The first mission trip by members of First UMC-Denton to Saratov, Russia, in the summer of 2011 was a huge success. The six team members were able to complete landscaping, staining and varnishing of the pews, and two Bible studies. It was a wonderful time that left the team feeling as if they received much more than they gave.
During the week, stained glass windows, which were purchased by proceeds from card sales at First UMC-Denton, were installed. Pictured here are the team
members, with glass artist, Igor.
After arriving on May 14, Dennis and Janet Fisher attended Sunday worship services at the Saratov UMC on May 15. The remainder of the team, Greg and LaVonne Ankeney, June Berry, and Wesley McCall arrived May 28. They began their duties as a mission team by participating in the Sunday morning worship service. A gift of $1000.00 was presented to the Saratov UMC congregation from First UMC-Denton. That included 750 dollars from MAD$, card sales and donations.
We've begun planning for a mission trip to Guatemala in summer of 2012. Interested in heading to Guatemala next summer? Join us at 9:45 am in Cole Chapel on Sunday, October 23. JoAn Dwyer, Director of the Organization for the Indigenous Maya(http://www.odimguatemala.org/), will present information about the medical clinic and construction projects in San Juan la Laguna, Guatemala, on beautiful Lake Atitlan. We will talk about dates, costs, and the work itself.
Please join us! Even if you are not sure if this is for you and just have questions....we would love for you to join us!
Not able to attend on the 23rd but still may be interested? Contact Molly Tampke.
During our stay, we will help staff a travelling medical clinic and/or work on home construction. Specific responsibilities will depend on our volunteers' skills.
We will be working in villages around Lake Atitlan, one of the world's most spectacular volcanic lakes. The majority of people in the area are Mayan. We will be working with JoAn Dwyer, UMC missionary and founder of the Organization for the Development of the Indigenous Maya).
We plan on taking a group of 12-14 volunteers. In particular, we need :
Check out Molly Tampke's 2011 advanced work in Guatemala on her blog as she prepared the way for our church's mission team to arrive.
The seven-member Guatemala Mission Team from First UMC-Denton travelled to the Lake Atitlan region of Guatemala on July 1 – 10, 2011. The team’s work focused on the United Methodist Medical Clinic in San Juan and on home construction in nearby San Pablo.
The clinic work included reception and general support for the medical team – patient intake, drug inventory, and instrument cleaning . The home construction teams worked on two homes, using concrete block with reinforcing steel. Homeowners worked with team members under the supervision of a local site supervisor.
All team members supported their own travel and living expenses while on the mission. Funding needs included the materials for the home construction ($2500) and for durable toys ($500) for children to play with as they wait at the clinic. A special fund – Guatemala Mission – has been established to receive financial gifts for this and future mission projects in Guatemala.
The 2011 team included: Dawnie Dahir, Elizabeth Ferring, Sally Hughes, Chuck Martin, Michael Ramey, Molly Tampke, and Dale Tampke. Team Leader, Molly Tampke did some advance work for the team. Check out her daily reports on her blog.