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February 17, 2004
Haiti in Crisis
A long smoldering crisis has exploded into insurrection in Haiti. Huge opposition marches over the past several months have intensified. The Rev. Raphael Dessieu, President of the Eglise Metodiste d'Haiti, has called for prayers in support of the people.Stateside United Methodist Volunteers in Mission teams are in transit back to the US. Immediate future teams are canceled or postponed. The Methodist Guest House will be closed until the political situation improves. UMCOR supports several projects in Haiti, including a hot lunch program for the Methodist schools, Grace Children's Hospital, and community agricultural programs. Aid workers are warning that hundreds of thousands of Haitians are at an increased risk of hunger, illness, and poor water if the violence and unrest continue. Please pray for sisters and brothers in Haiti, and for President Dessieu's Christian leadership. Generous donations to a favorite Haiti Advance, or to the Haiti Civil Emergency Advance #418325 for emergency relief, will help in a meaningful way.
Severe Weather Awareness Week
Providing people with the knowledge necessary to protect their lives when severe weather threatens-- that's the purpose of Severe Weather Awareness Week Feb. 22-27. Thunderstorms, tornadoes, or flash floods can develop very quickly. Once a tornado approaches, or flooding develops, it is too late to start working on a preparedness plan. UMCOR
encourages families to be prepared. UMCOR is at work in ongoing recovery in states that experienced severe weather in the past year-- including North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Florida, Indiana and other states. You can still help with generous donations to UMCOR Advance #901670, Domestic Disaster Response.
Liberia: Rebuilding Ganta
In Liberia workers have trucked building supplies to Ganta. They anticipate
reopening Ganta Hospital this spring. Fierce fighting in the area last year virtually leveled the hospital complex. Grants totaling $50,000 from UMCOR and the Hospital Revitalization Program are providing some of the funds for the project. Since the arrival of UN peacekeepers in the area, residents who had fled are gradually returning. Health care needs remain critical, and food shortages are complicating the recovery. You can help alleviate suffering in the Ganta region by contributing to UMCOR Advance #150300, Liberia Emergency. To assist with the rebuilding effort, please give to Advance #150385, Ganta Hospital Emergency.
One Great Hour of Sharing - March 21
The One Great Hour of Sharing March 21 adds legs to your prayerful support of these programs. When you give to this annual Lenten offering, you are helping to keep United Methodists' hearts and hands feeding, sheltering, reconciling and healing or comforting those in crisis.
Donations help to underwrite the administrative costs of UMCOR. That means the United Methodist humanitarian aid agency can continue to deliver resources enabling the transformation of entire communities. If your church hasn't ordered itsOne Great Hour bulletin inserts and offering envelopes, posters and worship resources, please call toll free 1-888-862-3242 today.
"Life on the Bayou Teche" for Primetimers in October
Primetimers-- United Methodists age 50 and above-- can go to the
beautiful Bayou Teche west of New Orleans for an educational and mission service
experience, October 24-30. The area is home to UMCOR Sager Brown, the conference center and warehouse for worldwide shipment of relief supplies. Bayou Teche embraces multiple cultures, cuisines, music and
industry. Participants will learn all about these regional specialties as well
as the global work of UMCOR. The registration deadline for "Life on the Bayou
Teche: History, Culture and UMCOR Sager Brown" is September
10-- but act now! Call toll free for details, 1-877-882-4724.
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. 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.
And, please pray for those who are hungry, displaced, sick or in poverty because of these and other natural and human-made disasters, and for the workers who minister to them.
