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.

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!

FUMC will be sending a missions team to Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso on June 14-19, 2009 to do light to  moderate construction projects to help this United Methodist School save money to put toward education instead of maintentance.

The cost of the trip is $150 per person.  In addition to work, we will be taking a few fun excursions.  On top of that, we will be bringing back the scholarship recipient that the FUMC Youth chose to work with our youth for the summer.  This person has been provided tuition for a full year of schooling at Lydia Patterson thanks to the generosity and hard work of our youth group!

For more information, contact
Rev. Troy Sims, Christian Education Pastor: 940-766-4231, x229.