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HOOSIER UNITED METHODIST
Mission Opportunities
For Mission Monday May 19, 2008
This newsletter is paid for through your annual conference connectional ministries giving.
Edited by Daniel R. Gangler, director of communication dgangler@inareaumc.org.
FOR THE LATEST IN DISASTER NEWS
AND RECOVERY LOG ON TO
www.disasternews.net and
www.gbgm-umc.org/umcor
Next Monday is Memorial Day -- Will we publish Monday Mission Opportunities on Tuesday.
DEATH NOTICE
EDWARD MILLER, SR., retired Elder (SIC), died Thursday, May 15, 2008. A memorial service was held Monday, May 19 at Mt. Vernon First UMC in Mount Vernon, Ind., with burial in Oak Hill Cemetery in Evansville, Ind. Survivors include: Wife, Mary Bailey-Miller, 837 S Eickhoff, Evansville, IN, 47712; one daughter, Donna Parsons; one son, Edward Miller Jr.; and one step-son, Randy Bailey; 3 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren; 11 step-great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
MISSION NEWS
SOUTH INDIANA CONFERENCE INTRODUCES KATANGA LEADERS TO STATE
The Rev. Bob Walters, associate council director of the South Indiana Conference, introduced two Katanga Province cabinet members of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to officials of the Daniels Administration today, Monday, May 19, at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. State Senator Patricia Miller, of Indianapolis and a member of Old Bethel UMC, helped with arrangements and hosted Dr. Ilunga Ndjoko, minister of health, and Sula Kabasa, judicial assistant to the Governor of Katanga. This morning, the delegation met with Dr. Suellen Reed, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Virgil Madden, policy advisor to Indiana Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, and Matt Harrod, assistant director of Research and Policy Analysis with the Indiana Department of Agriculture. They also met in the Governor’s office with Steve Acres, the governor’s economic advisor, and Earl Goode, chief-of-staff.
Ndjoko and Kabasa asked each of the Indiana officials for assistance and partnerships in developing Katanga, a fledgling democracy, in its economy, education, health and agriculture. Ndoko said Katanga was blessed by God and contains cooper, cobalt, gold, diamonds, uranium and other minerals. In closing, Goode commented, “We are excited about the possibilities.”
Each of the Indiana State officials welcomed the idea of continuing conversations with the DRC in general and Katanga in particular. Taylor Walters, daughter of Bob Walters, served as translator for the delegation. The younger Walters has served in North Katanga as that conference’s director of communication. She is now a student at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.
Katanga’s Governor Moise Katumbi Chapwe and Bishop Ntambo Nkulu of North Katanga, also a Senator in the DRC Parliament, were scheduled to meet with Governor Daniels’ staff, but were unable to be present for these introductory conservations. Governor Daniels is in Iraq.
The United Methodist Church has been an active partner with Katanga in education and health.
For relaxation, the delegation spent Sunday, May 18, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as guests of IMS CEO Tony George at the request of Mark Eutsler, a lay member of the Linden UMC and an officer of the 500 Festival. – e-HUM
DANVILLE PASTOR NAMED NEW SOUTH INDIANA DISASTER COORDINATOR
Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner has named the Rev. David Powell, pastor of Danville United Methodist Church, as the new South Indiana Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, effective July 1 if approved by the upcoming South Indiana Conference session meeting in Bloomington June 5-7. He succeeds Bob Babcock, a member of the Danville UMC, who now serves as the South Indiana Conference Disaster Response Coordinator. Babcock will serve with Powell for one year as Powell becomes acquainted with his new responsibilities. Powell was introduced to Gary Peterson, the new North Indiana Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, and Charles Jones, retiring North Indiana Conference Disaster Response Coordinator during a luncheon meeting in Indianapolis on earlier today. Disaster Response Coordinators are volunteers who work with Volunteer-in-Mission coordinators and conference mission teams. – e-HUM
FAITH GROUPS WORK TOWARD MYNAMAR RELIEF
As aid trickles in to cyclone survivors in Myanmar, United Methodists and other faith-based groups are cooperating on relief efforts. The United Methodist Committee on Relief is working with partners in the Action by Churches Together network, including Church World Service. Local partners have distributed water purification tablets, food and materials for shelter reconstruction, according to the Rev. Sam Dixon, UMCOR’s top executive.
Government restrictions in Myanmar have hampered efforts by other nations and relief organizations to rush aid to the cyclone survivors. The military has ruled the country since 1962. “The United Methodist Committee on Relief is persistently pursuing all avenues to provide relief in Myanmar,” Dixon said. Donations to UMCOR Advance No. 3019674, Myanmar emergency, can be made online at www.givetomission.org. Checks also can be dropped in church offering plates or mailed directly to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068. Write the Advance number and name on the memo line of the check. Credit card donations are accepted by phone at 800-554-8583. Local church offerings for Myanmar disaster relief efforts need to be sent to the annual conference treasurer. – UMNS
UNITED METHODISTS RESPOND TO CHINA EARTHQUAKE
United Methodists are working with a longtime partner in China to provide immediate relief to those affected by the massive earthquake in Sichuan Province. On May 15, China’s state-run media announced that the death toll from the May 12 earthquake, which registered 7.9 on the Richter scale, could reach as high as 50,000. The earthquake’s epicenter was in Wenchuan County, about 60 miles from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. Both the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, including the United Methodist Committee on Relief, and Church World Service are responding to the earthquake through the Amity Foundation. Diane Allen, who heads the board’s China Program, said Amity “has been very swift” in both providing initial aid and giving ongoing reports to its overseas partners. The Amity Foundation is an independent Chinese voluntary organization created in 1985 by Chinese Christians to promote education, social services, health and rural development.
Donations to UMCOR’s relief efforts in China can be made to International Disaster Response, China Earthquake, UMCOR Advance #982450. Checks can be dropped in church offering plates or mailed directly to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, N.Y. 10087-9068. Write the Advance number and name on the memo line of the check. Credit-card donations are accepted online at www.givetomission.org or by phone at 800-554-8583. Local church offerings for China earthquake disaster relief efforts need to be sent to the annual conference treasurer. – UMNS
MISSIONARY RECOUNTS AFTERMATH IN CHENGDU
Aftershocks of the May 12 earthquake in China continue to make people there uneasy, according to a United Methodist missionary living in Chengdu. Connie Wieck, a missionary with the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, recounts a few of her experiences on her blog at http://chinawieck.spaces.live.com. Wieck, who teaches English in China through the Amity Foundation, is on sabbatical doing language study in Chengdu. On May 14, the aftershocks brought people back to the streets. Wieck, who lives in an off-campus apartment across from the West Gate of Sichuan University, and her dog, Little Flower, resumed their normal walking route around the campus. An earthquake information center had been erected at the head administration building.
“Throughout the campus, students had set up their bedding outside, either on the grass or under classroom building overpasses that would protect them from the sun and rain,” she wrote. “Well-tended lawns that once were forbidden territory to students now became speckled with squatters. Hundreds of makeshift bed sheet tents, created by ropes attached to trees, were found in the woodsy areas.” – UMNS
TONNY MBOWA IS UMC.org PROFILE FOR MAY
Tonny Mbowa takes children living in “extreme poverty” in Africa and shapes them into singers, dancers and lovers of God’s word. Mbowa is the director for the Hope for Africa Children’s Choir and Academy in Uganda and is profiled on UMC.org, the Web site of The United Methodist Church, for the month of May. The children’s choir was established by the United Methodist East Africa Annual Conference in October 2007. Made up of 23 children ranging in age from 5 to 12, the choir made its international debut April 28 at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. The children will continue on a choir tour of United Methodist churches and organizations in six states until the end of July.
UMC.org profiles feature United Methodists from around the world sharing their stories and how they are living out their faith. To view an archive of all Profiles, go to the “Our People” section of UMC.org. – UMNS
NEWLY LISTED MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
No new opportunities listed this week.
PREVIOUSLY LISTED MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
CWS IN INDIANA NEEDS ASSEMBLERS, ITEMS FOR SCHOOL KITS UPDATED
Church World Service in Indiana, based in Indianapolis, needs volunteers to assemble 3,000 CWS School Kits. Volunteers are needed now through Thursday, May 22 – weekdays from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m.-Noon and Wednesdays to 7 p.m. The kits are being assembled at the A. Arnold Relocation warehouse at 5220 West 76th Street in Indianapolis, just east 71st Street exit off I-465 on the city’s northwest side.
A few tasks can be performed seated, but most require standing and walking. Children and youth are welcomed if they bring adult help with them. Light snacks and drinks will be provided. No food facilities are on site, but all-day volunteers are welcomed to bring sack lunch or eat at nearby restaurants.
For more information call 317-923-2938 (in the Indianapolis calling area) or toll-free 888-297-2767. For a pamphlet with more information, log on to www.cwscrop.org/indianakentucky/pdf-files/2008SchoolKitDeliveryInstructions.pdf.
MISSION TEAM NEEDS VOLUNTEERS FOR HAITI SOLAR OVEN PROJECT
Summer 2008 – Haiti Solar Oven Project UMVIM Team
Have you been considering joining one of our solar oven mission teams to Haiti? We make every effort to field three United Methodist Volunteers In Mission teams per year with up to 12 volunteers per team. Requests also are starting to come from churches and conferences that wish to send out an entire team, rather than the usual one or a few persons from the same place. The immediate need for volunteers is this summer with our next trip July 1 through July 14. We are seeking a full contingent of volunteers. If you have you been contemplating a mission to Haiti, now might be the perfect opportunity! Don’t hesitate to call or write with questions. Interest does not imply obligation and, unless you’ve already participated on a previous team with this project, you are bound to have questions. Contact Rick Jost at 605-692-3391 or e-mail rjost@brookings.net.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO TEACH ENGLISH TO POLISH YOUTH
Poland needs volunteers in mission to teach English to Polish Youth A few spaces have become available on a team that will be teaching English to Polish youth this summer, July 3-21. The team will be helping Polish youth improve their English skills at a camp in southern Poland. Both youth and adults can apply. Becky Jenkins will be leading her sixth team. She can be contacted at Midland (Michigan) First United Methodist Church at 989-835-6797 or by e-mail at bjenkins@fumcmid.org. – NCJ VIM
MISSION OPPORTUNITIES REMINDERS
More information about these opportunities as well as a listing of ongoing projects and contact information can be seen at www.inareaumc.org/general_info/mission_opportunities_listings.htm, which has all the details for these opportunities.
BOOKS OF WORSHIP NEEDED IN SIERRA LEONE
- Requests for the 1964 Book of Worship
- Send it to Joe Wagner, Operation Classroom, Inc., PO Box 246, Colfax, IN 46035, call 765-436-2805, e-mail ocmisson@frontiernet.net or Web site www.operationclassroom.org.
FIRST YEAR MEDICAL RESIDENT SEEKS INTERNSHIP IN AFRICA
- Contact Annetta, at netta365@hotmail.com.
PENNIES FOR PEACE MISSION PROJECT IDEA FOR THIS SUMMER’S VBS
- For more information, contact Operation Classroom at ocmisson@frontiernet.net or log on to www.operationclassroom.org
POTATOES FOR VACATION
- For more information and to order the material, go to www.endhunger.org
SEWING MACHINES NEEDED IN SIERRA LEONE
- For more information, call the Bloomington District office at 800-919-8161 or 812-339-1445.
UMCOR’S SAGER BROWN DEPOT NEEDS HELP WITH KITS
- For more information, log on to www.umcor.org and click on “Help Sager Brown Deliver Kits of Hope.”
UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEER IN MISSION TEAMS NEEDED IN MEXICO
- Contact information: Jerry Hill jerry.hill@bsumc.com or call 864-320-3165
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AT CENTERVILLE, IOWA
- Contact the church office at 641-856-3862 or the Trustees Chair at 641-895-0381.
OPERATION CLASSROOM NEEDS YOUR HELP FOR SCHOOLS IN AFRICA
- May 29-31, 2008
- Look for the yellow truck on the north side of the Elliot Hall of Music
- Here is what is needed:
- For HOME ECONOMICS (Sewing-Tailoring) – Sewing and tailoring supplies, embroidery supplies and Crochet supplies, cloth remnants.
- Cooking supplies – Measuring cups, measuring spoons, cooking spoons and ladles, cookie cutters, spatulas, rolling pins.
- For children: Children’s multi-vitamins, children’s Tylenol, Cream of Wheat, Enfamil and Similac
- 1,000 needed – 1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, 1 large tube of toothpaste (4.5 oz or larger, expiration date must be 6 months or longer), bath-size bar of soap small bath towel
- For schools – copy paper, soccer balls, tennis shoes (can be used, if in good condition) YES and ET KITS, notebooks, solar calculators and other school supplies.
- Choir and pulpit robes, communion ware, United Methodist Hymnals, 1964 edition of the Book of Worship.
- OC recently was able to purchase more than 24,000 boxes of chalk for 30 cents a box so this need as been taken care of.
SOUTH INDIANA CONFERENCE UPCOMING MISSION TRIPS
- June 2008
- Harrodsburg UMC to Henderson Settlement, Ky.
- Youth District Mission Trip Location TBA
- July 2008
- July 12-19 – Mooresville First UMC to Calnali,, Mexico
- Summer 2008
- Bedford First UMC to Louisiana
- South Indiana Native American Mission Trips
- September 2008
- Sept. 20-27 – Ames Chapel UMC to John’s Island, S.C.
- Sept. 22-29 – Mooresville First UMC to Henderson Settlement, Ky.
MISSION OPPORTUNITY – TRAVEL TO MEXICO WITH COLUMBUS D.S.
- June 14-21
- For more information including a brochure visit the Columbus District Web site www.coumc.org or e-mail White at Brian White.
CAMP COUNSELORS NEEDED FOR ELEMENTARY CAMP
- June 15-20 at Camp Lakewood
- Contact Ted Jansen at tedj@mchsi.com or at the office at 260-925-0885
OPERATION 2008 CLASSROOM TEAMS
- To Sierra Leone
- June 18 to July 9 Sierra Leone – Bo Centenary School, Kay Hess, team leader, hess100@juno.com
- To Liberia
- June 24 to July 11 – Liberia – Tubman-Gray School, Ken and Kitty Decker, team leaders, ken.decker@prodigy.net or kitty.decker@prodigy.net
- October 9 to 28 – Liberia – W.P.L. Brumskine School, Lamar and Kay Ziegler, team leaders, lamar@rnthompson.com
OPERATION CLASSROOM SCHEDULES MORE WORK TEAMS THIS YEAR
- Bo Centenary School – June 19-July 11. For more information contact Kay Hess at: hess100@juno.com.
- Itabuna Methodist Church, Brazil – June 27- July 11. For more information, contact Carolyn Wagner.
- Henderson Settlement – July 20-26. Applications are due March 12. For more information contact Anne at annekumeh@aol.com
- W.PL. Brumskine UM School – Oct. 4-19. Kay and Lamar Zeigler are the team leaders. Contact the OC office or Tom at ttillett@ralis.com for more information.
PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIOLOGIST NEEDED FOR LIBERIAN VIM TRIP
- June 19-July 5
- Cost is $3,500
- Contact: Team Leader, Julie Warren, steadleaze@charter.net or call 817-453-2682 or 817-975-9216.
INDY WEST PACKING PARTY CHANGE
- From May 18 to June 21 from 9-11:30 a.m. at Avon UMC, 6850 E. US 36, Avon, 46123.
MINNESOTA MEDICAL MISSIONS TO SIERRA-LEONE NEEDS PHYSICIAN
- June 26-July 8, 2008
- September 27-October 7, 2008
- For further information please contact Doris Acton, RN at doris.acton@nhylandsumc.org or at 952-835-7585.
MISSOURI CONFERENCE SPONSORING HEALTH VIM TRIP TO MOZAMBIQUE
- Late June through early July, 2008, sponsored by the Missouri UM Conference
- For more information, call Tom Mitchell if you have questions or want more information. Phone 314-725-4003 or e-mail TomM8132@aol.com.
NORTH INDIANA SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN MISSION
- Drive-In Day is Wed., July 9
- School is Wed. evening, July 9 through July 12
- Registration deadline is June 30
- Classes:
- I Believe in Jesus--Leader Rev. Dr. Derek Weber
- Giving Our Hearts Away: Native American Survival--Leaders Susan Jennys, Rev. Evelyn Taylor-Haney, Rev. Jon Walters, and La Donna Weber
- Israel-Palestine--Leaders Rev. Dr. James Dwyer, Robert Epps, Dona Lou Imler, and Nancy Myers
- Yo-Pe-Mi-Ca (youth)--Leader Rev. Jeaninne Walker
- Chi-Mi-Ca(children)--Leaders Mary Margaret Willbanks and Joan Schell
- Further information can be found on the following web site: www.gbgm-umc.org/nicumw/scminformation.html
OPERATION UTAH INVITES VOLUNTEERS TO UTAH MISSION TO NAVAJOS
- July 9-21
- For more information, contact Scott or Anita Pattison by phone at 260-347-0056 church or 260-347-3621 home or e-mail them at gspattison@sbcglobal.net
KOKOMO CHURCH INVITES OTHERS TO UTE INDIANA NATION VIM TRIP
- July 17-July 29
- If you are interested in finding out more information about this opportunity call the cell number below. I look forward to hearing from you! Seeking God’s Horizon, Paul Rogers, cell phone: 765-863-0127.
SMITH VALLEY UMC MISSION OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE
- Cartagenta, Colombia, South America
- July 19-26
- Contact Pastor Joe for more details at 317-432-6706
SOUTH INDIANA SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN MISSION SCHEDULED FOR JULY
- July 26-Super Saturday Session
- July 27-30 Weekday School.
- For more information check out the “Southwind” newsletter by logging onto: www.gbgm-umc.org/sicumw/
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR GULF PORT HURRICANE RECOVERY IN AUGUST
- Gulf Port, Miss., Aug. 9-17
- Contact Peg and Arley Ellingson, 203 S. 1st Ave Hinton, IA 51024, phone: 712-947-4551(h), 712-947-4553 (o), 712-203-8068 (c) or e-mail: pellingson@usa.net.
MARION CHURCH INVITES VOLUNTEERS TO JOIN IN BUILDING HOME
- Mt. Olive UMC in Marion will be hosting Crossroads Missions who will be presenting Help Build Hope, a worship and community building, while constructing a home, experience August 22-23, 2008
- If you are interested in helping, please contact Joy Wickline at 765-661-8761.
MADISON CHURCH PLANS MISSION TRIP TO ENGLAND IN SEPTEMBER
- Sept. 22 through Oct. 1
- For more information, call Debi Partridge at 812-273-4601 or email her at partridge2@verizon.net. The price for this trip is $3,000 and the team is almost full.
DETROIT CONFERENCE VIM TEAM PLANS TRIP TO HAITI FOR NOV. 7-14
- Nov 7-14
- Contact Curtis Bartz, 313- 278-4849 or jbartz@mich.com for information and an application.
TWO MISSION DISCOVERY OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR CHRISTMAS BREAK
- Spice Island, Grenada
- Dec. 26 to January 6, 2009
- Cost is $1,600
- Application deadline: Aug.1
- Contact Beverly Nolte, bnmedical@aol.com, (515-237-8544)
- Curacautin, Chile
- Jan. 9-19, 2009
- Contact Oscar and Joyce Carassco, ocarrasc@umcnic.org, (847-931-0710 X 10)
- For application and more information on both of these teams, log on to www.gbgm-umc.org/northcentralvim/mission_discovery.html or write to umvim-ncj@brookings.net.
WARSAW DISTRICT PLANS 2009 MISSION TRIP TO LIBERIA
- Jan. 10 through 24, 2009
- If you are interested, call the Warsaw District Office at 800-783-6111.
Compiled as a service of Indiana Area United Methodist Communication in Indianapolis.
Last updated on 05/22/2008