January 2024 Team Updates
East Angola Congregation - August 2023
MSC Mission Trip members with pastors and missionaries at an East Angola church.
Guam Teams
From: Paul Lorson – Coordinator GUAMSTRONG UMCOR/UMVIM
Hafa Adai,
After our initial efforts with over 70 volunteers converged on GUAM in the last few months of 2023. Now over 80 persons from Alaska to Florida, California to Maine are beginning their journeys towards GUAM and the Emergency Relief efforts after Typhoon MAWAR severely damage the territory. These teams are part of the final effort to complete emergency repairs in hopes of returning as many people as possible to their homes as soon as possible.
The first members of Teams 8 and 9 have already on site in 2024 and more team members will be arriving this week. The work ahead of them will be taxing both in technical skill and a hot, humid environment.
We will be sending new teams every 2 weeks throughout January and February with the project officially ending Feb. 25, 2024. After the end of the Emergency Relief Efforts, we will be working with FEMA to develop working UMCOR/UMVIM teams from local resources and creating a program for local residence who have lost their jobs due to the disaster to be trained in the hopes they can gain experience and valuable skills that will help them transition into new careers.
It is important for us to thank all those volunteers who have worked on project GUAMSTRONG. They have performed admirably and have gained great respect from the people of FEMA and the people of GUAM. UMCOR/UMVIM First in and Last Out!
Sincerely, your brother in Christ;
Paul Lorson – Coordinator GUAMSTRONG UMCOR/UMVIM
Mountain Sky
Mission Trip to East Angola Planned for 2024
December 17, 2023
East Angola Congregation - August 2023
Plans are underway for an August 2024 mission trip to East Angola. After a successful trip in July 2023 that included connecting with churches and pastors, providing volunteer support at the Quessua farm and church, and organizing after-school children's programs, mission trip planners were eager to look ahead to the next trip.
The 2024 trip is scheduled within the last two weeks of August. The trip's focus will be similar in scope to the 2023 trip as described above. The Mountain Sky Conference provides supplemental support for pastors' salaries, so there will be an emphasis on continuing relationship-building with pastors organized by GBGM missionary Ken Koome. There will be opportunities at the Quessua farm with agriculturist missionary Kutela Katembo, who has started construction on the poultry project, and supporting the Quessua church and their weekly children's meals and educational program.
The housing capacity is set for ten people. Rev. Janet Mulroy will lead the team. The trip cost is estimated at $3,500 +/- for trip expenses, mainly depending on airfare costs. A $1,000 deposit will be needed by February 1, 2024. Some scholarship funds are available. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Janet Mulroy.
Praise Team Traveling to Ecuador
An ecumenical team of singers, musicians, and technicians is embarking on a unique mission journey in mid-April 2024 to share their talents and provide leadership for a national weekend of praise team training in Quito, Ecuador. Requested by Methodist Bishop Pilatuña of Ecuador and operated under the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission program (UMVIM), the US team of about 12 people will lead praise sets, train singers/instrumentalists on tips and tricks, give hands-on classes in live sound mixing/production, and spread enthusiasm for leading their local congregations in worship. After the weekend, the team will travel to two different Methodist elementary school programs where they'll lead singing and teach music. In addition, the team is providing a musical/technology needs assessment across the country and will be helping to fill gaps using donations.
Please pray for the team and their mission journey to support the growth of churches throughout Ecuador. If you are interested in joining the team (Spanish is a plus but not required), please contact David and Shari Nelson, dsnelson1987@gmail.com.
Donations would be appreciated using the link below. Select "Ecuador Praise Team Mission" in the Fund dropdown list.
Shari and David Nelson are members at Broomfield UMC.
Reprinted from Mountain Sky News
