2011 Special Advent Message

Mission Volunteers, teams, and individuals…thank you for all the passionate volunteer work you have been part of this year and for allowing God to use you by working with others using your amazing generosity, love, and faithfulness!

As we all know, Advent is a time of waiting and preparation. Therefore allow me to encourage all Mission Volunteers to spend this Advent season to evaluate our 2011 volunteer involvement and prepare our volunteer plans for 2012.

2012 is unpredictable, but we need to remain faithful in our volunteer spirit of giving. Giving is when we first give of ourselves to make a difference in God's mission around the world.

Merry Christmas and may God bless you during this special time of the year.

Una Jones
Mission Volunteers
Assistant General Secretary 

PA and Nurse Information Lost

Thanks to all who passed along our need for an MD.  We have been blessed with two.  I was contacted by a PA who was interested.  His wife is an advanced practice nurse.  Somehow I have lost their contact information.  This year’s team is complete, but I would love to send them information about the 2013 Medical Mission to Nicaragua.  If you know who this couple might be, please send me their email.

Donna

Donna Schaad

dschaad@mchsi.com

Cell: 309-846-8231

Important Message from Kingsway Charities

For over 18 years, Kingsway Charities International Medical Missions has been blessed to provide almost 2 billion dollars worth of medications & medical supplies. We have been able to provide them, completely free of charge, to medical mission teams traveling throughout the world. We are humbled about this milestone and look forward to the progression of our charity for many years to come. Due to current economic conditions, beginning October 1, 2011, Kingsway Charities will implement a minimal fee for each order in an effort to recover a portion of shipping expenses. There will be a $25 processing fee, per trip request, and a shipping & handling fee of 0.5% (½%) of the AWP (Average Wholesale Price) of the total shipment value. This fee will be paid via credit card upon the placement of your order. Mission teams interested in receiving container shipments must call for the fee schedule applied to that type of order. For more information, contact Kingsway Charities International Medical Missions at (276)466-3014 or (800)321-9234 or visit our website atwww.kingswaycharities.org. We look forward to working together with you, sharing God's love and compassion, by improving the lives of suffering people in third-world countries.

Kingsway Charities
1119 Commonwealth Ave
Bristol, Va. 24201
1-800-321-9234
1-276-466-3014

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

NEW MEMBER OF GBGM MISSION VOLUNTEERS STAFF 
(Courtesy of SW Jurisdiction Newsletter)

We welcome Rev. Dr. Malcolm Frazier as Executive Secretary in the Mission Volunteers/GBGM. He will be managing the Individual Volunteer and Primetimers programs as well as other mission volunteer programs. Rev. Dr. Malcolm Frazier is an ordained elder in the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church. Prior to joining the Mission Volunteers staff at the General Board of Global Ministries, he served as the Director of the Wesley Foundation United Methodist Campus Ministry at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and as Associate Pastor at Asbury UMC in D.C.

Malcolm is also an adjunct faculty member at Wesley Theological Seminary. Malcolm transitioned into full-time ministry in 2000 after having worked for twenty-five years at Hewlett-Packard Company in Rockville, Md., and Rosslyn, Virginia. On the Baltimore-Washington Conference level he has served in the areas of youth ministry, children and poverty, volunteers-in-mission and the Board of Ordained Ministry. Having a heart for mission, Malcolm has led and participated in numerous domestic and international experiences. He is a board member for Beyond Borders, a non-profit organization that works on the behalf of Haiti.

RESOURCE BROCHURE AVAILABLE (NEW) An updated brochure of “Find where you connect in Mission Volunteers” has been printed and is available through Cokesbury. Updated contacts jurisdictional offices are included in this update. Stock number #528545. Website: http://gbgm-umc.org/e-store.

Note for Volunteer Nurses:

Request from the American Red Cross for RNs to help with disaster relief. 22 shelters open in Louisiana alone, entering hurricane season.... Dee Yeater, Disaster Health Services Senior Associate, is at the national headquarters in Washington DC.  Dee's contact information is:  202-303-5754 or 202-247-6458.  Her e-mail is: YeaterD@usa.redcross.org From Sharon Hinton, UM Parish Nurse coordinator, TX. You can get on Sharon's Parish Nurse listserv by writing her. The above information will be added to a separate Page under "Announcements/Upcoming Events" for future reference.

Situation in Japan is Not Conducive to Sending Volunteers

Dear Friends, As the crisis in Japan continues with daily reports of aftershocks and radiation concerns, we continue to pray for all who have lost loved ones, homes, and jobs, or been exposed to radiation in Japan. We are moved by the compassion and generosity of United Methodists and other people of good will who are supporting relief efforts in Japan following the earthquake on March 11.

At this time, we are honoring the request of the Japanese government, who has asked that outside groups not come to Japan. Our missionaries and mission partners who are already in Japan are providing a ministry of presence and service on behalf of The United Methodist Church. They have shown particular concern for migrants and minorities, many of whom have lost so much and face uncertain futures. UMCOR is working on your behalf through relief and church partners in Japan to respond and provide immediate assistance and long-term rehabilitation.

While our hearts may feel that we must do something besides praying and "just" writing a check, please keep in mind John Wesley's appeal to do no harm. The situation in Japan is not conducive to sending volunteers at this time. It is important to allow the well-established government organizations to organize the response. Should the situation change, we will mobilize United Methodist Volunteers in Mission to prepare volunteer teams.

We cannot say enough in appreciation of our missionaries and a group of long-time, fulltime mission volunteers in the wake of the earthquake. We have nine missionaries and six Individual Volunteers assigned to Japan. Their ministries continue to be unceasing. Please lift up prayers of thanks for the churches and our missionaries and volunteers in Japan and pray for our staff members who continue in diligent service in response to the needs caused by the disaster.

For up to date information about relief efforts, please visit the Japan emergency response page.

Thank you for your prayers and your gifts.

Grace and peace,

Thomas Kemper                                                                Cynthia Fierro Harvey
General Secretary                                                              Deputy General Secretary
General Board of Global Ministries                                    United Methodist Committee on Relief

Today is World Health Day 2011!

Every year on the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO), an important world health issue is selected and publicized.  This year the WHO important issue campaign slogan is:

COMBAT DRUG RESISTANCE:

no action today, no cure tomorrow

You may already be aware that over the past 70 years the over use of antimicrobial agents in both humans and animals has created a  host of microorganisms that are now resistant to the medicines use to combat these many serious infections.  This problem has serious implications for all of us and especially for health volunteers who serve some of the poorest and most vulnerable populations in the world.

You can go to this World Health Link to download a brochure that explains the issue in more detail and help in the campaign for action to stop the spread of animicrobial resistance.  Also, for information and teaching resources on this topic visit the Hesperian website.

There's Still Time to Register for Health Consultation

Don't delay.  .  The early bird registration deadline is past but you can still register for the "RxConnexion" Health Consultation until April 23rd. Click on "UMVIM Health Consultation" under the "Announcements" heading at the top of this blog to access on-line information and registration.

Date/Time: 4 p.m. April 29-12 Noon, May 1st

Place: 1st United Methodist Church, Glen Ellyn, IL

Activities:

Displays,

Health Volunteering Workshops

UMVIM Team Stories

Networking

UMVIM Leader Training

Tours of Local Services for the Poor

Focometer Training for Mission Teams

Community Based Health

GBGM "In Mission Together" Plenary/Rev.Patrick Friday

Singing, Worship, Meals and Fellowship

Global Health Council's 38th Conference on Global Health

Reserve the Date:
The global health community will gather for the 38th annual conference. Won't you join more than 2,500 colleagues from around the world? 
June 13-17, 2011
Omni Shoreham Hotel
Washington, D.C.

Theme:
Securing a Healthier Future in a Changing World
Current demographic changes have resulted in changes in the burden of disease throughout the world. The 2011 Conference will focus on the challenges of and innovative solutions to address the transition form infectious to non-communicable diseases, from acute to chronic diseases.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN:
For conference pricing | click here

To register online| click here
(Early registration ends 3/31/2011)

Exhibition:
Exhibition booths are now for sale! This year, it is "first come, first served" so reserve your booth early. Early rates are available through February 28 | more info

Haiti Needs Medical Personnel

Check out the "Volunteers Needed" Page for current Health Volunteer needs.

Join Community Health Global Network

Community Health Global Network has just gone live with a new networking site for health volunteers.  They are asking individuals who wish to stay connected with others involved in global health projects to register on-line.  This is a free process.   Click here to be linked to the site.

Global Health Delivery Project Announces New Services/Affiliations

This month we are delighted to announce the following new partnerships and call for applications to unique education and clinical information access offerings:


Journal Watch, a subscription-based service produced by the publishers of the New England Journal of Medicine, provides clinically focused summaries of top medical and scientific journals to physicians and health professionals. Thanks to this collaboration, you can now access a monthly selection of the most relevant Journal Watch clinical reviews in your communities for free, like "How Much Adherence Is Enough?" and "Artesunate for Severe Malaria in Africa?" Updates on new reviews will be sent by email notification and you are invited to share feedback and know-how that may further affect practice.

ITOCA (Information Training and Outreach Centre for Africa) provides local training opportunities and partners with trainers to enhance information and communications technology skills of librarians, information specialists, scientists, researchers, and students in Sub-Saharan African countries. ITOCA is now introducing GHDonline.org and its open collaboration tools in its trainings, and is also helping distribute user manuals in French and in English so that more global health implementers can join and use the online communities.

We invite you to apply to attend the 2011 Global Health Effectiveness Program, an intensive 3-week summer session course developed by the Global Health Delivery Project and co-sponsored by Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health where health care professionals at all career levels learn how to effectively design, manage, evaluate and improve health care programs and services in resource-limited settings.

The UpToDate International Grant Subscription Program on GHDonline provides one-year complimentary subscriptions to UpToDate®, a leading evidence-based and peer-reviewed clinical information resource, to qualifying clinicians and organizations providing medical care or related services, including continuing medical education, to poor or underserved populations outside the United States. Apply now!

And remember: to stay current on new content in the communities and participate via email, change your personal settings to get an email with each new post or a daily summary.

We look forward to seeing you in the communities!
The GHDonline Team
Global Health Delivery Project
Community Activity RSS
Facebook
Twitter

   In Memoriam: Ruth Gess

Sympathies are extended to the family and friends of Ruth Gess, wife of the Reverend Dr. Lowell Gess, who died October 25, 2010, in Alexandria, Minnesota. A service will be held Saturday, October 30, 11 a.m. at the Alexandria UMC.

Ruth and Lowell married on December 29, 1945. They were appointed to St. Cloud-Graham and Mayer churches before serving as missionaries in Africa for many years, beginning in 1952.  It was there that Dr. Gess was instrumental in establishing and working in the Kissy Eye Clinic.

Ruth is survived by her husband, the Reverend Dr. Lowell Gess (111 15th Avenue East, Alexandria, MN 56308); 6 children, 16 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. Memorials are preferred to Central Global Vision.

Obituaries at http://www.minnesotaumc.org/
122 W. Franklin Ave., Ste. 400

Minneapolis, MN 55404

Global Health Delivery Online Offers Discussion Briefs

A new resource for members has been initiated, the GHDonline Discussion Briefs. Discussion Briefs are available from the home page of each community and offer executive summaries with checklists and key references in an easy-to-use format for an expanding selection of discussions. From vendor recommendations to lessons learned in the field, they recap what you need to know on specific delivery challenges as discussed by members, provide references to related content and are updated on a regular basis so visit your communities today!

In partner news, we are delighted to join forces with PATH on a USAID-funded initiative to support tuberculosis control in high-burden countries in an effort to increase the reach and depth of collaboration in the MDR-TB Treatment & Prevention and TB Infection Control communities. Please take a minute to discover the critical issues at hand in both communities, and join a discussion on implementing the WHO Policy on TB Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities, Congregate Settings and Households.

GHDonline is where health care implementers share proven practices, connect with colleagues, and find resources they need to improve health outcomes in resource-limited settings.

For more information or to join GDH go to their website

P.S. Following the Health IT for Disaster Relief and Rebuilding: Lessons from post-earthquake Haiti Expert Panel Discussion (more than 30 replies so far and it's not too late to participate!) please share your thoughts on future GHDonline events in this short survey. Thank you!

Palestine/Israel Host Seeks VIM Teams

May 7, 2010

Dear VIM Coordinators and friends,

Greetings from the Holy City of Bethlehem. 

As we head into the summer months it is a good time to take a look at some of the opportunities that are available for Volunteer in Mission teams.  Summer is low season in the Middle East. People general prefer to spend their time in locations where they do not have to deal with the desert sand and high temperatures. It is, however, a great time to begin planning for teams to come during the cooler months. 

I am taking this opportunity to send you the list of potential project sites for teams who may be interested in coming to the Holy Land.  Since this region holds much history, both religiously and politically, a usual two week team visit is typically split between the service project and visits to the holy sites and some of our partner projects in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. The importance of carrying paving stones or paining classrooms is complimented by a visit to the Mt of the Beatitudes where Christ preached the “Sermon on the Mount”, or a quiet prayer in the Church of the Nativity where Christ was born. There are two sample itineraries that I can send at your request.  These serve as a base from which your specific trip can be arranged. In addition there are project sites not listed if a team would like to be specific about the type of work in which they wish to be involved; medical team, construction crew, etc. 

A local Christian travel agency with experience in working with VIM teams will be coordinating with me on all aspects of the travel itinerary to ensure that the teams have not only an enjoyable work experience, but a spiritually based visit as well. After all, this is the Holy Land!

Please distribute this to your conference coordinators and feel free to contact me if you have questions.  Together we can create an opportunity for a life-changing experience that will enable spiritual growth, personal empowerment, and most importantly, help to build lasting relationships in our global community. 

Janet Lahr Lewis

UM Liaison in Israel and Palestine

PO Box 14631

91146 Jerusalem

Israel-Palestine

Tel: +972 2 277 0047

Email: Jllewis@annadwa.org 

Or       jlahrlewis@yahoo.com

Missionary Airfare Search Update on European Air Travel

The following is an email we received from Lufthansa of the Star Alliance late Friday afternoon. PLEASE NOTE: On travels to Africa we will attempt to use South African Airways and Ethiopian Airways in order to by-pass Europe entirely! These flights will fill quickly, so place something on a courtesy hold right away!

As this is sent on April 19th, Monday afternoon, there are encouraging signs of air service beginning again. If you have a departure, please check the airline web site for up to date information.

Volcanic eruption causes irregularities in flight operations

Last update: 16th April, 1700 UTC Please read the latest updates on the flight status here on this page.

Like all airlines, Lufthansa must comply with directives issued by ministries and air traffic control. Many European airports have closed. In Germany, the airports in Berlin, Bremen, Cologne, Dortmund, Dresden, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Hof, Leipzig, Munich, Muenster/Osnabrueck, Nuremberg and Stuttgart have shut down. All arrivals and departures at these airports have been cancelled until further notice.

Passengers who have booked flights from the above-mentioned airports are requested not to travel to the airport and to keep up-to-date with the status of their flights via electronic media.

Passengers travelling within Germany can switch to a journey by rail with Deutsche Bahn, if their flights have to be cancelled. For that purpose, they must exchange their electronic ticket (etix) for a travel voucher at a Lufthansa check-in machine at the airport. Alternatively passenger can buy a Deutschen Bahn AG rail ticket. In this case the flight ticket price can later be refunded*.

Passengers whose flights have been cancelled will be rebooked in the same compartment free of charge on other flights (which must be flown by 31 May). Alternatively, if they wish to cancel their ticket, they will receive a refund. Further information is available from the Lufthansa Service Center or out of Germany toll free under 0800 8 50 60 70. Due to the exceptional circumstances, customers may face longer than normal waiting times.  At present it is not possible to predict how the air traffic situation in Europe will progress.

* non-flown tickets will be fully refunded. Partly flown tickets will be refunded pro-rata.
Blessings,
Blake Stiles Lawson, Founder
reservations@missionaryairfaresearch.com
877.634.1199
770.436.1334
770.928.2659 Fax

Free Cardiac Surgery Urgently Sought for Mexican Girl

Hello, everyone:

Paola Guadalupe Torres, a little girl 12 years old, has had a Heart problem since she was born.  She was referred to me because our organization, "Manos Juntas" (Hands Together Ministry) tries to help people with special diseases. One of the local contacts, a Mexican Cardiologist checked her last week and told me that she needs Heart Surgery as soon as possible. Of course this type of surgery  is very expensive here , and we are looking for a Heart Program that will cover this type of surgery.

I have attached the files with her information in a photobucket account that can be accessed by clicking on the last two words in this paragraph.  The main point is not to find donations, but a Heart Program that can help her by providing the surgery, with everything covered. If some of you know of this type of program, please use the contact information listed, below to contact me so that I may talk with them. She is cyanotic, and she needs oxygen daily.  Diagnositc Pictures of Paoloa's condition, can be viewed on-line via photobucket .

Many of you know the "Hands Together Ministry" in Río Bravo, Tamaulipas MEXICO.  Click here for more information about "Hands Together Ministry".

It will be greatly appreciated if anyone out there can find a way to help this little girl.  GOD Bless you!

Your always friend and brother in Jesuschrist...

Dr. Elías Lara Aguirre

"Manos Juntas, Health Program Coordinator"

Office Telephone/Fax: (011 52) 899-933-02-68

Telephone/Fax: (011 52) 899-933-06-40

Mobile México: (011 521) 899-117-71-40

Toll Free from the US: 1-866-973-00-81 (Mon-Fri 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM)

Email Addresses:   vim_medicalpromise@yahoo.com.mx and  manosjuntasmedical@hotmail.com

Manos Juntas, Mexico. A.C.

Methodist Ministry

GBGM Advance No. 3020527

Giving a Voice to Medical Volunteers - Upcoming Conference

Sanjay Gupta MD,  CNN  MEDICAL REPORTER AND EMORY FACULTY,  reports today his frustrations on being left alone in a hospital with patients with desparate life-threatening conditions in Haiti.  The United Nations demanded that medical personell leave the hospital because of perceived safety considerations.   Even medical supplies were taken from the hospital.  EMORY'S FREE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MEDICAL VOLUNTEERISM www.emoryimvc.org PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS AND OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES RELATING TO MEDICAL VOLUNTEERISM.  We would like to create a series of panel discussions during the conference with audience participation so that medical volunteers can be given a voice relating to this and other important social issues.  Ideally, there will be an opportunity to submit to the media a list of consensus statements relating to issues such as:

 

1. The safety of the volunteers vs. the safety of the victims of a disaster:  Who should be the decision-maker?

 

There are many other similar ethical issues such as those relating to availablility of essential medical supplies,  access to transportation,  medical licensing, etc  Politicians, judges, business men, military leaders often have the authority to make these decisions.  Our aim is to give a voice to medical volunteers so that their perspectives can be factored into decision-making relating to these important issues. 

 

We hope Sanjay will be available to join us at the conference.  

 

Please feel free to email us suggested topics for these important panel discussions. 

 

Note: This conference highlights local, national, and international medical volunteer efforts. 

 

Thanks,

 

Neil Shulman MD

EMORYIMVC ORGANIZER

News from UM Senegal Mission

We send you greetings on behalf of the Senegal UMC

Links to Website, E-mail, and Missionary Paul Messer’s Blog
A new website for the Senegal Mission is available at www.senegalumc.com . Senegal consultant, Tony Fuller has moved to Senegal. He may be contacted at tony@yahoo.com for mail concerning the Senegal Mission. Missionary Paul Messer has started a Blog at http://revpaulmesser.wordpress.com . You can get up to date information about what is happening in the Senegal church at this site.

2010 Senegal Consultation
It is confirmed! The 2010 Senegal Consultation will be held at the Roscoe United Methodist
Church, in Roscoe, IL on November 12 and 13, 2010. Roscoe is about 10 minutes south of the Wisconsin -Illinois border on Interstate 90/39. This Consultation promises to be the best ever, so please plan to come and be inspired and hear first hand reports from our Senegal missionaries
Paul and Kittie, and a Senegalize pastor; In Mission Together Director, Patrick Friday, Dr. Carol Meynen, and the Roscoe Church folk who will visit Senegal this January. Please put
this event on your calendars now - November 12-13, 2010, Roscoe, IL.

Senegal Worship Blues - Update
Around August 21 a complaint was made to the Dakar police stating that the folks worshipping at Nord Foire were too loud. The police came and told worshippers to stop, confiscating the church's drums and microphones. The worship resumed the following Sunday anyway. Next Friday the police returned with another complaint filed by a neighbor about the noise. The police have stated that the church should not be in a residential area, but in their own church building in a commercial area. The saga continues. It appears that other residential area churches
have been subject to this “new Policy” also. UP-DATE! After much discussion between church representatives and various levels of government, a compromise has been reached. Worship can resume in the Nord Foire Church when the room is sound proofed. For now, members of the
Nord Foire congregation worship with the Grand Yoff folks at the Grand Yoff church (another
neighborhood in Dakar).

Illinois Rainbow Covenant White Band - Senegal Partnership
The Rainbow Covenant program has added another band to its rainbow of giving
for missions. It is our hope that you might consider a partnership with the Senegal Mission as your way of fulfilling the requirements for this White Band. $900 per year over three years will provide funds for pastoral support and church rent - a need of around $62,000 per year in Senegal for 10 pastors and 17 churches. Your help is needed in Senegal and much appreciated. Please let your mission committee know about this possibility
and help it along! Thanks.

Red Bird Clinic in Kentucky Seeks Health Professionals

Red Bird Clinic, a health ministry of the United Methodist Church, is seeking a full time Registered Nurse and a full time primary care Nurse Practitioner, or a primary care Physician Assistant for its outpatient clinic near Beverly, Kentucky. Located in the heart of Appalachia in the Daniel Boone National Forest, Red Bird Clinic has been providing care within a Christian environment for almost 100 years. Duties for the nurse include daily patient care as well as assistance with health education programs, policy review, care plans, immunization, & other clinical tasks. Duties for the NP or PA Candidates include diagnosing/prescribing for patients in the clinic, a few home visits, and some health education responsibilities (a Physician Assistant provides appropriate care under the direction of a physician.)must have or be license-eligible in Kentucky. Salary plus housing (with utilities), health insurance, and other benefits provided. For more information, contact:

Director of Human Resources
Red Bird Mission
70 Queendale Center
Beverly, KY 40913
606 598 3155
http://us.mc838.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=hr@rbmission.org
http://www.rbmission.org/