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.
FUMC will send its second mission team to Guatemala, July 6-15. JoAn Dwyer, a United Methodist Volunteer in Mission, leads the agency that will host our team, The Organization for the Development of the Indigenous Maya (ODIM). The group plans to spend the week supporting ODIM’s medical clinic in San Juan la Laguna and furthering construction of a new clinic in San Pablo la Laguna. ODIM serves the Maya people living in the Lake Atitlan region of the country.
The medical aspect of the mission is a new venture for the FUMC team. Volunteers will work in the clinic screening patients and travel to close-by rural areas to carry medical care to those who cannot journey to town. Our team was fortunate to recruit a physician, Dr. Carlos Araoz as part of our team. Dr. Araoz is a retired pathologist who lives in Pilot Point and has travelled on numerous medical missions to Guatemala. . In addition to Dr. Araoz, the FUMC Guatemala Mission Team includes:
The medical mission allows us to extend Christ’s love to even more people by providing vital care and medication. In 2011, the Clinica Sanjuanerita had over 5,200 medical and dental patient visits and offered over 130 hours of health education. Last year, the clinic’s Health Fair attracted over 300 participants. FUMC’s Team will help to expand the clinic’s work in 2012.
The Mission Team is looking to raise $7,500 to support our work in Guatemala. We need $5,000 to purchase medications from Blessings International for use in the clinic and $2,500 to buy construction materials for the clinic construction project. The medications will include several types of antibiotics and parasite treatments in addition to infant vitamins and skin medicines.
A designated fund has been established for the Guatemala Mission. As the Spirit leads, we hope you will consider supporting FUMC’s Mission to Shine God’s Love Into Every Life, even to San Juan la Laguna, Guatemala.
For more information about ODIM or Blessings International’s, click on the titles to see their websites. For more information about FUMC’s Guatemala Mission Team, contact Dale or Molly Tampke.
The FUMC-Denton Mission Team is sponsoring a trip to the Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas, for the Women’s Lambing Program. The trip is March 15-17, 2013. A maximum of 5 women can attend. This is open to all women of the church.
According to Heifer, “participants will watch a lamb take its first steps and reflect on the new beginnings that Heifer brings to millions of families.” The program activities help participants understand the positive impact of animals given to families through Heifer’s work. Activities in the Lambing Program include: a brief introduction to gestation, birth, and post-lambing care of ewes and lambs, birthing checks, cheese-making and/or wool crafts, sessions on gender equity, sustainable agriculture and Heifer’s livestock practices, and daily farm chores. Participants should be prepared to walk two miles per day. If you would like more information on this opportunity, contact Janet Fisher.