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

TEAM LEADER TRAINING; FUTURE TEAMS; HELPFUL WEBSITES; UMCOR IN THE PHILIPPINES

Photo: Volunteers hand out food in Philippines. Read more about work there below....Photo courtesy, umcor.org.

* TEAM LEADER TRAINING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST CONFERENCE

The UMVIM Leadership Team will be conducting two Volunteer In Mission Team Leader Trainings on December 5, 2009 at First UMC of Olympia. Topics to be discussed will be the UM Connection, insurance, safe sanctuary requirements and background checks.1) TEAM LEADER TRAINING for National/International Mission10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Fees: $20 for the manual

2) TEAM LEADER TRAINING for Conference Projects10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.Fees: none First UMC of Olympia1224 Legion Way SEOlympia, WA 98501-1655(360) 943-2661 If you are interested in registering for either class,e-mail Ronda Cordill, r_cordill@hotmail.comor call (509) 235-5466.

* FUTURE TEAMS TO GUATAMALA, ANGOLA, LOUISINA, SIERRA LEONE, KENYA, CAMBODIA & HELPFUL WEBSITES FOR VOLUNTEERS

1) Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana - Summer, 2010 (1 week trips during June 6 - July 25) - ongoing reconstruction of homes devastated by hurricanes. Registration deadline March 15, 2010. Cost is $225 per participant, which includes lodging, meals, construction materials and evening activities. Contact Laurie Byland, 225-383-4777, X235; laurie.byland@firstmethodist.org, www.thebluetarp.com.

2) Angola, October 2010, MALARIA NET DISTRIBUTION - a fund of $120,000 was collected for the "Nothing But Nets" program in honor of our previous Bishop, Warner Brown. We are beginning to recruit a team of 8-10 people for the distribution of these malaria nets in Angola. The distribution plan will be coordinated by UMCOR in Angola. We would like to have a representative group of health care workers, pastors and lay persons. Contact Burl Kreps, angoadvo@msn.com, 719-637-0258, 719-337-3066(cell).

3) Guatemala, March 19-28, 2010. Serve with the indigenous Mayan people in the mountains of Guatemala. Build adobe homes for widows, construct chicken coops, play with children, visit the John Wesley School. Contact Laura Richards, corichards@aol.com, St. Luke's UMC, Highlands Ranch, CO.4) UMVIM team leader training, Saturday, December 12, 9 am to Noon, St. Luke's UMC, 8817 S. Broadway, Highlands Ranch, CO. Please contact Betsy Keyack, bkeyack@att.net to register. Team leader training also offered on request.

5) Please see the following web sites for more information about UMVIM:

a) www.umvim.info - contains listings of all the UMVIM projects in the USA and around the world as well as information about long term opportunities for individual volunteers.

b) www.umvimwj.blogspot.com - has information about volunteer needs in the western US and teams you can join.

c) www.rmcvim.org - has information about Rocky Mountain Conference teams you can join, going to Guatemala (2010), Sierra Leone (2010), Kenya (2010 and 2011), Cambodia (2011), and India (2011).

d) www.umvim4health.blogspot.com - this is a great web site for health care volunteer opportunities.

* UMCOR WORK IN PHILIPPINES CONTINUES

Philippines continues to comb through remote areas to provide relief supplies to those in need following the devastating Typhoon Ketsana and Parma, which struck the country in September and October.

It took UMCOR Philippines staff and volunteers six hours on a boat to travel to one affected area to assess damages. In one area, on the coastal area of Talim Island, most of the homes and structures were completely destroyed. Three United Methodist churches were damaged and two of the churches remain under water. UMCOR Philippines is working with district leadership to respond to the needs of the church and affected communities.

In addition, about 1,500 food items have been purchased and repackaged by local churches and volunteers assisting UMCOR Philippines. Trained by UMCOR and student council members of the Angono Rizal System University, volunteers prepare water purifiers daily to include in the distribution to displaced families, as health and sanitation is a major concern.

Support the ongoing relief efforts in the Philippines with your gifts to Philippines Emergency, UMCOR Advance #240235.