at ltaylor@gbgm-umc.org.

Prayer Requests for Future Teams; Individual Volunteer Training; Helping the Displaced in Pakistan; Honduras & Sierra Service Project

PHOTO: A girl plays with a string in front of her family's tent in a camp near Mardan, Pakistan. Church World Service tents and blankets are helping to shelter displaced children and families in Pakistan.Church World Service-Pakistan/Afghanistan

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR FUTURE TEAMS: “Salaam” to the Individual Volunteer serving in Palestine: Dec.15 - June 2009 Yvonne Turner of Sierra Pines UMC is volunteering as an English teacher for youth at Hope School in Palestine through June of 2009. Yvonne first visited Palestine as part of an UMVIM Team led by Rev. Tana McDonald (Feather River Cooperative Parish) last year and felt personally challenged to offer her service and presence in solidarity with the Palestinian community. Yvonne has established a blog for family, friends and well-wishers to stay connected with her there. http://yvonnepalestine.blogspot.com/ Gary & Jeri Carson-Hull partner with a Tennessee UMVIM team to Swaziland, Africa: May 12 – September 16 Gary & Jeri Carson-Hull will be joined by a team from Tennessee to build and repair Methodist schools in Manzini, Swaziland (the largest city in the country). Chris McLain (the in-country VIM coordinator) will be keeping them busy with many projects over their 4 month stay as they travel and serve through-out the country. Gary and Jeri plan to keep family, friends and supporters up to date via their blog page at http://carson-hull.blogspot.com/ Medical & Connectional team serving the Ray of Hope Foundation in Kenya May 22 – June 5 Team leader Craig Wood of Glide UMC – San Francisco will be leading Glide UMC’s first UMVIM team! Glide UMVIM volunteers are doctors, nurses, teachers, photographers, videographers and social workers. The mission of Ray of Hope Foundation is to promote health, healing, medicine and education to the global community through the exchange of volunteers, technology, training, medical supplies and educational programming. Craig will be joined by Katherine Burke, Mark Hespeth, Joshua Biddle, Karen Oliveto, Travis Woodard, Robin Ridenour and Stephan Chase. Care – A – Vaners construction team works in Mt. Shasta, CA: May 26 - June 3 Rod and Gloria Castor head up yet another group of nomadic volunteers who will go in mission, living out of their RVs while working on light construction and repair projects throughout California-Nevada Conference. The Care-A-Vaners has worked this year at Laton UMC and The East Salinas Family Center. Other locations are scheduled for this year—give us a call if you want to join them in this work. San Ramon Valley UMC High School Youth Team to Laton, CA: June 20 - 27 Michael Stephenson and 4 other adult volunteers will lead a team of 18 high school aged volunteers to Laton UMC to continue repairs there. See the UMVIM website for photos. Projects may include exterior painting, the sanding and staining of church pews and the replacement of window screens. Michael will be joined by Mackenzie Dimler, Keegan Dimler, Matt Donatelli, Spencer Farady, Lindsay Garnick, Nick Johnson, Justin Koos, Ali Kuelz, Thomas Mannell, Lizzy Miskovetz, Lauren Nakaso, Evan Preece, Jack Jack Schramm, Paige Steffy, Ben TenElshof, Mark Warwick, Annette Warwick, Trevor Willis, Kevin Dimler, Crista Farrow, Paul Kuelz and Debbie Koos of Alamo - San Ramon Valley UMC. Epworth UMC-Berkeley heads to Nicaragua: June 21 – July 3 Lloyd Elliott from Epworth UMC – Berkeley will take a second team of volunteers to a newly created UMVIM site in Nueva Guinea, Nicaragua to continue their relationship of support and friendship with the Ruben Dario High School. They will also be exploring possible mission opportunities related to health and healthcare as well as water quality and water erosion. Lloyd will be joined by Annette Cayot, Jim Lockwood-Stewart, Charles Lynch and Christina Kellogg of Berkeley - Epworth UMC Lynne McCoy and Pat Stout of Los Altos - Los Altos UMC. Mother and daughter volunteer to join missionary daughter in Cambodia: June 23 – August 12 Martha Parker of Mill Valley – Mt. Tamalpais UMC will join her daughter Katherine Parker ( A GBGM UM Missionary) in Cambodia to aid with projects there. Martha’s other daughter Janet Parker has been serving in the region since April 28th and will continue through June 12th. Martha’s background is in nursing and she has a community health and advance practice as the Mill Valley School district nurse. You can check out all the Parker’s activities at Katherine’s missionary blog: http://chad-cambodia.blogspot.com/ *INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER TRAINING JUNE 25-28, 2009 If you are interested in serving in mission as an Individual Volunteer then come to the training event held June 25-28th at Aldersgate Retreat Center in Pacific Palisades, CA. For more information and to register please contact Landon Taylor at ltaylor@gbgm-umc.org. *PAKISTAN: HELPING THE DISPLACED The recent political crisis in the Swat region of Pakistan is forcing over 1 million people to flee for safety from heavy fighting in the North-West Frontier Province. UMCOR is providing immediate relief through partner organizations and is in contact with the Church of Pakistan regarding assistance. UMCOR is supporting Church World Service (CWS) and Muslim Aid to deliver food, shelter, blankets and other supplies in the Mardan and Swabi district. CWS is setting up mobile health clinics to provide medical services to those in need and Muslim Aid is providing tents, mattresses and other needs including medical services. Help support this effort with your gifts to International Disaster Response-Pakistan, UMCOR Advance #982450. * HONDURAS: BUILDING HOMES In Honduras, hundreds of thousands of families live in overcrowded, substandard rural homes that are vulnerable to flooding, mudslides and fire. Most are poorly built with weak foundations that cannot withstand heavy rainfall. UMCOR is supporting a two-year grant for the Sierra Service Project of Carmichael, Calif., an incorporated agency of the California-Nevada and the California-Pacific Annual Conferences, to build 12 safe and secure homes for families in need. UMCOR is providing building materials and funds to hire local labor to supervise the work. The Sierra Service Project involves North American youth and adult volunteers to assist in building homes in Honduras. For more information about volunteering with the Sierra Service Project team in the summer of 2010, contact Rick Eaton, executive director at rickeaton@sierraserviceproject.org or visit their website. You can also give to Sierra Service Project, UMCOR Advance #982185 or Central America Emergency, UMCOR Advance #501300.

Future Teams & Prayer Requests from the Cal-Nevada Conference, Individual Volunteer Training, News from Individual Volunteer in Georgia, UMVIM Events

A mother holds her child at Kissy Medical Center in Sierra Leone, courtesy UMCOR

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-5 - NIV Medical & Connectional team serving the Ray of Hope Foundation in Kenya May 22 – June 5 Team leader Craig Wood of Glide UMC – San Francisco will be leading a team of doctors, nurses, teachers, photographers, videographers and social workers to work with the Ray of Hope Foundation. The mission of this non-profit organization is to promote health, healing, medicine and education to the global community through the exchange of volunteers, technology, training, medical supplies and educational programming. Korean UMC of Santa Clara Valley Connectional Team to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia May 24 - 31 Team leader Terry Won of Korean UMC of Santa Clara Valley will be leading a team of volunteers to Mongolia to do eye glass fittings and consultations as well as a photo ministry for locals in need. He will be joined by Taehwa Park, Benson Choi, Kiok Choi, Sunghwan Pae, Jonathan Shinn, Angela Shinn and Steve Park, all from Korean UMC of Santa Clara Valley. Care – A – Vaners construction team works in Mt. Shasta, CA: May 26 - June 3 Rod and Gloria Castor head up yet another group of enthusiastic volunteers who will go in mission, living out of their RVs while working on projects throughout California-Nevada Conference. The Care-A-Vaners have done exceptional work this year already at Laton UMC, The East Salinas Family Center and other locations. Please post this Prayer Request in your home, office, church or car…anywhere that you’ll be reminded to offer prayers of support and for the safety for these United Methodist Volunteers in Mission. * Individual Volunteer Training If you are interested in being an Individual Volunteer (IV) serving as a short-term missionary from 2 months to 2 years you are welcome to attend the IV Training. It will be held at Aldresgate Retreat Center in Pacific Palisades, CA June 25-28, 2009. For more information please contact Heather Wilson at umvimwj@hotmail.com or at 818-333-6730 or Landon Taylor at ltaylor@gbgm-umc.org. * NEWS FROM INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER SERVING IN GEORGIA Hello everyone, It is spring in Tbilisi and lilacs are for sale everywhere. My students keep me supplied with big bunches of them so my apartment smells nice and fresh. There are wisteria blooming across the street and they are climbing right up the telephone line to the next apartment building. I have started my new project at one of the orphanages and put together a group of my students to go there two days a week and teach some classes there. They will teach English, of course, German, Georgian culture, and perhaps most importantly health and first aid. All of my new teachers are very excited. I was able to help one of my friends get a job as a "driver and personal assistant" to an American family. I'm thinking I should be starting my own employment agency here as I have helped so many people find jobs. The breast cancer walk is on Sunday so along with Vic and Tiko, I am busily preparing for that. I am the Survivor Event chairperson. My friend Deanna sewed up some cute little pink ribbon bags that the women will receive full of goodies, my favorite bakery is "donating" a big pink ribbon cake, we will have flowers for the women and some of my students will do manicures for the women. Vic is in charge of the 5K run and my running team will participate in it. Women here tend to ignore things like breast cancer because they consider it a death sentence and by ignoring it they think it will just go away. They are ashamed, embarrassed etc. so we are trying to turn that attitude around. The Komen Foundation is one of the big sponsors of this event. My Youth House graduation party will be next Wednesday. I have so many students that we have moved the event to a much bigger facility. Last year it was pandamonium because there wasn't enough room for the parents to even watch their children perform. I sponsored a writing contest for my students and they could choose between someone on peace and tolerance or on "Is There God in Georgia?" It has been interesting reading there perspectives on these challenging topics.I head for the states on the 16th and am bringing three of my runners with me. They will run the Bolder Boulder 10K in Colorado, a 5K in Wisconsin and hopefully something in Missouri. While I am gone, Tiko will be taking four other girls to Baku Azerbaijan to participate in a muli-country school track meet. Georgians don't need visas to go to Baku so it is cheap and easy for them to do that but none of the girls have been to Azerbaijan which is a Muslim country. I hope you are all doing well and enjoying spring. Love and peace,Kathy * UMVIM NEWS & EVENTS TEXAS - Hurricane Recovery, June 6-14 - You are invited to join Sunrise United Methodist Church, which is hosting an UMCOR Hurricane Ike Relief trip to Galveston June 6 – 14. We have 30 – 40 from Sunrise going but have room for 70. Please join us! Trip is open to High School through Adult and the cost is $400 which includes transportation and floor space at a church (air mattresses are fine). Deadline to apply is May 16 at the training session (8am – noon, Fellowship Hall, Sunrise Briargate Campus). For more information call Matt Lurz, at 598-7013 x29 or email mattl@sunriseumc.com. Alternate contact, Teri Alcorn, 598-7013 x33, teria@sunriseumc.com 2) HEALTH and SCHOOL KITS for new UMCOR Depot in Salt Lake City - Be part of the exciting work of UMCOR! At Annual Conference, which starts June 17, we will be collecting UMCOR health and school kits for distribution to people in need all over the world. BEGIN TODAY collecting items for kits and send them with your pastor or lay delegate to Annual Conference! See attached flier for details or visit http://www.umcor.org/ 3) BRIDGE of LOVE OFFERING - Again this year, the Bridge of Love Offering will be taken at Annual Conference. BEGIN TODAY collecting change to send with your pastor or delegate to Annual Conference! The offering will go to support our sister conferences in Angola, particularly young people, and for the new UMCOR Depot in Utah. 4) UMVIM TEAM LEADER TRAINING - Wednesday, June 17, Redlands UMC, Grand Junction, 1-4 pm. Contact Ann Fort, annfort8269@comcast.net to register. 5) DISASTER PREPAREDNESS/RESPONSE Training - Wednesday, June 17, Redlands UMC, Grand Junction, 1-4 pm. Learn how your church can prepare for a disaster and how the United Methodist Church responds to disasters. Contact Rev. Gary Haddock, pastor@rumcgj.com, 970-245-1478. 6) MISSIONS Dinner, Friday June 19, Conference Center, Grand Junction, CO, 5:30 - 6:30 pm. You are invited to this dinner, even if you do not attend Annual Conference. Keynote speaker will be Rev. Paul Jeffreys, award-winning author, photographer, and United Methodist Missionary, who writes about the work of the church around the world. He recently published, "Where Mercy Fails: Darfur's Struggle to Survive." Cost is $25. If you are not attending Annual Conference, please register for the dinner with Betsy Keyack, bkeyack@att.net by June 1. * UMCOR TO PROVIDE ERT (EARLY RESPONDER) BADGES After much consideration and conversation, a process is now in place for all upcoming authorized ERT trainees to have their badges made by UMCOR. Conferences may also continue to make and use their own ERT badges if desired. The guidelines have been distributed to all currently authorized UMCOR trainers. This message is to summarize the procedure so that you, too, may understand the process. UMCOR wishes to thank the jurisdictional representatives who helped in the finalization of this process. They are listed at end of this notice. SUMMARY Badge process begins May 1, 2009 To qualify for the initial UMCOR ERT badge, a participant must: · Attend the complete basic class led by an authorized trainer

* MALARIA FIGHT CONTINUES IN SIERRA LEONE

United Methodists are taking on a new challenge to provide every child under five years-old in Sierra Leone with a long-lasting insecticide treated bed net. These nets will provide protection from malaria for those most vulnerable to the deadly disease.
To kick off the effort to raise sufficient funds for the proposed November 2009 net distribution, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is issuing a $200,000 challenge grant from its newly-established Anne Ryckman Fund.

UMCOR President, Bishop Janice Riggle Huie of Houston announced the grant and the challenge to the denomination's Council of Bishops, meeting in Bethesda, Maryland on May 6. The challenge is to United Methodist annual (regional) conferences and districts to match the funds. Many bishops responded to the challenge with personal donations totaling more than $1,000.

Take up the challenge to cover Sierra Leone with bed nets and save thousands of lives. Give today to Nothing But Nets, UMCOR Advance #982015. Every gift to this Advance between now and June 30, 2009, will go to save lives in Sierra Leone.