February FUNdraiser

We have great all-occassion note cards featuring the beauty of San Jose. 3 different sets of 8 each. "San Jose Flora and Fauna", "San Jose Scenes" and "San Jose Neighbors". Make a donation in honor of a loved one and send them a note telling you did with these great cards - great for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Sympathy, Get Well, Thank Yous, or just to say - I'm thinking of you. They are beautiful and feature photos taken by members of the mission team. Go to www.sewickleyumc.org for the church's contact information. Thanks for checking out our blog! Peace!

January 2009 - I'm energized!

It's a new year, with a new president. I'm feeling encouraged by President Obama's call to service for the nation. It's a great start to his term and I am praying for his success improving our nation and the world it effects.

Our fundraising is well underway. In December, we had a wonderful response to our Singing Christmas Cards (like a Caroling Telegram). Thanks to the leadership of Susie Moffett and the support of our team and congregation, we raised $750 of our $1,000 goal. Our January fundraiser is to purchase bibles and so far we have raised enough for 70 of our 200 goal. It is such an amazing gift to give a bible. Lifechanging. For most, they do not own a single book and if they are going to have just one book in their house, we want it to be a bible. Something that can sustain the entire family for generations to come. I'm also feeling encouraged by the efforts of one of our team members, John, who emailed 170 of his friends about our bibles sales and he's has some response. It's great that this mission reaches beyond the walls of our church.

We got great coverage about our mission in the local paper and are planning for our next Fundraiser in February - an alternate gift giving campaign. We're making note cards out of our photographs from past trips to San Jose. We're asking people to make a donation in honor of a loved one, in leiu of or in addition to, candy and flowers for Valentine's Day.

There is still loads of planning to do and June will be here before we know it. There's snow on the ground here and I'm trying to think of the tropics. Team members have their passports in order and are getting immunized....we're planning our education plans, our bible study, our Sunday School classes and our music. We are also looking forward to some spanish lessons taught by a special friend this Spring. Keep praying for us! Have a great day everyone.

Team Assembled - FUNdraising begins

I am praising God for calling 12 talented individuals to our team. We have met a couple of times and will meet just 6 more times to discuss our mission. In between our meetings, we will see a lot of each other when we work on our FUNdraising efforts. Our projects have been zeroed in on. In addition to our ministry work, our focus is on water quality. We have asked the health committee in San Jose for recommendations on how we can help them. They have identified issues with the facilities at their community center and asked for some help with other community projects that are in need of repair. A wall securing the school is broken and they desire some painting to be done at the school. We will also be organizing some education on basic hygiene for the school, focusing on ways to prevent contamination of their drinking water and a community clean up. One of the negative effects of our culture on them is the pre-packaged snack foods. There is no waste management for their community, so the introduction to inexpensive unhealthy snacks is having a adverse effect on their health in multiple ways. Trash is a water quality issue, the plastic (baked and broken down by the sun) leaches chemicals into the ground water and effects their watershed. So, we are going to designate one afternoon to collecting and burning the trash that has been left behind by the packaging.

Our FUNdraising is underway to help purchase the much needed supplies. Our overall goal is $5,000 ($1,000/month). December we begin with Singing Christmas Card (like Caroling Telegram), January we will be collecting money to buy bibles in Spanish, February will be an Alternate Gift Giving campaign, March will be a special offering day and April will be Bunko.

Feel free to contact the church at 412-741-9340 for more information on how you can help.

Mission 2009 - Sweet Water for San Jose

I am thrilled to announce that the Sewickley United Methodist Church council just approved our first official UMVIM (United Methodist Volunteers in Mission) mission trip. We will be assembling a team for June 19-28, 2009 to return to San Jose! Our focus will be on water quality. Sweet Water is what the Native Americans named our town - Modern day, Sewickley. Looking forward to more blogs by future team members.

Amigos - the words

AMIGOS by Rommel Osmani Ramos

(Verse 1) AMIGOS YO LES QUIERO CANTAR
Friends, I want you all to sing
ESTA CANCION PARA PARTICIPAR
This song to join in
LLEVANDO ESTE MENSAJE A LOS AMIGOS
Carrying this message to friends
QUE TODOS JUNTOS LUCHEMOS POR LA PAZ
That all together, we fight for peace

(Coro.) POR QUE ESTE MUNDO ANDA DESCONTROLADO
Because this world spins out of control
NO HACEMOS NADA EN BIENESTAR COMUN
And we do nothing for the common good
PORQUE LAS DROGAS LOS TIENEN ATRAPADOS
Because many are trapped by drugs
Y ES IMPORTANTE QUE NO TE METAS TU
Its important you don't let that happen to you

(Verse 2) TANTAS OFERTAS QUE HAY SE NOS PRESENTAN
With Composer, Hurst BartleyMany temptations are presented us
A MAS DE ALGUNAS TU TIENES QUE LLEGAR
Many more will you have to come
PUES REFLEXIONA ANTES DE QUE LOS ACEPTES
But think carefully before you accept them
Y YA NO PIENSAS IGUAL QUE LOS DEMAS
And don't think like all the rest (Don't always follow the crowd?)

(Verse 3) FELICITO A TODO EL GRUPO DE JOVENES
I congratulate all the youth group
PORQUE ESTAN TODOS COMPROMETIDOS CON DIOS
Because the are all in relation with God
Y ES UN APOYO PARA TODA LA IGLESIA
And it supports the entire church
Y SON EJEMPLO PARA TODOS LOS DEMAS
And is an example for all the rest

(Coro.) POR QUE ESTE MUNDO ANDA DESCONTROLADO
Because this world spins out of control
NO HACEMOS NADA EN BIENESTAR COMUN
We know nothing of the common good
PORQUE LAS DROGAS LOS TIENEN ATRAPADOS
Because many are trapped by drugs
Y ES IMPORTANTE QUE NO TE METAS TU
It’s important you don't let that happen to you

(Verse 4) AMIGOS YO LES QUIERO INVITAR
Friends I want to invite you all
A UN RINCONCITO AQUI EN MI CORAZON
To a little corner here in my heart
ORANDO POR TODOS, TODOS LOS QUE SUFREN
Praying for all, all who suffer
Y VAN POR LA CALLE CON GRAN DESILUCION
And take to the streets with great disillusionment

Reflections

As this year comes to a close, I am reflecting on the impacts our mission team had on the community of San Jose. We have had the chance to present a review of our mission twice to our church and once to another church with future presentations during the upcoming lenten season also to another church that is going to send a team to San Jose in 2008. Bringing the word of God to our focus group - the teenagers of San Jose, was a challenging opportunity and completely rewarding experience. God's plan was far greater than our own and was clearly working in this community before we arrived. We came up with this idea of holding a religious lip sync contest and it blossomed almost majically into "Evento Musical Cristiano" - which was grande by the way. The organizer from the community posted a sign at her home store that said - [Attend without Fail] - and they did! 200-300 Daily for 5 days in horrible (to us) heat. It was amazing to meet the boys that were touched by the word of God and attending church with them. To see the community supporting each other - across the board - all the different Christian faith churches. Chatting with the leaders of the church's and hearing about the challenges they face in their lives. Exposing children with talents that no one knew they had - giving them a forum to express their beliefs openly and honestly in such a creative manner. Being invited to pray WITH people in clearly desperate situations, praying for people that asked us for needed prayers, praying for people that didn't know we were praying for them. The connection to Christ was clear in the lyrics that were submitted to us by teens - most of them tell their own stories of how the Lord helped them or how they searched for and found Him. Sharing our testimonies and encouraging everyone that attended the daily events to look to the bible for answers to the most difficult times in our lives. Leaving behind 200 bibles for their community. During the week, we were emphasizing the promises of God: God loves you, knows you, is with you, treasures you, and forgives you. It will truly be a week that none of the teenagers, their family and friends or our team will ever forget. Experiencing the love of God is everlasting.

Bill

Well, he did not drive to Honduras, but he is heading for another very hot and humid place for basic training. We're thinking of you! You should at least be able to drink the water this time.