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Deaconess Nancy Daleney, center.
Image by: Mission Personnel
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My call to mission as a Deaconess and Church & Community Worker has
been answered through my assignment to the Creating Horizons Project under
the Latino Institute of Pastoral Care, Inc. This ministry focuses on immigration
issues and entails working with the community and its needs. One major segment
of my work has been to provide workshops on health, housing, education, immigration
and other issues.
There is a large community of Mexican families in the South Bronx. While
working with them I learned that their main concern is their children's education.
During a PTA meeting, the mothers expressed the need to learn English in order
to be able to communicate with their children’s teachers and also to
have the necessary language skills to help their children with their homework.
I prepared for the task of teaching them English by attending workshops, visiting
ESL (English As A Second Language) schools, and by doing a lot of research.
I can now teach two ESL classes and feel blessed to be able to help address
the needs of these families. Following are some of the comments from mothers
participating in the ESL classes that illustrate the value of the classes and
point out other needs in this community:
- "I hope I will learn enough English to be able to understand how my child
is progressing in school. Thank you for teaching us English, for the school
supplies and mostly for your care and support."
- "I can't wait until I learn English. I want to be able to understand
people and hear what they are saying. It is painful to walk among people that
do not speak your language. I feel like I am floating above the people, looking
at their mouths moving but not hearing what they are saying, I believe I do
this to protect myself from being hurt."
- "I know you are here to teach us English but can you help me find a doctor?
I am very worried because I have a lump in my breast and my family does not
have health insurance."
As I continue to work with the large Mexican population in the South Bronx,
I am also beginning to work with the predominately Spanish-speaking community
on the Lower East Side of Manhattan living in the very large public housing
complex. They too have so many needs; I pray that my ministry will help address
some of those needs.
Your
local church may choose to enter into a multi-year Covenant Relationship with
Nancy Daleney, or other United Methodist missionaries,
for ongoing support of their work. For further information, please contact:
The Advance
General Board of Global Ministries
475 Riverside Dr, #350
New York, NY 10115
Phone: 212-870-3718
Fax: 212-870-3775
Email:
covenant@gbgm-umc.org
Web: advancinghope.org |
You can make gifts to support the mission work of Nancy Daleney, by making a donation through The Advance. The Advance is an accountable, designated giving arm of The United Methodist Church that ensures 100% of each gift reaches its intended mission or ministry.
Make a secure gift online: Visit Global Ministries Online Giving
Checks may be written
to 'Advance GCFA' and placed in collection plates at United Methodist
churches, or mailed directly to:
Advance GCFA,
P.O.
Box 9068, GPO,
New York, NY 10087-9068. |
Credit
card donations may be made by calling
(888) 252-6174.
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note on your check the name and The Advance Number of
the missionary you are supporting:
Nancy Daleney, Advance Number:
>> Biography
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Date posted:
Feb 20, 2006
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