Volunteers in Mission (VIM)
You’re invited... to the fall VIM trip with the Haiti School Project, November 7-14-, 2008. Team will visit several sites and meet people in various settings. If you would like to join the Haiti School Project team as we work and worship with our Haitian partners in mission, contact Curtis Bartz for information and an application. Call (313) 278-4849 or email jbartz@mich.com.
VIM is a Methodist Missions program where teams, typically of 6-20 people "share their faith by doing," all over the world. In the past 11 years we have supported members of teams, doing repairs and construction in Belize, Mexico, Louisiana, and Russia (5 times). Support has included: prayers; providing team members; collecting school & medical supplies, crafts, clothing, etc.; and financial support.
VIM News
Belize Mission Project
From February 18 to March 1, 2007, our Belize Mission Team worked at an Anglican School in Dangriga, Belize. We almost completed constructing their playground, including a concrete double slide structure, a swing set and a teeter-totter, and also fenced in the playground. Several team members spent many hours working with students – doing crafts, helping with basic instruction and playing games. We brought them many medical and school supplies, and recreational/sports items.
The team had 15 members, eight from West Side: Bruce Holbrook, Duane and Marilyn Kirking, Sally Lamkin, Margie Rudd, Mark Spencer, Verjean Zeller and Burt Lamkin, team leader. Seven other team members were from other Methodist Churches in Michigan and Colorado.
We gave about $4,000 to pay for the playground and fence and the items above. Most of the money came from West Side individuals and groups. Team members paid for their own personal expenses, except for $100 scholarships to West Siders from Outreach. We deeply appreciate the generous contributions of money and items, as well as your wonderful spiritual support and prayers.
$Support for VIM Team Members$
One hundred dollars ($100) for expenses will given to any West Side participant who joins a Volunteers in Mission (VIM) Disaster Relief Team in the Gulf. Funds will be provided through Outreach, United Methodist Men (UMM) and United Methodist Women (UMW), and administered by the VIM Committee. Contact Burt Lamkin, chair, @ 663-0300 if interested.
VIM Note:
“Oh, the mission trip to Gautier, MS was fabulous. We worked like beavers and ate like truck drivers!!! I loved my fellow team members and it sowed as there were lots of tears upon departure.”
—Connie Taylor
VIM Mission to India
Last October 16–31, Duane Kirking, John Stinson, Burt and Sally Lamkin were part of a United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (VIM) team of 15 who traveled to Calcutta, India. It was a very challenging experience. The planned project was to build a small building to be a medical clinic for street children. However, late rains left the building site under water, so we did alternative projects—construction, repair and improvement work to two facilities. We left project money, which will help build the clinic as soon as work can begin.
We also spent time with slum and homeless children in two small schools and in a giant railroad station, teaching and feeding them. We were somewhat overwhelmed by the poverty in India. It has had a deep and abiding effect on all of our lives.
We thank members of West Side for your prayers, your good wishes, and the financial support we received to help pay for project costs. (We paid our own personal costs.)
We would like to “report” in more detail to you on Friday, February 3, 6 p.m., in Weiss Hall. We will provide a dinner, including some Indian dishes, show a video and tell of some of our experiences. There will be no charge for the dinner, but a free will offering will be taken to support future VIM projects.
We also hope to have one or more people report on their Disaster Relief VIM experiences in the Gulf. The evening will be sponsored by the VIM Committee, Outreach, UMM and UMW. Contact Burt Lamkin @ 663-0300, or chairs of these groups, if you have questions.