UMCOR staff and United Methodists from annual conferences that have partner relationships with churches in Mozambique met this past week to develop ongoing flood response plans. In the coming weeks UMCOR will focus on providing clean water in a sustainable way, and reestablishing agriculture. Four or five more water purification units (see photo) will be sent, with the help of the Psaras Foundation, and additional units will be shipped in the future. Bishop Machado has reported to UMCOR that these units are critically needed. UMCOR will also be sending seeds, tools, and helping to provide livestock. Please give generously to the Churchwide Appeal for Flood Recovery in Mozambique and Neighboring Countries, Advance #156500-0.

   Medicine boxes are critically needed for Mozambique. If you are interested in the Medicine Box project, please call 212-870-3683 for further information, order a Medicine Box kit from the Service Center (800) 305-9857, or get the kit on the web at http://gbgm-umc.org/resources/medbox/.

   Volunteers will be needed in Mozambique in approximately two months. These will be arduous assignments with very basic living arrangements. Please call the volunteer line at (800) 918-3100 to register your interest.

   Members of the Catastrophic Disaster Response Team are assisting conference disaster workers in the Owensboro, Kentucky area as they continue to recover from the January tornadoes, and in West Virginia where seven districts experienced extensive flooding. United Methodists are working as part of an interfaith organization to respond to yesterday's tornado in Houma, Louisiana. Your gifts to UMCOR's Domestic Disaster Response #901670-1 ensure that UMCOR has the resources to respond to disasters throughout the United States.

Gifts may be made through local United Methodist churches, or by calling 1-800-554-8583. Credit card donations are accepted. (Read more about how you can help UMCOR's emergency responses.)

   Please remember to take the One Great Hour of Sharing offering on April 2, 2000. This offering provides the basic support for UMCOR and its ministries. For offering resources call 1-888-UMC-3242. Resource ordering information is here.

    Please pray for all who suffer from natural and human-made disasters, hunger, and poverty.