VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN LOUISIANA AND WASHINGTON STATE

Photo: Part of Camp Indianola in Washington State, courtesy www.campindianola.org. Read below to see how you can volunteer here.

* VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN LOUISIANA

Volunteers! The Grandriver Station of Louisiana Disaster Response is very much in need of volunteer teams to fill its calendar. Teams are presently rebuilding homes damaged by the last two hurricanes. What a great way not only to be in mission, but to "practice" for your upcoming LAVIM endeavors! AND, there will be folks in your church area that will have an interest in disaster work here in the conference that might never consider international or out of state mission. Get more folks involved in mission! Build your church's ministry and enthusiasm! Build the Kingdom of God! Do the Gospel!

Contact Michelle at the phone, e-mail and address below. You can also register your team by going to http://www.la-umc.org/ and clicking on Louisiana Disaster Response.
Tell Michelle I sent you!
Larry Norman
Director, LAVIM

Michelle L. Hadden
Administrative Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator
LA UM Disaster Response-Grand River Station
Located at Grand River United Methodist Church
30825 Hwy. 75
Plaquemine, LA 70764
225-659-7450
grandriverstation@brcoxmail.com

*VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY IN WASHINGTON STATE AT INDIANOLA CAMP

Volunteer Opportunities: 2009 Inter-tribal Canoe JourneyThe PNW Conference will welcome First Nations and Native American elders and Canoe families to Indianola Camp and Retreat Center on August 3-7 for the 2009 Inter-tribal Canoe Journey. Though this event is not open to the public, there are many volunteer opportunities for those who would like support the event and offer relationship to the Suquamish Tribe, who will host.

If you are interested in applying to help, go to the Canoe Journey website at www.tribaljourneys2009.com, and click on Volunteers

International Disaster Response; New Mission Volunteer Brochure Available; Honduras Summit; Equipment Needed in Haiti, Restoring Homes in WA State

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

*INTERNATIONAL DISASTER RESPONSE & UMCOR

In the past month, UMCOR sent more that $250,000 to support disaster response efforts around the globe. Nearly half went to assist people displaced by the fighting in Swat, Pakistan.

UMCOR also supported an emergency food distribution to 4,200 displaced people in Myanmar.
The International Disaster Response Advance allows UMCOR to provide financial support to disasters when it is needed.

Please help keep the Advance funded so that UMCOR can continue to quickly respond to those left vulnerable when a disaster happens.
Download and share Responding in Time of Need, UMCOR’s new church bulletin or present UMCOR's power point slide and collect a special offering on Sundays. By doing so, you allow UMCOR to respond immediately and comprehensively to disasters in our world. Give to International Disaster Response, UMCOR Advance #982450.

* NEW MISSION VOLUNTEER BROCHURES AVAILABLE

There is a new informative brochure available for the Mission Volunteer program. In the past many received brochures and information via the "Call to Serve" brochures. These are no longer in print. The new brochures are now available. If you would like to order some for your local church, district, or annual conference event, contact Heather Wilson, UMVIM Coordinator for the Western Jurisdiction at umvimwj@hotmail.com or 818-333-6730.

* HONDURAS MISSION SUMMIT SEPTEMBER 10-12, 2009

The 2009 Honduras Mission Summit will be held at Christ Church United Methodist in Louisville, Kentucky, September 10-12. You will hear from Bishop Elías Galván, from pastors and leaders in Honduras, and experienced work and medical team leaders from the United States churches. You will also explore ways that our US churches can more closely work together and help strengthen the Methodist Mission churches of Honduras.

To find out more about the conference and to register, visit www.ccum.net/HondurasSummit . You can register online or by mail.

Please contact Janet Hundley, janeth@ccum.net, if you have any questions or problems regarding the online link.

* RESTORING HOMES IN WASHINGTON STATE

In January more than 30,000 people were evacuated from their homes due to massive flooding in Western state of Washington. Dozens of highways were closed and shelters were opened to house those in need. Nearly 4,000 families registered for federal assistance for home repair.
UMCOR is assisting the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference in their disaster response ministry. UMCOR is supplying building materials, financing homes, replacing lost household appliances, as well as providing emotional and spiritual care to those coping with their loss.
You can help Washington residents recover by giving to U.S. Disaster Response, Advance # 901670.

* MEDICAL EQUIPMENT NEEDED IN HAITI

Dr. Pressner Louis is a gynecologist working in the border region of Dominican Republic and Haiti. Though his specialty is gynecology, he sees all kinds of patients in his clinic.
Dr. Louis has requested specific pieces of physical therapy equipment listed below. His clinic was evaluated by a recent exploratory team from the UMVIM, SEJ office, and his operation is an officially recognized VIM project.
1. muscle stimulator
2. TENS unit
3. ultrasound
4. paraffin bath and paraffin
5. hydroculator and compresses
6. whirlpool
7. chair or table for strengthening the quadriceps muscles
8. table for traction of lumbar and cervical spine
Please pass this list along to any who might have available equipment for donation. If you have available equipment, please contact Dalton Rushing in the UMVIM, SEJ office at dalton_rushing@umvim.org or 404-377-7424.