A SHOT OF UMVIM WJ BY THE NUMBERS - CAL-NEVADA CONFERENCE; VOLUNTEER IN LIBERIA; ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING; NO MALERIA FUNDRAISER

 

BY THE NUMBERS

CAL-NEVADA CONFERENCE

 

 

 In 2013, the Cal-Nevada Conference UMVIM volunteers included 54 teams, 520 participants, 112 congregations, served in 14 countries and accounted for 3200 days of service!!!  Congratulations to the Cal-Nevada Conference for being such an amazing witness to God's love through UMVIM!!

 

 

TEAM TO GANTA HOSPITAL - LIBERIA

 

 

Medical VIM Team for Liberia, November 1-15, 2014.  The Oklahoma United Methodist Conference Volunteers in Mission is planning for a medical team to go to Ganta United Methodist Hospital, Liberia from November 1-15, 2014. The goal of the team will be to work with the health professionals at the hospital and to observe Community Based Primary Health Care at the Nenhwaa Project that serves 110 communities in the region.

 

All are invited but dentists, family practitioners/internists, nurses, and surgeons are particularly welcome. Cherian Thomas, M.D. from the Kingswood Institute of Mission will coordinate and accompany the team.  For more information please contact Lori Foster at lfoster@okumc.org.

 

 

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING - MARCH 30, 2014

 

 

 

One Great Hour of Sharing will take place on March 30, 2014.  Please contribute to this vital offering which secures UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) administrative costs thus allowing 100% of your donations to go directly to the designated funds.  For more information, please visit www.umcor.org.

 

 

IMAGINE NO MALERIA FUNDRAISER

 

 

 

World Malaria Day Dinner

 

Join us for an Imagine No Malaria Interactive Dinner Experience hosted by the community of St. Paul's United Methodist ChurchSunday, April 27, 2014
3 pm - 8pm
Elks Club, San Bernardino
2055 Elks Drive, 92404

Tickets are $40 per person
RSVP (909) 889-3609
Ask about sponsorship opportunities and full table reservations

 

 

 





VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR BRAZIL MEDICAL BOAT TEAM; SERVE IN FIJI; ALASKA NEEDS SKILLED VOLUNTEERS; PACIFIC NORTHWEST CONFERENCE TO RECEIVE 120 YOUTH

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR MEDICAL BRAZIL BOAT TEAM

 

 

 

Four team members are still desired to fill a team to serve in Manaus, Brazil on the Wesley Medical Boat on the Amazon River. No medical experience is needed.  The dates for this mission July 10-20, 2014.  If you are interested please contact Don Skillman at donskillman24@gmail.com.  Families and youth are welcome!!!!!

 

 

 

SERVE IN FIJI AS A VOLUNTEER

 

 

 

 

 

Volunteers are needed to serve in Fiji at the Methodist Church Navuso Farm an agricultural project.  Volunteers typically serve for 10 days.  Youth are welcome with a chaperon/parent!  If you are interested please contact Viri Batiratu at vsbyou@yahoo.com or 916.756.7280.

 

 

 

ALASKA NEEDS SKILLED VOLUNTEERS

 

 



 

 



 



June 2 - September 15 looking for 14 team of 12 members each that are skilled in the areas of construction, plumbing, electricians, and carpentry.  FEMA will pay for round trip airfare and the state will provide food and housing.  Additionally, FEMA will provide the tools!  If interested please contact Jim Truitt at umvimdisasterresponse@comcast.net.

 

 

 

PACIFIC NORTHWEST CONFERENCE TO RECEIVE 120 YOUTH IN MISSION

 

 

Pacific Northwest Conference will be receiving a team of 120 youth from the Dakotas who will engage in a Seattle Immersion Experience and serve at several local mission project sites in the Seattle area.  If you are interested in taking a youth group to also experience this mission opportunity please contact Ronda Cordill at r_cordill@hotmail.com.

 

 

CAMBODIA EYE CLINIC TEAM FROM CAL-NEVADA FEB. 2015

 

 

 

Cambodia Eye Team will be serving in February 2015.  Volunteers must come from the Cal-Nevada conference.  If you are interested please contact Phil Bandy at philb@calnevumc.org.  

 



NEW VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNTIES

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNTIES

 

 

 

Interested in serving in Honduras?  EMail Michael Franklin at frankmj42@gmail.com.  A team needs additional members to serve March 22-30, 2014.  All are welcome to join!

 

 

Also, a medical medical mission team will be serving in Honduras April 30 to May 12, 2014 to serve remote villages in the area of La Moskitia in Gracias a Dios.  The team will provide medical, dental and vision care to villages where medical mission brigades rarely travel.  Non-medical volunteers are also invited.  Please contact Bruce McFadden at bcmcf@me.com.

 

May 23 to May 31, 2014 a medical mission to Honduras to Limon.  Need physicians, nurse practioners, RN's and other medical personnel and non-medical volunteers.  For more information please email Lou Altman at laaltman@netscape.net.

 

 

Long Term Recovery plans are in place for Washington, Brookport/Unionville and Gifford, which were among the communities hit November 17 when two dozen tornadoes crossed the state of Illinois.  Volunteer teams are now being sought for the early spring 2014 season with projects for volunteers.  For college, youth and young adult teams please contact Trevor Bartolomucci at 309.444.2381. 

 

Adult teams, please register with the volunteer registration center at Bethany Community Church at 309.573.2670 or volunteer@bethanycommunitychurch.org.  To register a team to serve in Gifford, Illinois please contact Lisa Wiedman at l.wiedman@mchsi.com. 

 

 

Teams needed for recovery work in Alaska summer 2014!  Please contact Jim Truitt for more information at jftruitt@comcast.net.  

 

 

 

 

 



DISASTER ACADEMY; FUTURE TEAMS; TRAININGS; NEW UMVIM TRAINING HANDBOOK AVAILABLE; RX CONSULTATION; INSURANCE OPTIONS

 

UMVIM WJ DISASTER ACADEMY - FROM DESPAIR TO CARE

 

 

 

The Disaster Academy will be March 3-6, 2014 in Federal Way, WA, at the beautiful Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center at 4700 SW Dash Point Road, Federal Way, WA, 98023. The classes are for anyone interested in putting their faith into action by helping respond to natural disasters such as fires, floods, and earthquakes.

Class offerings include beginning through advanced levels for various types of volunteers, response leaders, church leaders and clergy.

Featured speakers are Bishop Hagiya, United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Disaster Response for the US, Gregg Forrester, and UMCOR Director of Communications, Jim Rollins.

Instructors are key UMCOR consultants and experienced disaster responders.

 

Course Offerings:

• Advanced Early Response Teams (ERT):
  Provides trained ERT members with supplementary tools and technical information to strengthen their capacity for safe and effective disaster response.
• Disaster 101:
  Basic Disaster Ministry is an introduction for anyone interested in the unique and important role the faith community plays in disaster readiness and response. Participants learn about disasters, traditional responses to a disaster and how the faith-based response is different, how to prepare for a disaster, and how to get involved after disaster strikes.
• Basic Early Response Teams 1 & 2:
  Early Response Teams (ERTs) fill a specific need in the early days after a disaster: to clean out flood-damaged homes, remove debris, place tarps on homes and otherwise help prevent further damage while at the same time providing a caring Christian presence.
• Disaster Case Management Overview: 
  Provides an overview of the work in guiding survivors through to their recovery. UMCOR’s model for disaster case management is a holistic approach, which incorporates the unique perspective of the faith community with understanding the emotional, spiritual and physical impact of the disaster on survivors. Class touches on how to identify and address unmet recovery needs of all survivors, particularly those who were vulnerable before the disaster.
• Long Term Recovery Ministries, Part 1:
  Developing a Conference Disaster Recovery Program.
• Long Term Recovery Ministries, Part 2:
  Activating the Conference Recovery Program after disaster.
• Conference Plans and Partners:
  Helps Conferences develop disaster plans and partnerships with agencies and other Conferences.
• UMVIM New Team Leader Training:
  This is the updated new Team Leader Training.
• UMVIM New Team Leader Refresher:
  Provides new updates for Team Leader certification.
• Conference Disaster Response Plans:
  Detailed plans defining the specific roles and responsibilities of church staff within the Conference guiding the response actions in the case of a disaster. Includes preparedness, emergency, relief and recovery phases.
• Connecting Neighbors:
  Provide participants the ability to develop a disaster plan that fits with the local church’s mission.  Connects the church to community emergency plans, identifies types of disasters likely and the needs that may arise, assess church’s role in disaster ministry, create a plan to manage volunteers, assigns responsibilities and activates communication.
• Ministry of Care:
  Provides practical information and ideas to help people facing the unique emotional and spiritual challenges that accompany disaster.
• Caring for the Care Giver:
  Helps participants recognize the signs of stress and burnout and provides suggestions on how to cope with these realities.

Registration Costs:

• Event Pass, Single Occupancy: $265
• Event Pass, Double Occupancy: $200
• Day Pass, Monday: $30
• Day Pass, Tuesday or Wednesday: $40
• Day Pass, Thursday: $20
• Overnight, Single Occupancy: $50
• Overnight, Double Occupancy: $35

Costs includes lodging, meals and tuition.

Register online at https://calnev-reg.brtapp.com/WesternJurisdictionDisasterAcademy

 

 

FUTURE TEAMS AND PRAYER REQUESTS

 

Davis UMC to India – January 8-20 Mary Philip and Kathleen O'Connor lead and serve with Alex Achimore, Susan Padgett, Alice Lakin and Jane Hing.

Alamo San Ramon Valley UMC Team to Haiti – January 22-30
Warren McGuffin of Alamo – San Ramon Valley UMC leads and serves with Brad Stribling, and Phil Bryson and Steve Elliot, both of Livermore – Asbury UMC.

 Individual Volunteers
Warren McGuffin of Alamo - San Ramon Valley UMC continues to serve in partnership with Haiti.
Viri Batiratu of Centennial UMC continues to serve in partnership with Fiji.

 

 

UPCOMING TRAINING EVENTS

 



Imagine No Malaria Team Member Training, Los Altos UMC - Saturday, January 18th

Disaster Ministry Training: Early Response Team, First UMC San Leandro – Saturday, January 25th

Disaster Academy: multiple classes,  Seattle, WA – March 3-6th



 

 

NEW UMVIM TRAINING HANDBOOK AVAILABLE!!!

 

 

 

 

The Mission Volunteers Program Unit of Global Ministries announces the publishing of a new handbook for volunteers, called A Mission Journey.  Nook and Kindle versions available from Barnes and Nobles and Amazon.  Actual book copies can be purchased from the Upper Room.  This is to be used as a supplement to, not a replacement of, the old "nuts and bolts" UMVIM Manual.

 

 

 

INTERESTED TO SERVE AS A HEALTH/MEDICAL VOLUNTEER?  THEN ATTEND THE:

 

Rx Consultation +

RoundUP

August 8-10, 2014

Epworth Forest Camp, IN

keep the date!!!!

 

Please contact Lorna Jost at umvim-ncj@brookings.net for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

INSURANCE OPTIONS FOR YOUR UMVIM TEAM

 

The Board of Global Ministries no longer offers insurance to UMVIM teams.  There are other options for your team.  The Southeast, Northeast, and North Central UMVIM jurisdictional offices offer great and extensive coverage for UMVIM teams!  Below, please find more information about some coverage options from the North Central UMVIM Jurisdiction Office:

Transitioning from GBGM Insurance 

INFORMATION

 

Mission Volunteers and the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries strongly urge that no United Methodist Volunteer-in-Mission (UMVIM) group or individual, regardless of the type of volunteer work they do, engage in any domestic or international mission volunteer work without securing accident and

medical insurance coverage.

 

Effective now, January 2014, all UMVIM group or individual insurance of

the North Central Jurisdiction, will be handled through the UMVIM-NCJ by Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company. The Insurance Policy is called Passport To Ministry for International Mission Teams.

 

UMVIM-NCJ has negotiated a contract with Brotherhood Mutual for a much reduced price from their regular rates due to volume of teams the jurisdiction has had purchase it in the past.

 

For more information and forms to receive coverage, visit http://www.umvimncj.org/NCJVIM/Forms.html.

UMVIM-NCJ has also negotiated a contract with Brotherhood Mutual for a Seven Corners National (USA)Team Medical Insurance. The company is revising this policy and we should see changes early in 2014.

If you are already have medical insurance in the US, you do not need to get this policy unless you want added coverage. If you do not have medical insurance, please purchase this policy while on the mission. Team leaders should make sure no one goes on the mission without coverage of some kind.

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 



HAPPY 2014; WJ Disaster Academy

The UMVIM WJ Office wishes all of you a happy and blessed 2014!!!!!!

****

Now is the time to register for the first ever Western Jurisdiction Disaster Academy that will be held March 3-6, 2014 in Federal Way, WA at the beautiful Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center.  Leaders from UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) and UMVIM will be there participating, speaking, and facilitating workshops for all interested in responding with caring Christian presence in the aftermath of disasters.  

Please email wjacademy@comcast.net if you have questions.

Register now at 

https://calnev-reg.brtapp.com/WesternJurisdictionDisaster Academy 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING ; UMC #MATCHNG TUESDAY

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU!

 

 

On behalf of the UMVIM WJ office and UMVIM Conference Coordinators, we wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!  We are so very grateful for your support and participation in the UMVIM ministry here in the Western Jurisdiction.  To see God working through all of the volunteers is simply amazing.  God is so good.  Thank you!

 

 

 

How Will You Give This Season? Double your impact. Gifts made online through The Advance on UMC #GivingTuesday will be matched dollar for dollar on December 3rd*. On this very special day, give through The Advance, the designated giving arm of The United Methodist Church, and extend your generosity through this matching opportunity. Visit www.umcmission.org/give to search the more than 850 missions and ministries that are supported through The Advance. UMVIM WJ is an Advance Special.  As always, 100 percent of your gift will reach the project you designate. Your online gift to mission through The Advance will be matched dollar for dollar!

www.umcmission.org/give



VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN GALENA, ALASKA; UPDATE ON TORNADO RECOVERY IN MIDWEST

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN GALENA, ALASKA

SPRING 2014

 

 

 



 

I met with representatives from FEMA and the State of Alaska on 11.11.13 to discuss plans for the continued recovery in Galena, AK. Below are the notes I took from this meeting.

 

The bottom line is FEMA is going to offer UMVIM invitational travel again next spring to complete the recovery work we began in August 2013. As of this meeting, our task will be to assemble approximately 9 kit houses and repair approximately 20 houses (I say approximately because the numbers seem to change frequently). Samaritan's Purse will assume responsibility for the non-FEMA authorized builds and repairs. 

 

Work will begin June 1, 2014, weather dependent, and FEMA and the State are targeting a completion date of Sept. 1, 2014. We will spend the next couple of  months making detailed plans for work sequencing, project management, supplies procurement, transportation, communication and recruiting volunteers. This response will demand skilled volunteers with experience in building and repairing homes. We will not be able to accommodate those who do not have these skills. 

 

The volunteers will receive round trip airfare to Fairbanks, AK, a charter flight to and from Galena, AK, and housing and food in Galena as part of the invitational travel. All tools, equipment and supplies will be provided by FEMA or the State of Alaska. 

 

The 82 volunteers that made the trip to Galena this summer accomplished a tremendous amount of work under difficult circumstances. Our goal is to make next summer's accomplishments even greater with less stress and better organization. 

 

I encourage you to spread that word and help us recruit the most qualified volunteers possible. There's a lot of work to do in a short period of time.

 

I will be the coordinator again next year. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to let me know.

 

Thank you for your support this summer and I look forward to your help next spring.

 

 

Jim Truitt UMVIM Disaster Response Coordinator
PNW Conference United Methodist Church
23441 147th Ave SE
Kent, WA 98042
253-630-1268 (H)
253-797-1680 (C)       Facebook.com/umvim.pnwumc
@PNWERT

 

FROM THE NORTH CENTRAL JURISDICTION UMVIM OFFICE

UPDATE ON TORNADO RECOVERY IN THE MIDWEST

 

 

 

The aftermath of the storms in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan is horrendous and the effected area is spread out - adding a different wrinkle to recovery efforts.

 

I just talked to Christy Blickensderfer in Illinois Great Rivers Conference office this morning (Nov 21).

 

• There are a few efforts around the different cities for cleanup - District ERT teams are working in Coal City, Gifford and Brookport by invite.
• The city of Washington, IL has been shut down, closed off - no one allowed in at this time  - they are reeling from the impact and need to set up their VOAD (Volunteers Active in Disaster) committees, system and plan.  They cannot handle volunteers yet.  Lots of conversations are occurring.
• llinois Great Rivers has many folks trained in ERT so the invite may not go out to other conferences, we wait  and see ... perhaps Washington, later.
• Continue to ask church members for health and cleaning kits and prayers and money.

 

The Northern Illinois e-news that just came in this morning has a great layout of four options for giving and information so I am just going to refer you to that.  Visit this webpage.

 

Jim Byerly, DRC for Indiana offers this note:" Indiana has 28 different tornado touchdown locations.  We are still assessing the situation, but as soon as I know more, I will let you know.  We gladly accept prayers, and  I hope to get more information out, probably Monday or Tuesday."