FROM THE FIELD
In Today's Hotline:
UMCOR has signed a lease for warehouse space to establish a new material supply depot in Salt Lake City, Utah. The facility is scheduled to open on January 1. Salt Lake City is considered an ideal place to house a depot because of its central location within the Western Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church. A nearby international airport and hub for cargo trains adds to the location's benefits.
The depot will operate as a satellite of the UMCOR Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, LA. Sager Brown director, Kathy Kraiza will oversee the two person Utah staff. In addition to providing material supplies, the depot will serve as a field office and training center for disaster response. Should a disaster occur that effects communications in the Northeast, the Salt Lake City offices will provide UMCOR with an alternate point of communication and response.
You can support the material supplies ministry by giving to Material Resources, UMCOR Advance #901440.
KENYA: HUNDREDS GET TESTED FOR HIV/AIDS
On World AIDS Day Dec. 1, over 2,000 Nakuru, Kenya residents received HIV/AIDS testing in an event hosted by the Nakuru United Methodist Church.
Medics from Wesley Mission Health Center, a Nakuru United Methodist Church health project, conducted free HIV/AIDS testing and provided participating residents with health information and advice. Local government officials, teachers, church leaders, including the Rev. Josam Kariuki, district superintendent of Nakuru UMC got tested for the HIV virus.
"We are very grateful to UMCOR and East Africa Annual Conference resident Bishop Daniel Wandabula for the continued support, " said Rev. Josam. UMCOR is supporting Nakuru UMC by providing 24-hour medical care to over 26,000 displaced persons in Nakuru camp.
In Kenya only 20 percent of the total population knows whether or not they are HIV-positive. Four out of five people infected do not know their status. Contributors to lack of HIV awareness are stigma, limited access to testing centers or lack of education. Support the work in Kenya by giving to International Disaster Response, UMCOR Advance #982450.
The Texas Annual Conference leadership including Bishop Janice Huie, has asked Eddie Hilliard to organize the long-term response to Hurricane Ike in Galveston County along with UMCOR. Hilliard, who has a background in business to organize disaster response, will work with UMCOR as it continues to provide assistance, consulting and training for the conference.
Working alongside Hilliard will be Lee Thornton, family advocate manager and missions coordinator for the South District, and Alan Miller, construction supervisor, who was part of the Rita Recovery effort in 2005.
Over 20 organizations recently gathered for a Galveston County Long Term Recovery Committee meeting to discuss disaster case management, construction work, volunteers, and resources. Galveston suffered one of its worst storms in history when Hurricane Ike struck in September. You can support this recovery work by giving to Hurricanes, 2008, UMCOR Advance #3019695.
In the Pecc Maxa village of Senegal, West Africa, joyous laughter of several bright-eyed, healthy children now fill the air. The laughter is one of the sweet rewards of work made possible through UMCOR's Community-Based Malaria Program and the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund.
About 18 months ago, Dr. Aly, a Global Ministries missionary candidate, led a pilot project with the United Methodist Church of Senegal mobile clinic health team to reduce malaria outbreaks. The project involved the distribution of long lasting insecticide nets, protection measures, malaria treatments for pregnant women and nutrition. Since its inception, not one child or pregnant woman has been admitted to the clinic with a case of malaria.
Community health workers trained in HIV/AIDS and maternal and child health issues will help expand this current program with hopes to reach the Mbalen Dal Diame village where health care, prevention and education are severely lacking. Please give to the Community-Based Malaria Program, UMCOR Advance #982009.
US: SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY - FEB. 1, 2009
On Feb. 1, America's youth will once again transform Super Bowl weekend into the nation's largest youth-led weekend of giving and serving through Souper Bowl of Caring. In 2008, 262,000 young people, from more than 12,000 faith-based organizations, raised over $10 million in cash and food for charities nationwide. Join thousands of United Methodists in the fight against hunger on Feb 1.
On Sundays leading up to Souper Bowl, youth will collect one dollar donations in large soup pots as worshippers leave church. Each group will donate 100 percent of their money directly to the charity of their choice.
Download a Souper Bowl of Caring poster to encourage people of all ages to care for their neighbors in need and register online at www.souperbowl.org. You can also support key hunger programs worldwide through your gifts to World/Hunger Poverty, UMCOR Advance #982920.
UMCOR provides emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out more about UMCOR's ministries, please visit umcor.org. You can donate to any project by placing a contribution in the offering plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068; or by calling 1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted. You can also give online at givetomission.org. UMCOR is exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States and qualifies for the maximum charitable contribution deduction by donors.
United Methodist Committee on Relief
General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church
Room 330, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115
Voice Phone: 1-212-870-3816; FAX: 1-212-870-3624
Email: umcor@gbgm-umc.org
Web: http://www.umcor.org
UMCOR. Be There. Be Hope.
UMCOR's mission is to alleviate human suffering-whether caused by war, conflict, or natural disaster-with open minds and hearts to all people.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
