The 2006 Cooperative School of Christian

The 2006 Cooperative School of Christian Mission came to a close Sunday, July 16, with the nearly 300 participants leaving inspired, informed, and ready to share their knowledge in their local churches. In addition to the adult participants, there were 25 children and 8 youth who learned about Peace, India and Pakistan, and how globalization has changed our lives.

Rev. Marvin Hood led the camp in the Spiritual Growth Study on Peace in the Bible in Our Time. Vivian Oliver (Texas Conference), Monina Fowler, and Sarla Chand taught the second year course on India and Pakistan. Globalization classes were taught by Texas Conference experts: Dr. Danny Wayman, Dr. J.D. Phillips, and Dr. Francis Guidry. Rev. Amy Hodge and Carolyn Brantley worked with the children while Mattie Ordaz and Theresa Graham led the youth in the many activities. Thebe Worden served as dean of the school, and Rev. Donna Brown was assistant dean.

Boards and agencies of the Conference shared in enrichment groups. A Trip to Zimbabwe was shared by Dr. Carolyn McCall; Dancing With a Brave Spirit was led by Dr. Glenna Brayton; Angela Baker reported on the Hurricane Rita Disaster Response. Building Peace One Piece at a Time was led by Elaine Kimsey, while Rev. Richard Laster helped participants to Organize for Mission. Rev. Clint Rabb, General Board of Global Ministries representative, assisted him. Understanding the Texas Political Maze was Judy McFarland’s topic while Rev. Ruby Nelson shared What the Laity Needs to Know about Clergy Sexual Ethics.

Those who attended enjoyed a visit to the Conference Mission Store, an ice cream social, walks around the lake and on the prayer path, time to visit the displays of programs and events in the Texas Conference, the opportunity to purchase study books, and meals with old and new friends. Picture from this year’s school are available on the school’s website: www.cooperativeschool.org.

The Texas Conference Cooperative School of Christian Mission is an event planned by the Conference Board of Managers and United Methodist Women. Questions can be directed to Dr. Danny Wayman, Chair of the Board of Mangers or Rev. Donna Brown, Dean of the 2007 school. Email can be sent to cooperativeschool@hotmail.com.

FROM Angela Baker, Director Rita Recovery~
Beaumont...The Rita Recovery office is in urgent need of volunteer
teams to come to Southeast Texas to repair homes for families affected by
Hurricane Rita. Many homes still have blue tarps covering them and more
than 900 families are on the waiting list. Why are they still waiting
after nearly a year? We have the materials and the time but we don’t
have the volunteers! We need you! We are currently recruiting teams
for the fall and into 2007. Information is on the Rita Recovery website
at www.umcortexas.com or you can contact Bonnie McAndrews, Volunteer
Coordinator at bmcandrews@umcortexas.com or call her at 409-892-0140.
Please prayerfully consider answering the call to help families recover
from this disaster.

Priority Project/Urgent for PIM - Belize Christian School

Greetings,
This picture was taken last week, showing Pyppa Johnson of Windsor Village Church (Houston) with Marvin Kellyman, the Headmaster of Burrell Boom Christian School, sitting on the new "slab" of his (previously burned-down) cottage. We need help in August finishing this project, before school starts in mid-September! Pyppa will be on-site coordinator all month!


Here's the tentative schedule, we can pick you up at the nearby Belize International any time.
July 30th-Aug 3rd...Carpentry/general laborers
Aug 5th-Aug 10th....Masonry/general laborers BRICKLAYERS NEEDED!
Aug13th-Aug 17th....Electrical/general laborers MED TEAM Aug 16-24, 2 nurses needed
Aug 20th-Aug 24th....Plumbing/general laborers
Aug 27th- General finish up

We have cut expenses to the bone! Our packages are cheap, with various accomodations ranging from cheesy to really nice ALL TAX DEDUCTABLE, EVEN THE R and R..... Lots more info at: www.belizemissions.org
Peace in Jesus,

Cam Collins, Belize UMVIM Project Coordinator
CALL ME 24-7 800.494.0146

Kenya mission teams in 2007

Dear Friends,
The calendar is beginning fill up for Kenya mission teams in 2007. If you are receiving this email it is because you are a past Team Leader/team member and I am offering you first chance to select dates for your mission team. We have several projects this coming year:

1. AIDS Orphan homes in and around the Maua area - Your team can build 1-2 homes a week in the village and get to know the family quite well.
2. Construction projects at the Maua Methodist Hospital - If your team would rather work only at the hospital there are many projects that need finishing. The construction will range from moderate work on older buildings to heavy construction of new buildings. A new Trauma Center is being planned now. Need: plumbers, electricians.
3. Medical projects at the Maua Methodist Hospital - They need I.T person who can help with the hospital information system and software, Bio-med people, and lab tech. Anyone who can help with short courses of 1-2 hours to help upgrade any of the work in the hospital will be considered. Bush Clinics can be arranged with at least 6 months notice and teams will go out to villages near Maua for day clinics with the staff of the hospital. Only 3-4 non-medical people can attend and the team will have to come up with all the financing for transport, meds. etc.
4. Bio-Intensive Farm- Meru - continue to work on the foundations of the houses, extend the goat shed, fence in the compound behind the classrooms, put in a new water system, upgrade electrical systems, renovate the Guest House.
5. Malindi Women's Conference Center - Located on the Indian Ocean just north of Mombasa, the women of the church have been collecting money for years and slowly building a Conference Center here. It will be used by the women of the church for trainings, retreats and conferences. When not in use by the women's group, the Center will be available for any mission groups, missionaries and other groups needing a place to stay. We will be helping with the fencing around the perimeter and with the beginnings of new buildings.
6. EXTREME MISSIONS - Milimanti Research Center is located 2 hours east of Meru and a training center for farmers. Teams will stay at the center while making renovations to the buildings. Located in a dry, but beautiful area, the team will have wonderful people to work with while experiencing real Kenya living.

Please let me know if you are interested in working at any of these projects. Dec - Feb will be your cheapest months for airfare, while June to October are still the most popular. Teams can split their time between the Maua/Meru projects or the Milimanti/Meru projects.
Teams need to leave on a Thursday from the States and arrive in Kenya on Friday night. Saturday is a travel day to your location. Then the team can work up to 1 week at any of the projects or longer if there is no team scheduled the next week.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
God Bless,
Kathie Mann


Director of Partners In Mission
Texas Annual Conference
5215 Main St.
Houston, Texas 77002
713-521-9383
FAX 713-521-3724