September 2015

HERE I AM, LORD, SEND MEmissions ministry

HERE I AM, LORD, SEND ME

For more information on StreeThreads, please contact Jan Peabody-Kratt at 248.373.0793 or Kirsten Layer at 248.894.7438

Upcoming EventsArt & SoulMonday & Thursday weekly

Brightmoor Free StoreSaturday weekly

Costa Rica Trip Info MtgSeptember 27

Hands for DetroitOctober 3

Souper SundayOctober 11

StreeThreads to Pontiac2nd Monday monthly

StreeThreads to DetroitNovember 23

Cooking with CassOctober 10, November 7, December 5

Rummage SaleVolunteer Oct 19-23 and Shop Oct 21-23

Mission Fair and SERRV SaleNovember 1

Focus HopeNovember 14

Angel TreeNovember 22

StreeThreads is busy year round. We prepare, deliver and serve a warm meal to the “Moms and kids” at HAVEN on a monthly basis, and deliver and serve 400 bag lunches including a sandwich, salty treat, sweet treat and fruit to the homeless through the NOAH Program in downtown Detroit four times a year. At both locations we distribute new underwear and socks and needed toiletries with a smile, a kind word and with the love of Christ before us.

You can help by donating food, new underwear and socks, and toiletries. You can also join us to prepare and deliver the food and clothing.

If you would like to be part of this wonderful mission or have questions, we would love to share with you. Please contact Kirsten Layer or Jan Peabody-Kratt or stop by the kiosk in Fellowship Hall any Sunday. To God Be the Glory!

Smiles and MealsStreeThreads

A Very Unique and Special Experience For Campers and InternsBaldwin InternsFor many years this congregation has provided interns for the Summer Enrichment Program at the Baldwin Center in Pontiac for two reasons.The first is to provide help to about 60 grade school aged children from the neighborhood surrounding the Baldwin Center to improve their reading and math skills and to grow in character. The important second reason is to give some of our congregation’s college age students a unique mission experience.

The Summer Enrichment Program is six weeks long. It is operated as a school with classroom instruction in the morning with an emphasis on reading and math, with arts and

crafts projects, games, and sports in the afternoons. Students who would be entering grades one through six in the fall are eligible for the eight week program. The students are assigned to one of four classes by grade level. The morning classes are taught by certified teachers with the interns acting as classroom assistants. One of the teachers this year was one of our interns from 2011, a tribute to the program. There are also field trips, both educational, such as museum visits, and recreational, such as water parks.

The four interns who were selected for this year were Mackenzie Kreitz, a student at Michigan State University, Stephanie McNutt, Denison University, Laura Perry, Wake Forest University, and Amanda Simpson, Adrian College.

I asked the interns for some comments on their experiences. Amanda wrote:

“The Baldwin Center is a pretty amazing place. The summer camp provides students with a very unique and special experience. At the start of the summer I didn’t really know what to expect, but looking back on it now, I can see how I have learned and grown as an individual just as my campers have. In the fall I will be starting my junior year at Adrian College. I am studying psychology to become a counselor, psychologist or maybe even a psychiatrist. I love working with

By Bob Everson

children so this summer has been a blast. As a counselor, I will work with kids of many ages and backgrounds.The Baldwin Center Internship has allowed me the opportunity to experience the needs and challenges of a very different community from the one I grew up in. Many of the campers have their own stories and struggles, but they also have their own strengths. Watching and helping each camper grow as an individual, focus on their strengths, make friends and improve in the classroom has been a truly rewarding experience. I have loved being a part of an organization that has the ability to make such a positive impact on a child’s life. Thank you for a great summer, Baldwin!”

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Photo provided by Baldwin Center

Photo provided by Baldwin Center

A Very Unique and Special Experience For Campers and Interns

For more information about our Baldwin Intern program, please contact Bob Everson — 248-642-1619

Stephanie added:

“I feel blessed and honored to have participated in The Baldwin Center Summer Program. I worked closely with the same 15 kids every day for 6 weeks. It’s a privilege to watch each child grow mentally, emotionally and socially over this time period. I never thought the highlight of my week would be a camper finally grasping how to write a complete sentence, or when one boy tried to start a fight with another boy, he calmly walked away and used his words, instead of his hands, for the first time in his life. But as anyone who has children in their life knows, it’s not always smiles and laughter. I will never forget the look on my camper’s face when I pulled a leech off her foot (or the feeling in the pit of my stomach), or when it was discovered that a boy had a complete and utter phobia to bugs, in the middle of the woods, with the bug spray left on the bus. While this summer was definitely ‘expect the unexpected’ with these kids, I wouldn’t have wanted it to be any other way. To be able to put a smile on a child’s face is a humbling moment. I hope these kids understand how much joy they brought to my life too.”

And lastly, Laura’s perspective:

“Working at Baldwin this summer was definitely a job that challenged me as well as motivated me to be a more cheerful and loving individual. Until you have been tested by a child, you don’t know how much patience you truly have. At the beginning of the program I had a lot of trouble with one of the girls who had a ‘whatever’ kind of attitude. For me this required more patience and understanding than a kid who was mean or acted out. I slowly learned that this attitude was derived from her frustrations with not being able to complete tasks that were easily completed by her peers. As I discovered this, it became apparent that each child needed a specific way of learning and a certain amount of

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attention. As I helped her along her way with keeping up with her classwork and not to compare herself to her peers, she always kept me laughing with her sassy sayings, bubbly personality and daily hugs. Although this job made me want to take a nap every day, I am forever grateful for the 15 little friends that I have gained who have reminded me to love and smile every chance that you get.”

Thank you for your support of Partners in Mission and the UMW through the rummage sale that fund this very important outreach program.

“To be able to put a smile on a child’s face is a humbling moment. I hope these kids understand how much joy they brought to my life too.”

Stephanie McNutt

Photo provided by Baldwin Center

The Greatest Joy of Summer

One of the greatest joys of summer at First Church is getting to know our South Oakland Shelter guests for a week in August. As with our other major mission projects, we have two outstanding leaders, Page Gorman and Kathy Nauer, a cadre of loyal volunteers and new helpers every year.

We provide home-cooked meals lovingly prepared by church members,

By Pastor Laurie Haller

a safe place to stay and evening activities such as movies, bingo and even chiropractic adjustments! There is also a trip to the zoo on Wednesday. Most of all, we provide love, hope and unconditional acceptance.

On Sunday night I had the privilege of blessing the evening feast of meat loaf, baked potatoes, fruit, vegetables, muffins and home-made berry pies! As the volunteers ate with our guests, who included children and youth, we engaged in holy conversation. We also learned that what often separates the homeless from those with shelter over their heads, and the down and out from those who are able to provide for all of their needs, is simply good fortune.

South Oakland Shelter (SOS)I am inspired by the courage of my new friends, I thank God for the many services provided by South Oakland Shelter and I am grateful for all those who whose helping hands demonstrate the extravagant love of God.

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For more information on our South Oakland Shelter ministry, please contact Page Gorman — 248-739-6263 or Kathy Nauer — 248-646-6143

An evening at the zoo.

FUMC Volunteers

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Safe and SoundCass Community Social Services

During Make a Difference day in May, we began the process of digging and cementing bright yellow posts to help safe guard the grounds and parking lot at Cass. That project has been completed during the summer and the posts are making the area around the newly completed greenhouse safe and sound. Shelving is the next step in the greenhouse and then they will start growing vegetables to be used in the kitchen. The Cass Kitchen is now under the direction of Matt Prentice, a well known and respected restaurateur, who is training the staff, supervising volunteers, and preparing food. Matt

has also helped create a catering service, which can be hired for any event. For more information, go to http://casscommunity.org.

For more information on our Cass Community Social Services ministry, please contact Mark & Karla Bole — 248-723-2881

By Karla Bole

Costa Rica - Pura Vida!By Laura DickersonStudent Missions

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On Friday, July 17, eighteen sleepy-eyed, yet very excited teenagers met at Detroit Metro Airport, hugged their parents goodbye, and set off on their Costa Rica adventure with Pastor Chad Oyer and five equally excited adult chaperones. This was the first international student mission trip since the youth went to Ghana, and everyone felt blessed to be embarking on what was sure to be a meaningful and life-changing experience.

WELCOMING ARMS…

Our journey to San Jose went smoothly and, upon arrival, we were greeted warmly by the airport staff who helped us with our luggage and introduced us to our driver. We had a fascinating drive throughout San Jose, viewing

the bustling city, gated and barbed wired homes and businesses, and enjoyed seeing the Methodist high school as we made our way up into the hillside. When we arrived at the church, the Iglesia Metodista Faro del Este, we were embraced and welcomed by Pastor Jorge and his wife, Judhys, and missionaries Will and Ella Faircloth.They said that we brought the sunshine with us, as it was a beautiful, sunny afternoon, not seen often during their rainy season.

Pastor Jorge and his church had spent much time and effort preparing for our visit, as we were the first mission group to stay at the church. They had just finished building showers adjacent to the

church, and had the sanctuary ready for the boys to spend the week in, and fellowship hall set up for the girls, complete with air mattresses for us to blow up, and blankets, sheets, pillows and towels borrowed from the Methodist Seminary. In no time at all, we had our rooms set up for the week and were feeling right at home!

OFF TO WORK WE GO…

On Saturday, we had a delicious breakfast provided by Judhys and her amazing kitchen volunteers, followed by a morning devotion led by the students. Then the real work began! Determined to get in a lot of work before the afternoon rain set in, the students

Costa Rica - Pura Vida!

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divided into a ditch digging group, a fence painting team, and a concrete crew for the new parsonage and activity center that was being built.

Digging the ditch was the primary goal of the week, as we had 18 strong, young, capable, and enthusiastic volunteers - and 6 of us older, but equally enthusiastic - all ready for the job of digging a drainage ditch from the new building out to the road. A mere 80 feet long by 7 feet deep and 5 feet wide! The group literally dug right in, and before long, much progress was made shoveling dirt into the air, tying rebar, sifting rocks out of concrete, mixing concrete, and throwing concrete “mud” onto the walls…and clothing…and hair!

Meanwhile, the paint crew was hard at work putting paint on the fence and columns surrounding the property, the play structure, and, inevitably, themselves! (Notice the theme: it was a dirty job and someone has got to do it!) When the afternoon rains came

pouring down, the paint crew did not let that stop them. They found ancient cribs that Pastor Jorge had purchased at a yard sale, and began sanding and painting them a beautiful pink, blue and yellow, making them clean and beautiful for the babies to sleep in during church services.

The hard work continued on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and by the end of the week, all of the jobs we set out to do were successfully completed! Throughout the entire week, our youth from FUMC worked harder than one could ever imagine, with enthusiasm, creativity, and a “what can I do next?” attitude. The week was filled with true teamwork, lots of hard physical labor, and never a single complaint!

SHARING OUR FAITH…

In addition to the construction projects, we had an amazing time sharing the love of Christ with our new Costa Rican friends. On Saturday evening, we were treated to a pizza dinner and games with the Pastor

Jorge’s church youth group. On Sunday morning, we worshipped with the amazing, vibrant congregation of the church, who welcomed us with open arms and lots of kisses on the cheek! Pastor Jorge and his music team had us on our feet for the first of two hours of worship, joyfully singing songs of praise in a language and place foreign to most of us. Yet, incredibly, we felt the power of the Holy Spirit as we joined together as one body of believers. (This was the most moving part of the entire week for me!)

In addition to worship, Sunday was a day full of emotion, as we enjoyed a fun lunch at a nearby restaurant, along with a surprise visit to the petting zoo attached to the restaurant. Following our meal, we spent the afternoon at the Methodist Children’s Home, having the chance to teach VBS to the kids, with our youth

Continued on Page 8

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Costa Rica - Pura Vida! (Continued from Page 7)

By Laura DickersonStudent Missions

dressing up in our own VBS costumes to do a Bible skit, and do crafts with the children. Most of all, our group bonded with the children, and shared God’s love with them, making it difficult for everyone as we hugged and waved goodbye.

On Monday and Tuesday, after dusting off from our construction work, our youth had the privilege of leading VBS for the children of the Mansiones church, as well. Pastor Jorge drove the church van around the neighborhood to the children’s homes and schools and brought them all to the church sanctuary where our youth led them in playing Pato, Pato, Ganso (Duck, Duck, Goose), sang songs, did crafts with the kids, and acted out scripture all in Spanish. Our youth’s high school Spanish teachers would be proud!

FUN AND GAMES…

The week was also filled with much laughter, fun and games among our own group. Our youth took turns leading morning devotions and evening

games. From the chair-breaking competitiveness of musical chairs and injury inducing outdoor tag, to cutthroat games of Pictionary, Jungle Speed and Euchre, we had a wonderful time unwinding and relaxing in the evening before falling asleep, exhausted, from a well-lived day.

In addition to our rousing evening games, we discovered the local Pop’s ice cream store and became “regulars” during our stay. I am certain they must miss our group of 24 people crowding their shop and attempting to translate “Blue Moon” ice cream into Spanish each afternoon!

We ended our week with a great adventure as we traveled a couple of hours by bus to go zip-lining through the rain forest in the pouring rain, followed by an exciting whitewater rafting trip. I am glad to report that we did not lose a single person on either event!

MUCHAS GRACIAS…

I want to thank so many people for making this trip the truly special experience it was:

•The parents of our youth, for entrusting their children to us, and raising them to be such loving ambassadors of Christ.

•Our amazing youth for their maturity, teamwork, flexible attitudes, hard work, and for truly being the example of Christ’s love to everyone they met.

•Pastor Chad and Pastor Lindsey, who worked so hard to make this trip possible.

For more information on our Student Missions, please contact Laura Dickerson — 248-646-1200

For more information on our Costa Rica Ministry, please contact Ann Littleton — 248-723-1929

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Costa Rica - Pura Vida! (Continued from Page 7)

•Our incredible chaperones: Pastor Chad, John Kreitz, George and Julie Work and Tim Dickerson, for all they did to care for our youth and make the trip smooth and fun for everyone.

•Pastor Jorge and his wife Jhudys, and Will and Ella Faircloth and their daughters, who welcomed us with loving arms, lavished us with delicious food, warm blankets, and the most gracious hospitality we could have ever imagined!

•Shaggy and Enrique, our construction leaders, who patiently taught us all how to do the work that needed to be done.

•Ann Littleton for her passion, vision, love and support of the Costa Ricans and this ministry.

•Our FUMC congregation for their love, prayers and support.

PURA VIDA!

Preparing for CampSpirit Journey

By Jeanne Fritz

From June 26th-28th, a mission team of 15 people traveled to Northport to build cabins, benches, paint, and clean the grounds for the Spirit Journey camp. This led up to the week of August 17th in which 48 Native American children from the Indian reservation in Pshabestown and 14 staff arrived at the campground of the Indian Mission UMC in Northport, where the Spirit Journey camp is held.

Members of our church generously donated 16 sleeping bags, 50 pairs of flip-flops, beach towels, art supplies, and health kits (soap, wash clothes, toothbrushes etc.), as well as financial support to make this camp possible. Our own Norma Greene was one of two cooks for the camp during the week!

The children enjoyed swimming, art projects, sports, music and teachings. Learning about God and the 7 Grandfather teachings (honesty, humility, truth, respect, bravery, wisdom and love) were an important

part of the camping experience. On the last evening of camp, parents and friends were invited to a feast and to see the campers performing the programs they had worked on all week. It was an amazing week for the campers, and many didn’t want to leave. Many of these children come from very troubled families and it is a wonderful opportunity for them to feel loved and supported, and to be in a safe place to just have fun! They are proud to be a “Spirit Journey Kid.”

Brandon Ahmicasaube Smith, camp director, has an amazing relationship with these children as he teaches respect for self, love for God and others, and the importance of making good choices. Spirit Journey camp is a 5 day experience that changes lives.

For more information on Spirit Journey, please contact Laura Dickerson — 248-646-1200 or Jeanne Fritz — 248-723-0844

Doing All the Good You Can

Fifteen fourth and fifth graders spent three long, beautiful Michigan days doing all the good they could and having fun in Detroit.

Day 1 included 45C playing all morning with children who reside at Mom’s Place at Cass Community Social Services. Fun times were spent doing crafts, playing games, having a water balloon fight, a nature hunt and finally enjoying lunch together. We spent the

afternoon laughing, team-building and thinking creatively at the Boll Family YMCA as we engaged in a theater “improv” class and then cooled off with a swim in the YMCA pool.

Day 2 found us in the FUMC kitchen making more than 400 sandwiches which we took to Central United Methodist Church to serve the downtown Detroit community. Our youth bagged and handed out lunches, poured drinks and interacted with hungry individuals. All this work

By Kim Bowyer

made us hungry too, so we enjoyed an American Coney Island lunch on Central’s rooftop which overlooks the city of Detroit. That’s pretty cool! We completed the day by heading over to the old Tiger Stadium and running the bases. Again, pretty cool!

On the final day together 45C painted murals on plywood boards that would be used to board up abandoned houses in the Brightmoor-Aldersgate Community after which

45 Christianswe went to Belle Isle and spent the afternoon enjoying one of Detroit’s true jewels. We picnicked, played on the playground, had a tour of the old Detroit Boat Club, and took a driving tour around the island. We rode the giant slide and dipped our toes in the Detroit River.

We had a great time serving and spending time with one another. Thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers who helped to make every day successful. This three day experience helped us all find the joy in sharing God’s love through service to others.

45 Christians is a fellowship group for 4th and 5th grade students. They meet on Thursdays from 5:00-6:00 PM in the Christian Life Center lounge during Spark. They spend time with friends, doing mission projects and doing devotions. For more information, contact Kim Bowyer — 248-646-1200.

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Doing All the Good You Can

For more information on Henderson Settlement, please contact Deb Roy — 248-338-7582or Sue Walters — 248-879-6239

Basic Life SkillsHenderson Settlement

In June 2015, ten of us, aged 17 to seventy-something, spent a week at Henderson

Settlement located in Frakes, KY, nestled in the scenic but poverty-stricken Appalachian Mountains. This was our church’s 7th mission trip there.

Each year we focus on teaching various life skills to the youth who live in that area. This year we tackled with the 8th-12th graders writing a resume, job interviewing skills, filling out job applications, story-telling and, just for fun, tie-dying t-shirts and bandanas.

Sharing a few of our experiences will help you understand why we feel called to continue our mission work there. When asked to write her home address on the resume worksheet, Megan hesitated, leaving that line blank. Surely, we thought, she knew her address! After all, she’s 14 years old. Then Megan quietly said she actually stayed at five different locations….but none were really her home. You see, there are no homeless people in the area because some family member will always take you in for a while.

Carrie, a 16 year-old, talked proudly about her current work experience. She’s paid $5.00 an hour to make

By Sue Walters

sandwiches at a small store within walking distance of her home. She has also started a small craft business as a result of learning fund-raising skills we taught during last summer’s mission trip. She’s the only one in her family of three who has a job. Carrie’s family consists of her mother, younger sister and herself. Her father drove his motorcycle off the top of the mountain a few years ago, while high on drugs. Now as a single parent, her mother is in college finishing an ultra sound technician program in an effort to support the family. The house they live in is one built by the settlement – one that we helped paint in 2009. It stands on the same site as their previous home, which was burned down in retaliation for a bad drug deal.

During our practice one-on-one interview for a job at the Dairy Queen, which is at least 30 minutes away, I had the joy of interviewing 12 year-old Cameron. When I asked him why he wanted the job, his immediate response was, “So I can help my mom and dad buy food.” Food is scarce for most of these families. The interview continued, then my response was that even though I had other applicants I should interview, I was offering him the job on the spot. “When can you start, Cameron?”

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“Tomorrow!” he replied. With misty eyes I shook his hand, then I gave him a big hug.

Your generosity has allowed us to make a significant difference for the youth ministries program at Henderson Settlement. We are deeply grateful to you individually, to the UMW, the Missions Ministry, Unfinished Christian Women and the Men’s Fantasy Football for your most generous support.

My life has been blessed immensely by the opportunities to serve with this mission group, and I thank you for that. I’m also extending a personal invitation to join us in 2016.

By the way….all names have been changed to protect the innocent!

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said,

“Here I Am, Lord... Send Me”

Our Purpose: To gather, nurture and equip disciples of Christ for ministry and mission in the world.

1589 West Maple RoadBirmingham, MI 48009

248.646.1200fumcbirmingham.org

Missions Ministries, Co-LeadersJohn and Nancy Smith, 810.678.3327Laura Dickerson, 248.539.1925

For more information on any of our Missions Ministries, please contact:

Bev Richardson, Missions Coordinatorbrichardson@fumcbirmingham.org248-646-1200 ext. 3156

The projects in this newsletter and many more are supported by your generous contributions to the Partners in Mission fund. Please consider making a donation today by filling out a deposit envelope at church or going to our website and choosing Partners in Mission.

Our Missions Ministry equips disciples of Christ to share God’s love through gifts and service, creating hope and sustainable opportunities for those in need.

The Mission for Nepal is FUMC’s newest Mission Ministry and is just beginning to serve the needs of the Napali people who suffered a devastating earthquake in April 2015.

The Nickels for Newborns in Nepal event took place in June and July. We aligned this project with chances to guess whether Pastor Lindsey Hall was having a boy or a girl. Over 900 nickels were placed in the blue baby bottle compared to under 400 nickels in the pink baby bottle. The congregation guessed correctly! Pastor Lindsey announced she is expecting a boy on October 25th. With these nickels and other donations, as well as a grant from the Missions Ministry,

New Beginnings Nepal

For more information, please contact Shawn David — (248) 688-1782

By Shawn David

the Nepal Mission now has $1,200 in funding. A majority of this money will be transferred to two United Methodist Missionaries in Tansen, Nepal; Dr. Lester Dornon and his wife Debbie will be our contacts for the Nepal Mission.

The current needs for Nepal are school kits for the children, health and hygiene kits, infant blankets and newborn layettes. Stop by the First Nurses table to pick up patterns and lists for needed kits and supplies. Also, we are looking for people who would like to be a member of this team.