Spring 2009 New Orleans Mission Trip
Once again responding to God's call, Trinity is now forming its next work trip (and possibly our last) to New Orleans. Dates of this event are May 9th through May 17th.
An informational meeting will be held at Trinity UMC on Thursday March 26th at 8:00pm. The trip registration deadline is April 15th.
The trip is open to members of Trinity and their family and friends.
Many thanks for the continuing financial and prayerful support of Trinity's congregation as we to rebuild homes and lives of those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Questions may be addressed to either Larry Buterbaugh or Pastor George Porter.
VIM Leader Training
Dear VIM Leaders and Friends of Mission,
If you are one of those extraordinary United Methodists who have answered the "call" to lead a team of volunteers to Mississippi or Louisiana or Russia, or …, this email is for you.
- When was the last time you attended a training event for VIM leaders?
- Have you ever taken advantage of one of these training opportunities?
There are many folks who have never gone through the training process who lead volunteer teams and do a fine job. If you are one of those leaders,
- Could you improve your organizing and leadership and make this a better experience for volunteers in your teams?
- Might you share some of your insights and experience during a training event so that it becomes a richer experience for leaders just starting out?
- Do you have all the information you need and are you aware of "best practices" as you work out travel, feeding and sleeping arrangements for those volunteers in your care?
- Have you worked out as many details as possible to keep your volunteers safe? Have you insured your volunteers? Have you developed a schedule that is reasonable, productive, and allows for some reflection on the spiritual journey the team is experiencing?
- Have you set a budget? Are there ways you can assist participants and your congregation in getting everyone involved?
I hope your answers to the above will prompt you to attend one of the Volunteer in Mission (VIM) training events scheduled for this year. Check your calendar and see how the following dates match up:
- March 21 – Conference Center, Cranberry Township (this location can be changed if a cluster of participants is coming from one location and a church in their locale wishes to host the training) – 9:30-3:30. Trainer: Diane Miller
- May 30 – Conference Center, Cranberry Township – 9:30-3:30 – emphasis on teams incorporating Youth. Trainers: Diane Miller, Renaye Hoffman, Beth Nelson, and others with specialized skills.
- July 13-17 - School of Mission, Grove City College. This training will include learning how to construct handicap ramps by modules. Trainer: Greg Forrester.
COST: Knowing that budgets are tight, the fees for these training events have been reduced. $10 will cover the cost of lunch, the VIM Handbook, and the CD for the first person who registers from a church. For additional participants from a church, $5 will cover the cost of lunch. For those who take the training at the School of Mission in July, $5 will take care of the Handbook and the CD. If you indicate the July 13-17 training on your registration form, I'll send you information about registering as a commuter or resident for the School of Mission.
Any one of these training events will provide your VIM Leader Certification. If you've got questions, give me a call.
Diane Miller, WPA Mission/VIM Coordinator, 724-652-9182
Conference VIM Trips
- Native American VIM - The Native American Fellowship Dayspring Church is building a log cabin church. Did you know that Illinois has more American Indians than North and South Dakota combined? This is a ministry to urban Indians, not those living on a reservation. Dates: June 19 or 20 through June 27 or 28, 2009 – volunteers will have the option of making this trip with two shorter travel days or one long day of driving to and from East Peoria, Illinois. Carol Lakota Eastin is the pastor of this Native American congregation. The church has been erected; the congregation is worshipping in the basement fellowship hall. By June they will be in need of help with plumbing, electrical, drywalling, painting, finish carpentry, landscaping, and pond construction. This new church is located on 43 acres of donated wooded land at the edge of the city of Peoria. Check out the church website: http://www.nafdayspring.com/component/option,com . For those of you interested in Native American Spirituality or the Native American study Schools of Mission offered in 2008 and again in 2009, this is a VIM trip for you. Contact Diane Miller for a Registration Form. Cost: $350.
- Cooperative School of Christian Mission – the best kept secret in mission education, inspiration, and hands-on mission. This is not just for United Methodist Women or adults. Schools of Mission are for people with a passion for mission. In addition to the adult schools, there are simultaneous schools for children and youth during the week session, and for children during the week-end session. Child care is provided if requested. Besides dozens of short mission presentations to choose from, the following are offered courses: Giving Our Hearts Away, Native American Survival; Sudan; and VIM Leader Training which will include learning to make handicap ramps by modules. The Plenary will focus on Food and Faith, with Rev. Neal Christie from the General Board of Church and Society as the presenter. Dates: July 13-17 and July 17-19. Location: Grove City College. Cost varies according to which event you register for, and whether you commute or bring children. Early bird special – price increases by $10 if registration is postmarked after June 30. Contact Registrar Mary Jo Grumling: grammamj@verizon.net or 814-467-7633
- Haiti VIM – There is great need in Haiti for rebuilding due to the four hurricanes that hit the island last season. Team leaders for this VIM trip will be Diane Miller, and Calvin and Gayle Cook. Gayle worked in Haiti as a missionary for a few years. She and Calvin are Connellsville District VIM Coordinators. Dates for this Conference VIM trip are to be determined, but we're aiming for the end of August.
- Israel/Palestine VIM – a combination pilgrimage and volunteer experience. Since this will be the one and only trip that many participants make to the Holy Land, it will include visits to historical and traditional sites in Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem. Participants will learn about the Bible with experienced tour guides in the locations of the Bible stories. We will visit Qumran, the Jordan River, the Dead Sea and take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. The volunteer experience will unfold as participants register and we determine the gifts and skills of our team. Right now we're exploring the option of helping with the olive harvest, though this will not be possible if the current drought continues. My experience with VIM teams has always been that the teams embody the gifts and skills to meet the needs where we are. Projected Cost: $3000. Dates: October 11-24.
- The Nyadire Connection (TNC) – VIM experiences in Nyadire, Zimbabwe. This outreach ministry is acclaimed by UMCOR as a unique mission model in a very challenging setting (Zimbabwe). Check out their web site (and within their web site, their newsletters) for information about this mission that reaches out through education, ministry to orphans, health care, agriculture, and providing potable water: http://www.nyadire.org/ . You can also download a registration form from this web site. Contacts: Rev. Kimberly Greway (kgreway@mlumc.org or 412-531-7131), Drew Harvey (drewharvey@verizon.net or 412-344-3684) and Sara Dickey (sarich@aol.com or 412-914-0121). Trips are cancelled if leaders deem it unsafe to travel. TNC has four trips scheduled for teams of 6-8 volunteers:
- April 13 – May 3
- June 18-July 4
- Aug 6-22
- Oct 8-24
For more information on any of the above, contact …
Diane Miller, WPA Mission/VIM Coordinator, 724-652-9182
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