News from the Ground: Individual Volunteer Experience in Georgia; Golden Cross Sunday; Volunteers Needed in Nicaragua, Nepal, & Guatamala & More

Photo: Children in Sierra Leon, courtesy creativevisions.org. To volunteer there read below>** STORIES FROM THE GROUND: NEWS FROM INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER IN GEORGIA



Greetings,
It is Monday, the day after Orthodox Easter and for many Georgians, it is cemetery day. People go to the cemetery and bring red eggs for their loved ones at the cemetery. When people get together they play a little game with the eggs, two people each hold an egg, bang them together, and whoever has the egg that cracks looses and has to give the egg to the winner. Many of our neighbors have stopped by and given us red eggs, precious gifts for Easter.


We have started using an exciting new laundry product called “BINGO”. It promises to “ facilitate” my life. Thus far, I am still waiting for the facilitation to begin but at least I have clean clothes.


Saturday morning the running club participated in the Easter Bunny Mystery run. It was an 8K run and it was raining pretty hard during most of the run. They did a great job in spite of the rain and their parents said that they were amazed that the girls were willing to come out and run in the rain. They wouldn’t do it for their parents or for their Georgian teachers. I suppose it helped that they got some small prizes like those obnoxious Easter candy things called “Peeps”. The kids here love them.


A week ago I visited an orphanage a little ways outside of the city. The orphanage houses about 110 kids between the ages of 6 and 15. When kids turn 16 they are booted out and must care for themselves the best they can. Many of them end up in trouble. Most of the kids are not true orphans but live there because their parents are either too poor to care for them, are in jail, etc. The conditions are relatively good compared to many such places and although their food isn’t fancy, it is adequate and they have clothes to wear and a bed to sleep in.



However, the women who work there do almost nothing to stimulate the kids to learn or acquire new skills. In spite of sunny pleasant weather the kids were all glued to the television watching inappropriate programs with vacant expressions on their faces. I am going to talk to the director of the orphanage about doing some trainings with the staff to teach them how to interact with the kids and to help them emotionally. One little boy appointed himself to be our guide and showed us all around the orphanage grounds. It breaks my heart to see kids who don’t have anyone to love them.


We have had political demonstrations in Tbilisi since April 9 but they have been totally peaceful with no major problems except for rerouting of traffic in the demonstration area. It has had minimal impact on us and we are not worried about it.


We hope you are all doing well and that spring is bringing you some warm sunny days. Stay in touch. We are always anxious to hear from you.
Vic and Kathy





** NEWS FROM PACIFIC NORTHWEST CONFERENCE: GOLDEN CROSS SUNDAY



A Sunday in May is recommended for the Golden Cross offering in support of the Health and Welfare Ministries of our Conference. The offering is used to support a number of different needs in Districts and local churches. The primary focus is the support of the sick, older adults, children and youth, and persons with disabilities.


Here are some opportunities for Health and Welfare Ministries in our local churches: the sick can seek a Parish Nurse's recommendations for diagnosis or treatment by specialists or preventive actions to maintain healthy bodies and minds; older adults can be encouraged to continue participation in church activities and physical exercises; health and housing support organizations can be identified for those needing assistance; child safety and care can be subjects for general instruction and specific guidance -- such as a good car seat or how to deal with childhood diseases; mentoring youth in their physical, mental, and spiritual lives which can lead to their continued good health; and meeting the challenge of making provisions for those with disabilities to enjoy the benefits of our church programs.


Applications for Golden Cross grants should describe the need and amount requested in a letter to the Conference Office. Contact Jim Russell at jimrussell1@juno.com or 425-788-6869 if you have any questions. Last year the applicants were flood victims in the Vancouver District so the relatively meager funds were distributed there. If we could reach an average contribution of forty dollars per church, we would have over ten thousand dollars to apply to the significant health and welfare needs in our Conference.

**VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO SERVE IN NEPAL

The church in Nepal is growing rapidly. If you feel called to serve in helping to build two churches in Nepal with an UMVIM team August 25 - September 13, 2009 then contact Jan & Kurt Kaiser at love2trvl.imbris.com.

** VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN WASHINGTON STATE

The UMVIM (Volunteers in Missions) program is accepting teams to assist with the clean up and continue the long term recovery of 2007 while needs are being assessed from the 2009 flood.

If you or your church is interested in sending a team, please contact Ronda Cordill UMVIM Annual Conference Coordinator (509-235-5466/509-993-6753 or r_cordill@hotmail.com) or Jim Truitt (253-630-1268 or jftruitt@comcast.net).

** EDUCATION TEAM GOING TO SERVE IN NICARAGUA

Regina and Bob Elgin will be leading a team to Managua, Nicaragua fromJune 14-23, 2010 to do these tasks:. English Tutoring. Bible School . Preschool projects . Church Construction To receive more information on this trip and how to register, pleasecontact Bob or Regina, relgin@cinci.rr.com, 513-777-5660. This is aUMVIM team from the Ohio River Valley District, East Ohio Conferenceand endorsed by teachUM, UMVIM-NCJ.Submitted by Lorna Jost, Coordinator, UMVIM-NCJ

** TRAININGS, FUTURE TEAMS, ETC.

ROMANIA MISSION TEAM - July 13-27, 2009 – VBS and community service projects supporting Global Hope ministry in Arad, Romania. You are invited to join this team! Contact Global Hope at 720.887.4673 or Will Johnston at willjohnston@earthlink.net

UMVIM TEAM LEADER TRAINING - Wednesday, June 17, 1-4 pm, Redlands UMC, Grand Junction. Contact Ann Fort, annfort8269@comcast.net, 303-220-0840 to register.3)

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE TRAINING - Wednesday, June 17, 1-4 pm, Redlands UMC, Grand Junction. Learn how your church can prepare for a disaster and how the United Methodist Church responds to disasters through UMCOR and UMVIM. To register, contact Rev. Gary Haddock, pastor@rumcgj.com, 970-245-1478.

VIMShare - The Winter 2009 issue of our VIMShare newsletter is on our web site, www.rmcvim.org.

DEBEQUE, CO UMC would like a team to help with VBS. Contact Pastor Roberta Botkin, 970-285-7912, 970-216-8682.

LOUISIANA - Youth volunteers age 14 and up are needed to help with home repair from Hurricane Gustav. Contact Laurie Byland, 225-383-4777, X255. Web site is www.thebluetarp.com

YOUNG ADULTS - Age 20-30 - You are invited to participate in an exciting program called Living Justice, June 13-17, 2009 in New York City. The program focus will be Eradicating the Diseases of Poverty:Women, Children and the Struggle for Wholeness. APPLICATION DEADLINE is May 1. Please contact Darlene DiDomineck, ddidomin@gbgm-umc.org, 212-870-3850.

SIERRA LEONE - YOUTH - watch an awesome video on You Tube by two youth who went to Sierra Leone to help build a school. Web site is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rUMdLsLHGM.

GUATEMALA - Medical team in September 2009 from St. Luke's UMC urgently needs NURSES to participate. Contact Rev. Pam Rowley, pam@stlukeshr.com, 303-791-0659.

THANK YOU - to all along the Colorado Front Range who have donated books for the "40,000 books for Kenya" Project!

UMCOR DEPOT UTAH - invites volunteers to come and help prepare the depot and process relief supplies.For information, contact Rev. Brian Diggs, 801-973-7250, WestDepot@UMCOR.org.

Jamaa Letu Orphanage; Individual Volunteer Training; ERT Training; My Story from Mexico City;UMVIM to the Holy Land; Hurricanes

Photos: Children at Jamaa Letu Orphanage (top), courtesy pnwumc.org; plaza in Mexico City (middle), courtesy travelblog.com; Devastation from a hurricane (middle), courtesy umvim.info; and City of Bethlehem (bottom), courtesy holyland.com.

Online Donations Now Possible for Jamaa Letu Orphanage in Congo It is now possible to make an online donation to the Jamaa Letu Orphanage in the Congo. To make a donation to this special place that receives much support and love from those in the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference, simply go to www.pnwumc.org. Individual Volunteer Training for Those in the Western Jurisdiction, June 2009 Interested in becoming an Individual Volunteer? Come to the training event held at the beautiful Aldersgate Retreat Center in Pacific Palisades, CA June 25-28, 2009. For more information about the program and this training contact Landon Taylor at ltaylor@gbgm-umc.org or Nancy Eubanks at nteubanks@gmail.com. ERT (Early Response Team) Training In Rocky Mountain Conference If you feel called to be an ERT or Early Responder volunteer after a disaster then you must receive training. There will be an ERT training in the Rocky Mountain Conference Center in Denver, CO April 25th from 9:00 am to 5 pm. For more information, please contact Betsy Keyack and/or Ann Fort, the Rocky Mountain UMVIM Coordinators, at bkeyack@att.net and annfort8269@comcast.net. If you want to have a training in your annual conference contact Heather Wilson at umvimwj@hotmail.com and Barbara Tripp from UMCOR at barbaratripp@earthlink.net. My Story: The UMVIM/UMCOR Consultation in Mexico City, by Chuck Kriegh, PNW UMVIM Task Force This meeting was very meaningful for me as I really only knew about the VIM from the standpoint of being a Team Leader to the Chihuahua City region of Northern Mexico. I believe the thing that most impressed me was the time we spent in dialog with the other participants. The list of people from South America, Central America, Mexico, Cuba, Caribbean Island and of course the Untied States was very impressive to me. To be able to meet with people doing what I have spent 12 years doing was very rewarding to me. I learned that when when we do things with and in those countries with less resources we don't always do good. Sometimes, we can do great harm even though we have good intentions. As Americans we often have the attitude that we "can fix it" and that we know what is best. But the reality is that the greatest blessing behind UMVIM is not the clinics, churches, hospitals built or the wells dug, or the immunization shots given. These are all important and great. However, what is greater than this is the building of relationships in Christ. My Latin American brothers and sisters told me that what they loved most about the work of the volunteers was the opportunity it gave for all of us to connect, learn about one another from one another, and share what Christ and done in our lives. I also learned that there is an office at Global Ministries that is just dedicated for watching out for the safety of children who are minor volunteers and/or at an UMVIM site. This office is headed by Joanne Reich and she gave a great presenation at the consultation. In addition, I found out about how volunteers can financially support their UMVIM work through The Advance for Christ and His Church. Many of the sites teams serve at are also Advance sites and can receive 100% of your donation. So even if you cannot go on a team you can support their work and ministry through The Advance. Finally, I received information about the Individual Volunteer program which allows an individual to serve for 2 months to 3 years as a volunteer. There are places all around the world that are requesting individuals that often will provide room & board and/or a small stipend for your service. When I was on the plane ride home along with Debra Conklin and Heather Wilson, our minds were full of ideas to make UMVIM an even better and more effective ministry in the Pacific Northwest and throughout the Western Jurisdiction. My heart was full of love for my Latin American brothers and sisters and I am renewed and inspired to continue to the work God has called each of us to do for His honor and glory. UMVIM Team to Serve in the Holy Land The group will depart on December 28, 2009 from Sacramento and return January 13, 2010. Rev. Tana McDonald is leading this tour assisted by Rev. Don Lee, and Rosann Mackey. While in the Holy Land, you will prayerfully participate in strengthening our UMC peace and justice connections. You will live in Bethlehem, at the complex of the Basilica of the Nativity, interact and worship daily with Palestinian Christians and Muslims. Our group will visit Deheisha Refugee Camp, Hebron/Christian Peacemakers, Lutheran Christmas Church/numerous mission projects. We will have a suitcase ministry and deliver much needed children’s medicines/school supplies to HOPE Secondary School. On January 6th you will leave the walls of Bethlehem and move to Jerusalem. In addition to sacred site-seeing we will worship with our Jewish brothers and sisters at the Wailing Wall and meet several Israeli Peace activists and justice partners. Lastly we move on to Jericho and up to the Jordan River to reaffirm our baptism before heading to the Sea of Galilee, Mt. of the Beatitudes, Capernaum and Nazareth. Our lodging will be on the Sea of Galilee at a lovely, peaceful spiritual retreat center. Estimated cost (including lodging, 2 meals daily, [except for one dinner at the American Colony Hotel in Jerusalem]) is $4000. Applications are available now. Get your passport if you think you would like to join us. Orientation and educational meetings will be held at Sierra Pines UMC on Saturdays: September 26th, October 24th, and November 21st, from 11:00 AM-3:00 PM. Plan to make at least two of the meeting to be eligible to go. Our most important mission work is connectional--meeting Israeli, Palestinian and Muslim peacemakers. If you would like more information on this trip, please contact Rev. Tana revtana@gmail.com Taylorsville/Greenville/Chester UMC, (530) 284-7316, or Rev. Don Lee at revdonlee@gmail.com Sierra Pines UMC(530) 268-6907, or Rosann Mackey at rosann.VIM2009@gmail.com (530) 272-6566. Volunteers Needed for Hurricane Recovery Work If you plan to take an UMVIM team or go yourself, please do not go before contacting the Disaster Response or Storm Recovery Center. They are coordinating all response efforts and will direct you appropriately. Early Response Training is needed ! See your Jurisdictional UMVIM website for upcoming training sessions. ALABAMA-WEST FLORIDA CONFERENCE Ron Baughman, Director of VolunteersTel - Office (251) 340-1985; Cell (251) 591-4443E-mail: rbaughman@awfumc.org Disaster Recovery Ministry6333 Piccadilly Square DriveMobile, AL 36609Website: http://www.awfumc.org FLORIDA CONFERENCELin Arnold-Skrovanek, Storm Center ManagerTel 800-282-8011 Ext 198Fax 863-688-7233E-mail: larnold-skrovanek@flumc.org Louisiana UM Disaster Recovery Ministry 141 North 6th Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802Office (225) 346-5193Fax (225) 346-6974Website: http://www.laumcstormrelief.comE-mail: laumdisastermin@bellsouth.netRev. Yvonne Dayries, Manager of VolunteersE-mail: ydayries@bellsouth.netMerci Center, North CarolinaPhil Platter, Early Response Coordinator Tel 888-440-9167 Mississippi ConferenceBeth Dean, Volunteer Teams Coordinator Tel (866) 435-7091 or 7092 or 7093E-mail: disastercenter@meridianumc.org Missouri: Tornado Disaster Response - Volunteers needed to help with cleanup and repairs Office of Creative Ministries, Tel (573) 474-7155 Donations to UMCOR Advance #901670, Domestic Disaster Response Texas Conference - Rita RecoveryWebsite: http://www.umcortexas.com/E-mail: volunteers@umcortexas.comTel (409) 892-0140