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January 11, 2005 South and Southeast Asia: UMCOR Anticipates Long-term Recovery "Determining where and how UMCOR can be helpful with rebuilding projects will help to relieve stress on local organizations in South Asia," said Rev. Sachen. UMCOR has successfully run large-scale rebuilding projects in Turkey, Afghanistan, and Bosnia. Its expertise may also be needed in Asia. The Sri Lanka conference is one of several face-to-face meetings that will provide the grist for UMCOR's mid- and long-term plans. Long-term support will hinge on the amount of funds raised by congregations through special offerings and creative fundraising. In the meantime, more relief is on its way to South Asia. UMCOR this week is shipping a second truckload of health kits that will augment a supply coming from other denominations. Value of the new shipment is set at around $120,000. In other aid efforts, the Christian Medical Association of India has fielded a dozen medical teams in remote areas. As of December 31, the teams had treated some 1,800 patients who were suffering from shock, infected scratches, and fractures. You can get involved through giving to UMCOR Advance #274305, South Asia Emergency. UMCOR is also accepting online donations at http://MethodistRelief.org . UMCOR thanks you so much for your generous gifts. Cash gifts continue to be most meaningful in the initial weeks of this response. Yesterday United Methodist contributions to tsunami relief reached $2 million, a figure that incorporates online giving and telephone credit card donations but only part of the boxes of checks received so far. Note that the Internal Revenue Service will allow donors to decide whether to apply their tsunami relief contributions to the 2004 or 2005 tax years, as long as the gift designated for 2004 is made by January 31. Souper Bowl of Caring: Every Dollar on Feb. 6 Will Demonstrate God's Love! Midwestern and Western United States: Even as Waters Rise, Volunteers Mop Up 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. Get the free UMCOR Hotline BE SURE TO RECEIVE OUR HOTLINE EMAILS. MAKE UMCOR YOUR BUDDY! Some Internet Service Providers like AOL, Yahoo!, Hotmail, and Juno use email filtering software that allows you to add email addresses to a "buddy," "trusted," "safe," or approved list. Please add umcor@gbgm-umc.org to your list so that our messages don't end up in "junk mail" or the "trash." |
 Near Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, a Methodist clergywoman, the Rev. Jedarani Peter, carries emergency supplies - a box of toothbrushes - destined for survivors of the December 26 tsunami.Credit: Paul Jeffrey/ACT International, January 4, 2005.  The Rev. K.M. Reginald Esparan, a Methodist pastor in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, visits with people left homeless by the December 26 tsunami. He is on a local committee of church leaders coordinating the response on the northeast Sri Lankan coastline.Credit: Paul Jeffrey/ACT International, January 5, 2005. More Information About UMCOR's Work
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