United Methodist Volunteers in Mission - Western Jurisdiction
Equipping Volunteers, Empowering Partnerships
February 25, 2020
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In This Issue:
Spring Training Focuses on Leadership
Why UMVIM...
Team Spotlight - Middletown, CA and the Tanquists
International Team Requests
UMVIM and Early Response Training Opportunities
Mission Volunteers Training Date for April
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SPRING TRAINING FOCUSES ON LEADERSHIP
Earlier this month, Doug Lewis and I met with the Western Jurisdiction Leadership and presented the Western Jurisdiction UMVIM Coordinators Action Plan for 2020 and beyond. That PLAN includes:
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Equip Team Leaders and Conference Team Leader Trainers using the new Team Leader Training Tool Kit developed by the Conference UMVIM Coordinators over the past 2 years.
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Additional team leader training topics to be developed include: Cultural Awareness, Theology of Mission focusing on building relationships during the mission and after the mission, and Long-term Recovery Team Training.
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Engage more young people (youth and youth adults) and those with diverse ethnic backgrounds in serving in short term missionaries.
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Why UMVIM...What We Believe
LEADING (Best) PRACTICES
UMVIM considers the following the Best or 'Leading' Practices for
short-term volunteer mission teams like UMVIM Teams.
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Have a trained team leader through your annual conference or WJ UMVIM program. Contact your Conference Coordinator for more information on upcoming trainings.
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Comply with the Safe Sanctuaries/Gatherings policy of your annual conference. Your UMVIM Conference Coordinator can help you with that as well.
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Serve with an UMVIM site/project - list of UMVIM approved projects can be found on the WJ website www.umvimwj.com. Check with the UMVIM Coordinator if you have questions about your team projects.
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Register your team. Registration for teams can be found on your Annual Conference Website or on the WJ UMVIM website at www.umvim.com
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Take insurance through UMVIM, Western Jurisdiction. The WJ insurance policy covers both accidents and illnesses that occur during your mission journey. Information on the WJ insurance is on the UMVIM WJ website.
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Spiritual Formation
Embarking on a mission does not begin and end with your travel dates and should encompass a spiritual journey for you and your team that requires prayer and devotion before, during, and after you travel. Remember this is God’s mission, and you have each agreed to be part of it. A Mission Journey: A Handbook for Volunteers by the General Board of Global Ministries is a valuable resource for you and your team.
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Commitment to Intercultural Competency: We have been born into many privileges,and prejudices about others. It is vital that we do the hard work with the team to critically examine our own biases, stereotypes All of us operate in the world with implicit assumptions, stereotypes, and prejudices. If we have born into privileges it is our responsibility to 'Do No Harm.".
For More Information Contact your UMVIM Conference Coordinator (below) or go to the UMVIM WJ website at www.umvimwj.com
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Team Spotlight: Hope City in MIddletown, California
The JOY is OURS:
An interview of Roger and Mardel Tanquists, PNW
Hope City is successful because of how we mobilize volunteers and work with local communities to get people home. Not every  volunteer team is a large group. In January, Hope City in Middletown was lucky enough to host the Tanquists, Roger and Mardel from the Pacific Northwest Confernece. The two of them have been volunteering and working across the country for nearly 30 years. Let’s see what drives them and what they can share with others who want to be a part of Rebuilding Homes, and Restoring Lives.
The Tanquists met at a camp in Washington, where Mardel was a secretary and Roger had come to volunteer. He grinned as he remembered trying to work extra hard to impress Mardel. For Mardel, her heart for volunteering was ignited during Hurricane Andrew. She and her first husband had been camping in Pennsylvania when the storm hit, and they heard of a need for volunteers who could help wrangle the other volunteers. She managed over 3,000 volunteers and a camp of 40ft tents where volunteers would spend their one week of vacation to come help others. She was in awe of all of these people who answered the call to serve others. “I want to try and help from now on,” Mardel said.
There is still a great need here in Northern California. A need for financial support for fire survivors and a need at our Hope City  rebuilding camps for volunteers. The Tanquists will be taking their stories from Middletown back with them, but we wanted to know what they’d like others to know about their experiences here. “[There is] no better thing to do with your life than to come down and help somebody. The joy is ours to help someone have a smile instead of a struggle,” Mardel said.
At Hope City our mission is Rebuilding Homes, and Restoring Lives. The Tanquists understand what that can look like, and we want to invite you and your church team or civic group to consider being a part of our mission here in Northern California.
To Learn more about how to serve with Hope City,
Contact Shari Sandoval for more information
Cal-Pac UMVIM Team Rebuilds Hope in MIddletown, CA (Disaster Response) Click Here
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International Team Requests
Honduras: Teams for Spirit Formation Training Needed
Dr. Osias Segura-Guzman, Regional Missionary for Small Groups and Leadership Development is requesting on behalf of the Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office of the General Board of Global Ministries, now located in Honduras for either a church or pastor whose passionate about spiritual formation, Emmaus Walks, spiritual retreats, small groups; areas of spirituality for all ages, He is looking for teams interested in not only in Honduras, but throughout Latin America to support the program he is developing.
The Latin America regional office also has emphasis on International Migration, and Children-At-Risk.
Puerto Rico: Reconstruction Teams Needed
UMVIM mission teams starting to serve again in Puerto Rico starting the first of February. Tymera Jackson, Puerto Rico Volunteer Coordinator - Stateside will continue to keep you updated with any status changes as she receives them.
She also, thanks all of you for your the prayers and sentiments sent to her on behalf of Puerto Rico. Teams are still needed for the rebuilding of Puerto Rico. Contact Tymera at 914-615-2248 or puertoricovols@umcor.org For Volunteer Application: Click Here!
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Around the Jurisdiction -
UMVIM Team Leader Training
Calling ALL VIM Volunteers!
The California-Nevada Annual Conference will offer United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Team Leader Training on APRIL 4, 2020 in West Sacramento, CA.
Designed for prospective team leaders and experienced team leaders alike, the session will include the 2019 conference’s team leader guidelines. Case examples of recent local, national, and international mission trips will be a part of the discussion, and time will be devoted to new and improved mission team practices and materials. Steve Elliott, one of the most experienced team leaders in the conference, will be the trainer.
The training session will be held: 
Saturday, April 4, 2020
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
at California-Nevada Annual Conference
1350 Halyard Drive West Sacramento, CA 95691
Cost is $35, which covers training materials, missions book, snacks, and lunch.
Click here to register. More details will be sent to registered participants.
Download flyer here.
Shari Sandoval at 916-374-1528 or sharis@calnevumc.org,
Steve Elliott at 925-640-9797 or sae612@msn.com.
Early Response and Connecting Neighbors Training
Early Response Team (ERT) Training, Mar 2020 (Disaster Response) @Kailua
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2020 (9:00 AM - 5:30 PM)
Location: Kailua UMC (1110 Kailua Rd, Kailua, HI 96734-4372)
Cost: $40 (includes light lunch, snacks, and manuals)
Registration Deadline: Monday, March 9, 2020
Early Response Teams (ERTs) to fill specific needs in the early days after a disaster, such as cleaning out flood-damaged homes, removing debris, placing tarps on homes and otherwise helping to prevent further damage, while providing a caring Christian presence. To be eligible for an ERT team, participants must take the 8 hour ERT Class. After completion, participants will receive an ERT badge which is valid for three years. A background check (conducted through UMCOR's Sterling Volunteers program) is required in order to receive an ERT badge and participate on a team.
Class instructor is Travis Lindsay from the California-Pacific Conference Disaster Response Task Force.
Additional Materials: Participants owning a laptop or WiFi-enabled tablet are encouraged to bring one, in order to efficiently process paperwork related to certification. Laptops and tablets are encouraged, but not required. Participants must have an individual email account for personal use.
Register online via the button below or learn more by contacting Dara Grant at missdarag@yahoo.com or 808.722.6491.
ERT Team Leader Training - Mar 2020 (Disaster Response) @Kailua
Date: Friday, March 13, 2020 (6:30 PM - 9:00 PM)
Location: Kailua UMC (1110 Kailua Rd, Kailua, HI 96734-4372)
Cost: $20 (includes light dinner, snacks, and manuals)
Registration Deadline: Monday, March 9, 2020
About the Class:
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Class pre-requisite: You must already have completed ERT Training to take this class.
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Instructor is Travis Lindsay from the California-Pacific Conference.
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This class prepares you to lead an UMVIM Team locally or nationally.
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Topics covered include: Best Practices, Cultural Awareness, Health & Safety, Team Orientations, Useful Forms, and Fundraising.
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All team leaders must be certified through UMCOR's Sterling Volunteers program to complete the course.
Register online via the button below or learn more by contacting Dara Grant at missdarag@yahoo.com or 808.722.6491.
The PNW United Methodist Church Disaster Response team is hosting the
4th Annual Early Response Team
"Spring Training"
May 8 and 9
at Lazy F Camp & Retreat Center
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Mission Volunteers
2020 Mission Volunteer Training
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Contacts:
Western Jurisdictional Coordinator
Ronda Cordill
Email: umvimwj@gmail.com
Phone: (509) 993-6753 (Cell) or (509) 235-5466 (Home)
Address: 20116 W. Sterling; Rd Cheney, WA 99004
ANNUAL CONFERENCE UMVIM COORDINATORS
Alaska: Don Olson
Cal/Pacific: Doug & Judy Lewis
Cal/Nevada: Shari Sandoval
Mountain Sky Debbie Irby
Desert Southwest: Mike & Lorraine Eyer
Oregon/Idaho: Louise Kienzle
Pacific Northwest: Cheryl Reagan
Your UMVIM WJ Conference Coordinators are there to assist and support you as you answer your call to serve as a short-term mission volunteer. If you are already scheduled to serve on a mission journey, let us know about it, so that we can share your story. Please feel free to contact them for information or connection to other VIM Resources.
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