The ew Visions Community Messenger, Continued

The �ew Visions Community Messenger, continued
FROM UMCOR: The United Methodist
Committee on Relief at work
Moringa Magic – Sierra Leone: Charles Boyle
is known as “Dr. Moringa” in his community of Bo,
Sierra Leone. He promotes using the Moringa tree as a
nutritional food source, and he’s making a difference in
his community. Boyle first learned about this plant that
is rich in vitamins A, C, calcium, and protein through a
United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Sustainable
Agriculture and Development training program
in Bo. After the training, Boyle planted Moringa trees
on his property and started sharing what he learned with
others. Today, Boyle earns about $160 a month selling
Moringa powder. He can now afford to care for his 17member
family and help pay for school fees. His
health has improved, too. “Moringa has made a difference
in my life. I used to be a lot thinner. Now, I am
healthier. People say I look younger,” said Boyle smilingly.
UMCOR - Be There. Be Hope: UMCOR's mission
is to alleviate human suffering-whether caused by
war, conflict, or natural disaster-with open minds and
hearts to all people.
Children and Mothers – Somalia: Civil war
has been raging without end in Somalia, and 2011
brought famine to much of the country in the wake of
the drought that afflicted the entire Horn of Africa.
This was assessed as the region’s worst food crisis in
more than half a century. In Somalia, UMCOR has an
established practice of collaborating with global partners
that are well-placed to work with the country’s predominantly
Muslim populations. A new grant from
UMCOR has just gone to partner, International Blue
Crescent (IBC), which among other projects is providing
monthly food packages, psychosocial support, and
care for severely malnourished children and mothers
with newborns residing in internally displaced persons
(IDP) camps. The new UMCOR grant supports IBC’s
efforts in an IDP camp at Korsan, near Mogadishu.
Through it, 500 children and 13 teachers at four primary
schools will acquire basic tools and equipment for
improved learning, including school kits, blackboards,
desks, chairs, playground materials, and school sanitation
and hygiene materials. UMCOR’s grant will also
support teachers’ salaries
Spring Storms - Midwest US: More than 100
tornadoes churned through nine Midwestern states in
mid-April, leaving a path of destruction, death, and
(continued in next column)
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UMCOR at Work (Continued from last column)
injury. specially hard hit were the towns of Norman
and Woodward, Oklahoma. In Woodward, six people
died in the storm, including three children. The severe
weather also destroyed 75 percent of the tiny town of
Thurman, Iowa. And in Oaklawn, Kansas, a suburb of
Wichita, more than 100 mobile homes were left in
ruins. UMCOR is in touch with the annual conferences
affected by the storms to offer support. United
Methodists across the region have sprung into action,
providing shelter at churches, distributing supplies,
and deploying early response teams where appropriate.
And, please pray for those who are hungry, displaced,
sick or in poverty because of these and other natural
and human-made disasters, and for the workers who
minister to them.
Equal Exchange Items
Equal Exchange items available through Kathy
Hunter are part of the UMCOR Coffee Project which
means that UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on
Relief) receives a small portion of the profit on each
item. So far in 2012, $20,445.26 has been raised
through the UMCOR Coffee Project for the Small
Farmer Fund. Buying Equal Exchange products helps
at many levels beginning with the farmers in the local
cooperative and continuing with the local community
as well as through the Small Farmer Fund.
Equal Exchange products available from Kathy
(402-476-7328) are sold at cost. Currently available:
coffee, drinking cocoa, baking cocoa, Tamari-roasted
almonds, granola bars (apricot, chocolate raisin, mixed
berries), green tea, peppermint tea, and mint tea.
MOVIE NEWS WITH KEVIN HUFF:
Movie on May 25 @ Calvary. (See Calendar for Potluck/Movie)
Hugo is an Oscar Award Winning 3D adventure drama film directed
by Martin Scorsese about the astonishing adventure of a
wily and resourceful boy whose quest to unlock a secret left to
him by his father will transform Hugo and all those around him,
and reveal a safe and loving place he can call home.
4 New Visions Community Messenger 5/2/12