TEAMS NEEDED IN SENEGAL, MEXICO, CHILE, WASHINGTON, & ALASKA; PRAYERS FOR FUTURE TEAMS

Photo: Volunteer helping to rebuild home in Lewis County, WA due to flooding. To volunteer, read below. Photo courtesy Channels Express, Pacific Northwest Conference.

* TEAMS NEEDED IN SENEGAL, MEXICO, & ALAKSA

Senegal:
The United Methodist Church of Senegal is a Mission Initiative of the General Board of Global Ministries. The church has been recognized by the government of Senegal since 1996. They are involved in a variety of ministries including health, Christian Education, and church constructions. Senegal is a 95% Muslim country, but it is very safe and peaceful. It is very easy to reach from the US as it is the most western country in Africa. There are opportunities for construction, medical, educational, and agricultural teams.

Mexico:
Igelsia Metodista Refugio de Paz - Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon. Construction of Sunday School classrooms. Ten teams needed. Youth accepted.

Chile:

The national Volunteer in Mission coordinator in Chile has a church in theValpariso region which needs to build up a place beside the church forsocial or community programs called VILLA ALEMANA, near to Valparaiso. The weather is so good the views are amazing andthe the people very nice and waiting for your help. Please contact Denise Soto Vergara at denise_178@yahoo.com.

Alaska:

North Star United Methodist Church in Nikiski, AK - 4 teams needed and able to accept youth and family teams as well. Will be able to accept teams as of June 2010 to do construction and landscape work as well as create a playground. For more information please contact Rev. Laura P. Skiba at plskiba@gmail.net or klskiba@alaska.net or at 907-394-3674.

Washington:

In a little less than two months, it will be two years since the 500-year flood in Lewis County, WA. Many volunteers from many faiths have given of their time, their talents and their gifts to help the flood survivors recover.

Unfortunately, the task is not complete. There is still a great need for volunteers. Please consider sharing some of your time, energy and talents with those who have had a very difficult two years.

To volunteer, contact UMVIM:Ronda Cordill: r_cordill@hotmail.comJim Truitt: jftruitt@comcast.net

To give financial support, contact PNWUMC:PNW AC TreasurerP.O. Box 13650Des Moines, WA 98198 For gifts in the form of a check, please indicate "Disaster Relief" on the memo line.Thank you for your past support. I look forward to your continued outreach in the future.

*PRAYER REQUESTS FOR FUTURE TEAMS

Individual Volunteers to Tiu Rancho, Bolivia: October 24- November 13
Monica Bruesewitz from South Reno UMC - Nevada, and Margie Marshall will travel to T’iu Rancho outside Cochabamba, Bolivia to work with the GBGM missionaries currently assigned there.

Retired Clergy Team to New Orleans, Louisiana: October 30- November 7
Nadine Dewitt of Sparks UMC - Nevada leads another R.C.A. team back to the Gulf coast to continue hurricane recovery efforts. She will be joined by Philip Angove of Loomis - First UMC Mary Bahlert of Oakland - Lake Merritt UMC Harry Dutt of Bakersfield - First UMC Edna McCoy of Susanville UMC Joe Hurd, Linda Butler, Anita Dutt, Douglas McCoy and John Sublett.

Ca-Nev / Kansas Team to Tatoxcac, Mexico: November 15-24
Jackie Kawashima, Don Kawashima of Wesley UMC – San Jose (and the possible additions of Kelli Kawashima and Desiree Fuentez) will join up with a Kansas team to continue their work in Mexico.

Multi-Church Team to Cuba: November 29 – December 13
Martha Milk will lead a team of 12 to Cuba from Yerington UMC and Woodland UMC. They include Gregg Atkins, Ardith Allread, John Baggaley, Shanna Baggaley, Kris Beck, Ashley Broaster, La Vonda Ristow, Belinda Robinson, LaRae Shaw Meadows, Bob Weiser and Paul Sweet.

Swine Flu & Travel to Mexico; Volunteering in Tough Economic Times, Sri Lanka Emergency; Volunteers Bless Flood Victims in WA

In this photograph released by the Sri Lankan navy, a Tamil man and woman carry children after fleeing an area called the 'No Fire Zone' controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in northern Sri Lanka, April 22, 2009. REUTERS/Sri Lankan

* SWINE FLU & TRAVEL TO MEXICO

Below is a link concerning swine flu outbreak in Mexico.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N24452859.htm


The CDC says, "CDC has NOT recommended that people avoid travel to Mexico at this time." They suggest instead that you take some precautions as outlined on the following website:

http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentSwineFluMexico.aspx

* UNITED METHODISTS UNITE TO HELP FLOOD SURVIVORS IN LEWIS COUNTY

The Sunday School children from Rochester United Methodist Church gathered at the dairy farm of John Brunoff last Saturday to meet their cow. In the Lewis County town of Adna, they were celebrating helping him recover from last year’s flood in which all of his 272 cows drowned.
When the Sunday School heard about his need, they wanted to help. Leaders Danette and Bryan Jones organized a project selling Beanie Babies and candy bars, and raised over $650 toward the price of a cow. RUMC’s flood fund augmented that to buy a total of 2 cows.

Other UMC’s have joined in the project, including Moscow, Goldendale and Salmon Creek. Salmon Creek has donated more than $4000 just for this part of their flood recovery mission!
To date his herd has been rebuilt to 140 animals, 118 of which are milking. He needs to milk 200 to make a living. 15 pregnant heifers are available from a nearby farmer for $1500, a great bargain.

King 5 filmed the Sunday School visiting the farm; the story can be viewed at http://www.king5.com/video/index.html?nvid=353206

United Methodists made other great contributions that same day: Salmon Creek brought a gift of donated clothes for the Rochester Community Closet, RUMC’s new clothing bank started by Susie Hawes and June Gelvin. Also that day, Jim Truitt was coordinating about 40 volunteers from Edmonds, Vashon, Shelton, Salmon Creek, and Fairwood, First United Methodist of Olympia, and St. Andrew’s UMCs at five homes.

What a blessed day to see the joy shared as our churches work in community.
If you would like to contribute to the dairy cow project contact:
Brett DeMond, livingart@centurytel.net, 360-402-3037

If you would like information about donating to the Rochester Community Closet contact:
Susie Hawes, sjhawes@qwestoffice.net, 360-280-7797

If you would like to volunteer contact:
Ronda Cordill, r_cordill@hotmail.com, (509) 993-6753
Jim Truitt jftruitt@comcast.net, (253) 797-1680

*VOLUNTEERING IN TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES by Sue King, UMVIM Coordinator, Cal-Nevada Conference Much of news and conversation is filled with gloom and despair regarding the current economic situation that our country and others around the world are facing. The concerns are undeniably real and can affect us and our loved ones personally and often with serious consequences. It is at such times that we as people of faith are called to remember whose we are and who we are called to be. We are not alone. I was reminded of this last Saturday at Epworth UMC in Berkeley. Forty people took six hours out of their free time on Saturday to attend an UMVIM team leader training....to gain knowledge about leading mission teams that help the many people in our world who are hurting and often forgotten. Instead of reacting to their own economic situations by turning their focus and limited resources INWARD, they were preparing to look OUTWARD and EXTEND the hand of Christ. Beginning last year, a few people have asked me, “How is the economic situation affecting the Volunteers in Mission? Are there fewer volunteers going?” I can only say that the numbers of people wanting to serve continues to grow...this last training had the highest attendance ever! And, 2008 was another record year for volunteer numbers! Some churches are choosing to do more local trips in addition to usually scheduled international and hurricane response missions. It isn’t that volunteers haven’t been touched by the economic decline—it is because they know it, too, they want to help others they see hurting around them. Yes, I am getting more frequent and urgent requests from churches and economically fragile communities here in California-Nevada Conference. They want to be UMVIM sites and receive volunteers help AND encouragement. Maybe you saw the Oprah show about the situation in Sacramento? Or, read the Sacramento Bee article about what Cameron Foothills UMC and others are doing to feed folks who have no option but to live in “tent cities”? This week I was assessing a site in Laton, CA and saw the orchards of older walnut trees that have been bulldozed and fields laying fallow because of drought in California—unemployment in Fresno County is 35% already. Those numbers include many of the agricultural workers who are at risk economically even in better times. It is such a time as this that we are called to true compassion that result in deeds, not just platitudes. Over the next few weeks, I encourage you to take frequent looks at our UMVIM website to see what new local project has been added. There will be new ones every day. Remember who you are.... and whose you are. We are not alone when we reach out to another.....in prayer, in word, in actions. In mission together, Sue * SRI LANKA:EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR THE DISPLACED UMCOR’s Sri Lanka office is working on the ground with other humanitarian aid organizations to provide emergency assistance to thousands who are being forced to flee from intense fighting in the northern region of Sri Lanka. Thanks to an umbrella grant from the US Agency of International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), UMCOR is reaching the most vulnerable to provide 60,000 emergency kits that include water, glucose, and biscuits as well as help build 4,400 emergency shelters and 800 duplex-toilets for displaced people fleeing to Vavuniya. In addition, UMCOR, working with the Ministry of Health and USAID/OFDA, provided World Health Organization standard emergency health kits and basic medical supplies to provide treatment to 50,000 hospitalized people in Vavuniya, Mannar and Padwiya where hospital resources are particularly strained. Support this effort to help displaced people in Sri Lanka by giving to Sri Lanka Relief and Development, UMCOR Advance # 3020630.

Prayer Requests, Study Team Home from Sudan, World Malaria Day, & Disaster Response Volunteers Needed

United Methodist Mission group safely out of South Sudan
By GBGM Administration

A 19-member mission travel group is safely back in the United States after civil strife in Yei, Sudan broke out, disrupting their study tour.

The group spent most of a week inside a hotel because of what Sudanese news said was violence resulting from dissension within the armed forces over salary payments. The border between Sudan and Uganda was closed for a few days.

No one in the United Methodist group was injured; reports were unclear on whether any civilian or military personnel were killed or injured. High government officials came to quell the disturbances.

The group left Sudan on March 21, returning first to Kampala, Uganda, and on to New York on March 24. The trip relates to a forthcoming United Methodist mission study on Sudan and is sponsored by the General Board of Global Ministries.


*Disaster Response Teams
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
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).



*To Lunch or Not to Lunch? By United Methodist Communications Nashville, TN
The people of The United Methodist Church are marking the lead up to April 25, World Malaria Day, with a renewed call to members and friends to support Nothing But Nets, a grassroots anti-malaria effort which allows anyone, for $10, to send a lifesaving bed net to a family in Africa. Bed nets protect children and their families from the bites of malaria-infected mosquitoes.

"Malaria is a crisis that is threatening many of God's children across the globe," said Bishop Thomas Bickerton, referring to malaria's rank as Africa's leading killer of children under age five. "Insecticide-treated mosquito nets are the most scientifically proven way to stop its spread."

Bickerton, chairperson of The United Methodist Church's Global Health Initiative, joins with the people of The United Methodist Church in urging everyone to forego a lunch out, and to direct that $10 savings toward the purchase of a bed net.
"We're asking people to 'skip a lunch, send a net, save a life,'" said Bickerton. Dubbed "To Lunch or Not to Lunch?" the campaign highlights how $10, the cost of lunch, is all that it takes to provide a potentially lifesaving bed net to an African family. A $10 donation at www.umcnothingbutnets.org covers the cost of the bed net, its distribution, and education on its use.

New downloadable resources are available at www.umcnothingbutnets.org for churches to use for World Malaria Day 2009, including a bulletin cover, door hanger, web banner, poster and postcard.



*Prayer Requests From California-Nevada United Methodist Volunteers in Mission,
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16 - NIV

As important it is for us to be the hands and feet of Christ it is also important for us to share our service experiences with others. God calls us all in different ways and your testimony might be the exact words someone has been waiting to hear.

San-Jose - Wesley UMC team to Mexico: March 23 – April 7
Jackie Kawashima will be leading another construction/connectional team to Mexico to continue that strong partnership. The list of volunteer names was not available at the time of printing.

Care – A – Vaners construction team works at Round Valley UMC: March 29 – April 3
Rod and Gloria Castor head up a group of volunteers who go into mission, living out of their RVs while working on projects throughout California-Nevada Conference. They will be working on some plumbing at the parsonage in Round Valley and other minor repair and “sprucing up” tasks. The list of volunteer names was not available at the time of printing.

Multi-Church Team to Slidell, Louisiana: April 4 – 11
Joe Hoffman of Dutch Flat UMC will be leading a team of 10 to Slidell, Louisiana to work with their sister churches, First UMC of Slidell and Hartzell – Mt. Zion UMC. This is a continued partnership from their April 2007 trip from which many friendships were started. They plan to do construction work at the church sites and at homes in the local community that need their assistance during their stay. Joe will be joined by Elizabeth Murphy, Brenton Sanders and Katie Sanders of Colfax - Colfax UMC as well as Jerry Adams, Warren Adams, Debbie Dillon-Adams, Karen Kesler, Michael Kesler and Anna Schmidt of Auburn - Pioneer UMC.

Livermore – Asbury UMC Team to Slidell, Louisiana: April 4 – 11
Roger Everett of Livermore - Asbury UMC will also be leading a construction team of 10 volunteers to Slidell, LA in early April to do hurricane recovery work. He will be joined by Dick Crawford, Sharmyn Crawford, Ruth Coffing, Bob Hoffman, Art Molvik, Larry Suter, Anton West, Alec Willis and Philip Woolworth of Livermore - Asbury UMC

Care – A – Vaners construction team works at East Salinas Family Center: April 26 – May 1
Rod and Gloria Castor and other Care-A-Vaners will be serving in Salinas, California at the East Salinas Family Center. The list of volunteer names was not available at the time of printing.

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.

Eddie Frutchey
Administrative Asst. Volunteers in Mission
California-Nevada UM Conference
eddief@calnevumc.org