Missions

Normandy United Methodist Church

African Mission Partnership with North Katanga Conference

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The United Methodist Church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo cares for 54 children at an orphanage in Kamina. $600 will support one child for one year….just $50 a month.   This assures that a child will be fed, clothed, housed and that money will be available for his/her education. It also assures that the child will be raised in a safe, loving, Christian environment. Plus, a guaranteed cash flow for the orphanage provides additional funds for the nutrition center that cares for more than 240 children with one meal a day, four days a week, in many cases their only meal.

KAMINA KIDS UPDATE

Seven Normandy family’s supported 10 children in 2007, with some repeat commitments for 2008. Support for the children was also received from the West Carrollton Lions Club, Fairview Church Sunday School, and several individuals. That money has been transferred to the Congo to support the children. The ultimate goal is 50/50/5: 50 persons, $50 per month, for 5 years. If you would like to sponsor a child at the orphanage in the DRCongo, make your check payable to Normandy UMC and write Kamina Kids in the memo field. Forms for child sponsorship can be obtained at the Mission bulletin board near the front handicapped entrance to the church.

Mike is more than willing to come to offer a presentation to any group about this his mission to the Congo and Normandy Church ’s partnership with these United Methodist brothers and sisters.

CONGO MISSION TRIP

Again this year, in June 2008, Mike Ratcliff of Normandy Church will be following up on the training he was a part of providing the District Superintendents, pastors, lay leaders, and administrative staff of the North Katanga Conference of the United Methodist Church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He will also be helping implement a new organizational structure for the supervision and coordination of the 27 different health, social, feeding and training projects operated by the conference. Mike will also spend time with the leadership of the nutrition center and orphanage providing supplies and support for their work. Previous pastor, Jan Harry worked at the Orphanage and provided this support in 2007.

Costs this year is estimated at:

$4,000- flight to Kamina, Insurance, in country expenses, guest house, visa, Peaceworks. (Actual cost last year was $3,913.15. Increases are expected.).

$2,000-   for supplies for orphanage and nutrition center, support supplies for training.



There is $1,500.00 in hand for travel expenses from Normandy mission funds. However, the needs are astronomical in proportion---vitamins, protein supplements, meat (rare in their diets), school supplies, bikes (school is three miles away!), mosquito netting, shoes, etc.---and the basic costs have not yet been covered for minimum expenses. Unfortunately, other than some smaller items which we will be collecting when we have a better assessment of local need, gifts must be in cash and not in kind. At approximately $350 per 50 lb. shipment, sending items is not conducive to good stewardship. Also, the site can only be arrived at via a six-passenger, single engine Cessna 206 with minimum loading capacity. Maximum weight is generally achieved by passengers and luggage alone. Purchasing supplies in country is both sensible, and missional, as it stimulates a meager local economy and engenders goodwill among the locals.

If you would like to make a donation now to support this incredible ministry, please send your donation to Normandy UMC. If paying by check, please write “ Congo ministry” in the memo.

It's spring cleaning time and with summer coming up supplies are needed for inner city children's (St. Paul, etc.) camp bags: Items needed are: Large terry bath towels (may be used), wash clothes, soap and plastic containers, toothpaste, toothbrush and plastic holder, shampoo, combs and pics, deodorant, and tissue packs. Items should be place in a plastic bag with Margaret Amstutz' name and placed in the Mission Collection Closet (near the Nursery) by May 12. Thank you!

MISSION COLLECTION HAS A NEW HOME

The Mission Collection Closet, formerly housed in the coat room near the Fellowship Hall entrance doorway, has been reorganized and located in a brand new space. Thanks to the outstanding efforts of David Miller (painting and floor covering) and Pastor David (shelves and containers) the Mission Collection Closet is available for you to leave items when contributing to any of the mission collection outreaches of the church---“Love Bags”, recycling ink cartridges, old cell phones, tabs for Ronald McDonald House, Artemis House items, used eye glasses, labels from Campbell’s soup and consumer points, etc. Appropriate containers are clearly marked and all are located in one convenient space. You may find the new Mission Collection Closet near the Nursery in the Hallways Happening Area of the facility.

Items desired to be left for the Christmas/Holiday resale booth should be coordinated with Sue Hill. Flea Market items can be left at the bottom of the larger spiral staircase in the lowest level. If you cannot negotiate the steps, please call the church office (937-433-1636) ahead of time and we will arrange to meet you and take the items downstairs for you. Any other items needing to be left for the Bazaar, please co-ordinate with Bazaar Chair, Jean Thie.

We no longer collect books in the main entryway to the Grant Building . Any books you desire to be received by Planned Parenthood should be delivered directly to them.

Thank you many times over for your faithfulness to these various ministries!

LOOK AT OUR NEW MISSIONS BULLETIN BOARD!!!

A very detailed “Normandy UMC in Mission” bulletin board has now been designed and is located in the open hallway in front of Fellowship Hall.

It has been planned as “user-friendly” for new members and visitors in mind, as well as to inform all persons about current updates. It is a visual celebration of the great work being accomplished in Christ’s name.

The bulletin board divides Normandy Missions into three primary areas: 1. Missionaries and Mission Priorities; 2. Community Missions; and 3. United Methodist Women.

The board is a work in progress, but should take all the guesswork out of understanding mission opportunities. Under these three general headings, individual missions/ministry opportunities are represented where they most appropriately fit.

Information for each ministry and mission, as appropriate, includes:

· A description of the ministry/mission

· Up-to-date profiles of our supported missionaries.

· The contact person(s) for each ministry with a contact number.

· An Advance Special # if it has one. (An explanation of the Advance is located at the very center of the board.)

· Descriptive image, picture, or icon that would help to quickly identify the ministry/mission.

· A schedule of events/time of the year the ministry occurs, etc.

· An explanation of how to donate/offer services to the ministry or mission.

· Where items are being collected and how frequently they are distributed.

· Assembly instructions (for kits, quilts, etc), Collection lists (recyclable items, type of labels collected, etc.), registration forms, etc. that can be taken home from the board for reference.

· Recently received Conference Recognition Awards for mission and ministry.

· Description of the UMW and each of the Circles, along with contact numbers.

This board is an ongoing work, and is not meant to be exhaustive of every Normandy-supported ministry. However, it is meant to be a practical way to identify our strategic mission/ministry priorities. Please check the board when you have a chance, and the particular ministry description in your area(s) of involvement. Please let me know if there are glaring omissions, incorrect information, or additions, etc. E-mail those to Pastor Elizabeth or contact our Mission and Social Concerns Chairperson, Dick Hoback.

Special thanks to Mary Ellen Sellers for helping us decorate and maintain our bulletin boards!

The butterflies are beautiful, Mary Ellen!

CATCH THE SPIRIT - DREAM THE DREAM!
2009 EPISCOPAL/METHODIST BUILD

Normandy United Methodist, in partnership with seven Episcopal churches built a whole house in four weeks, roof and all. It was well built, too, as many of our people have affirmed to me. That was called the 2007 Episcopal/Methodist Build for Habitat for Humanity.

This is a good thing we did right here in our own community. This is a great thing we did. We were able to make a local person's wildest dream come true. Never would they have a hope of home ownership without us. It felt really good to be part of their dream.

The house was not a gift however. The people have to pay back a percentage of the appraised price; perhaps all of it depending on their income evaluation by Habitat. Habitat likes to say that they give people a hand up not a hand out.

And now the really good news. The project partnership went so well, we would like to build another one in 2009. Part of this 2009 partnership dream is to get more churches involved. If we had 10 Episcopal and 10 Methodist churches, each church would only have to raise maybe $1500 each year (maybe a little less) in order to have the funds in place for 2009.

Catch the spirit. Dream the dream. We need more partner churches. Normandy and two of our Episcopal friends have already received donations for the 2009 build. Come join us. Let's make another dream come true. For more information, contact Dave Hostler

NO TIN, JUST ALUMINUM!

Many thanks for recycling your aluminum cans in the outside bin by the back kitchen door! Please make sure that you only include aluminum cans and NO TIN CANS. Last year several hundred dollars was raised for the church through our aluminum recycling efforts. Good job!

CAMPBELL'S UPC LABELS FOR EDUCATION

The Missions Committee is collecting Campbell’s UPC Labels for Education and donating points to the Wesley Education Center for Children and Family in Cincinnati .

We are only sending in UPCs and not the front panel product labels. We will cut them for you, but be sure the UPCs are on the labels.

Place the cut UPCs in the box marked “ Campbell Labels for Education,” located in the Mission Collection Closet (near the Nursery).

We have just sent in 671 UPCs to the Wesley Education Center . Thanks for your continued support. If you have any questions, contact Nancy Lees

PRINTER CARTRIDGES AND CELL PHONES

The Mission Committee continues to recycle computer printer cartridges and cell phones. The proceeds from their sale goes to support mission projects. Please put your used cartridges and cell phones in the marked box in the Mission Collection Closet (near the Nursery).

FAIR TRADE COFFEE & EQUAL EXCHANGE

Through the UMCOR Coffee Project, you can enjoy delicious coffee, tea and chocolate while helping small-scale farmers in Latin America, Africa, and Asia as they build a better future for themselves and their families.

Through the project, farmers earn a fair price for their products, have access to affordable credit, and gain a long-term trading partner they can trust, a Fair Trade Organization called Equal Exchange. With your support, these communities invest in education, health care, and agricultural improvements. In addition, for each pound of coffee, tea or chocolate purchased by United Methodist congregations through the project, Equal Exchange makes a contribution to UMCOR programs that support community-based cooperatives in coffee-growing regions. Equal Exchange is committed to Fair Trade on 100% of our coffee, tea and chocolate products.

Normandy Church participates in this program. So can you. Coffee is normally sold every 4^th Sunday. Look for the display in the Narthex before and in-between services. Your purchases do help.

DRINK POP?

The Jochebed Circle collects pop tabs to take to the Ronald McDonald House. The House raises approximately $500 a month from the collection and recycling of the tabs. There is a canister on top of the pop machine outside of Fellowship Hall for you to add your pop tabs from home. Please help support this cause. Any questions, contact Urmila Holloway or the church office.

- Thanks from your Mission/Social Concerns Committee