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1
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I lost my left arm deflecting a sword aimed at my head.
Covered in blood, I was left for dead by my INKARTA captors. Today, with
one arm I am a brick mason, and I worked side-by-side with you as a
volunteer to build a new day care facility in a South Africa refugee camp.
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Samuel: South Africa 2003
…A voice from around the world
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2
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I was so excited, it was my first UMVIM trip, and
I had so much to give. Funny thing, I received so much more than I could
ever give. |
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Tony: South Carolina 2000
… A voice from around the world
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3
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I watched you hold little children orphaned by AIDS. I
do all I can, but their numbers have overwhelmed me; and there is no money
for additional paid workers. I watched you make these children laugh and
smile, and respond to your antics. You gave them the love and attention
they deserve, but which I have not the time to give. And yet you walked
away thinking you made no difference. |
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Elena: Zimbabwe 1996
... A voice from around the world
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4
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For 6 months I had no place to go to acquire the food
and clothes my family depended on because Hurricane Gilbert destroyed the
pantry at the Methodist Church. You rebuilt that facility. |
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Angela: Jamaica 1988
… A voice from around the world
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5
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I met you near Johannesburg. You were 20; I was 8. You
are Japanese and I am South African. I had never heard of Japan. You
taught me origami art. You gave me a larger world.
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Anderson: South Africa 2003
... A voice from around the world
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6
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I never received a formal education. That is different
now for my children. You came to my island and renovated an old school and
made it a nice place to be. You brought us books. You brought us supplies.
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Sifa: Tonga 2002...
A voice from around the world
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7
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When I met the widows in Bosnia, we were able to
understand each others pain for I too, am a widow. Even with the language
barrier, we found strength in each other.
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Sandy: W. Virginia 2003
... A voice from around the world
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8
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My people are native to this land. Ours is a story of
deprivation and abandonment. You have helped us to build affordable homes.
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Jewell: The Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma 1995
... A voice from around the world
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9
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In my war torn city you built a youth center to help
kids like me have a safe place to go to for play, to study, to hang-out.
You opened the door to a better place, a safer life, and a future of hope
and promise.
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Nicoli: Bosnia 2000
... A voice from around the world
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10
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We thought the world had forgotten us. For months we
lived with a badly damaged house, no electricity or running water. You
showed up one morning and began building us a new life.
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Candice: Kansas 2003
... A voice from around the world
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11
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When I was 8 years old I lost my family in the war. I
walked 70 kilometers, alone, to try and find unknown relatives in Luanda.
Eventually I was able to enroll in the Methodist school program for street
kids. I learned as best I could, and today I am a teacher.
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Augustinho: Angola 2004
…A voice from around the world
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12
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In my country, the church is severely restricted, yet
UMVIM volunteers come year after year to help us renovate our old
buildings and build a new camp. Because of your efforts, United Methodism
is growing 25% per year among my people.
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Juan: Cuba 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001
... A voice from around the world |
Contact your Jurisdictional or
Conference UMVIM Coordinator
for information on how you and your church can participate in UMVIM.