Mission Memo for January 2007

GOT MISSION? Is your church directly connected to a specific missionary? If not, why not now? You can learn about all PC(USA) missionaries by going to www.pcusa.org/missionconnections. There are several from this Presbytery who can use program support:
1. Ellen Dozier (Guatemala)
2. John McCall (Taiwan)
3. The Nagy Family (Malawi.)
4. Virginia Gartrell (Brazil)
5. Frank and Nancy Dimmock (returning to Lesotho after home assignment complete)

The following also have connections to this Presbytery and need support for their positions and programs:
1. Debbie and Del Braaksma (Sudan) Read more in this mailing.
2. Bill Richter (Mexico) Bill was a Young Adult Volunteer in Suchitepequez Presbytery, Guatemala is now the US Coordinator for Puentes de Cristo
3. Dan & Elizabeth Turk (Madagascar) Dan’s parents are members of FPC, Asheville
4. Gordon & Dorothy Gartrell (Brazil) Gordon was a pastor in Asheville Presbytery before becoming a missionary.

Ginnie will be glad to help your congregation find a missionary that “fits” you.

2007 MISSION TEAMS: Contact Presbytery office for application forms.
February 3-11: Disaster Recovery in Gautier, MS.
April 25 – May 3: Partner Church Delegation to Guatemala
May 3 – 10: Partner Church Delegation from Guatemala
May 12: 2nd Annual “Helping Hands” day at Camp Grier. It’s Mother’s Day weekend, so we’ll highlight MOMS (Moms on a Mission)
May 23 – June 5 : Malawi (dates to be confirmed)
June 9-16 : Puentes de Cristo, Mexico

If your congregation would like a program mission teams in general or one in particular, Ginnie can help you with that as well. There are team members who can speak about Malawi, Israel/Palestine, disaster response efforts in the Gulf, Cuba, Malawi, and Guatemala (health as well as about partnership)

PEACEMAKING CONFERENCE – July 3-7, Montreat Conference Center. The theme is “Jesus…Proclaiming Peace.” A house has been rented for members of PWNC churches who attend the conference. More information will be available next month. For more information, contact Judith West (jdwest@citcom.net; : 828-883-3272).

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE “RECLAIMING CHRISTMAS” PROGRAM. Although it is still two weeks until Christmas as I am writing this, we know that many churches have chosen to offer their members the opportunity to give to mission programs in thanksgiving for Christ’s birth and in honor of family and friends. A complete report will be in the next Monthly Mailing. In the meantime, know that we also have cards available for other occasions (birthday, sympathy, and congratulations) describing gifts to Nkhoma Hospital and education and health programs we support in Guatemala. Sheila can tell you more. syoung@presbyterywnc.org; 828-438-4217.

NICKEL A MEAL: The full report will be in the next monthly mailing, but you may be interested in knowing that grants have already been made to following regional agencies:
McDowell Mission Ministry $5,000
Ridgeview Breakfast Program - Hickory 3,000
Cherokee County Sharing Center 5,400
Children First: Emma Family Resource Center - Buncombe Co. 5,000
Neighbors in Need – Madison County 3,000
Interfaith Assistance Ministries – Henderson Co. 4,000
LINC Home Meals – Lincoln County 4,500

Grants made to international programs thus far include:
Nkhoma Hospital, Malawi
Food for indigent adult patients 8,400
Food for malnourished children patients 15,000
Estimated to be enough to feed patients for 10 weeks;
120 adults per week at $7/person/week
300 children per week at $5/child/week
Ministry of Hope, Malawi – Food for orphans 2000
Health Programs in Partner Presbyteries, Guatemala 11,000.