Serve through Traverse Bay Church

Why do we spend so much, to go so far, to do things we're not all that good at? Because the connection between people is worth it: the connection between people from here and people there; the connection built up between the people who go as a team; the connection between people who worship the same God in different ways and in different places; the connection between people who have resources and people who have needs; the connection with people who learn and people who teach. Also, we bring back stories and connections, so that we can broaden the understanding of people we talk to once we get home. Because Jesus said, and still says, "Love one another," and he wasn't only talking about people nextdoor.

This was a trip to work on building a church. This team last year finished their years of work on two other church projects in Haiti, one on Ile a Vache, and the other in Thomas. So this year they started in a place that hasn't had a mission team visit before, in a city in northern Haiti. This group, like all our groups, is open to newcomers. See their blog: http://tbumchurchhaitiumvimteam.blogspot.com

Haitian boy painting

The Methodist Children's House is home to thirty one children, mostly boys, aged from four to eighteen. The plumbing wasn't working, and there was a need for a security wall around the outside of the property to keep the boys safe. See their blog: http://tbumchildrenshouse.blogspot.com

painted stones

Redbird Mission is a United Methodist program in Appalachia, working on basic home repair and maintenance for people without financial resources or opportunities. The group stays in a dormitory facility. Led by Devon Herrell

children

This was our first trip to Nicaragua, and our first to a Spanish-speaking country, with a small team of five people, three of whom are from our church. The age group focus for this trip is young adults, and Pastor Jeremy goes along as the resident old guy. We're planning on another trip during Christmas break, 2009, and we want to invite young adults from other congregations to join with us. The Nicaragua Mission works on building repair, but also has a component of visiting and working with children in the poorest conditions who live around dumps near the Pacific coast of Nicaragua. The group stays in a camp-like setting designed for mission work teams. Led by Amanda Harding

framing a building at Mechuwana

This project is based at a United Methodist camp in Maine, and works on basic construction and home repair. Mechuwana mission work camp is located on the site of Camp Mechuwana, the United Methodist Camp of Maine - in Winthrop, 15 minutes west of Augusta, Maine. Led by Tamara Williams

Giving opportunities

And if you want to know about worthy causes to give to, we’ve got loads of ‘em. Pick from the list below, or give a call to one of the pastors to talk about more possibilities.

Camp scholarships—not only for our own kids, but for kids from other places whose churches or parents don’t have the resources to support them going to camp, where lives are changed for good. We also have a general youth scholarship fund, that makes it possible for youth to earn money to participate in trips and other youth events by doing service work.
Inasmuch Fund—for people from the community who need help paying bills or in emergencies.
Help to pay off a land contract debt for a retired pastor and his wife, who don’t have a pension.
And it’s true, we take an offering every week during worship, because giving is an essential part of living in community.

Serve locally

There are lots of opportunities to serve locally. If you want to know how, call Becky at the church for suggestions. Here are a few:

Help with the Safe Harbor homeless shelter, by cooking, staying overnight, or sitting around playing cards in the evening.
The Men’s group always needs help in repair and other work at people’s homes. They encourage youth to get connected in the work.
Help with children’s programs of the church: Sunday School, nursery, Children’s Church, Vacation Bible School, Harvest Festival.
Contact United Way. They have a great volunteer clearinghouse, and can connect you with the work you are passionate about doing.

If you’re interested in being part of a mission trip, contact the church office, and we’ll get you in touch with the leader of a trip you’re interested in. Most trips require that you help with fundraising with your team in advance of the trip, and that you sign a covenant to honor the expectations of the trip and its purposes (which usually include a lot of hard work!).

Our mission service trip destinations in 2008:

Haiti construction project, Cap Haitien (February)