UMCOR is committed to help survivors of Super Cyclone Sidr, a deadly category four storm, battered the already-struggling nation of Bangladesh on Nov. 16.  The death count is continuing to rise by the thousands and survivors are struggling to recover their homes, livelihoods and sense of safety.  UMCOR anticipates its response to be through partner agencies in Action by Churches Together (ACT) and Muslim Aid, a British-based relief agency already working in the affected area of Bangladesh.  UMCOR worked with ACT partners and Muslim Aid in Bangladesh late this past summer when the nation suffered severe flooding that displaced 400,000 people.

To give to UMCOR's work in response to Cyclone Sidr, write "UMCOR Advance #202400, Bangladesh Emergency" on the memo line of your check and mail it to the Conference Treasurer, P.O. Box 13650, Des Moines, WA 98198.  One hundred percent of every donation to any appeal, including appeals for Bangladesh, goes to support the designated program.

Dr. Guy Kasanka has been added to the list of GBGM missionaries for whom our Conference promotes Covenant Relationships.  Dr. Kasanka serves in his native country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, as Registrar of the Public Health School of the UMC of North Katanga.  In May 2007, he was one of the 16 who were commissioned for the first time on the African continent, as standard support missionaries.  Read his first newsletter posted at our Conference Mission website: www.pnwumc.org/missions.

The Covenant Relationship is the most important channel of support to persons serving in mission.  It brings to the congregation the joy of sharing in ministry.  Consider forming a Covenant Relationship with Dr. Kasanka or any of the missionaries listed in "Funding Ministry and Mission Outreach" booklet, pages 12-15.  For questions, contact your District Mission Secretary -- Inland: Diana Hoss 208-264-0448 hosshouse@hopecable.net, Puget Sound: Rev. Marta Schellberg 425-778-2119 martas@edmondsumc.org, Seattle: Marilyn Reid 206-418-9940 mreid@carlsonwagonlit.com, Seven Rivers: Alice Martin 509-884-8076 acmartin7@genext.net, Tacoma: Marian Zaske 253-839-1663 zaske94@comcast.net, Vancouver: Joan Hackett 360-696-1615 revkeithjoan@hotmail.com or Conference Mission Secretary: Noriko Lao: norikolao@cs.com.

Mission Outreach Energizes Kennewick First

Six members of Kennewick First UMC journeyed to Njukinjiru, Kenya, on September 23 to worship and share in God's love and joy with the congregation of M.C.K. (The Methodist Church of Kenya), Njukinjiru.  With the assistance of a translator, Pastor Roger Barr preached to an overflow congregation.  Worship was filled with singing, dancing and prayers.  The two congregations have established a relationship over the past two years whereby the Kennewick church has supported the feeding outreach ministry and the public high school supported by the Njukinjiru Church.  The Njukinjiru Church regularly prays for the congregation and ministries of our church in Kennewick.

 

The Kennewick mission team was part of a larger team comprised of members and Pastor Ed Branham from Kennewick West Highlands UMC, and eight laity and pastors from North Carolina.  The team's primary objective was to refurbish an old resort facility which will be used as a retreat and conference facility for Kenya Methodist University in Meru.  While in the Meru area, Bishop Muriuki of the Kaaga Synod, hosted the team in visits to various area churches and projects, including their HIV/AIDS ministries, cash crop farming of coffee and passion fruits to help fund churches and families, schools and medical dispensaries for the health and welfare of the larger community, and the Maua Medical Hospital.

The Kennewick First UMC team's involvement with Kenya Methodist University is an extension of Kenya Methodist University Development Association's (KEMUDA) ongoing support of this rapidly growing university supported by the Kenya Methodist Church.  With only 15 available openings for every 100 students who qualify for college level education in the nation of Kenya, KEMU meets a vital educational need as Kenya seeks to develop as a secure democratic nation in East Africa.

The Africa mission was the fifth major mission endeavor of the Kennewick congregation this year alone.  In January and February, two teams worked in Hurricane Katrina relief in Biloxi, MS.  In June, 50 youth and adults spent a week providing daily vacation Bible school and handicap ramp-building in Browning, MT.  While the Africa team was in Kenya, two church members were in Chili with Habitat for Humanity.  Mission outreach is one of the revitalizing efforts of Kennewick First UMC.

Roger Barr, Pastor, Kennewick First UMC

In May, 13 people traveled to Baldwin, LA to work at the UMCOR Depot.  We represented Ocean Shores, Hoquiam, and Aberdeen First United Methodist Churches.  Aside from working in the Depot, we worked at the children's library in Baldwin (planting in the newly developed garden where children can go outside and read), and helping with re-building houses.  We spent a lot of time in the Depot putting together sewing kits, health kits, and infant kits, plus helping in the gift shop.  During free time we took Cajun Jack's Swamp tour, and several went swimming in the Gulf of Mexico.  Before boarding the plane for home, we visited New Orleans and drove through Ward 9, where we saw the devastation and work still to be done.  There is so much work to be done at UMCOR and it is amazing they can accomplish as much as they do.

Joan Richey, Aberdeen First UMC

On Oct. 14, 2007, 24 persons from Renton First UMC, ages from 17 to 82, gathered at First UMC, Biloxi, MS to begin work.  We shared our excitement and our anxiety, but most of all our gratefulness to God for bringing us this far.  Biloxi First UMC, our home for six nights, suffered great wind and water damage, but remained standing.  The cross on the steeple is known because it is "bent but not broken."

Traveling to Biloxi was amazing - still after 2 years!  We saw steps going up to nowhere, some rebuilt homes, some with just a few studs or metal posts left, and block after block, mile after mile, of complete destruction - all along the entire Gulf Coast.

Breakfast at 7:00, pack cooler and out by 7:30.  Back for lunch at noon, dinner at 6:00, and worship as a team each evening at 7:00.  We worked on five homes - gutted out two, painted one, put up sheetrock and installed electricity in one, and painted, tiled, plumbed, installed doors etc. in another.  Other crews will come, week after week, until the homes are finished.

That is what we did - but the why?  A few of the 24 reasons:  To whom much is given, much is required. / Because I could. / Because of the daughter of a church member who had to return to Renton as her home was ¾ under water. / Because one grew up in New Orleans. / When one rejoices we all rejoice, when one suffers we all suffer.

There are approximately 350 people in Biloxi working on Hurricane Relief every day of the year with 99% faith-based.  We ran into Presbyterians from VA in Lowes.  We stopped by a non-denominational Urban Relief Mission, based out of KS, filled with college kids on break.  We also met a youth group from TX.  Every Biloxi resident we met said: "thank you, thank you for not forgetting us."   

A drop in the bucket?  Yes, but to that starfish it meant everything.

Flora Bowers, Pastor, Renton First UMC

North Coast of Honduras has openings for medical/dental/optometry/construction teams.  North Central Jurisdiction is inviting other conferences to join them.  Teams stay in La Ceiba, a major city along the north coast of Honduras, and go out to rural villages to provide dental care, medical care, mass parasite treatment, and fluoridation of teeth.  Team #1 (Feb. 28 to March 9) is a medical team.  Team #2 (March 9 or 10 to 18) will work with UMVIM teams from Georgia to construct, equip, staff, and supply a Methodist clinic in a second village.  Contact Ron & Gloria Borgman, Dakotas Conference UMVIM, 605-642-5321 or ronb@mato.com.

Colegio Rio Colorado, located in Beni, Amazon Basin requests two individual volunteers to serve one to two years starting mid to late January - an experienced teacher to teach English to Spanish speaking students in grades 6 to 12, and an experienced veterinarian.  Lodging and meals provided.  If interested, contact Nancy Eubanks, indvols@gbgm-umc.org.

The Balkans & Central Europe have projects and are requesting UMVIM teams.

Hong Kong & China:  UBUNTU JOURNEY - a celebration of women, connecting UMW and UMVIM in Sept. 2008.  Join us for a journey with our sisters in ministry.  We'll sing, worship, laugh, learn, explore with each other, as we express our solidarity in concern for women's rights and well-being by witnessing through a quiet Christian presence.  For details go to www.umvimwj.com and click on "mission opportunities'.

For More Information on all of these projects contact your conference UMVIM coordinators Ronda Cordill, r_cordill@hotmail.com or Rev Ruth Mathis, ruthrev@aol.com.

How are you engaged in mission?  Have you had an invaluable UMVIM or NOMAD experience lately?  Do you have openings on your UMVIM team that other church members can join?  How do you get youth and children involved in mission?  Does your church have a great community outreach program -- a food bank, after-school program, etc.?  What joys does the Covenant Relationship with a missionary bring to your congregation?  Do you have exciting and enjoyable ways to raise funds for mission?

Please share your mission stories with the readers of H.A.I.L.  Send your article of about 250 words in length to the editor at norikolao@cs.com.  Send the picture (in JPEG format) separately.  H.A.I.L. is published as needed, that is, whenever there is enough news.  So, there is no specific deadline, except for timed materials.  To keep the H.A.I.L. going, please send in your article.