TREADMILL at Kissy Hospital

Trent just returned from his journey to Sierra Leone ... and one of their stops was to visit Kissy Hospital.   You will remember several years ago our National/International Mission Team hustled around to get a treadmill to load on the Operation Classroom container headed for Sierra Leone. 

Well... here is the Physical Therapist Steven showing us one of his prime pieces of equipment.  

South Bend Volunteers from November 4.

Don Pettit,  Dennis Deeter, Les Sauer, Bruce Cordray, Pam and Bob Westfall and mystery man.  

A team of volunteers continue to go to South Bend for finishing up the job left by the floods of 2016.   

Bob McMurtrey writes:   There has been some buzz from several directions for a group to go on Thursday of next week, November 16.   If you are among those who’d like to work on a Thursday, I’d appreciate a response as to whether you’d be interested in participating November 16.    As time goes on new people each week have expressed interest in donating their time and talents.    It’s very gratifying to me and very appreciated by the people in South Bend, both home owners and volunteer coordinators. If anyone expresses an interest, please have them give me a call or email at mcmurtrey1@comcast.net.

Other suggested dates :   Since Saturdays have proven popular, I can offer  Saturday Nov. 11,  Nov.  18, and Nov. 25.  

Within about 2 days before each work date, I’ll let those going know who else is going and try to share contact info among that group and share the necessary location, time, and type-of-work info so you know how to prepare.    People often decide to go fairly late in the process, and these people are welcomed and paid the same as those who signed up early.  

Bob McMurtrey

(Cell) 219 242-7738

Margie at work...

Peruvians Herold and Naty with Fredimil helping out. 

Dear Bonnie,

Notes in her notebook.

  Here you have some beautiful photos showing some fun moments of study and preparation!!!! (in the kitchen, no less)!!! before having their interview this week by phone with great hopes for ordination as Methodist pastors in the Peruvian Methodist Church.  What beautiful people are Herold and Naty, and here also with the BLESSING of Fredimil, and fellow student and Moravian pastor from Nicaragua...(we all know how important the Moravians were in the spiritual life of John Wesley.)

  You can see that Herold and Naty not only are studying the Bible but also the details of the Peruvian Methodist Church along with a book of John Wesley theology with the help of Margie.  Included also are the notes from a notebook which they have taken to be particularly well prepared for the ordination interview this week.  ALL is in readiness!!!!

Mucho carino para todos!!  Los quiero mucho. God is good, all the time.  Margie

Serious work for Margie...

South Bend "UMCOR" team

UMCOR is the last one to go home after a disaster.   A team of men went to South Bend this past Saturday.  The floods of South Bend took place more than a year ago.  Team members Bob McMurtrey (main organizer), Bob Coolman, Bill Blake, Larry Pincus, and Bob Larkin reported for their volunteer assignment in South Bend on October 14.  Thanks Bob M for the photos and information.  

UMCOR sent funds to assist families who qualify to provide materials and to hire a case manager and construction manager for the South Bend Area floods of 2016.  Allison Curts, Indiana Conference Disaster Relief Coordinator is working to find teams to complete the work on the homes in the South Bend area.  

Before 

Bob McMurtrey says, "They can use more volunteers.  The only paperwork in advance is a medical information sheet.  They do ask for a list of meds and health insurance information and a signature on their form.  I can send you a blank form to run off and do in advance. I would  recommend packing lunch  unless we hear last minute that they will provide one.   They don’t have much of a budget compared to the work that needs to be done.  It worked well assembling at Asbury Center north of the church, leaving from Valpo at 7:45am and leaving South Bend around 3pm our time. "

After

This isn't a men's only event.  Women don't hesitate to join in the fun,  it would be good practice for Sager Brown or Midwest Mission Distribution Center trips.  Please let Bob know if you plan to go.   It might be we could have enough volunteers for two or three repair assignments.  

Bob M.'s contact info:
mcmurtrey1@comcast.net
464-4422

October Mission Focus

In the Valparaiso 1st UMC we have two mission teams.   One is the Local Mission team which includes many different parts and pieces of being in mission right here in Valparaiso.  The Men's Shelter, Rays of Hope, Breakfast Club, and many others ministries fall under this group of dedicated "missionaries".   We also have a National/International Mission team and our task is to connect beyond the local community.  We are the group that sends out mission teams, keeps us connected through the global church.   

October our mission focus is the Hispanic Ministry in East Chicago - Torre Fuente Ministries.  Bernardo Gonzalez will be making a presentation about the ministry and the current need for a new roof on the building in Tower Chapel between 10:30 - 11:00.   Grab a cup of coffee and a donut and come listen in, ask questions, and hear about what the Methodists are doing in East Chicago.

Pastors Ezekiel and Suri Beccaras

So why is Valparaiso 1st interested in Torre Fuente Ministries in East Chicago?   We are part of a huge "church"... one that extends around the world and we believe in supporting brothers and sisters wherever they are.   We might learn from them as to how to "grow younger" for they have more children than they can fit into their spaces.  They do great community outreach.   

 The Mission Offering will go to this ministry to assist them in Making Disciples of Jesus Christ in the East Chicago area.   Please give generously.   Maybe even hilariously!!!   

Our Costa Rican Connection... at UBL

The lush green campus of  UBL.  

Our "CURTAINS FOR CERTAIN" (covering windows in the dorm- atory) fundraising was so successful there was money left over to be used for "covering" other important and necessary needs at the Latin America Bible University.  (UBL) 

In a country where rain is often a daily occurance, this tool is an essential for the vegetation can get away from the gardeners. The cost of the "Grass Trimmer" was $105.     

Margie has a few new jobs this time back and one of those is teaching several classes of English.   She has quite a schedule in addition to helping individual students with proof-reading their papers before they turn them in for scoring.   By the way ... skye and Facetime allows her to do that with individuals all year long regardless where the student lives or the where the teacher is.   Thanks for keeping us connected.  

Here's a word (or two) from our Missionary in Costa Rica...

Because of your generosity, there was enough money given to not only purchase the fabric to finish the curtain project (which will happen when the volunteer Nancy arrives here again to do the sewing, thus matching the other curtains she made and are already hanging!) but also purchase this new lawn cutting machine for the UBL (the old one had broken and it would cost more to fix it than to buy a new one!).  Our administrator asked me for "consent" to use some of the $ for this purpose!! Also we have set aside $500.00 in a scholarship fund from our contribution to pay for the airfare for a student who will be returning from Peru to complete his thesis and degree in Bible.  So...you can all see that our FUMC gift is going a LLOOOOOONG way!  Hallelujah, and thanks so much from both ME and the UBL!  I continue to be so very grateful for BOTH of my families!!!

Would you please be so kind as to share this info with ALL the NIM team and any others who might like the news!  Much love to each and all.  God is good, all the time!!
Margie

Volunteers Needed in our Backyard...

With the events of the past 10 days or so, weather and its wrath has dominated the news.   Whether it be wildfires on the West Coast , Harvey flooding in the Houston area, or pending hit through Florida and the Eastern coast by Irma, we are well aware of how our weather has made an impact on people all over the country.   

We (Indiana Disaster Relief Response Team) are still dealing with the aftermath of the flooding that took place in South Bend nearly one year ago. And that one barely broke into the news cycles anywhere in northern Indiana.   Getting people back into their homes is a priority and volunteer labor is what is needed.   

Maybe folks from Valparaiso 1st can put together a small team of volunteers to go to the South Bend area to help get one family back into a home that is safe and healthy in late October.   Putting ones self in the position of a homeowner who experienced severe flooding will help get us in the frame of mind to be responsive to answering the call for volunteers. 

Are you interested in being a volunteer?  Sometimes getting out and putting hands into the situation is a way to get in touch with the issues in a real way.   Let Mike Strayer or Bob Westfall know if you are interested in being part of the outreach.  UMCOR has helped with providing funding and the UMCOR dollars go further when we can use volunteer labor.   

UPDATES on your generosity- THANKS. 

UMCOR donations last Sunday (September 4) were about $3,700.
Donations for ManUp with Kokomo Urban Outreach was $1,500 which included some funds from the Mission budget and about $1000 from the August Mission Offering.