This was perhaps our most diverse group of volunteers – male & female; ages 14 to 78; international in background with Americans, Koreans, and a Nigerian – representing seven UMC congregations. Ten of the 18 team members were "first-timers". Please take time to talk with these individuals and ask them to share their experiences:
Trinity UMC Indiana: George Porter, Larry Buterbaugh, Butch Morley, Bernie Kalanavich, Jenna Faloon, Mike Mohnacky
Indiana Korean MC: Yong Colen, Sunyoung Park, Emily Park, Hyung-joon Lee, Hyeonna Bak
Creekside UMC: Tiffany Weston, Justin Barentine
Tanoma UMC: Jim Mears
Covode UMC: Richard Know, Ed Daugherty
Steffy UMC: Roger Framery
Grace UMC Indiana: Timothy Ayoade
Many thanks to the members of Trinity for their prayerful and financial support! And to Pastor George Porter, Jr. for starting us on this amazing mission experience three years ago!
Conference/Other VIM Experiences:
UMC Central Pa Conference VIM Opportunity Upcoming VIM Opportunity in Watsontown, PA. Constructing a new church and 3 weeks of VIM Opportunities this summer.
After 40 years of talking about the need for a new building, Watsontown United Methodist Church (WUMC) is at last taking a step in faith by constructing a new church. This phase of WUMC's Campus for Christ vision has begun and we're looking for volunteers to assist with framing and drywall. Week-long Volunteers in Mission (VIM) opportunities will be available as follows:
· June 22-26 – Framing
· July 13-17 - Insulation, dry wall and finishing dry wall
· July 20-24 - Insulation, dry wall and finishing dry wall
More information, including applications, is available at www.watsontownumc.org.
The Nyadire Connection – 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:
- June 18-July 4
- Aug 6-22
- Oct 8-24
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 20 through June 27, 2009. 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. For families, there is an option of enrolling your child (children) in the American Indian Youth camp out – teepee camp – father's day through Wednesday where they would experience Bible study, native crafts, and the Water Park (3rd grade through high school) … Contact Diane Miller for a Registration Form. Cost of this VIM trip: $350/person. OPENINGS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. THIS COULD BE A GREAT FAMILY EXPERIENCE.
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.
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.
For more information on any of the above, contact …
Diane Miller, WPA Mission/VIM Coordinator, 724-652-9182
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. Additionally, Greg Forrester, VIM Coordinator of the Northeast Jurisdiction UMC, will be instructing a hands-on modular handicapped ramp building/installation training session during the School of Christian Mission.
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
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