Mission Update

Elizabeth is a survivor of Liberia’s brutal war. During the war, she was a refugee in the Ivory Coast, struggling as a single mother, and learning trading skills to make a living. Now, Elizabeth has dreams of a business administration degree. Computer training will help her accomplish this. Though a few hundred dollars in the U.S. may seem minimal, this is all it takes to help Elizabeth pursue her dream, further her education, and build a better life. A scholarship, funded by United Methodist Women’s undesignated giving, makes this dream a reality.

The Stitch in Time Project in Trinidad and Tobago is one United Methodist Women’s funded project that helps women empower themselves. Donna, a participant in the programs, says: "Before I enrolled in these courses, I was barely able to stitch two pieces of cloth together. However, in a matter of a few short weeks, I learned sewing skills that enabled me to cut patterns, material, and make my own garments. I felt such a sense of accomplishment and pride knowing that I am now capable of transforming a length of fabric into a beautiful, well-fitting outfit."

The sewing class for unemployed women helps women learn a valuable skill, build self esteem, learn about business development, and grow in faith through daily prayer.

Jonathon is a member of an indigenous community in the Philippines who described himself as a "troublemaker" who would resolve everything with his fists. Now, Jonathon says: "I realize that life like that is not good. This camp helped me come closer to Jesus whom I promised to lay all my troubles on. I try my very best to change my attitudes which are not good in the sight of my fellow human beings."

Jenny described herself as a loner who couldn’t participate in group activities. Now, she says: "I told myself, ‘there is no harm in trying,’ so I decided to join the camp. I started to mingle with my co-participants until I found myself sharing my stories with them."

These youth were part of a Summer Youth Leadership Institute, funded by United Methodist Women (UMW), which helped kids learn leadership skills, responsibility, and self worth.

A Bosnian Muslim woman described the painful story to a jury, saying: "She said the men, who wore photographs of the Bosnian leader, Radovan Karadzic, told her she was being singled out because she was a Muslim. They took her and her two children to a mountainside shack, she said, where they repeatedly raped her."

Stories of atrocities committed against women and children in the former Yugoslavia came out in a civil lawsuit filed by the UMW-supported Rape Genocide Law Project against former Bosnian leader Radovan Karadzic. In the lawsuit, women and children victims won a $745 million judgment.

These are just a few of many stories about how United Methodist Women’s undesignated giving is used in international mission. To see the work of United Methodist Women in more than 100 countries around the world, go to http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/umwmap/maphome.htm . Share these stories and voices as you continue to interpret the importance of Jesus’ mission with women, children and youth. For stories on a monthly basis, order Response magazine at 1-800-305-9857.

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