Join us in South central Mexico for a 10 day Study Mission trip with “Give Ye Them To Eat” – a rural development mission of the Methodist Church of Mexico and the General Board of Global Ministries.

Teams from Central PA and Susquehanna Conference have been making a difference in the rural sector of Mexico for over 25 years. Working with GBGM missionaries, Nan McCurdy and her husband Miguel Mairena Aragon, we will experience the culture and the working lives of our Mexican brothers and sisters. We visit the city of Puebla, then spend most of our time near the
small town of Tlancualpican where the Tree of Life Training Center is located.

We have projects for all skill levels and physical abilities. During our work days, we work 4-5 hours a day. Recent projects have included repairs, improvements and maintenance at the Tree of Life as well as the construction of houses (with mud and straw) in neighboring villages. If you tire easily, that’s ok. Take a break. If you like hard physical labor, we probably have some rocks or dirt to move. If you’re somewhere in-between, we’ll find opportunities to learn new
skills or use the skills you already have.

The areas we travel in are safe, the food is great, and the water is bottled. Staff in Mexico are fully vaccinated against Covid. Accommodations are comfortable with a hotel in Puebla and dormitories at the training center, hot showers and Wi-Fi.

Dates: October 20-29, 2023
Cost: $1,050 plus roundtrip airfare from Harrisburg to Mexico City (currently around $800) (Get a group together and do some fundraising!)
Qualifications: Good health (high altitude, hot climate, lots of walking); open mind; ages 12-18 with a parent; 19- ??; no special skills needed

Contact Rev. Marian Hartman, mhartman@susumc.org, 814-441-0235 for more information and an application.

Check out www.gytte.org and this video by Jack Meyers, a recent participant

September 16-22, 2023
Tucson, Arizona

Partnering with Arizona Justice for our Neighbors (AZJFON), join the Susquehanna Conference VIM team for an Immigration Immersion Journey.  We will hear from Arizona Justice for our Neighbors (JFON grew out of the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s commitment to refugees and immigrants), Pima County Medical Examiner, and The Inn of Southern Arizona (United Methodist run program for asylum seekers). We will tour Nogales, Sonora, Mexico led by Border Community Alliance and take a trip into the desert with Humane Borders or the Tucson Samaritans.  We will learn about the immigration crisis with the intention of conveying that knowledge to our churches, ministries, and circles so as to support the relief efforts.

Must be 18 years old or older and have a valid US Passport. 9 spots are available. Approximately $400 plus airfare and meals.

If interested, contact Susquehanna Conference VIM Coordinator, Michelle Schwartzman at vim@susumc.org.

Calvary UMC Home Repair Mission Trip for Onondaga (New York) Native American Home Repair.  June 26-30, 2023, departing and returning to Calvary UMC 4700 Locust Lane Harrisburg PA.  Cost is $275 for Non-Members and $200 for Calvary Members.

View brochure for more details.

Questions, call John Shepler at 717-579-2548 or email - office@calvaryunitedmethodist.org

Join VIM at Wesley Forest Conference Camp and Retreat Center. We will be working with the amazing Summer Staff to get camp ready to open that Sunday. Lodging and meals are included. All sorts of tasks need to be completed to make this summer’s camp the best yet. Projects may include painting, trail maintenance, and putting the boats in the lake.

Cost - $50

Contact Michelle Schwartzman, VIM Coordinator to register and for more details.

GREAT NEWS!! U.M. ARMY is coming back to Trucksville, PA in 2023.  We will be there the week of July 9^th and we would love to have more churches from the Susquehanna Conference join us.  Registration is open so please check out the U.M. ARMY Northeast website - Northeast | U.M. ARMY (umarmy.org) for more information.  You can also contact Gina Grubbs at ginagrubbs@umarmy.org or Darlene Thomas at gabrielt0303@gmail.com to discuss the possibility of your group joining us.

Our theme for next year is GOD @ WORK: TRANSFORMING.  Won’t you join us and help us continue to transform the Trucksville community and the lives we touch?

Mission Central (https://missioncentral.org/) is looking for mission volunteers to fill a variety of roles within the organization. Volunteer opportunities are flexible and accommodate almost all physical abilities. Volunteers can volunteer once a week, once a month, or at any interval they choose. There are opportunities in the warehouse and in the office, as well as internship opportunities. Please contact missioncentral@missioncentral.org or call 717-766-1533 for more information.

Projects could include:

• Kit creation/verification
• Donation door management
• Donation pickups in the box truck
• Item sorting
• Resource packing/loading
• Outdoor clean-up
• Communications Intern (create content, conduct interviews, draft impact stories, assist with additional Mission Central communications initiatives)
• Marketing Coordinator (recruit, educate and retain volunteers, cultivate collaborations between corporations and Mission Central, create HUB reporting plan, assist with additional Mission Central marketing efforts)
• Program Intern (run varying programs related to outreach, outreach education and disaster recovery, create and facilitate new programs, cultivate collaborations between other nonprofits and Mission Central, track growth, opportunity and successes)

VIEW TEAM OPENINGS
This is the most up-to-date information VIM Inc has regarding current team openings and various mission opportunities, however we cannot guarantee that all opportunities are still available.

Please contact the team leader for the latest information.

VIEW UPCOMING VIRTUAL MISSION JOURNEYS