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MISSION
TRIPS
Making a
Difference in the World
Mission work is one of the most powerful
ways to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. There are groups of
people who are willing to go beyond their own communities, and in
the name of Jesus Christ, they make their hands dirty, their muscles
sore, their bodies sweat. We are all part of the mission team.
Read
our mission statement.
Serving the People of Haiti - February 2011
Recently I had the opportunity to sit down with John Sheely and
Sylvia Hibbard to discuss their upcoming serving trip to Haiti.
No only was I moved by their dedication to helping the less
fortunate, but I was also excited to see that Roselle UMC has the
opportunity to be part of what the team is doing in Haiti, in both
our prayers and our giving.
—
Val Sutton, Director of Communications, Roselle UMC
Tell me a little about the trip. When is it? Who is
going? Where exactly are you going
JS: We are leaving for Haiti on February 9 and returning
on February 17. The trip is a United Methodist Volunteers in
Mission (UMVIM)
trip that is being led by Don Dexheimer, the Outreach Director at
Roscoe UMC. At his time, we have 8 members on the team, half
of whom are from Illinois and the rest of whom are spread out across
the US. We will be working in Thor, Haiti, which is southeast
of Port-au-Prince. We expect to be working at the
Thor Methodist
Church and school.
 What do you expect to be doing on this trip?
JS: We are being told that we will be painting and also
possibly working on bathrooms, but we've been asked to bring along a
bag of tools that includes tools seldom used in either of these
activities. I suspect the key is flexibility. We do have
a doctor on the team who will be addressing medical needs in the
community.
SH: One of the reasons we are taking extra tools is that
we are being asked to leave all of our tools, to be used by people
of Haiti and by future teams. We will be collecting additional
items to bring down to Haiti as well; be watching for more
information coming soon about what we may want to bring down with
us. We'll be sure to say something in the eNews and in the
weekly bulletins.
What made you feel compelled to commit to this trip?
SH: Ever since I started coming to Roselle UMC, I have
been involved in some sort of mission activity. It started
with being on the Mission/Outreach Committee and grew to both local
activities (PADS, Night Ministry, etc.) and mission trips with the
youth. Out of that grew my passion for social justice. I
have always been drawn to help where there is a need. Haiti's
situation is one that is beyond comprehension for me and for many
people. I think being there will help be dig a little deeper
into the lives and struggles of the Haitian people.
JS:
I really enjoyed the previous mission trips I went on to
Mississippi, after Hurricane Katrina. I've had my eye open for
a mission trip that would challenge me physically, mentally and
spiritually. I have a feeling Haiti will fulfill all those
challenges and more.
What do you hope and expect God will do in your own life on this
trip?
JS:
I hope to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit as we work each day,
and as we get to know the people.
SH: Every
time God puts us into the mission field, it is a transformative
experience. That is why I enjoy working with PADS. I
need those reminders to show me how fortunate I am, and to
understand the important things in life.
What skills do you bring with you?
SH:
Every mission trip is a learning experience for me. While I
have never been on an out-of-the-country serving trip, I have
traveled to many poorer countries throughout the world and have
always made a point of leaning about these countries' political
situations and their history, so that I would understand better what
it is they face.
JS: I
have no special construction skills, but I'm handy enough. If
someone explains what needs to be done, I can usually accomplish the
task.
What fears do you have for this trip?
JS:
The cholera outbreak is certainly a concern, but I believe that's
manageable. The political situation is a big unknown and there
is nothing we can do to control it. But hey, this is Haiti.
There are probably problems we will encounter that no one has
thought of yet.
SH: We
are well prepared with both medical supplies and staff. I
think instead about the people in Haiti who have to face these fears
every day. I am able to leave after eight days, but they are
not. If I worry about anything, it would be the emotional
impact this can have on me. How can one see this devastation
and then come back to America and come to terms with the extreme
differences?
Junior High Mission
Trip 2010
Destination:
Niagra Falls, NY Worked at a YouthWorks site.
Dates: June 26
- July 3, 2010
Senior
High Mission Trip 2010
Dates: July 10 - 17, 2010
Summer 2006:
Last year's
mission trips were rewarding opportunities for us to serve.
Thanks to all who participated and supported our missions
through their time, donations and prayers.
Junior
High Mission Trip - June 19-24, 2006
Destination:
Rockford, Illinois
Senior High Mission Trip
- June 25 - July 1
Destination:
Tutwiler, Mississippi
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