Latest UMVIM News
Punta Colonet – Lighting for Literacy
Passing the Torch, and
Shining Our Lights
We actually did it!
The COVID pandemic has plunged many people around the world into insular, huddled, fearful, and metaphorically dark existences. But, as COVID’s almost intolerable darkness might have begun to lighten just a little here, our team of ten Colonet – Lighting for Literacy (L4L) missioners found ways to deal with various COVID-related inconveniences so that LGUMC once again could send its Volunteers in Mission (VIM) team to actually build a new casita for a needy rural Mexican family as well as to personally install Lighting for Literacy solar lighting systems in several homes there. There is light (both metaphorical and actual) after COVID, indeed!
And, in the process, we witnessed some initial steps toward “passing of the torch” in some of the supportive groups that have made our “short-term” Punta Colonet mission trips possible each spring for over 20 years.
Our 2022 missioners included four folks from LGUMC (Pete, Ken, Christine, and Erik), two from Los Gatos Morning Rotary Club (Tom and Jim), one youth and two adults from a local family (MaryClare, Kevin, and Elizabeth), and a new missioner (Steve) who traveled from Reno, Nevada to be a part of this dynamic VIM team! Our UMVIM team had six veterans and four brand new missioners.
Our mission’s story this year can be told with some images that you see here. During our mission’s five days in Punta Colonet, our VIM team built a casita with its attached water tower and its own L4L solar lighting system, and we gave that safe, new home to Ana Ruiz and her husband, Amadeo Landeta. But the mission’s story isn’t just about building a casita. It never is.
Now let’s get to the passing of the torch:
There are several pivotal pieces to our Punta Colonet-L4L mission work that make this enduring mission the powerful experience that it has been for LGUMC’s UMVIM missioners for over two decades. Two of these are central supporters who reside with their families in Colonet itself. Our contractor, friend, and build liaison, Ivan Rubio Ortega, and our Lighting for Literacy liaison and needs-assessment leader, Pastor Antonio Dueñas. Our work in Colonet certainly could not be nearly as effective at it has been without the very substantial contributions of these two great, community- minded, committed men and their families. It’s impossible to overstate Ivan and Pastor Antonio’s importance to our “short-term” mission work.
This April, Ivan had to step aside while our UMVIM team was in Punta Colonet when he suddenly became ill during our visit. And, true to his enduring commitment to our mission work in his small community, he still found ways to make his incredible contributions to support us. First, he sent his younger adult son, Gabriel, and a helper, José, to work on the build site in his place. Yep, it absolutely takes two men to do Ivan’s work! And when Gabriel was not available, Ivan then sent his older son, Jesus, and a friend to the building site to perform important construction tasks. And Ivan’s wife, Adriana, continued to prepare and to serve us a very warm welcome and incredibly delicious “cenas” (dinners) in their own home every evening despite the added strain of Ivan’s sudden illness. These were remarkable acts on the parts of all of the members of the large Rubio Ortega family in Punta Colonet.
This April, too, Pastor Antonio had a conflict that unexpectedly arose with the dates of our UMVIM team’s visit. So he provided all of his wonderful foundational help to us in advance of our arrival in Colonet, and then he turned over the reins of the actual Lighting for Literacy solar lighting system deployments to his 16 year old son, Isaiah. This is a great realization of one of the many potentially powerful benefits of L4L in the sense that youths can be taught to do almost every aspect of this work independently … from creation of the individual systems (STEAM education) to deployments in the mission field. It’s a fabulous development!
And there’s more. We’re seeing an important transition at the helm of Lighting for Literacy, too. Many people are aware of Doug McNeil and Jesse Salem’s creation of the L4L program a decade ago. They’ve been recognized at the White House in 2013 as “Champions of Change”. But with Jesse’s passing a few years ago and Doug’s very serious illness and devastating disability with ALS, Lighting for Literacy has sought new leadership. So, shortly before our Colonet mission team’s April departure southbound this year, Lighting for Literacy chose new co-presidents to gradually take over the reins from Doug. Doug’s daughter, Jessica McNeil Eastland, and her L4L co-president, Christina Enneking, will now begin to direct L4L’s efforts going forward. And L4L will continue to look toward the future as it now searches for a CEO, as well, to take that vital responsibility from Doug.
So we’ve just witnessed a re-starting (after COVID-forced VIM team absences in 2020 and 2021) and rejuvenation of our charitable efforts in rural Punta Colonet, Mexico!
In summary, we’ve been generously blessed. Our UMVIM work in Colonet this year came about with greater effort than had been necessary in prior years due to the ongoing COVID pandemic as well as to pivotal changes that became necessary due to some foreseen and to some unforeseen challenges. And that’s the very nature of mission work. Successfully meeting the various challenges of doing mission work is part of what makes mission work itself so rewarding.
Respectfully, Pete Taylor
LGUMC VIM
UMVIM International Team Leader
I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy! (Rabindrinath Tagore)
Special recognition:
Our 2022 Punta Colonet UMVIM team needed and received a tremendous amount of support!
We recognize and thank those who provided the great help that our VIM travelers had from people / organizations who donated building materials, funds, and / or their expertise as well as prayerful support of this mission team. The Los Gatos Morning Rotary Charitable Foundation provided substantial financial support again this year. And more than 34 individuals who didn’t personally travel to Colonet still walked every step with this VIM team by providing their own vital forms of support. This includes administrative assistance from personnel from the North Central, the Southeastern, and the Western Jurisdictions and the Cal-Nev Annual Conference UMVIM offices.
Iván Rubio Ortega (see the article) is seen referring to the casita’s construction plans (flanked by our construction leader, Christine Finlayson, to his right … and by me to his left).
The new homeowners are seen as I hand them the keys to their new home in our Thursday evening “Keys Ceremony”. It’s always a very moving occasion!
Playing “Ring around the Rosie”. Ana Ruiz, the new homeowner, is a “niñera” for many Colonet families. She watches many children while their parents labor in the fruit & vegetable fields that are in this agricultural area. Kids on the construction site readily participated in painting tasks, but there was also always time for fun!
Ukraine Update
Many volunteers are wondering how they can help with the war in Ukraine. UMCOR and Global Ministries have developed a helpful FAQ concerning the best ways to help.
If you would like to hear an “on the ground” perspective, Ray Wilck, retired missionary living in Prague, shares his thoughts on the Ukraine/Russia conflict. Click here to learn more.
Surrounding countries are accepting Ukrainian refugees, and Methodists are there to help. Click here to learn more about what’s going on in the Czech Republic.
Ghana Mission Journey, Wisonsin Conference
NOTE: This mission story is shared by Mike Ayensu-Mensah, recipient of the Nolte Mission Scholarship.
One of the greatest parts of going back to Ghana during the winter break on a Mission trip was seeing how excited the people were to interact with new ideas. The mission group was greeted with an assembly at the Akumfi Ameyaw Senior High School in Aworowa one afternoon, and I was given the opportunity to speak to the students (with their Staff and Head of the School present) about my experience with continued education in the United States. I took the time to relay a basic lesson about individual strength that helps me remain motivated when my problems seem to be growing uncontrollably. The lesson comes up in many disciplines, but the main point is that success and growth can be achieved by approaching problems instead of avoiding them. I told them about how they could start trying to tackle the small problems that they saw and begin making their lives better in small ways. Even though the students in that assembly had never met me and didn’t know who I was, they seemed eager to engage with what I had to say. Their openness to new ideas and experiences showed me that those students took their potentials seriously. I have been in several similar assemblies at my schools in the United States where none of the students even cared to listen to what the presenter had to say, so I was incredibly impressed by how serious the highschoolers in Ghana were about their development. I am not certain if I told them anything that was immediately useful, but the students always paid careful attention and I noticed that they were hungry for information that they could use to improve their lives in any way.
Besides the high school students on that day, we interacted with the youth in the area on a regular basis. We hosted a vacation bible school on two different days where hundreds of children from the surrounding villages gathered to play games and win candy. I led a group of the older children through some games with the jump-ropes and balloons we brought and captured some pictures while they played. For some reason, balloons were particularly popular; so much so that the entire group I was supposed to be leading got distracted when a balloon floated into our area from another group. On top of that, the mission team spent the second morning preparing over 800 meal-bags of rice, eggs and fish to distribute to the kids that day. It may not sound like much when discussed in the context of the average American life, but even a small meal of rice was met with overwhelming appreciation and gratitude by those children.
Spending six weeks in Ghana, the last two and half being the period for mission activities, reminded me how much I tend to take for granted in the states. A simple piece of wisdom or small meal was often overlooked as a given, at least in my experience, but it is not easy to maintain that perspective when you interact with people for whom such niceties are the highlight of their day. I think the trip helped me to grow in my ability to empathize with other people. Since coming back to the United States, I have tried my best to help others in any way I can because I learned that even a small gesture on my part can make the life of someone else better than it would be without me.
Mike Ayensu-Mensah
UW – Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Iowa team served in Lake Charles, LA
Bringing Hope To Those in the Ruins
Hurricane Laura slammed the Lake Charles/Sulphur, LA area making landfall 8/27/2020. Marching in was Hurricane Delta on Oct. 9, 2020 followed by a deep freeze of 16 degrees, the coldest in Louisiana in 119 years on February 15th that burst pipes followed by a deluge of 18 inches of water in two days on May 17-18, 2021. A tornado struck 10/2021 which left around 12 homes uninhabitable and exacerbated the already hundreds of persons feeling hopeless.
From Manning to Wilton, Waukee to Knoxville, 13 Iowans who had normally traveled abroad for a two-week work experience were stymied by COVID travel mandates. Bill and Katherine Howell, formerly of Coon Rapids, who are team members, moved to Florida. Bill was interviewed for a position with the Louisiana United Methodist Conference with part of his portfolio being Disaster Response.
The “A” team organized, held an orientation, discussed travel plans and headed to the work destination on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. We felt called to offer our time and skills in the Southwest Louisiana, Lake Charles and Sulphur area. Our team was divided into two groups working with Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders while being housed at the Olivet Baptist Church. The churches in Southwest Louisiana that are able to help are sharing the volunteers’ housing needs. Mennonite Disaster Service and with the MDS Disaster Aid Amish group and Mt. Olive Baptist Church have formed a coalition that allows each organization to bring their gifts to the people. Building supplies, funding, networking with the people, hard labor and lots of love bring hope to Louisiana’s devastated children of God. Our team goal was to heal hearts and rebuild homes.
Ms. Diesi is a grandmother raising two grandchildren in a 100-year-old home that had been destroyed by trees falling onto her roof, followed by heavy rains which destroyed her furniture and caused mold. When we arrived, Ms. Diesi’s 17 windows were boarded up but, by the time we left 10 days later, new windows, trimmed (inside and out) painted and adorned with blinds which were hung on our last day of work. In her kitchen, new countertops, sink, base cabinets, backsplash tile laid, a microwave hung over her stove and refrigerator waiting to be connected. If it didn’t move, we painted it, inside and out!
The second team worked with Edward, a single man with a large home. Drywall was hung, mudded, sanded and then painted. A fresh new floor was installed with a myriad of other projects completed. This required working on high ladders, with several workers needed for installing.
A ramp for an elderly woman was built with the help of two team members. Ray, a wheelchair bound young man with diabetes and a wheelchair needed a new bathroom and a closet rebuilt while remodeling for handicap accessibility. With the completion of this work a House Dedication was held with staff and workers in attendance as he was gifted with a Bible, a wooden cross embellished with “BLESSED” a knit Afghan and a knotted prayer lap blanket to cover his legs. Each knot in the blanket represented a prayer as someone had blessed the blanket during the making.
The group worshiped at University UMC which had been severely destroyed but is now housing Amish workers in an upstairs “Dorm.” The invitation to a Gumbo dinner and hospitality by the Amish group was enjoyed. On a very cold, blustery day we went to the Gulf of Mexico to walk the beach and do some shelling. Many homes with blue tarps were seen along our outing with destroyed homes, boarded up as uninhabitable.
The opportunity to serve and give back is the reward we experienced! We pray our presence provided hope for those affected by the disasters!
Tornado Response and Recovery Update: Tennessee and Kentucky
Members of the Kentucky and Tennessee Annual Conferences have stated that the greatest need at this time is monetary donations. For those interested in volunteering, please see below.
GIVING
Give to the Kentucky Annual Conference
Give to the Tennessee-West Kentucky Annual Conference [Memphis and Tennessee Conferences]
VOLUNTEERS
FUTURE LONG TERM RECOVERY VOLUNTEERS: There is an interest form which can be filled out for those interested in volunteering during the long-term recovery process, including those without an ERT badge.
NEWS & UPDATES
News updates from the Kentucky Conference can be found at this link.
News updates from the Tennessee-West Kentucky Annual Conference can be found here.
Storms of December 11th
UPDATED 30 JAN 2022
Multiple tornadoes have ravaged areas of the Southeast and South Central, and North Central Jurisdictions, including Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Arkansas, and more. Authorities and first responders are still accessing and the initial phase of response may take a while due to the damage. More information will be added to this page as it comes to UMVIM. As always, please do not go into affected areas without an invitation from authorities.
Kentucky Conference:
Please note: cash donations are best. Cash contributions allow professional relief organizations to purchase what is most urgently needed. Cash donations require no transportation costs and involve no workers for sorting or distribution. Cash donations allow relief supplies to be bought near the disaster site, thus stimulating the local economy and ensuring a quicker supply delivery.
Donate Through an Organization: It is essential to locate a reliable relief organization willing to receive the shipment of donated goods. When unsolicited truckloads arrive at a disaster site, there is often no place to unload. Often items become part of the debris that must be removed during the cleanup phase of the disaster response.
Local volunteers should affiliate before showing up: Instead of arriving unexpectedly in a disaster area, volunteers should register with a recognized volunteer agency.
Prepare for Self-Sufficiency: In most disasters, there are inadequate facilities for feeding, housing, personal hygiene, and medical needs for volunteers. It is best to affiliate with a recognized agency that will provide for these needs.
Be Patient and Flexible: Volunteers should be prepared to step into a variety of roles, depending on current or sudden needs. Volunteers expecting to enter a response or relief operation in a certain capacity will often be disappointed. Sometimes a volunteer’s unique talents are not immediately needed.
Know the Liability Situation: Volunteers should be certain that the volunteer agency with which they are affiliated has adequate liability insurance coverage. Volunteers not registered with a volunteer agency should assume that all liability is their own responsibility.
Volunteers a Coordinated Process: The use of volunteers is an organized process by which people with abilities, skills, and training are assigned to special tasks. Volunteers are most useful when they are able to do the right thing at the right time.
Commit to the Response Effort: Disaster work is often dirty, monotonous, mundane, and not glamorous. There is little individual recognition. Volunteers should be committed to work under such conditions and fit within plans that are coordinated by the volunteer agencies.
Confirm the Need: Make sure by communicating with your destination what exactly is needed.
Plan Transportation in Advance: Never assume that unsolicited relief supplies will be transported at no charge. Local trucking firms may be willing to help in times of disaster, if funds are available to cover part of the expense. Some volunteer agencies may have trucks going to the disaster area which can take donations, or they can identify another group in the area.
Ensure That Donated Items are Packed Well and Clearly Labeled: Specific content lists should be taped to the side of each box sent. This allows officials to determine quickly determine the contents without having to open the box. Clothing, if requested, should be sorted in separate boxes by gender, size, and season.
Do Not Send Small Items and Unsorted Clothing to Meet Local Needs: Miscellaneous, unrequested items and unsorted bags of clothing require a great deal of processing. Do not send such items to a disaster site. This type of donation may be more appropriate for a local charity, homeless shelter, or food bank.
Arkansas Annual Conference
At this time, Arkansas is not going to request outside ERT teams. The AR VOAD partners have pledged to work together and believe they will have that work finished up by the end of this week. However, they will need lots of long term recovery work in due time. More information to come.
Illinois Great River Conference
From Rebecca Klemm, Illinois Great Rivers CDRC: “the only major damage is the Amazon warehouse. Most homes just had minor storm damage.” Additional information will be added here as it comes available.
Northeast Jurisdiction UMVIM Coordinator Job Opening
The Northeast Jurisdiction UMVIM Board is seeking candidates for Jurisdictional Coordinator.
You can view the online listing here, or click here to download the listing in a Word document.
Hurricane Ida Information
We will continue to post up-to-date information here concerning Hurricane Ida.
While Hurricane Ida has been downgraded to Tropical Storm Ida, it brought heavy winds and rain to parts of the Gulf Coast. Right now, damage is still being accessed and any news regarding the need for donations, goods, and volunteers will go through your Annual Conference Disaster Response Coordinator (click here for a list).
You can also follow the latest developments from the Louisiana Conference Facebook page.
As a reminder, never self-deploy as a volunteer and respect those who are affected by waiting for an invitation. Below is a chart which summarizes the way United Methodists are informed about Disaster Response efforts. To donate to the recovery efforts, click here.
Donations can be directly given to the Louisiana Conference by texting RELIEF to 800-500-5858
COVID Guidelines [updated march 2022]
Guidelines for UMVIM Project Sites and Leaders during COVID
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission
March 16 2022
Because of the rapidly changing nature of the COVID pandemic, we encourage all volunteers to check the Centers for Disease Control guidelines, as well as the State Department recommendations before serving and traveling.
The below are general guidelines for UMVIM teams and projects, however, we encourage you to visit the CDC for the latest information.
The first General Rule as United Methodists is to “do no harm.” United Methodist Volunteers in Mission leadership understands that many project sites rely on teams to assist in serving the community. These teams come from nearby, from another state, sometimes from another country. One of the worst unintended effects of mission work throughout the ages has been the spread of infectious disease. All want to serve. All sites should adhere to public health and safety protocols to protect employees, homeowners, and missioners.
Because of COVID variants, many communities have re-activated COVID protocols and protections, even for those fully vaccinated.
Fully Vaccinated Volunteers
Even for team members that have been fully vaccinated, it is recommended that you continue to follow CDC guidelines by wearing masks indoors, in closed spaces with others [those outside your family], and maintain social distancing. The Delta Variant has put many communities at risk, and even though COVID restrictions were relaxed earlier in the summer, it is advised that even those vaccinated maintain COVID protections.
● In general, people are considered fully vaccinated:
o 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
o 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
o If you do not meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.
● State and local governments, and site hosts, will have the final say on COVID protections, including masks and social distancing.
You should continue to do the following even if you have been fully vaccinated:
● If you travel, you will still be required to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other
forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S.
transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
● All travelers entering the United States, regardless of vaccination status, still need to provide either a negative COVID test result taken within three days of departure to the US or have written proof of recovery from Covid to the airline or other immigration official before boarding the airplane.
● If you travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.
● You should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you have been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others.
● People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken the immune system, should talk to their healthcare provider to discuss their activities. They may need to keep taking all precautions to prevent COVID-19.
Unvaccinated or NOT Fully Vaccinated
If you are not fully vaccinated continue to follow the safety guidelines as described by the CDC.
● Important Ways to Slow the Spread
o Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect yourself and others.
o Stay 6 feet apart from others who don’t live with you.
o Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
o Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
o The COVID-19 vaccine is recommended to serve on an UMVIM team.
Domestic Travel Recommendations for Unvaccinated People:
● Before you travel:
o Get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before your trip.
● While you are traveling:
o Wear a mask over your nose and mouth. Masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling within the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
o Avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from anyone who is not traveling with you.
o Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).
● After you travel:
o Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel.
o Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days.
o If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
o If you do not get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
o Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not.
o Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
International Travel for Both Vaccinated and Unvaccinated:
● You need to pay close attention to the situation at your international destination before traveling outside the United States.
● The State Department issues travel advisories based on health and safety concerns. Travel to countries at a Level 4 travel advisory is prohibited. Team insurance is not available for mission service in these countries.
● You do NOT need to get tested before leaving the United States unless your destination requires it.
● If you travel, you will still be required to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other
forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S.
transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
● All travelers entering the United States, regardless of vaccination status, still need to provide either a negative COVID test result within three days of arrival or proof of recovery from Covid.
● If you do travel, follow all CDC recommendations before, during, and after travel.
● You should get tested again 3-5 days after international travel.
● You do NOT need to self-quarantine after arriving in the United States.
o If you have been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.
● Fully vaccinated travelers should still follow CDC’s recommendations for traveling safely including:
o Wear a mask over your nose and mouth
o Stay 6 feet from others and avoid crowds
o Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer
● Go to CDC website for a listing of countries and their travel restrictions and requirements at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices.html
General Guidance for all Team Leaders
● All team leaders complete Team Leader training and register the team with your Annual Conference Coordinator or with the Jurisdiction Coordinator.
● Check with your local health department and the site host for the current rules and restrictions for the area you are traveling from and to.
o Here is a website to help you identify your risk CovidActNow
o Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements.
o Where guidance from different authorities conflicts, follow the more restrictive protocols.
● Know if all the team members are fully vaccinated if they are not then they must follow the CDC testing guidelines.
o Vaccines strongly recommended for everyone on the team.
● Follow the guidelines of the CDC for travel both inside and outside the U.S.
● Do NOT travel if you were exposed to COVID-19, you are sick, you test positive for COVID-19, or you are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test. Learn when it is safe for you to travel. Do not travel with someone who is sick.
o Consider whether you, someone in your household, or someone you will be serving are at an increased risk for getting very sick from COVID.
● Work with your site host to:
o Find out if you need to bring your own PPE supplies
o Learn what protocols the site is using if someone either a team member or client has tested positive to Covid and exposed others.
● Make sure each team member has proper medical insurance. For teams serving in the U.S., UMVIM offers additional coverage for both domestic and international missions. Policies and terms of coverage vary by jurisdiction. Check with your jurisdictional coordinator for specific information.
● Each team member will sign the ‘Medical and Emergency Contact’ and ‘Liability’ Forms.
● Know the health infrastructure in the area where the team intends to serve and the location of the nearest hospital.
● Have a plan for canceling the journey or sending team members home if any team members are uncomfortable with the enforcement of safety protocols.
● Consider donations to the partner organization and organizing a virtual mission if it is not appropriate to physically travel to the project site.
Hosting teams
● If you are planning to allow unvaccinated volunteers to serve at your site, we suggest that you adhere to the following guidelines:
o Know the quarantine rules. Some states require travelers to quarantine or provide proof of a negative COVID test, or proof of vaccination before or after arrival. Have a plan to ensure compliance.
o Follow CDC guidance on cleaning and disinfecting your facilities. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html
o Post reminders for hand washing, awareness of symptoms, etc.
o Improve air circulation in all common areas. See CDC guidelines for best practices on interior ventilation.
o Provide prevention supplies:
▪ hand sanitizer
▪ disposable facemasks
▪ eye protection
▪ cleaners and disinfectants
▪ gloves for food preparation and cleaning
o Unvaccinated volunteers should work on exterior projects only. Make accommodations for port-a-potties so unvaccinated volunteers do not have to enter a home.
o Other considerations
▪ Avoid buffet-style meal service. Have kitchen crews prepare dishes. This includes sack lunch preparation.
▪ If the dishwasher does not meet standards for sanitation, consider asking teams to bring paper products (not Styrofoam) to be discarded after each meal. Provide adequate trash receptacles.
▪ All touch surfaces should be thoroughly wiped down when the team arrives and as they prepare to leave with approved cleaners.
▪ Consider ways to assure safe distancing on the work site, in the dorm, dining area, and meeting space.
▪ If possible, provide washer and dryer facilities for laundering expectations.
o Daily screening protocol
▪ Full symptom check for each missioner
▪ Ask about general health
▪ Ask if missioner has been in contact with anyone who had COVID-19
o Wipe down all surfaces prior to welcoming teams.
o Arrange for outdoor projects to assure minimal contact between homeowner and team members (painting, deck or ramp building, landscaping, roofing). Make accommodations for rest room facilities so team members do not have to enter the home. (i.e.: port-a-potties)
o Indoor projects should only be undertaken with extreme caution. Adhere closely to indoor gathering limits and ventilate the space using outside air. Gloves and masks should be always used when indoors on a project site. KN-95 masks are preferred.
o Have a plan in place to safely transport a team member who develops symptoms of COVID-19.
▪ Provide space for isolation if someone reports symptoms.
▪ The team member exhibiting symptoms should contact his/her health care provider as soon as possible.
Questions or concerns? Contact your annual conference UMVIM Coordinator or your Jurisdictional UMVIM Coordinator.
Wildfire Rebuilding Missions to Northern California
The California Nevada Conference has two active wildfire recovery efforts underway. Both missions will continue for several years.
Slater Fire, Happy Camp - The first is in far Northern California, near the Oregon border. Located in Happy Camp (home of "Bigfoot") we will be assisting with rebuilding homes lost in the 2020 Slater Fire. Home rebuilding starts Fall, 2021. The rebuilding is in/near Happy Camp and the adjacent tribal lands.
This project is to assist Hope Crisis Response Network (HCRN) with about 80 homes over a three to four years. This is a low-income area where there are many residents who need assistance.
Accommodations are at an Assembly of God church where there is a place to sleep, a kitchen and showers. HCRN is providing the construction supervision, materials and tools. Teams are limited to 6 to 8 people. The onsite cost for a team is about $125 to $150 per person, per week, plus travel to get there. Medford, Oregon is the nearest flight destination, but there are other options – Portland and Sacramento being two major ones.
Camp Fire, Paradise - A second long-term mission is in the Town of Paradise, Butte County. This is the rebuilding from the Camp Fire in 2018. As you well know, this was one of the worst wildfire disasters ever. After an extended, extensive public safety phase, debris removal and tree removal, non-profits have started rebuilding homes.
We will be providing construction teams for those people who cannot afford to rebuild on their own. Weeklong missions are immediately available for teams of 6 to 12 people. The accommodations include twin beds, shared bathrooms and a kitchen for making meals.
Our teaming partner is also HCRN. Tools and supplies are provided by HCRN. They have their own registration forms. The cost for accommodations, food, a donation towards construction and other expenses is $150 to $175 per person per week, plus the cost of travel to get to Paradise. Chico is the nearest city. Sacramento is the nearest major flight destination.
For more information about either project, contact Steve Elliott, UMVIM Coordinator for the California Nevada Conference at UMVIMCoordinator@calnevumc.org or 925-640-9797. To book a team, contact Travis Cox, Volunteer Coordinator for HCRN at travis@hcrn.info or 574-333-7728.
June 2021 COVID Guidelines
Guidelines for UMVIM Project Sites and Leaders during Covid
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission
June 1, 2021
The first General Rule as United Methodists is to “do no harm.” United Methodist Volunteers in Mission leadership understands that many project sites rely on teams to assist in serving the community. These teams come from nearby, from another state, sometimes from another country. One of the worst unintended effects of mission work throughout the ages has been the spread of infectious disease. All want to serve. All sites should adhere to public health and safety protocols to protect employees, homeowners, and missioners.
Fully Vaccinated Volunteers
If you have been fully vaccinated, you can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.
● In general, people are considered fully vaccinated:
o 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
o 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
o If you do not meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.
● Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, but you will still need to follow all state and local recommendations or requirements. Check with your site host for this information.
You should continue to do the following even if you have been fully vaccinated:
● If you travel, you will still be required to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other
forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S.
transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
● All travelers entering the United States, regardless of vaccination status, still need to provide either a negative COVID test result taken within three days of departure to the US or have written proof of recovery from Covid to the airline or other immigration official before boarding the airplane.
● If you travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.
● You should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you have been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others.
● People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken the immune system, should talk to their healthcare provider to discuss their activities. They may need to keep taking all precautions to prevent COVID-19.
Unvaccinated or NOT Fully Vaccinated
If you are not fully vaccinated continue to follow the safety guidelines as described by the CDC.
● Important Ways to Slow the Spread
o Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect yourself and others.
o Stay 6 feet apart from others who don’t live with you.
o Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
o Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
o The COVID-19 vaccine is recommended to serve on an UMVIM team.
Domestic Travel Recommendations for Unvaccinated People:
● Before you travel:
o Get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before your trip.
● While you are traveling:
o Wear a mask over your nose and mouth. Masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling within the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
o Avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from anyone who is not traveling with you.
o Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).
● After you travel:
o Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel.
o Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days.
o If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
o If you do not get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
o Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not.
o Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
International Travel for Both Vaccinated and Unvaccinated:
● You need to pay close attention to the situation at your international destination before traveling outside the United States.
● The State Department issues travel advisories based on health and safety concerns. Travel to countries at a Level 4 travel advisory is prohibited. Team insurance is not available for mission service in these countries.
● You do NOT need to get tested before leaving the United States unless your destination requires it.
● If you travel, you will still be required to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other
forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S.
transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
● All travelers entering the United States, regardless of vaccination status, still need to provide either a negative COVID test result within three days of arrival or proof of recovery from Covid.
● If you do travel, follow all CDC recommendations before, during, and after travel.
● You should get tested again 3-5 days after international travel.
● You do NOT need to self-quarantine after arriving in the United States.
o If you have been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.
● Fully vaccinated travelers should still follow CDC’s recommendations for traveling safely including:
o Wear a mask over your nose and mouth
o Stay 6 feet from others and avoid crowds
o Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer
● Go to CDC website for a listing of countries and their travel restrictions and requirements at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices.html
General Guidance for all Team Leaders
● All team leaders complete Team Leader training and register the team with your Annual Conference Coordinator or with the Jurisdiction Coordinator.
● Check with your local health department and the site host for the current rules and restrictions for the area you are traveling from and to.
o Here is a website to help you identify your risk CovidActNow
o Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements.
o Where guidance from different authorities conflicts, follow the more restrictive protocols.
● Know if all the team members are fully vaccinated if they are not then they must follow the CDC testing guidelines.
o Vaccines strongly recommended for everyone on the team.
● Follow the guidelines of the CDC for travel both inside and outside the U.S.
● Do NOT travel if you were exposed to COVID-19, you are sick, you test positive for COVID-19, or you are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test. Learn when it is safe for you to travel. Do not travel with someone who is sick.
o Consider whether you, someone in your household, or someone you will be serving are at an increased risk for getting very sick from COVID.
● Work with your site host to:
o Find out if you need to bring your own PPE supplies
o Learn what protocols the site is using if someone either a team member or client has tested positive to Covid and exposed others.
● Make sure each team member has proper medical insurance. For teams serving in the U.S., UMVIM offers additional coverage for both domestic and international missions. Policies and terms of coverage vary by jurisdiction. Check with your jurisdictional coordinator for specific information.
● Each team member will sign the ‘Medical and Emergency Contact’ and ‘Liability’ Forms.
● Know the health infrastructure in the area where the team intends to serve and the location of the nearest hospital.
● Have a plan for canceling the journey or sending team members home if any team members are uncomfortable with the enforcement of safety protocols.
● Consider donations to the partner organization and organizing a virtual mission if it is not appropriate to physically travel to the project site.
Hosting teams
● If you are planning to allow unvaccinated volunteers to serve at your site, we suggest that you adhere to the following guidelines:
o Know the quarantine rules. Some states require travelers to quarantine or provide proof of a negative COVID test, or proof of vaccination before or after arrival. Have a plan to ensure compliance.
o Follow CDC guidance on cleaning and disinfecting your facilities. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html
o Post reminders for hand washing, awareness of symptoms, etc.
o Improve air circulation in all common areas. See CDC guidelines for best practices on interior ventilation.
o Provide prevention supplies:
▪ hand sanitizer
▪ disposable facemasks
▪ eye protection
▪ cleaners and disinfectants
▪ gloves for food preparation and cleaning
o Unvaccinated volunteers should work on exterior projects only. Make accommodations for port-a-potties so unvaccinated volunteers do not have to enter a home.
o Other considerations
▪ Avoid buffet-style meal service. Have kitchen crews prepare dishes. This includes sack lunch preparation.
▪ If the dishwasher does not meet standards for sanitation, consider asking teams to bring paper products (not Styrofoam) to be discarded after each meal. Provide adequate trash receptacles.
▪ All touch surfaces should be thoroughly wiped down when the team arrives and as they prepare to leave with approved cleaners.
▪ Consider ways to assure safe distancing on the work site, in the dorm, dining area, and meeting space.
▪ If possible, provide washer and dryer facilities for laundering expectations.
o Daily screening protocol
▪ Full symptom check for each missioner
▪ Ask about general health
▪ Ask if missioner has been in contact with anyone who had COVID-19
o Wipe down all surfaces prior to welcoming teams.
o Arrange for outdoor projects to assure minimal contact between homeowner and team members (painting, deck or ramp building, landscaping, roofing). Make accommodations for rest room facilities so team members do not have to enter the home. (i.e.: port-a-potties)
o Indoor projects should only be undertaken with extreme caution. Adhere closely to indoor gathering limits and ventilate the space using outside air. Gloves and masks should be always used when indoors on a project site. KN-95 masks are preferred.
o Have a plan in place to safely transport a team member who develops symptoms of COVID-19.
▪ Provide space for isolation if someone reports symptoms.
▪ The team member exhibiting symptoms should contact his/her health care provider as soon as possible.
Questions or concerns? Contact your annual conference UMVIM Coordinator or your Jurisdictional UMVIM Coordinator.
March 2021 COVID Policy Update
Guidelines for US Project Sites and Team Leaders during COVID-19
(rev. March 2021)
Our first General Rule as United Methodists is to “do no harm.” This extends to our mission relationships. We want to “do no harm” to our volunteers or the ones they serve. Our goal as United Methodist Volunteers In Mission is to minimize COVID-19 infections spread by United Methodist activity.
The United Methodist Volunteers in Mission leadership understands that many project sites rely on teams to assist in serving the community. These teams may come from nearby, from another state, sometimes from another country. Each individual situation will be different. Some local mission partners or missioners may have contracted and already recovered from COVID-19. Some may have been vaccinated already. Some may be asymptomatic carriers of the virus. Some are not infected. Some live with family members who are immuno-compromised. All want to serve. Yet one of the worst unintended effects of mission work throughout the ages has been the spread of infectious disease. Remember that we bring other things with us when we bring the Gospel. We must be careful.
The federal disaster declaration includes every state and territory with most states restricting large gatherings and promoting social distancing guidelines. These guidelines are designed to assist teams and hosts in determining when and how to prepare the site for future teams. All sites should adhere to public health and safety protocols in order to protect employees, homeowners, and missioners.
All missioners are strongly advised to get a COVID vaccine when it is available. Project sites or annual conferences may require each missioner to get a vaccine. Bring a copy of your vaccine record with you if possible.
For the latest updates in regard to COVID-19, please visit - Centers for Disease Control. Pay particular attention to the CDC’s travel guidelines.
Responsibility for adhering to these guidelines is shared by the Team Leader and the Project Site. This requires frequent communication and cooperation between both parties.
General Guidance for International Service
The State Department issues travel advisories based on health and safety concerns. Travel to countries at a Level 4 travel advisory is prohibited. Team insurance is not available for mission service in these countries.
Travelers may be required to quarantine before or after travel to countries with advisories at Level 3 and below. All travelers entering the United States are required to produce a negative COVID-19 test result within three days of arrival.
General Guidance for US Project Service
Based on CDC guidelines
Suspending teams
Make this decision based on the guidance of your governor, bishop, and state, municipal, county, and tribal health authorities. Pay attention to directions about school closure, stay-at-home orders, and the size of gatherings that are allowed.
Make this decision with the guidance of your board of directors or other governing body.
Hosting teams
Know the quarantine rules. Some states require travelers to quarantine or provide proof of a negative COVID test before or after arrival. Have a plan to ensure compliance.
Follow CDC guidance on cleaning and disinfecting your facilities. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html
Post reminders for hand washing, awareness of symptoms, etc.
Improve air circulation in all common areas. See CDC guidelines for best practices on interior ventilation.
Provide prevention supplies:
hand sanitizer
disposable facemasks
eye protection
cleaners and disinfectants
Gloves for food preparation and cleaning
Other considerations
Avoid buffet-style meal service. Have kitchen crews prepare dishes. This includes sack lunch preparation.
If the dishwasher does not meet standards for sanitation, consider asking teams to bring paper products (not Styrofoam) to be discarded after each meal. Provide adequate trash receptacles.
All touch surfaces should be thoroughly wiped down when the team arrives and as they prepare to leave with approved cleaners. https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2-covid-19
Work should be done on exterior projects only. Make accommodations for port-a-potties so teams do not have to enter a home.
Consider ways to assure safe distancing on the work site, in the dorm, dining area, and meeting space.
If possible, provide washer and dryer facilities for laundering expectations.
Daily screening protocol
Full symptom check for each missioner
Ask about general health
Ask if missioner has been in contact with anyone who had COVID-19
Wipe down all surfaces prior to welcoming teams.
Arrange for outdoor projects to assure minimal contact between homeowner and team members (painting, deck or ramp building, landscaping, roofing). Make accommodations for rest room facilities so team members do not have to enter the home. (i.e.: port-a-potties)
Indoor projects should only be undertaken with extreme caution. Adhere closely to indoor gathering limits and ventilate the space using outside air. Gloves and masks should be used at all times when indoors on a project site. KN-95 masks are preferred.
Childrens’ ministry (VBS) should be suspended until more guidance from CDC and the local officials is available.
Have a plan in place to safely transport a team member who develops symptoms of COVID-19.
Provide space for isolation if someone reports symptoms.
The team member exhibiting symptoms should contact his/her health care provider as soon as possible.
Leading Teams
Follow the guidelines of the CDC for travel both inside and outside the U.S.
Follow your local guidelines from your governor, bishop, and state, municipal, county, and tribal health authorities. Also make sure you know the local guidelines in the place where you intend to serve. Where guidance from different authorities conflict, follow the more restrictive protocols.
If it is determined that it is safe and lawful to serve, continue to make arrangements for proper social distancing and PPE for team members, and sanitize surfaces and equipment wherever you go.
Make sure each team member has proper medical insurance. For teams serving in the U.S., UMVIM offers temporary coverage for missioners. (Policies and terms of coverage vary by jurisdiction). For teams serving internationally, UMVIM offers travel medical and accident insurance coverage for the duration of your service. COVID-19 treatment is covered if contracted during your period of service. Check with your jurisdictional coordinator for specific information.
Each team member will sign the Medical and Emergency Form.
Know the health infrastructure in the area where the team intends to serve and the location of the nearest hospital.
Have a plan for canceling the journey or sending team members home if any team members are uncomfortable with the enforcement of safety protocols.
Consider donations to the partner organization and organizing a virtual mission if it is not appropriate to physically travel to the project site.
Even though vaccines are now available to the public, full distribution will be months away. We expect to continue taking measures to interrupt transmission of the virus for the protection of our volunteers and those we serve, even if (1) antibodies are proven to protect against re-infection, (2) tests are widely available to the general public and all team members have recently tested negative, or (3) vaccines are widely available and all team members have been vaccinated.
Questions or concerns? Contact your annual conference UMVIM Coordinator or your Jurisdictional UMVIM Coordinator.
COVID Insurance Coverage Available
2020 was a tough year for many mission projects and teams due to the uncertainty of health and restrictions on travel.
The UMVIM jurisdictional coordinators have been working with insurance providers to offer insurance policies which offer some coverage for COVID, which we are now offering to teams.
These policies are far from perfect, and do have various restrictions, so those interested are encouraged to contact your UMVIM Jurisdictional coordinator.
February 2021 - COVID Guidelines for US Projects and Team Leaders
Guidelines for US Project Sites and Team Leaders during COVID-19
(rev. February 2021)
Our first General Rule as United Methodists is to “do no harm.” This extends to our mission relationships. We want to “do no harm” to our volunteers or the ones they serve. Our goal as United Methodist Volunteers In Mission is to minimize COVID-19 infections spread by United Methodist activity.
The United Methodist Volunteers in Mission leadership understands that many project sites rely on teams to assist in serving the community. These teams may come from nearby, from another state, sometimes from another country. Each individual situation will be different. Some local mission partners or missioners may have contracted and already recovered from COVID-19. Some may be carriers. Some are not infected. Some live with family members who are immuno-compromised. All want to serve. Yet one of the worst unintended effects of mission work throughout the ages has been the spread of infectious disease. Remember that we bring other things with us when we bring the Gospel. We must be careful.
The federal disaster declaration includes every state and territory with most states restricting large gatherings and promoting social distancing guidelines. These guidelines are designed to assist teams and hosts in determining when and how to prepare the site for future teams. All sites should adhere to public health and safety protocols in order to protect employees, homeowners, and missioners.
All missioners are strongly advised to get a COVID vaccine when it is available. Project sites or annual conferences may require each missioner to get a vaccine.
For the latest updates in regard to COVID-19, please visit - Centers for Disease Control. Pay particular attention to the CDC’s travel guidelines.
Responsibility for adhering to these guidelines is shared by the Team Leader and the Project Site. This requires frequent communication and cooperation between both parties.
General Guidance for International Service
The State Department issues travel advisories based on health and safety concerns. Travel to countries at a Level 4 travel advisory is prohibited. Team insurance is not available for mission service in these countries.
Travelers may be required to quarantine before or after travel to countries with advisories at Level 3 and below. All travelers entering the United States are required to produce a negative COVID-19 test result within three days of arrival.
General Guidance for US Project Service
Based on CDC guidelines
Suspending teams
Make this decision based on the guidance of your governor, bishop, and state, municipal, county, and tribal health authorities. Pay attention to directions about school closure, stay-at-home orders, and the size of gatherings that are allowed.
Make this decision with the guidance of your board of directors or other governing body.
Hosting teams
Know the quarantine rules. Some states require travelers to quarantine before or after arrival. Have a plan to ensure compliance.
Follow CDC guidance on cleaning and disinfecting your facilities. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html
Post reminders for hand washing, awareness of symptoms, etc.
Improve air circulation in all common areas. See CDC guidelines for best practices on interior ventilation.
Provide prevention supplies:
hand sanitizer
disposable facemasks
eye protection
cleaners and disinfectants
Gloves for food preparation and cleaning
Other considerations
Avoid buffet-style meal service. Have kitchen crews prepare dishes. This includes sack lunch preparation.
If the dishwasher does not meet standards for sanitation, consider asking teams to bring paper products (not Styrofoam) to be discarded after each meal. Provide adequate trash receptacles.
All touch surfaces should be thoroughly wiped down when the team arrives and as they prepare to leave with approved cleaners. https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2-covid-19
Work should be done on exterior projects only. Make accommodations for port-a-potties so teams do not have to enter a home.
Consider ways to assure safe distancing on the work sight, in the dorm, dining area, and meeting space.
If possible, provide washer and dryer facilities for laundering expectations.
Daily screening protocol
Full symptom check for each missioner
Ask about general health
Ask if missioner has been in contact with anyone who had COVID-19
Wipe down all surfaces prior to welcoming teams.
Arrange for outdoor projects to assure minimal contact between homeowner and team members (painting, deck or ramp building, landscaping, roofing). Make accommodations for rest room facilities so team members do not have to enter the home. (i.e.: port-a-potties)
Childrens’ ministry (VBS) should be suspended until more guidance from CDC and the local officials is available.
Have a plan in place to safely transport a team member who develops symptoms of COVID-19.
Provide space for isolation if someone reports symptoms.
The team member exhibiting symptoms should contact his/her health care provider as soon as possible.
Leading Teams
Follow the guidelines of the CDC for travel both inside and outside the U.S.
Follow your local guidelines from your governor, bishop, and state, municipal, county, and tribal health authorities. Also make sure you know the local guidelines in the place where you intend to serve. Where guidance from different authorities conflict, follow the more restrictive protocols.
If it is determined that it is safe and lawful to serve, continue to make arrangements for proper social distancing and PPE for team members, and sanitize surfaces and equipment wherever you go.
Each team member will sign the Medical and Emergency Form.
Know the health infrastructure in the area where the team intends to serve and the location of the nearest hospital.
Have a plan for canceling the journey or sending team members home if any team members are uncomfortable with the enforcement of safety protocols.
Consider donations to the partner organization and organizing a virtual mission if it is not appropriate to physically travel to the project site.
Even though vaccines are now available to the public, full distribution will be many months away. We expect to continue taking measures to interrupt transmission of the virus for the protection of our volunteers and those we serve, even if (1) antibodies are proven to protect against re-infection, (2) tests are widely available to the general public and all team members have recently tested negative, or (3) vaccines are widely available and all team members have been vaccinated.
Questions or concerns? Contact your annual conference UMVIM Coordinator or your Jurisdictional UMVIM Coordinator.
Appeal From Argentina
The following was sent to those who have served with various UMVIM projects in Argentina from Doug Williams:
Know we are praying for you in the US with the rise of Covid infections. We are seeing a rise here as well and with quarantine fatigue a lowering of restrictions in many provinces. The schools in Mendoza are required by the governor to have face to face meetings, many people are in the streets without masks, and hospitals are full. Argentina ranks 8th highest in the world for deaths per number infected.
I have some sad news. Some of the feeding programs have been put on hold for economic reasons. We had received funding from the Methodist Church in England to help and their funds ran out. In mendoza we received U$S 300 per month to which the church has been contributing about U$S 100. We are focusing on keeping schools open and pastors in ministry. The Mendoza methodists are putting together a special Christmas package with a little food to let families know we are with them. Pastors across Argentina are doing what they can.
I'm doing what I can in asking you to consider a special Christmas offering. Below is a Link to a video about a Christmas offering for Argentina ( 3 minutes). You are welcome to share the video with your friends or pastor and maybe they will want to do a church wide special offering. I trust your discernment in that.
Paz
Douglas
Christmas special offering invite video 3 minutes.
https://vimeo.com/481278286
I would recommend dividing the giving between two special advance numbers. The first pays missionaries salaries around the world but is done so in my name. BGM has let 65 staff go this year and need support. The second funds the five poorest Methodist schools in Argentina. I can only speak to the school in Mendoza when I say we are only scrapping by with local donations.
My special advance number: 3022122. http://www.umcmission.org/Explore-Our-Work/Missionaries-in-Service/Missionary-Profiles/williams-douglas
Argentina schools special advance: 3022416 http://proto-gbgmmissions.gbgm-umc.org/p-1823-children-and-adolescent-education-argentina.aspx
Guidelines for US Project Sites During COVID-19 (revised 11/20)
Guidelines for US Project Sites and Team Leaders during COVID-19
(rev. November 2020)
Our first General Rule as United Methodists is to “do no harm.” This extends to our mission relationships. We want to “do no harm” to our volunteers or the ones they serve. Our goal as United Methodist Volunteers In Mission is to minimize COVID-19 infections spread by United Methodist activity.
The United Methodist Volunteers in Mission leadership understands that many project sites rely on teams to assist in serving the community. These teams may come from nearby, from another state, sometimes from another country. Each individual situation will be different. Some local mission partners or missioners may have contracted and already recovered from COVID-19. Some may be carriers. Some are not infected. Some live with family members who are immuno-compromised. All want to serve. Yet one of the worst unintended effects of mission work throughout the ages has been the spread of infectious disease. Remember that we bring other things with us when we bring the Gospel. We must be careful.
The federal disaster declaration includes every state and territory with most states restricting large gatherings and promoting social distancing guidelines. These guidelines are designed to assist teams and hosts in determining when and how to prepare the site for future teams. All sites should adhere to public health and safety protocols in order to protect employees, homeowners, and missioners.
All missioners are strongly advised to get a COVID vaccine when it is available. Project sites or annual conferences may require each missioner to get a vaccine.
For the latest updates in regard to COVID-19, please visit - Centers for Disease Control. Pay particular attention to the CDC’s travel guidelines.
Responsibility for adhering to these guidelines is shared by the Team Leader and the Project Site. This requires frequent communication and cooperation between both parties.
General Guidance for International Service
The State Department issues travel advisories based on health and safety concerns. Travel to countries at a Level 4 travel advisory is prohibited. Team insurance is not available for mission service in these countries.
Travelers may be required to quarantine before or after travel to countries with advisories at Level 3 and below.
General Guidance for US Project Service
Based on CDC guidelines
Suspending teams
Make this decision based on the guidance of your governor, bishop, and state, municipal, county, and tribal health authorities. Pay attention to directions about school closure, stay-at-home orders, and the size of gatherings that are allowed.
Make this decision with the guidance of your board of directors or other governing body.
Hosting teams
Know the quarantine rules. Some states require travelers to quarantine before or after arrival. Have a plan to ensure compliance.
Follow CDC guidance on cleaning and disinfecting your facilities. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html
Post reminders for hand washing, awareness of symptoms, etc.
Improve air circulation in all common areas.
Provide prevention supplies:
hand sanitizer
disposable facemasks
eye protection
cleaners and disinfectants
Gloves for food preparation and cleaning
Other considerations
Avoid buffet-style meal service. Have kitchen crews prepare dishes. This includes sack lunch preparation.
If the dishwasher does not meet standards for sanitation, consider asking teams to bring paper products (not Styrofoam) to be discarded after each meal. Provide adequate trash receptacles.
All touch surfaces should be thoroughly wiped down when the team arrives and as they prepare to leave with approved cleaners. https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2-covid-19
Work should be done on exterior projects only. Make accommodations for port-a-potties so teams do not have to enter a home.
Consider ways to assure safe distancing on the work sight, in the dorm, dining area, and meeting space.
If possible, provide washer and dryer facilities for laundering expectations.
Screening protocol on arrival
Take temperature
Ask about general health
Ask if missioner has been in contact with anyone who had COVID-19
Wipe down all surfaces prior to welcoming teams.
Arrange for outdoor projects to assure minimal contact between homeowner and team members (painting, deck or ramp building, landscaping, roofing). Make accommodations for rest room facilities so team members do not have to enter the home. (i.e.: port-a-potties)
Childrens’ ministry (VBS) should be suspended until more guidance from CDC and the local officials is available.
Have a plan in place to safely transport a team member who develops symptoms of COVID-19.
Provide space for isolation if someone reports symptoms.
The team member exhibiting symptoms should contact his/her health care provider as soon as possible.
Leading Teams
Follow the guidelines of the CDC for travel both inside and outside the U.S.
Follow your local guidelines from your governor, bishop, and state, municipal, county, and tribal health authorities. Also make sure you know the local guidelines in the place where you intend to serve. Where guidance from different authorities conflict, follow the more restrictive protocols.
If it is determined that it is safe and lawful to serve, continue to make arrangements for proper social distancing and PPE for team members, and sanitize surfaces and equipment wherever you go.
Each team member will sign the Medical and Emergency Form.
Know the health infrastructure in the area where the team intends to serve and the location of the nearest hospital.
Have a plan for canceling the journey or sending team members home if any team members are uncomfortable with the enforcement of safety protocols.
Consider donations to the partner organization and organizing a virtual mission if it is not appropriate to physically travel to the project site.
Even though vaccines may be available to the public soon, going “back to normal” may be a few months away. We expect to continue taking measures to interrupt transmission of the virus for the protection of our volunteers and those we serve, even if (1) antibodies are proven to protect against re-infection, (2) tests are widely available to the general public and all team members have recently tested negative, or (3) vaccines are widely available and all team members have been vaccinated.
Questions or concerns? Contact your annual conference UMVIM Coordinator or your Jurisdictional UMVIM Coordinator.
UPDATED - Guidelines for Project Sites and Team Leaders During COVID-19
Guidelines for US Project Sites and Team Leaders during COVID-19
June 2020 (rev. September 2020)
Our first General Rule as United Methodists is to “do no harm.” This extends to our mission relationships. We want to “do no harm” to our volunteers or the ones they serve. Our goal as United Methodist Volunteers In Mission is to minimize COVID-19 infections spread by United Methodist activity.
The United Methodist Volunteers in Mission leadership understands that many project sites rely on teams to assist in serving the community. These teams may come from nearby, from another state, sometimes from another country. Each individual situation will be different. Some local mission partners or missioners may have contracted and already recovered from COVID-19. Some may be carriers. Some are not infected. Some live with family members who are immuno-compromised. All want to serve. Yet one of the worst unintended effects of mission work throughout the ages has been the spread of infectious disease. Remember that we bring other things with us when we bring the Gospel. We must be careful.
The federal disaster declaration includes every state and territory with most states presenting shelter-in-place and social distancing guidelines. These guidelines are designed to assist teams and hosts in determining when and how to prepare the site for future teams. All sites should adhere to public health and safety protocols in order to protect employees, homeowners, and missioners.
For the latest updates in regard to COVID-19, please visit - Centers for Disease Control.
Responsibility for adhering to these guidelines is shared by the Team Leader and the Project Site. This requires frequent communication and cooperation between both parties.
General Guidance for International Service
The State Department issues travel advisories based on health and safety concerns. Travel to countries at a Level 4 travel advisory is prohibited. Team insurance is not available for mission service in these countries.
Travelers may be required to quarantine before or after travel to countries with advisories at Level 3 and below.
General Guidance for US Project Service
Based on CDC guidelines
Suspending teams
Make this decision based on the guidance of your governor, bishop, and your state, county, and local health departments. Pay attention to directions about school closure, stay-at-home orders, and the size of gatherings that are allowed.
Make this decision with the guidance of your board of directors or other governing body.
Hosting teams
Know the quarantine rules. Some states require travelers to quarantine before or after arrival. Have a plan to ensure compliance.
Follow CDC guidance on cleaning and disinfecting your facilities. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html
Post reminders for hand washing, awareness of symptoms, etc.
Improve air circulation in all common areas.
Provide prevention supplies:
hand sanitizer
disposable facemasks
eye protection
cleaners and disinfectants
Gloves for food preparation and cleaning
Other considerations
Avoid buffet-style meal service. Have kitchen crews prepare dishes. This includes sack lunch preparation.
If the dishwasher does not meet standards for sanitation, consider asking teams to bring paper products (not Styrofoam) to be discarded after each meal. Provide adequate trash receptacles.
All touch surfaces should be thoroughly wiped down when the team arrives and as they prepare to leave with approved cleaners. https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2-covid-19
Work should be done on exterior projects only. Make accommodations for portapotties so teams do not have to enter a home.
Consider ways to assure safe distancing on the work sight, in the dorm, dining area, and meeting space.
If possible, provide washer and dryer facilities for laundering expectations.
Screening protocol on arrival
Take temperature
Ask about general health
Ask if missioner has been in contact with anyone who had COVID-19
Wipe down all surfaces prior to welcoming teams.
Arrange for outdoor projects to assure minimal contact between homeowner and team members (painting, deck or ramp building, landscaping, roofing). Make accommodations for rest room facilities so team members do not have to enter the home. (i.e.: portapotties)
Childrens’ ministry (VBS) should be suspended until more guidance from CDC and the local officials is available.
Have a plan in place to safely transport a team member who develops symptoms of COVID-19.
Provide space for isolation if someone reports symptoms.
The team member exhibiting symptoms should contact his/her health care provider as soon as possible.
Leading Teams
Follow the guidelines of the CDC for travel both inside and outside the U.S.
Follow your local guidelines from municipal, county, and state health authorities. Also make sure you know the local guidelines in the place where you intend to serve. Where guidance from different authorities conflict, follow the more restrictive protocols.
If it is determined that it is safe and lawful to serve, continue to make arrangements for proper social distancing and PPE for team members, and sanitize surfaces and equipment wherever you go.
Each team member will sign the Medical and Emergency Form.
Know the health infrastructure in the area where the team intends to serve and the location of the nearest hospital.
Have a plan for canceling the journey or sending team members home if any team members are uncomfortable with the enforcement of safety protocols.
Consider donations to the partner organization and organizing a virtual mission if it is not appropriate to physically travel to the project site.
Going “back to normal” may be a long way off. We expect to take measures to interrupt transmission of the virus until (1) antibodies are proven to protect against re-infection, (2) tests are widely available to the general public and all team members have recently tested negative, or (3) there is a vaccine available and all team members have been vaccinated.
Questions or concerns? Contact your annual conference UMVIM Coordinator or your Jurisdictional UMVIM Coordinator.
Reflection on Race and Mission
I thought God had called me to spread the Gospel to those who needed it.
It was with this attitude that I left to go to Mozambique—to spread God’s word to those who needed to hear it. It wasn’t long before I realized that I was the one who needed to hear it most, and heard a call from God—this one louder—saying, “They don’t need you—you need them. They know me more than you do. Shut up and listen.”
While there, a professor invited me to imagine those who I felt “needed the gospel” and helped me realize that they often had darker skin than mine.
The recent killings of Black men by police and the recent protests have caused a lot of us to pause and take stock of our own prejudices, mistakes, and assumption about race and racism in our society. Like many of you, I’ve been asking myself how this relates to the work I do, and my call to ministry.
I do not want to speak for all of the church, for all mission teams or volunteers, or all churches. I can only be honest about my experiences, mistakes, and sins.
I recognize that, historically, some of the ways the church has “done” mission have been built on a foundation of racial stereotypes and assumptions—whether spoken or unspoken. For centuries the Western church believed that we had a monopoly on the Gospel and on the interpretation of God’s word and believed it had a duty to spread its beliefs to those “outside” the church—namely, those with darker skin. They were callously and arrogantly called “heathens” because they didn’t believe or look the right way, and because the church felt there was a formula to salvation and only it had the answer. All of this ignored the fact that Jesus resembled those who needed to be “evangelized” to more than those doing the “evangelizing”—and that during much of his ministry he warned against people who were certain that only they knew the way to God.
Over the centuries, the church has learned many tough lessons, and at UMVIM we try our best to teach and train teams and team leaders about those lessons, and to not be afraid to have difficult conversations about culture, race, and how it interacts with the work we do.
One of our most central tenets as Wesleyans is to “do no harm.” We try to take that seriously and recognize that, in God’s name, much harm has been done in the past and we need to learn from those mistakes. This is why UMVIM teams are taught the importance of only going when invited, and the need to listen to project leaders and community members who have ingratiated themselves in the populations UMVIM serves with.
I must recognize that the issue of race is not something relegated to history, but is still something that we must reflect on today, because there is still harm that is done in God’s name. I have struggled to write about this because I know my thoughts might distract from the voices of those we need to hear the most, and because I know that participating in a mission journey is, more often than not, privilege that many will never have.
All of us, including UMVIM team leaders and members, need to have these conversations. I hope that those of us who consider ourselves a part of God’s mission will take the time and make space for those conversations—difficult as they may be—and reflect on the damage that is done by dividing God’s kingdom into “us” and “them,” (or, in some cases, Black and white) and make changes. We are still not done learning those difficult lessons and hope God will grant us the wisdom to realize that racism is still alive and is still present in our church, and the strength to help us break our assumptions and rebuild our faith into the image of Christ.
-Rev. Matt Lacey, Executive Director, UMVIM, SEJ
matt_lacey@umvim.org
Guidelines for Project Sites and Team Leaders during COVID-19
June 9, 2020
Today UMVIM released guidelines to assist project sites and team leaders in determining when to resume hosting and sending mission journeys.
Click here to download a PDF, or read the full text below:
Guidelines for US Project Sites and Team Leaders during COVID-19
The first General Rule as United Methodists is to “do no harm.” United Methodist Volunteers in Mission leadership understands that many project sites rely on teams to assist in serving the community. These teams come from nearby, from another state, sometimes from another country. Some homeowners and missioners may have recovered from COVID-19. Some may be carriers. Some are not infected. All want to serve. One of the worst unintended effects of mission work throughout the ages has been the spread of infectious disease. Remember that you bring other things with you when you bring the Gospel.
The federal disaster declaration includes every state and territory with most states presenting shelter-in-place and social distancing guidelines. These guidelines for US project sites are designed to assist in determining when and if to suspend teams for the summer and how to prepare the site for future teams. All sites should adhere to public health and safety protocols in order to protect employees, homeowners, and missioners.
For the latest updates in regard to COVID-19, please visit Centers for Disease Control.
General Guidance for International Service
The State Department still has a Level 4 ban on international travel at the moment. At Level 4, insurance is not available to teams traveling internationally. It is recommended that teams do not travel without travel medical insurance.
General Guidance for US Project Service
Suspending teams for the summer
Make this decision based on the guidance of the governor, bishop, and county health department. Pay attention to their direction about school closure, lifting stay-at-home orders, and the time when small groups are permitted to gather again.
Make this decision with the guidance of the board of directors or other governing body.
Guidelines for Hosting teams
Follow CDC guidance on cleaning and disinfecting facilities.
Post reminders for hand washing, awareness of symptoms, etc.
Provide prevention supplies:
Hand sanitizer
Disposable facemasks
Eye protection
Cleaners and disinfectants
Gloves for food preparation and cleaning
Other considerations
Avoid buffet-style meal service. Have kitchen crews prepare dishes. This includes sack lunch preparation.
If the dishwasher does not meet standards for sanitation, consider asking teams to bring paper products (not Styrofoam) to be discarded after each meal. Provide adequate trash receptacles.
All touch surfaces should be thoroughly wiped down with approved cleaners prior to team arrival and as the team prepares to leave.
Consider ways to assure safe distancing on the work site, in the dorm, dining area, and meeting space.
If possible, provide washer and dryer facilities for any laundering needs.
Screening protocol on arrival
Take temperature
Ask about general health
Ask if the missioner has been in contact with anyone who had COVID-19
Provide space for isolation if someone reports symptoms.
Arrange for outdoor projects to assure minimal contact between homeowner and team members (painting, deck or ramp building, landscaping, roofing). Make accommodations for rest room facilities so team members do not have to enter the home. (i.e.: portapotties)
Children’s ministry (VBS) should be suspended until additional guidance from CDC and local officials is available.
Have a plan in place to safely transport a team member who develops symptoms of COVID-19.
Guidelines for leading a team
Follow the guidelines of the CDC for travel both inside and outside the U.S.
Follow local guidelines from municipal, county, and state health authorities. Also, know the guidelines for the locality where the team intends to serve.
If it is determined that it is safe and lawful to serve, continue to make arrangements for proper social distancing and PPE for team members, and sanitize surfaces and equipment.
Each team member will sign the Team Member Liability Waiver.
Protocols for the interruption of transmission of the virus will be followed until (1) antibodies protect against re-infection, (2) tests are widely available to the general public and all team members have recently tested negative, or (3) there is a vaccine available and all team members have been vaccinated.
Know the health infrastructure in the area where the team intends to serve and the location of the nearest hospital.
Have a plan for canceling the journey or sending team members home if any team members are uncomfortable with the enforcement of safety protocols.
Consider donations to the partner organization and organizing a virtual mission if it is not appropriate to physically travel to the project site.