VoL. 12 No. 9 maY 27, 2011BatoN roUge, La

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The faithful gather outside Elohim Iglesia Metodista de Mexico in Valle Hermoso during a church dedication held onMay 8. The structure is one of a number of projects in Mexico funded by the United Methodist Foundation of Louisianaand Louisiana Volunteers in Mission teams. Elohim Iglesia Metodista is led by Pastor Noé Briones.

Iglesia Metodista Dedication

Haiti / 6

Bahamas / 4

India / 10

On May 8, two churches were dedi-cated in Mexico--Casa de Comunion yBendicion (House of Communion andBlessing) in Matamoros and Elohim inValle Hermoso. On both projects, a grantfrom the United Methodist Foundation ofLouisiana matched monies given byLouisiana Volunteers in Mission teamsfor the construction supplies.

Originally, the grant was given foronly one building project, but it expand-ed, and now future projects including asanctuary in Reynosa and a new 1-12grade Methodist school building will befunded.

Each LAVIM team gives $100 perperson or $50 per day for longer staysand that amount is matched by the fund,a choice made by the LAVIM Advisory

Committee.With the help of these same funds and

the matching grant, a third church con-struction project (parsonage and fellow-ship hall) in Tampico has been complet-ed. “I think that the support of thesemuch needed projects is one ofthe Foundation’s greatest witness offaith, along with LAVIM, and theLouisiana Conference and it’s teams!,”said Willie Berman, Mexico VIM direc-tor.

Rob Fairly, president and CEO of theFoundation, said, “Our mission statementcalls the Foundation to serve as a catalystfor projects that meet the needs of adiverse and rapidly changing society. Thechurch and school builds in Mexico pre-sented the perfect opportunity for the

Foundation to make a difference. Welove seeing these projects come tofruition.”

Significant work has been done byLAVIM teams in Mexico on these andother projects. Through the determinedefforts of Billy and Marion Bridges andthen Foundation President Ray Caraway,an early dream of one church has nowraised two new sanctuaries, a parsonageand fellowship hall and now a school.

“ I and LAVIM are exceedingly grate-ful to the Bridges, the Foundation and thecontinuing support of present PresidentRob Fairly in these efforts. The work ofour teams and the ministry of MexicoVIM Director Willie Berman and these

Churches funded by Louisiana dedicated may 8

See Dedication, page 9

2011 Louisiana United MethodistAnnual Conference

June 5-8

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You are the Best!!!Louisiana, you are the best!! And I

don’t state that lightly! It is indeed truein so very many ways. One of the mostrecent ways in which you were the verybest was the recent “Day of Caring” heldon Saturday, May 14. Did you realizethere were at least 210 United MethodistChurches throughout our Conferencewho were fully engaged in additionalministries that were WITH THE POOR?That is amazing! And here is an evenmore amazing fact. That was the highestparticipation of churches in any AnnualConference in the ENTIRE CONNEC-TION. That means Louisiana had themost churches involved in this specialday of all the Annual Conferencesthroughout the entire world!! I wouldsay that is beyond commendable. It isstupendous!!!

Thanks to all the District “Day ofCaring” representatives who worked sohard to make the difference in howsmoothly everything ran on May 14. Itwas truly a demonstration in what can bedone when everyone agrees that a specif-ic mission is what God is calling us to doas a church.

Mission is always something Godcalls us to do as a church! And this isanother area where Louisiana hasexcelled. You can go all around theworld and you will find footprints of aLouisiana Volunteers in Mission(LAVIM) work team firmly embedded inthe culture of multiple places. That hasnot come by accident. It has comethrough intentional work by our capableLAVIM Coordinator, Rev. LarryNorman, and his highly gifted officestaff, Brenda Coppit and Amanda Short.You will find stories of the many oppor-tunities to reach out to others in needthroughout this edition of LouisianaNow!, as well as schedules of upcomingmission outreach teams that will bedeparting Louisiana in the near futurewhere service to humankind will be donein the name of Jesus Christ and for serv-ice to Him through our service to our sis-ters and brothers for whom he died.

It has become very clear to me as wehave worked hard to identify markers ofa vital and effective church, that thosewho are more involved in mission out-reach are the more vital congregations.That outreach can come in various set-tings, but it must always be “other” ori-ented and it must be sacrificial on ourpart. When we reach out beyond our-selves and into the lives of those whohave less and who are among “the leastof these”, our own lives are changed andwe become a little more cognizant ofwhat Jesus meant when he said,“Inasmuch as you have done it unto theleast of these, you have done it unto me.”

I watched with fear and trembling as

the first MorganzaSpillway bay wasopened on Saturday,May 14. None of usknew what thiswould create andwhat it would meanfor Louisiana. Iknow I was joinedby many others inthe fear that thiswould lead to great

disaster for so many and we would onceagain be facing a major response righthere within our own state boundaries. AsI write this, it looks as if my worst fearswill go unfounded and the destructionwill be much less than my unbridledmind imagined.

At the same time, there will be majorareas of need that we will be called uponto address once the waters subside andthe worst is over. The clean-up won’t beglamorous, nor will it be enticing, but itwill be absolutely necessary. If you havenever done a mission outreach programas a church, or as an individual, this willbe the perfect time for you to dive in.You won’t have to go far. It won’t costmore than you feel you can afford. Youcan get some of your closest friends togo with you, and you can be fully in mis-sion for Jesus Christ right here at home!It’s the perfect opportunity for EVERYUnited Methodist Church in Louisiana tohave people in mission! I challenge youto be attuned to the calls for help and torespond positively to what we are beingcalled to do.

You probably are “Disaster Weary”,and “Compassion Fatigued”, but now isnot the time to stop and rest. The call isstrong and unavoidable – “Come over toour need and help us!” And, I expect,once again Louisiana will stand strongand ready! It is your nature. It is yourculture. It is your understanding of whatit means to be a disciple of Jesus. Andthe more we respond to the deep natureof who we are as a people of faith, themore we are fulfilled and the greater isour witness.

I’ve said it before, and I say it again,“Louisiana, you are the best!” My jour-ney alongside you for eleven years hastaught me to look to you and at you withrespect and admiration. God bless youfor your unflinching endurance and yourenduring faithfulness. God must indeedbe smiling as the view from the heavenlyperch shows the people of God marchingnot only to Zion, but marching to mis-sion!!

In Christ’s love,

Bill Hutchinson

2 maY 27, 2011

Louisiana Conference Now!

Louisiana Conference NOW! is the newspaper of the Louisiana AnnualConference of The United Methodist Church and is published twice a month.

Subscriptions are $20 for one year, $30 for two years.(Please make checks payable to Louisiana Annual Conference.)

Send subscriptions, news and information to: Editor

527 North BoulevardBaton Rouge, LA 70802

E-mail: bettybackstrom@la-umc.org(888) 239-5286 ext. 227

(225) 346-1646, (225) 383-2652 fax

You can find the Louisiana Annual Conference on the Internet athttp://www.la-umc.org

William W. Hutchinson

Don Cottrill

Betty Backstrom

Resident Bishop

Provost

Editor

ON THE JOURNEY

You are the Best!!!

Richard Bozart, recently retired directorof South Africa Methodist Volunteers inMission (SAMVIM) recently visited theLouisiana United Methodist Conferenceoffices in Baton Rouge.

With him was John Mitchley, who willreplace Richard as director of SAMVIM.

“Our relationship with LouisianaVolunteers in Mission goes back toDecember of 1988. We were trying toestablish a VIM program in South Africa,but not alot of American or foreign teamswere coming,” said Bozart.

He spoke about different teams thatcame to South Africa. He recalled a teamfrom Broadmoor UMC in Baton Rouge ledby Rev. Amy Mercer in 2005, whichhelped to build a church parsonage andoffered educational ministry. In 2003, ateam from Louisiana Tech helped to build achurch in Amsterdam.

Wesley Foundation teams fromMcNeese and Louisiana Tech worked in alocal AIDS clinic and helped with the con-struction of the church in Balfour.

Ultimately, a team of volunteers fromSouth Africa felt led to serve in Louisianaafter Hurrican Katrina.

“Serving as SAMVIM director has beena 21- year- journey for me. Over the years,75 projects have been completed with thehelp of more than 100 teams. It was notdone for monetary reward, but it broughtgreat fulfillment. We’ve seen how people’slives have been changed, how they want tohelp others,” said Bozart.

His main motivation for moving back toHouston, Tex. is to “watch his grandchil-dren grow up.” Bozart is still promotingvolunteerism, however, as an active mem-ber of Roudrock UMC, a church whichsupported Bozart throughout his ministryin South Africa.

Mitchley, who has served as Richard’sassistant for 15 years, is looking forward totaking over the leadership of the organiza-tion. He indicated that the focus for teamsmay shift some from construction to med-ical missions and meeting educationalneeds.

Richard Bozart, right, recently retired director of South Africa Volunteers inMission (SAMVIM) visited the La. United Methodist Conference offices in BatonRouge with John Mitchley, who will replace Bozart as director of SAMVIM.

Louisiana Conference Now!Special LAVIM Edition

SAMVIM director visits Baton Rouge

Bishop WilliamW. Hutchinson

Dear Workers in Mission,Greetings to you as you consider what it means to represent the Lord Jesus Christ

through “hands on mission.” As you know, mission outreach is more than a humanitar-ian effort of good will and concern. Mission in the name of Jesus is indeed the re-pres-entation of Jesus to the people of the world. You have my deepest admiration and grat-itude as you make your plans for being the hands and feet of Christ.

There is a concern that has arisen that I want to address briefly with each of you.That concern is whether a mission outreach team is fully protected when you go intoall the world, and whether the Louisiana Annual Conference is fully protected as well.It is so easy to think only of the mission that is to be done; but there is also the liabilityof that mission and how it can potentially affect all involved. If a mission planningteam is not fully cognizant of all the many needs, that team can endanger both partici-pants and sponsoring agencies.

My request of you is that you work directly through the LAVIM office for any andall planning of mission outreach events. This office if fully equipped to handle all nec-

essary arrangements and is fully understanding of all needs with regard to safety –physical, emotional, and legal. If you insist on planning your own experience and planon using another source to plan and sponsor the work you are planning, then I requestthat you do so ONLY after conversation with the Executive Director of LAVIM, whocan advise you as to the many needs and precautions of which you must be aware andfor which you should prepare. It is imperative that we fully protect United Methodistsin mission and protect the Louisiana Annual Conference from liability for that mission.

It is my full desire to be completely supportive of mission outreach. However, Iwill feel much safer and more confident for you and for our Annual Conference if youwork directly through LAVIM. If you have questions about this request, please call myoffice and ask to speak with me. I will welcome that call for the safety of all.

In Christ’s love,

William W. Hutchinson

3maY 27, 2011

A welcome from the LAVIM director

Establish a good line of communicationwith the Louisiana Volunteers in MissionOffice. Please make sure that you providephone number(s) that you are most easilycontacted or frequently checked for mes-sages. Most of our teams use e-mail as aneffective means of communication with theLAVIM office. Your prompt reply to anymessages is greatly appreciated.

Please make every effort to have yourteam’s paperwork completed, notarized andreturned to the LAVIM Office at least threeweeks prior to your mission’s departure.This is especially important with yourinsurance paperwork. Your team’s insur-ance must be processed prior to departure.

Team leaders should retain the originalsof your mission records, except for yourGBGM Insurance Application Form. Theoriginal copy of the insurance form is sentto GBGM to process your team’s insur-ance.

For teams that are flying to their mis-sion location, airline ticket prices are fluc-tuating because of fuel surcharges. Whenyour team’s budget process establishes anairfare price to plan around, that airfareprice will probably change from that bud-geted figure. Team leaders will sign a con-tract agreeing to a flight schedule, numberof seats being held and a price per seat.Please keep in mind your contracted airfareprice does not lock in until your ticketshave been purchased. To establish a firmprice for your team’s airfare, it is best topurchase your team’s tickets as soon aspossible.

Please feel to contact the LAVIM officewith your questions.

Brenda Coppit (225) 346-1646 ext. 226brendacoppit@la-umc.org

Amanda Short (225) 346-1646 ext. 240amandashort@la-umc.org

Louisiana Conference Now!Special LAVIM Edition

Two jurisdictional work weeks were held this spring at Mount Sequoyah SCJAssembly and Conference Center in Fayetteville, Ark. Rev LaMarylis Cotten,Gueydan-Lake Arthur, and team joined her sister Patsy Schmultz’s team of NorthCross UMC in Kansas City for their annual mission co-leadership event and werekept busy on the Mountain with painting, hanging drapes, landscaping andsheetrocking. Members of the team, from left to right, were Carroll Cotten,Richard Sirmon, Brenda Simmons, Carolyn Sirmon, Rev. LaMarylis Cotten, PatsySchmutz, Ricky Simmons, Jeneva Myers, Tom Schmutz, Meredith Bentson andRonny Berry.

Mt. Sequoyah jurisdictional work weeks held

Important LAVIM team reminders!

Mount Sequoyah Retreat and Conference Center has established an AdvanceProjects Number of 3021239. For more information visit http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/advance/donate.cfm?id=3021239&code=3021239.

From the Bishop: Risk management for LAVIM teams

Welcome to this LAVIM edition of the LANOW; one of two that are publishedyearly! You will find a plethora of intriguing mission stories and opportunities as youread. I hope you will also find the Holy Spirit talking directly to you about becomingan LAVIM team member. That is how each and every person on our teams becomesa member — they feel a strong and irresistible tug on their heart to DO the gospel,the teachings of Christ, not just read and study them. LAVIM volunteers feed thehungry, heal the sick, clothe the naked, help those who are poor in resources or Spiritto find new riches all around them. We have saved you a place on an LAVIM team.We did not know it was you, only that God would supply the hands of hope for ahurting world. He asks only one thing, as our Annual Conference theme proclaims,“that we remember the poor...”

And, if you can’t go with us, become like Debra Berry who wrote me recently:“...thank you for thinking of me, worthy of being on one of your teams. But, I amfighting kidney failure at the moment. I had hoped to join the mission field...once mychildren were grown... but God has had other plans. I am a dedicated PrayerWarrior...so send me your prayer needs and they will be on the top of my list. This issomething God has given to me...the strength to pray and seek his wisdom in every-thing. I am linked with people all over the world in praying for other people’s need.This is my mission field...the Power of Prayer.”

If your mission field is hands on or hands folded, God calls, He claims and Hesends. Welcome to your mission!

Larry NormanDirector LAVIM

4 maY 27, 2011

McNeese Wesley Foundation participat-ed in a LAVIM mission to BahamasMethodist Habitat (BMH) during theirspring break, April 23-30. Martha Pittman,a senior at McNeese, led 15 team members(which included Wesley FoundationDirector, Rev. Angela Bulhof, and her son)to the village of James Cistern on the fami-ly island of Eluthera.

The team joined forces with the Romefamily, members of St. Luke-SimpsonUMC in Lake Charles, and a youth groupfrom Pensacola, Fla.

Bahamas Methodist Habitat is a disasterrelief and emergency home repair outreachministry of the Bahamas Conference of theMethodist Church through which volun-teers work together to repair and buildhomes for low-income families (Visithttp://redtiedesigns.com/bmh/).

“We learned that 70% of jobs in theBahamas are in the tourist industry; theBahamas have been very successful in mar-

keting their natural beauty to the Westernworld,” said Rev. Bulhof. “What this over-all success means for the family islands,like Eluthera, is that their children mustleave the island to find work in Nassau.Those who are left behind are mostly theunemployed, the children and the elderly.As a result, many people live in sub-stan-dard housing conditions. This is the gap inthe system that BMH is working to nar-row.”

The team worked in Gregory Townrebuilding a house that had been destroyedby a fire last November. This team tapedand mudded drywall, textured walls,caulked windows and frames, frameddoors, leveled ceilings, installed crownmolding and built a pantry. The secondteam was improving a house in HatchetBay for a young woman who had taken inthe children of her late sister by addingthree bedrooms onto her house.

On “Easter Monday” all the volunteers

had the opportunity to visit Current Island,a short boat-taxi ride off the western coastof Eluthera. “The 50 residents of CurrentIsland are all Methodist, so I guess youcould say we were standing on a Methodistisland!,” said Rev. Bulhof. Far from isolat-ing themselves from the rest of the islandsand the world, this visionary community isin the process of building a MethodistChildren’s Home. Children needing thisspecial kind of care will be brought to theCurrent Island facility from any or all ofthe islands that make up the BahamasMethodist Conference. This community isalso hosting volunteer teams which stay inbunk-bed dormitories in the church andparsonage. BMH is also the contact toschedule teams who would wish to helpwith the Current Island Children’s Homeproject.

“Working with Bahamas MethodistHabitat was such a blessing over Easterand Spring Break. Our week started off

right with an Easter Sunrise Service on thebeach. At the end, it sprinkled some andthen there was a beautiful rainbow. For me,it was the ultimate reminder that God ful-fills his promises-on Resurrection Sundayand the symbol He gave us when He prom-ised He would never flood the Earthagain,” said Martha Pittman.

The team helped with substandard hous-ing for two very deserving families. Theyalso got to build relationships with thebeautiful community we stayed in. “Thefamily whose home I worked on, her sisterpassed away, and she took in her sister’sthree young children so we were adding onthree bedrooms. We took special care topaint their bedrooms fun colors and paintedchalkboard paint on the hall wall, so theyare allowed to write on their walls. It wasvery refreshing to be in a communitywhere the whole community was centeredaround the Church,” added Pittman.

Louisiana Volunteers in Mission willhost a mission to the Holy Land Oct. 7-20,2012. This unique mission combines serv-ice project work with visits to holy sitesand meeting the indigenous Christian com-munity in the land of Jesus. Volunteers willhave the opportunity to learn about the his-tory and the people of Palestine, and expe-rience Middle Eastern hospitality.

Highlights of the mission include:Volunteer mission work with Mar EliasSchool at Ibillin (UM Partner Projectfounded by Archbishop Elias Chacour,nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize), andUM Advance project such as Hope Schoolor Bethlehem Bible College in Bethlehem.Visits are scheduled to Jerusalem, the OldCity, Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, theJordan River, Bethlehem, Bethany, Gardenof Gethsemane, Mount of Olives, Mount ofTemptation, Nativity Church, Shepherd’sField, Jericho, Mount of Beatitudes,Tabgha, Wailing Wall, among others. T he

group will also become acquainted withour denominations work with its own min-istry with D’heisha Refugee Camp and theAl Kheima Center. We will worship with alocal Christian congregation at Maghar andmeet representatives from the three faith

communities, Jewish, Christian andMoslem, and become acquainted with UMmissionaries and their work.

Mission fees for the Holy Land Missionare approximately $3,000-$3,500 includingair, accommodations in tourist class hotels

and church guest houses, transportation indeluxe motor coach, English speakingguide, entrance fees, three meals per day,honorariums for speakers, insurance, workproject fees, administrative fees and tips forguides, drivers and hotels.

The October Holy Land Mission will beled by Larry Norman, Director of LAVIMand Debbie Vest, South Central JurisdictionUMVIM Coordinator. The sacred site visitsand work projects are arranged by JanetLehr-Lewis, UM Liaison in Israel andPalestine. The mission is limited to 10 per-sons from the Louisiana Conference and 10from the SCJ. Required reading for themission includes Blood Brothers by FatherElias Chacour and Through the Eyes of theVictims by Alex Awad (UM missionary toPalestine/Israel.)

Those interested in volunteering for thismission opportunity should contact LarryNorman, 225.346.1646, orLduckN@aol.com.

Louisiana Conference Now!Special LAVIM Edition

LAVIM team from McNeese Wesley works with Bahamas Habitat

Mission to the Holy Land planned by LAVIM for October of 2012

5maY 27, 2011

A one-week LAVIM mission to SanJose, Costa Rica in late February focusedon helping the Universidad BiblicaLatinoamericana (UBL) build student dor-mitories. The school hopes to add 14 dor-mitories by 2013 for future growth. Teammembers included Mike Owenby, leader,Andre Rodrigue, construction leader, SueWimberly, Fifa Kissinger, Ruth Owenby,Pat Scheffy, Anne Towles and Lee AnnThomas from First UMC; and Ray andLou Anne Stickman from St. FrancisvilleUMC.

This mission began as a constructionmission and wound up being a “destruc-tion” mission. The team cleared an adja-cent piece of property of coffee bean bush-es, banana trees and a dilapidated house.“It was great therapy for some of us,”wrote a team member. A shed was alsobuilt with recycled materials and an exist-ing room on campus received a new coatof paint.

Becky Harrell, missionary at the UBL,served as the team’s host during the stay.The team extends sincere thanks for heroutstanding care provided and for planningtheir stay in Costa Rica. The team wasblessed to participate in Sunday services ina local church, tour the downtown marketand enjoy a day-trip to the rain forest. Thestaff of the UBL also went out of their way,especially the cook, Dona Emma. Hercooking alone is “enough to plan a returntrip.”

The University offers studies anddegrees in Theology and the Bible. Theyhave an average of 125 students per yearattending from 14 different South andCentral American countries. The team hadan opportunity each evening to meet sever-al of the students and professors. Their lifestories and their dedication to Christianservice made lasting impression. The teamfelt blessed to participate and share, for abrief moment, in the wonderful ministry ofthe Universidad Biblica Latinoamericana.

A unique opportunity to understand thelife and growth of the Methodist Church ofHonduras will be afforded the LouisianaAnnual Conference November 1-6.Missionary Ron Davidson and his wifeLoretta will intenerate in our Conferencevisiting a number of churches as well asenjoy reunions with past LAVIM teamswho have served in the Central Americancountry.

Ron and Loretta, much like our ownLAVIM mission teams, began their work inHonduras in 1999 while on an UMVIMteam. They felt God’s call on their lives in2000 and continued to visit and volunteeras often as their jobs permitted. In 2005,God opened the door for them to live andwork in Honduras for the past six years.The couple partners in receiving teams

from all over the globe as well as ourLouisiana teams and provide supervisionand coordination for construction projects,transportation, housing and meal arrange-ments. Teams build worship centers, edu-cational facilities and parsonages as well asdo maintenance on existing structures andoffer VBS and vocational classes guided bythe work of the Davidson’s. Loretta hasrecently begun a new ministry called theButterfly Project which offers day care ofworking moms. LAVIM has sent manyteams to Honduras over the last 14 yearsincluding four scheduled for this summer.

The Davidson’s schedule as of thisprinting is as follows:

November 1, 6:30 p.m. Crowley FirstUMC, Rev. Elaine Burleigh, ice creamsocial

November 2, 11:00 a.m.1:00 p.m.,McNeese Wesley Foundation, Rev. AngelaBulhof, lunch

7:15 p.m., SLU Wesley Foundation,Rev. Daniel Hixon

November 3, 6:30 p.m., St. FrancisvilleUMC, Rev. Danny Gleason, covered dish

November 6, All a.m. Worship Services,Asbury UMC, Lafayette, Rev. RichardHumphries

6:30 p.m., Tulane Wesley Foundation,Rev. Max Zehner, meal

Additional dates are still available toschedule the Davidson’s for your congrega-tion. Please contact Larry Norman,Director of LAVIM at (225) 346-1646, toschedule this exciting missionary couple.

LAVIM mission team has life changing experience in Costa Rica

Honduran missionary slated to tour Louisiana conference in November of 2011

Louisiana Conference Now!Special LAVIM Edition

Ron Davidson

6 maY 27, 2011

LAVIM offers unique mission opportunities in the Philippines

LAVIM will continue its work in Haitithis summer and fall with three missionswhich are part of the UMVIM/UMCORcollaboration with Eglise Methodisted’Haiti. A three year work plan has beendeveloped providing funds for coordinatorsfor projects, assistance with design of engi-neered earthquake resistant buildings andcompletion of new buildings. Rev. GesnerPaul, President of the Methodist Church ofHaiti, along with the UMVIMCoordinators of the five Jurisdictional areashave designed the response.

Two teams will depart the LouisianaConference in July, and one in Septemberwith still more teams scheduled for early2012. Teams are limited to 10 membersincluding a team leader who must be a cer-tified UMVIM team leader with priorHaitian mission experience. All teams run

Monday to Monday.Openings are presently available on a

Sept. 19-26 team led by LAVIM DirectorLarry Norman and Jan. 19-16, led by Rev.Hulen Warren of Grace UMC in Ruston.Misson fees for most Haiti teams run$1,500 per person including air, meals andlodging, insurance, in country transporta-tion and Haitian and LAVIM administra-tive fees. In addition, teams are required toprovide $3,500 in materials funds which ismatched by UMCOR ultimately providing$7,000 for much needed supplies.

Volunteers wishing to serve in Haitishould contact either of the two team lead-ers to express their interest. Contact infor-mation: Larry Norman, (225) 346-1646,LduckN@aol.com and Hulen Warren,(318) 255-2211, gracepastor@sudden-linkmail.com.

Louisiana Conference Now!Special LAVIM Edition

If you have ever wanted to go toCabungan, now is your chance! Cubunganis only one of the several projects awaitingteams in the beautiful islands of thePhilippines. Beginning in March of 2012,teams can depart Louisiana for Manila andtravel to work in Anda at Asbury Collegeor with several area churches which needimprovement or additional educationalbuildings.

Anda is located in the PangasinianRegion of the Philippines near the easterntip of the Bohol peninsula. The MethodistAsbury College celebrated its 62nd highschool and college graduation March 28when 76 seniors and 14 Bachelor of Arts orChristian Education graduates marched theaisle to receive their diplomas. Thisachievement is even more significant whenone knows that there are no classrooms forcollege students at the school presently andthat each of the crowded 14 school build-ings leak when it is raining or are in needof paint and replacement timbers where

pesky termites have damaged their abilityto safely hold up the roofs.

Asbury College plans to build six newclassrooms for its college classes whichnow meet under trees. The number of newclassrooms will also enable high schoolclasses to move out of dilapidated build-ings temporarily so that older buildings canbe renovated. The auditorium used for gen-eral meetings and Baccalaureate also is inneed of major roof and wall repairs.

The Methodist Church in thePhilippines is growing by leaps and boundsand such places like Cabungan, Awag,Marempey, Macando and Tondol, wherethese congregations flourish, are in need ofnew classrooms, floor tiles, roofing, par-sonages, new toilet blocks and generalrepairs and renovations in order to holdtheir membership on Sunday morning orthroughout the week as classes and kinder-gartens are sponsored.

Each Christmas beginning the day afterour Savior’s birth and continuing until after

New Year’s Day, the Methodist youth ofthe Philippines gather from all over theislands at Asbury College for ChristmasInstitute. The institute (CI) brings togetherover 800 youth to share and study togetherand to celebrate their faith. Youth teamsfrom Louisiana are invited to join this cele-bration and offer their leadership, musicand teaching to expand and enhance theministry received there.

Of special interest to Louisiana volun-teers is the fact that Rev. Marsha GailAlexander has returned to Asbury Collegeas her new missionary assignment. Marshahas served at Asbury before and LouisianaUnited Methodists will know her ministryas she was on staff at University UMC inLake Charles and Sager Brown/UMCORDepot in Baldwin. Rev. Alexander sendsher personal invitation to her Louisianafriends and Covenant Relationships to joinher in Anda and Asbury College for mis-sion.

LAVIM stands ready to assist with plan-

ning missions to the Philippines which willprovide hands-on mission and an eye-open-ing faith experience. Teams from Louisianaare invited to join in these efforts to aidAsbury and its neighbor congregations orto celebrate and grow in your faith duringChristmas and New Year’s break. It is ajourney! Two days are needed for theflights to Manila and another eight hoursdrive will land you into Anda and ourteam lodging at Tondol Beach. (Yes, youwill have to stay in a beach hotel while youdo the hard work of rebuilding Asbury andthose churches in need! No one ever saidmission was easy!) But the best part willbe the significant relationships you willbegin with our Pilipino friends and congre-gations and youth and witness and growfrom the faith of an extremely vibrant andviable church. If you are interested in mis-sion in the Philippines, LAVIM “has youcovered.” Contact Larry Norman, Directorof LAVIM for more information, (225)346-1646.

Louisiana Volunteers in Mission is ready to help interested teams plan a mission to the Philippines. Beginning in March of 2012, teams can depart Louisiana forManila, traveling to work in Anda at Asbury College or with several area churches which need imporvement or additional educational buildings. The youth choir andband at the Cabungan Methodist Church, top left, performed during a visit by LAVIM. This vital congregation is in need of expanded church school facilities and refur-bishment of the church parsonage. The Tondal Methodist Church at Tondal Beach in the Philippines, above right, is also in need of repairs.

Missions to Haiti continue in 2011 as part of UMVIM/UMCOR collaboration

Traveling half-way to Cambodia willland you in San Jose, Cal. at Wesley UMCwhere missionaries, staff, Cambodianleadership and mission volunteers fromacross the states met to celebrate ourshared work in Southeast Asia. A team ofLouisiana folks committed to theCambodian Initiative and its missionjoined the festivities.

The Louisiana Conference has beendeeply involved with the re-establishmentof the Methodist Church in this recoveringcountry. Remnants of the Methodist fel-lowships that existed before the Pol PotRegime began to return and emerge the1980’s. Now the Methodist Church hasgrown across the country with over 150congregations filled with children, youth,and young adults. Louisiana churches andLAVIM teams continue to find significantconnection as the mission conferencegrows toward its goal of becoming anannual conference in 2016.

VIM teams from Louisiana have pro-vided resources and labor for the construc-tion of two churches. The most recentchurch at Samrath, in the Kampong Thomregion, will be dedicated in September bya team from First UMC in Baton Rouge.A parsonage and dormitories are to beconstructed. First UMC and St. Andrew’s

UMC in Baton Rouge are continuing theirwork with teams and financial resources.

LAVIM’s next team will be led by Rev.Ann Sutton, Northwood UMC, Lafayetteand Rev. Clifton Conrad, St. Mark UMC,Opelousas. The team will lead a retreat forlay persons, “Called to a Life of PrayerfulContemplation and Spiritual Formation.”Volunteers will teach and lead participants

toward a more contemplative faith life.We continue that work in 2012:

Spring - A medical team will return toSvay Rieng. Beverly Dinnel, LorangerUMC, is forming a team ready to ministerto a huge population in need. During thesix-day clinics earlier this yea,r theyserved over 1,900 patients in three com-munities supported by three local

Methodist churches.May - A youth conference leadership

team under the leadership of Diane Reich,St. Timothy on the North Shore, will leada group of Louisiana youth and collegestudents to worship and fellowship andoffer leadership and experiences withCambodian youth whose lives are alreadyon fire for their faith.

October – A Men’s Conference teamled by Ken Musick, St. Andrews UMC inBaton Rouge, will return with a team tolead a retreat for Cambodian men. Thiswill be the second Cambodian Men’sConference led by Ken and hisvolunteers.

Attending the California celebrationwere Rev. Dawn Young, Rev. Ann Sutton,LAVIM Director Larry Norman, and teamleader Judy Foust of First UMC, BatonRouge. All felt the work accomplishedgave form to the work that is to be doneand helped renew the friendships that sus-tain this formative work.

There are opportunities for individualsand churches to join this work. ContactRev. Ann Sutton atrevann70507@gmail.com or LouisianaVolunteers in Mission at (225) 933-1881,LduckN@aol.com, for more information.

7maY 27, 2011

Rev. Larry Norman, Rev. Ann Sutton, Irene Maparutsa, Rev. Dawn Young, Rev.Romy De Rosario, Esther Gitobu and Tuy Chamrouen are pictured at theCambodian Initiative in San Jose, Cal.

Cambodian Iniative meets in San Jose, California to plan future LAVIM projects

Louisiana Conference Now!Special LAVIM Edition

God had a plan for us to start 2011 thatwe could not have imagined! As most ofyou know, we have just returned from aLAVIM medical mission to Cambodiawhere we assisted the Cambodian Missionstaff in their desire to bring much neededmedical care to several villages. This wasone of the most fulfilling missions for bothof us. Looking back, we both agree it wasall about the people. We spent one on onetime interacting with many more of theCambodian people than previous missions.Immediate needs were fulfilled and we gotto see the results!

The seven days we were in Cambodiawere extremely full as we set up clinics atthree separate locations. There were over1900 patients that came through the threeclinics.

Thanks to many who contributed, thesuitcases were bulging with a great supplyof medications, glasses, children’s activitysupplies and gifts for the Cambodians.

Our first clinic was at Paum PnoeMethodist Church in Svay Rieng Province.We arrived Sunday afternoon around 1:30and started setting up the different areas ofthe clinic. There were already quite a fewpeople seated under the tent waiting to seeus. We hurriedly set up the triage area forinterviews, the doctors’ exam area, pharma-cy, dental and reading glasses areas, thechildren’s area and prayer area. Beforeexamining patients we gathered for aprayer service with the awaiting communi-ty.

Our next morning started pretty muchthe same. We arrived early and had prayerservice and went straight to work. Word

must have gotten out in the community asthe crowd was much larger than the daybefore. By the end of the second day, over600 patients had been seen at the clinic.

We broke down the clinic, packed upand loaded the supplies and headed back toSvay Rieng for dinner and rest. The nextday we moved to a much more rural loca-tion at Chambork Korng MethodistChurch. On the drive to the church, weturned off the main highway to a very ruraldirt road full of holes and ruts. The churchhad no electricity however they did providea generator for our fans and lighting. Wewere the first medical team to come to thischurch. As we had experienced previously,the crowds were large. We started with ashort prayer service and opened the clinic.

This clinic was different than the previ-ous one as many of the patients had moreserious illnesses. One person fell down in aseizure right next to our area. Anothertime, a group of men carried their friend inwho had earlier had a stroke. They wantedour help, but we were unable to help himand referred him to a major hospital.Sylvia saw a lady who had breast cancer sobad there was no way to help her.

It was an amazing day. It was so veryhot and the people were coming so fast thatwe had very little time for rest. In the eyeclinic, one lady was breast feeding herbaby as she was trying on glasses. Thebaby never missed a beat! We were somoved to see the response from some ofthe eye clinic patients when they put on apair of glasses and could actually see!They were so excited and they thanked usover and over! It was so rewarding toexperience this!

We had many great interpreters.

Rebekah Soke helped us in the eye clinic.She is a seventeen year old in High Schoolin Prey Veng. Her English was very goodand she was a great help to us. We reallyenjoyed getting to know her. She told usshe was a miracle child. Her mother was aChristian before she was born. She almostdied when she was two months old. Shesaid her mother prayed and prayed for herand she was healed. She was very proud totell that story.

Lucille Hall (Called and ChosenMinistries, BR) was in charge of the prayerarea which was continuous throughout allof our clinics. No doubt this was one ofthe most valuable services we provided.

On Wednesday, we went back toChambork Korng. The eye clinic had runout of glasses for that particular church sowe worked in the dental area. As the den-tists do not have the facilities for toothrepairs, the only option was to pull teeth!We thought this was possibly the hardestplace to work and you certainly can’t havea weak stomach! We worked with aCambodian dentist, Dr. Nee and two dentalstudents. They were great at what they didand took excellent care of every patient.

Once again, we packed up everythingand moved the clinic. Prey Veng was ournext stop. It is about three hours fromSvay Rieng and a much more rural area.

Prey Veng Methodist Church is actuallya typical Cambodian home built on stilts.It had only recently been purchased withplans to do many needed repairs. Therewere quite a few youth living at the churchwhich is pretty common for Cambodia.They are praying for funding to build anew church at the same location.

The first day was pretty much like the

other clinics. We started our day with aworship service as usual and as we arrived,people were already lined up waiting to seeus.

We set up dental and eye clinics upstairswhile the triage area, doctors and prayerteam set up downstairs and under the tent.At one time, the upstairs area was socrowded with patients that we were con-cerned it might collapse!

This was such a great experience for us.Being able to help the Cambodian peoplewho are so humble, gentle spirited and joy-ful even in their poverty was such a bless-ing. During all the clinics, each person wasgiven vitamins and a worm pill (they havemajor stomach issues) and other meds theymay have needed. All our medications,glasses, and toothbrushes were distributedalong with health kits, wooden crosses, andchildren’s crafts/school supplies.

This would not have been possible with-out all those who contributed through theirdonations and prayers. We want to thankall of you who prayed for us and donatedmoney, medications and other items to thismission. Lives were touched throughoutthis area of Cambodia from this mission.

Please continue to pray for Cambodia,the church and the missionaries becausethere are so many needs.

There are three additional Cambodianmissions planed by LAVIM and theLouisiana Cambodian Initiative for 2011,September 23-October 7 (construction),October 20-30 (construction) and October29-November 10 (educational). To joinany of these teams please contact LAVIMat (225) 346-1646 or LduckN@aol.com.

BY BEVERLY DINNEL TEAM LEADER, LORANGER UMC

Three Cambodian missions slated for September through November of 2011

8 maY 27, 2011

For many years the nursing program atLouisiana College took nursing students toMexico as a part of their educational pro-gram. This was, in part, to provide themexperiences on an international scale, butalso in keeping with the mission of thatSouthern Baptist College. However,approximately five years ago they weretold they could no longer make such tripssponsored by a Baptist organization, andtheir support systems in Mexico were dis-continued. This was in large part due to areduction in schools participating in theprogram because of fear. But the studentsat Louisiana College were persistent intheir desire, not only to assist others, but intheir desire to have the experiences thatthey had come to expect from the nursingprogram.

It was this persistence, and a facultymember who attends First UMC inPineville, that has prompted the partnershipof Louisiana College Nursing students andLouisiana VIM. On July 6, a team of fivenursing faculty and about 12 students willdepart for Reynosa Mexico and the nursingstudents attending a Baptist College will

partner with leadership from the UnitedMethodist church to be in mission with ourbrothers and sisters in Mexico. The stu-dents will participate in a couple of clinicdays in Mexico, in addition to providingBible stories and music for those awaitingcare. Some of the students will be requiredto prepare patient teaching plans for dia-betes care, as well as care of hypertension,and be able to present that to patients at theclinic. The nursing students are being chal-lenged to prepare a diet plan for diabetespatients that is not only nutritionally sound,but is within the means and ability of thosewho receive them to afford and prepare.

Because the Louisiana College facultydoes not have a trained team leader, thisteam will be lead by Rev. Dawn Young,who also teaches students in a nursing pro-gram at another institution. She also servesas the Director of Christian Education forthe Louisiana Annual Conference.Members of the nursing school faculty willbe able to attend LAVIM Team LeaderTraining in 2012, and become equipped tolead their students on future educationaland Christian missions.

Willie Berman Director of MexicoVIM and Manos Juntas Mexico will bevisiting Louisiana Churches Saturday,July 30 through Saturday August 6.During this time Berman will be visitingand speaking at various congregationalgatherings to share updates onLAVIM/Mexico VIM mission workalong the border. Plans call for Willie tovisit the Shreveport, Alexandria, New

Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette andLake Charles areas. A more detailed listof gatherings and their times will beavailable at a later date. Willie and hisfamily will be traveling together and planto also include a work day at SagerBrown on Friday, August 5. Please“save the date” to see Willie and his fam-ily and learn of new opportunities for ourmission work in Mexico.

Dear Friends of VIM Mexico / ManosJuntas México (Hands Together Mexico),

We continue to face these difficult timesof violence created by the drug cartels inour country. We hear about terrible thingsevery other day in our local, regional andnational news of deaths mostly of youngmen that were involved in some process ofthe drug activities; a few innocent peoplehave been killed in cross fire situations,immigrants continue to be kidnapped bythe mafia to ask for ransom from their fam-ilies back in their place of origin, SUVs’cars and pick up trucks being stolen withsome degree of violence are the most com-mon issues we know about.

Despite of the violence between the twodrug cartels, the Gulf Cartel and the Zetas,in our region, and the fighting of theMexican Army and Federal forces againstthem, US teams that have worked with ussafely and we are continuing to say that itis safe to come and partner with us as weobserve common sense precautions. Still,the number of team cancelling is growing.We are trying to identify new ways of con-tinuing to partner in God’s mission withfewer teams and less resources. We arepraying that God will guide us, grant us thesafety for our teams and that we defeat thefears caused by the news media with ourdedication to God’s mission.

Here are some statistics of the numberof teams we have received from all USConferences in the last three years:

2009, 63 teams, 8 cancelled2010, 55 teams, 13 cancelled2011, 30 teams, 24 cancelledMedical teams have been the most can-

celed and the number of all team membershas been reduced, in most of them up to50%.

In May 8th we are dedicating two sanc-tuaries for the Glory of God! The one inMatamoros called Casa de Comunión yBendición (House of Communion andBlessing) whit Pastor Roberto Gómez andthe one in Valle Hermoso called Elohimwith Pastor Noé Briones. On both projects,a grant from the LA Methodist Foundationmatched monies given from the LAVIMteams for the construction supplies. I needto say that originally the grant was givenfor just one church building project, but wewere able to match funds for other projects,and now we are about to approve a couplemore projects to be another sanctuary inReynosa and a 1-12 grade Methodistschool new building. Thank you, LAMethodist Foundation and the LAVIMteams that worked on these, you will beremembered.

Here are some of the areas we are cur-rently working on: Health Ministry / Manos Juntas Clinic

Our Clinic in Rio Bravo has been opento the public on Mondays and Tuesdayswith a family doctor and a dentist, and onTuesdays, also with and ophthalmologist.In order to do this, we have been charging$5 dollars to each patient (or family) butthis also includes all the medicines we areproviding. If someone says they cannotpay, we don’t charge them.

Starting May 2nd, we will be open fivedays a week with the assistance of differentMexican doctors. We are paying themabout $20 dollars per day, per doctor. We

continue to offer free Clinics when VIMMedical teams come to work with us; wealso are in the process of setting up 1-dayfree clinics in different “colonias” with ourown doctors, once a month. We needsponsors of $100 dollars for a week of oneof our doctors and the management of ourpharmacy.

A lunch and dorm program is in processat La Luz Methodist Church outside of thenew General State Hospital in Rio Bravofor the relatives of the patients and will belaunched next July; we will start with 2days a week.Evangelistic projects

Currently, we have a commitment for$150 dollars per month, for Pastor RubenSifuentes for him to go four hours southfrom us, to start a mission Church in SanCarlos, a small village located in our poor-est region of the State. Some of our teamshave been there in the past and built casitasand offered free clinic. The commitmentthat we have for the safety of our teams hascurtailed our sending teams there presently.

In August this year, we will be giving$90 dollars per month for a lady Pastor,going to the Tampico area (eight hoursSouth of Rio Bravo), to start another mis-sion church. In this way we, are partneringwith the Methodist Church of Mexico intheir evangelistic efforts.Manitas Juntas (Little Hands Together)

We started this program last Februarywith two teams of children. Rev. LarryActon, founder of Hands Together, was thefirst team leader that partnered with ourfirst Manitas Juntas team. The program isto create a team of around 10 children,ages 10 to 12, that will received a coupleof lessons about why we do missions andtheir role in their community. After this,they will be ready to join a US team andtogether they will work for a few hours ona special project, like painting, cleaning apublic park, planting trees, make or deliv-ering lunch bags for homeless people orpeople outside of Hospitals, a party for anorphanage, etc. Then they will continuewith their lessons and later they will joinanother mission team. The idea is to pro-mote the mission culture in our children.We believe this has been the start of gener-ations of mission-minded Christians in ourarea. Praise the Lord!!!

VIM Mexico / Manos Juntas needs“strong shoulders” to fulfill these plans anddreams, so we need “big friends” that willpray and support us financially. You arebeing invited to support us and become a“VIM Mexico/Manos Juntas Big Friend.”Please consider partnering with us. Sendyour donations to the LAVIM office. Cars,medical equipment and supplies, tools andother items are also needed. Please indi-cate where you would like us to apply youroffering, or you could underwrite the gen-eral fund

In Christ,

Guillermo “Willie” Berman

VIM México and Manos JuntasDirector,

GBGM Missionary #3019612

Big Friends make strong shoulders!

Louisiana Conference Now!Special LAVIM Edition

Willie Berman to visit Louisiana churches

LAVIM joins with La. College on medical missions

Bishop Raul Garcia and Pastor Roberto Gomez Reyes celebrate the dedication ofCasa de Comunion y Bendicion (House of Communion and Blessing), aMethodist church in Matamoros, Mexico. The church is one of several construc-tion projects built largely by matching funds from the United MethodistFoundation of Louisiana and monies donated by Louisiana Volunteers in Missionteams.

9maY 27, 2011

Dear Friends,It sounds like such a cliché to quote

the Blues Brothers but “We were on amission from God.” Thanks to all ofyou who were so flexible in helping uschange our arrangements. There wasgreat anguish on the part of the team inmaking the decision not to cross the bor-der. I know there was great disappoint-ment for all our friends on the border.Again, thank you for the grace youoffered and the strength of long relation-ships.

All of the arrangements ended upbeing excellent. The Methodist Churchat San Juan has a great bunkhouse. Thechurch has done an excellent job prepar-ing to host teams and we felt at home.Working with Otto and Irv was atreat. Their deep commitment to thepoor of the valley was a blessing to ourteam. Their ability to connect us withneed, provide the needed materials anddirect our efforts made the constructionpart of our mission verysignificant. Susan Hellums, thanks againfor all the connections that made this agreat experience.

Willie, being with you on Saturdaymorning was the highlight of our jour-ney. We took many pictures on the waybut we did not get a picture of all gath-ered around the breakfast table, beingblessed by food and fellowship and yourwords. ““You do not realize now what Iam doing, but later you willunderstand.” We may not understand alluntil much later but all of us knew thatyour message to us around a yellowbreakfast table and our continued andshared mission is still critical to our par-ticipation in the kingdom of God. The

whole team felt privileged to have sharedthat time with you and privileged to havebeen involved in the last 10 years ofministry. We look forward to finding anew TEX-MEX connection which willcontinue to connect resources to need inthe valley and across the border. Wepray for the violence to end and that wecan find purposeful and practical ways tomake peace. I pray that we will contin-ue to send teams in that direction untilthe way is open for us to again cross theborder.

I cannot measure how much of ourdecision was based on perception ofsecurity and the actual reality ofsecurity. There were individuals on ourteam that would have crossed the borderwith every confidence that we wouldhave been safe in the care of Willie andother staff. Taking a team across andbeing responsible for others is anotherdecision. Unfortunately the present con-ditions place immense pressure on theperceived risk of taking a team across theborder. I think that it is important in thisseason to encourage teams to continue tocome to South Texas, to pull trailers fullof supplies and to be ready to step acrossthe border as the Spirit moves us.

I hope that this will be a time ofstrength and discernment for theMexican churches to which we havebeen so closely linked. My prayer is thatthey will discover a depth of faith nur-tured by 10 years of mission presenceand find a wholeness and holiness strongenough to give public witness to the loveof Jesus in this time of testing.

Our prayers are with you and we con-tinue to be with you.

dedicated people have given new life andcomfortable and useful places to worshipand do ministry for these friends in Mexicoand now will enhance the education ofhundreds of children,” said Rev. LarryNorman, director of LAVIM.

Casa de Comunion y Bendicion inMatamoros is led by Pastor RobertoGómez Reyes and Elohim in ValleHermoso is led by Pastor Noé Briones.

The Valle Hermosa project was begunin 2004. Billy and Marion Bridges, mem-bers of Ingleside UMC in Baton Rouge,were involved in the project. Billy, a good

friend of Pastor Noe Briones, came toLAVIM with the dream of replacing thedilapidated small church. He designed andsupplied the blue prints for the sanctuaryand helped in the process of requesting thegrant from the Foundation as well asworked on many of the early teams thatwent there.

The Matamoros project began inOctober 2008. The Resurrecion Methodistoin Tampico, Mexico is already dedicated.Pastor Andres Contreras leads the congre-gation.

The next project that will benefit fromthe grant is the construction of ColegioBetania in Reynosa.

Rev. Angela Bulhof, director ofMcNeese Wesley Foundation, Dr. PeggyWolfe, dean of the McNeese College ofNursing, and Willie Berman have designeda partnership among their organizations.

Rio Bravo will link with one of theCollege of Nursing’s Community Healthclasses this fall, allowing them to integrateclassroom knowledge with clinical prac-tices. Through the capstone project, stu-dents assess data to determine best healthpractices and present their findings to a

specific community health population.Berman is making a video diary of Rio

Bravo, skyping with the class, and plan-ning a visit to McNeese State University.Rev. Bulhof and others are recruiting andtraining team members for a mini-medicaland construction mission to Rio Bravo,Jan. 5-8, 2012. Team members will largelyrepresent Wesley Foundation students, theCommunity Health class working on theRio Bravo project, and the Student NursesOrganization.

McNeese Wesley and nursing college partner

Dedication, from page 1

Louisiana Conference Now!Special LAVIM Edition

A great mission experience!

Hands from LAVIM reach across the border to our friends in Mexico

Much has been said and printed regard-ing the violence in Mexico in the past fewmonths. Indeed there have been problemsand there is a continuous clash between theMexican authorities and cartels that findtheir livelihood in the promotion of drugabuse. But one must be careful in makingjudgments. Some of the news is certainlytrue but some is not. Events affect someareas, but mostly life goes on.

One recent mission volunteer to theMatamoros, Reynosa area recently wrotethis: “We’ve all heard the news reportsand travel advisories by the StateDepartment concerning the border area ofMexico and the US murders and mutila-tions caused by the drug cartel dominatethe headlines. Many people are certain thatcities along the Mexican side of the Texasborder are in total chaos with gunfights inthe streets and people afraid to leave theirhomes. We made our fourth mission toMatamoros in February to work with theMethodist Church. While we were inMatamoros we found life to be the same ishas been in past years. Children weregoing to school and playing outside in theiryards. Adults were going to work in theday and families were getting together ineach other’s homes for fool and fellowship.Church members told us they have neverwitnessed any acts of violence, nor didthey personally know anyone that had beena victim of violence by the drug cartel.”

This is the experience of our LAVIMteams who have traveled to and in Mexico.Medical clinics are held and patients aretreated under no fear of violence.Buildings are being repaired, rewired,

plumbed and volunteers are returning safeand unharmed from impromptu VBS gath-erings in the street. Most return asking whythey were ever concerned.

To help others understand the safety ofteams and the continuing great need forthose teams in Mexico, LAVIM is sponsor-ing a past and future team leader’s missionto Mexico. The team will depart on August25 and return on Sunday, August 28. Allpast team leaders and anyone consideringthe role of Mexico MiniMedical andConstruction team leader are invited to bepart of the fact finding/work mission.While in Mexico, we will visit sites inMatamoros, Rio Bravo, and Reynosawhere our teams continue to work. Underthe guidance of Willie Berman, MexicoVIM Director, we will not travel into areasthat have indeed become high risk over thepast few years but we will travel freelywhere safety and opportunity abound. Inaddition to seeing and gathering the latestinformation on our mission opportunities,we will spend one day working in thedeportation camps on the Mexican side ofthe border. According to the skills of thosewho join this team, that time will be spentin helping to improve the facilities or tooffer medical care to those who live in thecamp. Supplies needed in the camp will beannounced for those registered to acquire.

The cost of the mission will be approxi-mately $225 plus air. Volunteers may alsochoose to drive to the border. Please con-tact Larry D. Norman, LAVIM Director at(225) 346-1646 or (225) 933-1881,LduckN@aol.com, if you wish to partici-pate in this important opportunity.

Mexico scouting mission for team leaders Aug. 25-28

A unique alliance began when theLouisiana Volunteers in Mission (LAVIM)team joined with the North IndianTheological College (NITC) team ofBareilly, India, from February 26 to March5, 2011, to work on a construction projectat the Sat Tal Christian Ashram in thefoothills of the Himalayas. The Ashram is aspiritual retreat center surrounded bymountains, lakes and pine trees, started bythe great Methodist evangelist, Dr. E.Stanley Jones. The 11 member LAVIMteam led by Judy Barbay of St. John’sUnited Methodist Church in Baton Rougejoined the 23 seminary students and staff ofthe NITC led by Rev. Vinley Peters.

Utilizing the expertise of LAVIM teammembers Carlos and Saroj Welch, theologystudents were trained in pastoral counsel-ing for half of the day with the other halfdevoted to construction work.

The construction teams worked onrestoring the Garden Cottage at the Ashramwhich will provide accommodations for 24pilgrims and will greatly enhance thecapacity of the Ashram. The successfulmission project saw the completion of theGarden Cottage painting, cleaning floors,tiling bathrooms, breaking and movingrocks for a retaining wall and diggingtrenches for a drainage system.

Although many NITC team membersknew English, some did not but it did nothinder the communication of God’s lovebetween the teams as we worked together,ate together, washed dishes together andworshiped together. The weather was coldand damp most of the time; however thewarmth of love and caring of the staff and

team members kept us going.Lillian Wallace, “retired” missionary,

was instrumental in this international col-laboration. She is a driving force inMethodist mission activities in India.

After leaving the Ashram, the LAVIMteam journeyed to the Warne Baby Fold(orphanage) in Bareilly, India, where con-tributions from many United Methodistsprovided new sandals and shoes for thechildren served by the Warne Baby Fold.Seeing the delight of the children receivingtheir shoes was a special treat. While inBareilly, Rev. Jo Ann Cooper with St.John’s UMC in Baton Rouge was invitedto preach at the English LanguageMethodist Church which holds its servicesin the chapel on the Clara Swain Hospitalgrounds.

The LAVIM team toured the GoldenTriangle of Agra, Jaipur and New Delhi.Sites and activities included a guided tourof the Taj Mahal, the deserted palace ofFatepur Sikri, an elephant ride to theAmber Fort in Jaipur and many opportuni-ties to shop.

Discussions took place on how theLAVIM team and the NITC team couldcollaborate in February, 2012, when theLAVIM team returns to India to work atthe Clara Swain Medical Clinic inFaridhpur. A LAVIM construction teamwill be leaving on February 16, 2012, towork on improving the facility which pro-vides medical services to the poor in thevillages outside of Bareilly, India. OnFebruary 23, 2012, a medical LAVIM teamwill depart to provide clinical services atthe health center.

LAVIM will offer up a new experiencefor clergywomen of the Louisiana AnnualConference in 2013 – the opportunity to bea pilgrim at the Sat Tal Ashram in northernIndia. This historic pilgrimage will gatherclergywomen of the Louisiana AnnualConference together with clergywomen ofacross the Asia-Pacific region. Leadershipfor the event will be given by Louisianaclergywomen Angela Bulhof, ElaineBurleigh, Dawn Young, and Ann Sutton,among others.

In 2008, when Rev. Bulhof led aLAVIM team to India, she met an ordainedMethodist clergywoman, Rev. Peters, whoteaches at the English-language seminaryin Bareilly, India. “We worshiped in thechapel at the seminary on New Year’s Day,2009,” explains Rev. Bulhof. “Rev. Peters,dressed in a stunning red sari, prayed themost beautiful and moving prayer I haveever experienced. After the service, wefound each other, and Rev. Peters asked meto pray for women clergy in India. Shetold me that there are fewer than 50ordained women in the entire country.Even those who are ordained are not beingoffered opportunities within the church tofollow their call. I sincerely believe thatthis pilgrimage is God’s way of putting myprayers into action, and inviting others tohelp God make this Kingdom-dream possi-ble.”

The Sat Tal Ashram, established by E.Stanley Jones 80 years ago, is located nearNanital, near the border of Nepal, and is

comprised of over 900 acres in the foothillsof the Himalayas. The Ashram pilgrimagebeing planned for March 2013 will be twoweeks long (including travel) with the pur-poses of strengthening the bonds of sister-hood, telling and hearing each other’s sto-ries, and allowing God to nurture our souls.Work periods are also part of the Ashramschedule and lots and lots, of great Indianfood. Hiking and quiet times by the lakesas well as marvelous worship opportunitieswith fellow believers from around theworld will be the daily offering.

Carlos and Sarojini Welch, who willhelp to plan this pilgrimage, have a specialconnection to the Ashram experience. Bothworked directly with Dr. Jones during theirmission service in India and served as stafffor the Ashrams, living at Sat Tal duringthe summer months to both facilitate andattend the spiritual growth conferences.

Clergywomen who desire a closer walk,to get away from the pressures of dailycongregational leadership among colleaguefriends are invited to be in prayer aboutjoining this experience. We anticipate thatthe cost will not exceed $3,500. Depositswill not be due until 2012, but LAVIM isable to receive periodic installments inadvance if that would be a helpful way tofinance your participation. Please forwardyour contact information to Rev. AngelaBulhof in order to receive up-to-date infor-mation on this pilgrimage opportunity:revangela@suddenlinkmail.com, orwww.facebook.com/angela.bulhof

10 maY 27, 2011

The February LAVIM team to the Sat Tal Christina Ashram in Nanital, India, led byJudy Barbay, was joined by a work team from the North Indian TheologicalCollege of Bareilly. The Garden Cottage, above, was refurbished by this and otherLAVIM teams. A volunteer is shown, left, working on floor surfacing on the exteri-or balconies of the Garden Cottage.

Rev. Angela Bulhof visits with Rev. Peters at seminary in Bareilly, India.

LAVIM partners with theological college during India mission to ashram

Pilgrimage for clergywomen set in 2013

Louisiana Conference Now!Special LAVIM Edition

11maY 27, 2011Louisiana Conference Now!Special LAVIM Edition

2011 MEXICOMINI-MEDICAL/CONSTRUCTIONREYNOSA, CARBONERAS,

MATAMOROS,NUEVO PROGRESO, VALLE HERMOSO

2012 MEXICOMINI-MEDICAL/CONSTRUCTIONREYNOSA, CARBONERAS,

MATAMOROS,NUEVO PROGRESO, VALLE HERMOSO

DatesJune 2-5June 8-12

June 15-19June 15-19June 29-July 3July 6-9

July 14-17July 28-31

August 25-28

September 1-4September 15-18September 29-October 2October 6-9October 13-16October 27-30November 3-6November 9-13November 17-20December 1-4

Team LeaderShelley BrayMary AnneSchindlerAvailableDale SmithArchie CorderDawn Young/ReneaShamblinJoel KeesGlenn Ford

Team LeadersOnlyNann McMullenDennis BouckGloria Robinson

Ricky WillisAvailableAvailableTom DunganJackie SmithJim MakerAvailable

DatesJanuary 5-8

January 19-22February 2-5February 16-19March 1-4March 15-18

March 29-April 1April 5-8April 12-15

April 26-29May 3-6May 17-20May 31-June 3June 6-10

June 14-17

June 28-July 1July 5-8July 18-22

September 6-9September 20-23

October 4-7October 18-21November 1-4November 15-18Nov. 29-Dec. 2December 6-9

Team LeaderKatrinaWard/McNeeseWesley Found.AvailableAvailableSt. Pauls UMCAvailableAsbury UMCBossier AvailableNorthwood UMCHorseshoe DriveUMCAvailableAvailableDarlene GuillotAvailableMary AnneSchindlerLakeview UMCShreveportAvailableAvailableSt. MatthewsUMC

St. Paul’s UMCAsbury UMCBossierAvailableAvailableAvailableAvailableAvailableAvailable

No August Dates Available

No August Dates Available

2011 MISSION OPPORTUNITIESINTERNATIONAL LOCATION TEAM LEADER TASKCambodiaSeptember 23-October 7 Phnom Penh Judy Foust Construction/

Church DedicationSeptember 29-October 10 Phnom Penh Clifton Conrad/ Lay Spiritual

Ann Sutton Direction RetreatCubaOctober 17-27 Havana Mark Martin ConstructionGuatemalaJuly 11-17 Lemoa Andrew Tarver ConstructionHaitiJuly 18-25 Port au Prince Larry Norman/ Disaster Response

Claire MottAugust 29-September 8 Dasmas Sarah Marsalis- Disaster Response

LuginbillSeptember 19-26 Port au Prince Larry Norman Disaster ResponseNovember 18-26 Dasmas Sarah Marsalis- Disaster Response

LuginbillHondurasJune 18-25 Danli Area Vicki Sydboten/ Construction

Gloria RobinsonJuly 9-16 Subirana Richard Schulze ConstructionMexicoJune 29-July 3 Reynosa Archie Corder VBSPalestineOct. 21-Nov. 1 Bethlehem Ray Varnado Maintenance/Repair

Bible College EducationRussiaJune 8-17 Yekaterinburg James Gillespie Construction/Edu.

USA LOCATION TEAM LEADER TASKAlabamaMay 16-21 Cullma Darryl Guy/Bob Deich ERT/Disaster ResponseJune/July TBA Steve Miller Disaster ResponseJuly 2-8 TBA Andrew Connell/ Disaster Response

McNeese Wesley FoundationAlaskaJune 9-18 Girdwood Judd Hammond ConstructionArkansasMay 29-June 3 TBA Jim Maker Disaster ResponseJune 5-11 Mount Sequoyah/ Allen Tuten Repair/Landscaping

Fayetteville

2012 MISSION OPPORTUNITIES

INTERNATIONAL LOCATION TEAM LEADER TASKBahamasFebruary 19-25 Eleuthera Laura Vaughan/ Construction

Centenary CambodiaJune 13-26 Kampong Saom Diane Reich Youth ConferenceOctober 18-November 1 Svay Rieng Ken Musick Men’s ConferenceCubaOctober 15-25 Havana Mark Martin ConstructionGuatemalaMarch 10-17 TBA Max Zehner Construction/VBSHaitiJanuary 9-16 Port au Prince Hulen Warren Disaster ResponseHondurasJune 13-22 Danli Area Asbury UMC/ Construction

LafayetteIndiaFeb. 16-Mar. 3 Faridpur and Bareilly/ Judy Barbay Construction

Warne Baby FoldFebruary 23-March 9/10 Faridpur and Bareilly/ Larry Norman Medical

Warne Baby FoldNepalAugust Kathmandu Larry Norman Construction/VBSPalestineOctober 7-20 Elias Chacour School/ Debbie Vest/ Construction

Bethlehem Bible College Larry NormanPhilippinesMarch Anda/ Larry Norman Construction

Asbury CollegeRussiaJune Yekaterinburg James Gillespie ConstructionViet NamMarch 15-31 Ho Chi Minh City Beverly Dinnel Medical

USA LOCATION TEAM LEADER TASKArkansasApril 9-13 Mount Sequoyah Larry Norman SCJ UMVIM

Work WeekLouisianaJanuary 20-21 Woodworth/ Larry Norman Team Leader Training

Wesley Center

2011 - 2012 MISSION OPPORTUNITIES

Dr. Aubrey Mills died in 2005.Dr. Aubrey Mills died in 2005.

Now, he’s helping the needy rebuild smiles.Now, he’s helping the needy rebuild smiles.Dr. Mills was a dentist, but also a man with a generous spirit. After participating in medical missions with Volunteers in Mission, he designated VIM as the beneficiary of his lucrative pension plan.

Because of his foresight, there is a new dental suite and two mobile dental units to provide full dental services to the poor in Reynosa, Mexico.Thanks to Dr. Mills, the needy have something to smile about.

Include VIM in your will or estate planning.

Contact the Foundation to learn how. (225) 346-1535 www.umf.org

12 maY 27, 2011

St. Luke-Simpson United MethodistChurch in Lake Charles sent an 18-personLAVIM team to serve at the Red BirdMission in Beverly, K. April 25-29. Theteam consisted of 10 women and sevenmen from the Lake Charles area, includingthree youth from St. Luke-Simpson, aswell as one gentleman from Mansfield, La.The team departed around 10 p.m. onEaster Sunday and arrived at Red BirdMonday evening. After our first meal andfried ice cream dessert, made by the RedBird School’s Spanish Club, they enjoyedan inspiring devotion by Dennis, the man-ager of the work camp.

The team toured the CommunityOutreach center, and found out about theways Red Bird reaches out and ministersto the Appalachian community. They visit-ed the Community Store, which provideslow-cost clothing to the local residents ofthe Red Bird area.

While the team was there, they workedon several houses installing a wheelchairramp and gutters and doing roof repair.Team members enjoyed visiting with andgetting to know the homeowners, whowere gracious, humble and gentle people.

The teamvisited the Red Bird Schoolfor a moving performance by the CardinalSingers, the school’s choir. The group alsoviewed a portion of the film, “MissionAppalachia,” which talks about Red Bird’smissions service to Appalachia.

“We encourage others to join the RedBird Mission through Louisiana Volunteersin Mission in serving the people of theAppalachian Mountains,” wrote teammember Marlaena Granich. For more info,call the LAVIM office at (224) 346-1646.

LAVIM teamserves Red Bird

Louisiana Conference Now!Special LAVIM Edition