Through United Methodist Volunteers in Mission,  individuals have a wonderful opportunity to experience God’s call on their life to be a missionary! While some are called to be a career missionary and go through our General Board of Global Ministries in the UM church to become a missionary, others are called to more short term individual mission experience.    Many people feel called to serve God in the world for a few months or a couple of years.   UM Volunteers in Mission can help with this process. 

Here at Northside, we currently have three individuals who are IVs or Individual Volunteers in Mission.   I want you to know about them! 

Chelsea Ringel Beasley and Michael Beasley are serving as IVs in Sierra Leone, West Africa.  They are overseeing The Peanut Butter Project.  In Sierra Leone, 20% of children die at birth and of those surviving another 20% will die before age five largely due to hunger issues.  Peanut butter is combined with vegetable oil, sugar, whole fat powdered milk and Nutriset itamin and mineral mixture to produce a ready to use therapeutic food supplement for children.  It is saving lives!   Chelsea spent most of last year in Sierra Leone beginning this project.  She and Michael were married in May, and they both returned to Sierra Leone in July 2008.  They graduated from Lambuth, and both served as youth interns here at Northside.  Their blog is:  http://www.mikeandchelsea.blogspot.com/

Peter Bowen arrived in Plzen, Check Republic just last week.  He will be teaching English and assissting with activities at Maranatha Methodist Church in Plzen.   Check out his blog:  http://careerstudentrecord.blogspot.com/.  Peter grew up at Northside and is the son of Linda Kelly.  He’s been living in NYC for several years.  He’s excited about getting this opportunity to serve in Plzen as a Individual Volunteer in Mission.

I ask you to keep all three of them in your prayers.  It won’t be easy being so far away from home for months and months!  If you would like to help provide financial support for them, contact me and I’ll let you know how you may do so. 

I’m thankful for those who have answered God’s call to serve in our world and I’m thankful for the United Methodist connectional system that allows serving in this way a possiblity! 

Blessings,

Daphne

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28

I had a conversation Sunday with a person who has a Stephen Minister.  They were telling me how wonderful it is to have someone they meet with once each week to talk to that they know they can trust, especially while they are going through this difficult time in their lives.    You know,  God never intended for us to go through difficult experiences alone.  That’s why God has brought us together as the church - and why we have a Stephen Ministry. 

Here at Northside we currently have 22 Stephen Ministers.  They have received months of caregiving training to minister to people experiencing a crisis, facing a challenge, or simply going through a rough time.  I thank God for these Stephen Ministers and for the tremendous work they do! 

Remember, if you are going through a difficult time or need a confidential ear to listen,  this ministry might be a great help to you.  All you have to do is contact me in the church office and we can talk about if this would be a good fit.   

Blessings,

Daphne

Early Friday morning (July 4) 41 (yes - that’s correct - 41 ) people will leave Northside UMC to embark on a 13 day Volunteers in Mission trip to Leon, Nicaragua.  This team has been meeting together, praying together, and working together for the past 6 months to prepare for this journey. 

This past Saturday the team met to pack 82 suitcases of supplies, including many needed medicines and medical supplies for the team’s medical clinics, puppets and supplies for the puppet team, VBS crafts and supplies, over 700 hygiene kits, Spanish Bibles, flip flops, school supplies to equip 300 backpacks that will be given to children so they can attend school, over 1000 beanie babies, hundreds of adult and children sunglasses, and many, many other supplies. 

None of this could be possible if it weren’t for the generous folks at Northside!  Thank you for all the supplies and funds you have donated.  Hundreds of Nicaraguans will benefit from your giving. 

Please keep the team members and the wonderful Nicaraguan people in your prayers. Pray that we are open to the Holy Spirit and willing to serve as God leads us.   We will return on Sunday July 13. 

To keep up with the team while we are in Nicaragua, check out Glenn Miller’s blog on the church web site.  He will post updates from Nicaragua. 

Blessings,

Daphne

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