This Feature Article is provided as a service of the Mission Volunteers Program Area of the
General Board of Global Ministries
The United Methodist Church

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Hosting United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Teams
Comments by Rev. Joan Delsol Meade (Pastor of 3 churches in Montserrat)

The following is excerpted from a speech given by Rev. Joan Delsol Meade of Moneserrat during the 1999 SEJ UMVIM Rally at Lake Junaluska, NC.

Moneserrat is an island of about 12,000 people. Over 2/3rds of its land mass was covered in ash from volcanic activity over the last few years. Rev. Meade discusses the impact of hosting mission teams and how this has helped encourage and empower the people of Moneserrat to work toward their own recovery and help others that have experienced natural disasters.

"How do we enable God’s Children to do what must be done in the face of disaster?"

"When we consider the current warnings of Meteorologists that natural mega-disasters like Hurricane Mitch are likely to strike with increasing frequency and that forecasters are also saying that the hardest hit areas are likely to be developing countries."

"I believe the answer to the question is very important to persons involved in helping those who are challenged by adversity to find that full life which the Gospel offers."

"Natural disasters leave people broken emotionally and spiritually, and, possibly, economically and mentally disabled for the rest of their lives."

It is in such an environment of potentially shattered hopes and broken dreams that we as missioners are called to encourage faith and to inspire hope as we communicate the love of God to those who are hardest hit."

"When in our communities we receive material gifts I like to remind my people of the tremendous sacrifices that others make to help us. It is very important for those who receive to know that they are benefiting from a labor of love. It is very easy for poor people living in developing countries to misunderstand that. After all, America is that dream land where wealth comes easily. That’s what some of the subtle messages have been and we must be careful to communicate to our people that those who travel long distances to help are not doing it simply because they have lots of money to throw away but rather that it is their response to the love of God. Their way of passing on the love of God moving in them."

"One church person came to me and said, I will do anything to help, scrub floors or anything, because one of the UMVIM team members told me how they raised the funds to come and help. If they can work so hard to help us, then I will do anything and everything that I can do."

"Share your stories. Share your stories because maybe you got involved with VIM because of something rough, some disaster, illness in the family, separation in the family, some bad experience. Share your story because you not only help others to understand the love that motivates them, you send them into mission too."

"And I tell you my hope is that with all your mission teams coming to Moneserrat we will be sending mission teams to help others too."

"This is starting to happen. Last year the Moneserrat Christian Council and its member churches including the Methodist church made it their business to send material assistance after Hurricane Georges. The people couldn’t believe it and they wanted to know how we could help them given the serious problems we were faced with. But you know that’s how it is with God’s live, you experience it and you want to pass it on."

"May the Lord richly bless you and enable you to continue enabling others to live like the children of God."

For information on UMVIM opportunities:

please go to the Where We Go section in this website
or
contact your UMVIM Jurisdictional or Annual Conference Coordinator
(their contact information can be found in the Resources section)
or
contact the Mission Volunteers Program Area
General Board of Global Ministries, UMC
475 Riverside Drive, Room 330
New York, NY 10115
Tel 800 / 554-8583 or 212 / 870-3825
Email: voluntrs@gbgm-umc.org

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