The president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, is calling on the United Methodist Church to “rise to the occasion” of meeting both the emergency needs of the Haitian people and U.S. community development needs supported in a special offering scheduled for Sunday.  Our church Finance and Missions Teams agree.

A “bucket of hope” will be available for you to drop donations into on Sunday to benefit UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief) efforts to help those suffering in result of the recent Earthquake in Haiti (please write checks out to FUMCWF, writing “Haiti” in the memo).  In addition, you can make donations through the church office or on-line now by click HERE.  Rest assured that 100% of these donations to be channeled through UMCOR will benefit the Haitian people in this difficult time!

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If you are not able to make a monetary donation at this time, you may also donate health kits. Health kits provide basic necessities to people who have been forced to leave their homes because of human conflict or natural disaster. Health kits are also used as learning tools in personal hygiene, literacy, nutrition and cooking classes. When people gain the knowledge and materials to maintain personal hygiene, their overall health improves.

1 hand towel (15″ x 25″ up to 17″ x 27″)

1 washcloth

1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)

1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)

1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)

1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, No child-size brushes)

6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages

$1.00 to purchase toothpaste
(NOTE: UMCOR Sager Brown is now purchasing toothpaste in bulk to be added to health kits before shipping to ensure that the product does not expire before they are sent.)

Place these items inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag. Average Value: $12 per kit.

Important:  Please do not include any religious, political or patriotic notes or emblems in any kit. Thank you for your donations.  You are helping to make a difference in people’s lives.

These may be placed in marked baskets in the first floor hallway between the office and Education Entrance.

Did you know that there were many United Methodists serving in ministry in Haiti at the time of the earthquake. Read more about them HERE (AOL users may need to copy and paste this link into your web browser: www.umc.org/haiti).

For more information, please contact Rev. Troy Sims:
tsims@fumcwf.org or 940-766-4231, x229.

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FUMC began raising money for the UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief) efforts to ease suffering in Haiti on Friday, January 15, 2010 at Kiyo Watanabe’s Organ Concert.  Then on Sunday, January 17, donations were accepted in Sunday School and in “Buckets of Hope” in both worship services.  From that alone, $4190.25 was raised (this does not include any donation that may have been made through UMCOR’s on-line donation site: www.umcorhaiti.org)! In addition, 12 health kits have been received thus far.

It is not too late to make donations to this important initiative.  You can:

• Bring or mail donations to FUMC (make checks payable to FUMCWF with “UMCOR” or “Haiti” in the memo);
• Donate on-line now at www.umcorhaiti.org; or
• Bring health kits (CLICK HERE to see the list of items to pack) to FUMC and drop them in the white baskets in the 1st floor hallway between the Education Entrance and Office.

Thank you for your generosity, FUMC!

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Dr. Kiyo Watanabe is no stranger to earthquakes being a native of Japan.  So, he was more than willing to allow people to make donations at his annual concert on Friday, January 15, 2010.  The very good and generous crowd donated $812 toward UMCOR’s effort to relieve physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering in Haiti following the devastating earthquake.

CLICK HERE for more information about how you can make a difference in the lives of hurting people in Haiti.

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As a part of our World Communion Sunday celebration on Sunday, October 4, 2009, an offering was taken at the altar rail during communion.  The proceeds, which amounted to $720, will support the United Methodist sponsored Nothing But Nets Campaign, which seeks to provide insecticide treated mosquito nets to children and adults in need in countries with high rates of malaria.

Since these $10 nets are treated with a mosquito repellent, not only are the people sleeping in the nets protected, but others sleeping nearby also reap the benefits!

Thank you to those of you who made donations, making it possible for us to provide for 72 bed nets for the less fortunate!  For more information on the Nothing But Nets Campaign, CLICK HERE!

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Heifer International is an organization, which “teaches a person to fish” (so to speak).  Through financial donations they give people in need throughout the world animals such as oxen (for milk and or farming), goats (for milk production), chickens (for egg production), bees (for honey production), etc.  Thus, this helps provide them with food and the resources to be entrepreneurs, selling their produce.

The Open Door Sunday School recently sent a $500 donation, which buys a heifer.  If you’d like more information about or would like to make a donation to this worthwhile cause, you can contact the Open Door Class or Heifer International.

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Eight people from FUMC participated in a Mission Trip to El Paso, Texas to work at (and save money for) the Lydia Patterson Institute, a Jr. High-High School geared towards young people of Hispanic descent. ESL (English as Second Language) is an important part of their curriculum. The eight participants included: Deena Haarmann, Taryn Maxwell, Gene & Elizabeth Newton, Kay Preston, Pam Rushing, and Troy & Sandra Sims.

Some of the work they accomplished includes: cleaning & dusting the library, finishing out and painting the sound booth, removing (and later replacing) 3 rows of chairs in the Chapel in order to strip, clean, & re-wax the floors underneath, and cutting, upholstering, & installing new backs on metal chairs (as well as recovering some seats).

In addition to work, the group made time for fun as well with much thanks to Deena’s brother & sister-in-law, Cecil & Martha O’Hagan who served as our tour guides. Deena’s brother, Patrick, also shared in many of these good times. Food excursions included: Julio’s Cafe Corona Restaurant, State Line BBQ Restaurant (right on the border between Texas & New Mexico), La Posta Restaurant in Old Mesilla (near Las Cruces), fine dining with authentic Mexican food at the home of Cecil & Martha as well as at Lydia Patterson (prepared for us by parents of students), and even Baskin Robbins!

Fun excursions included: going up mountains to see the beautiful scenic views of El Paso / Juarez, driving up Hwy 28 to Las Cruces – seeing beautiful pecan groves on the way, exploring the town of Old Mesilla, New Mexico, a great “thank you” celebration put on for us by some of the students at Lydia Patterson, and just hanging out.

We hope you’ll join us next time!

Check out pictures of this trip by clicking the “strip” below!

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