Volunteers In Mission to Smolensk, Russia

Dear Co-workers and colleagues,   

If you have ever considered going on a VIM trip to Russia, now is the time to do it.      

This letter is in regard to a Volunteers In Mission to Smolensk, Russia, this summer.  Bishop Hans Vaxby was able to spend a few important days in our Conference and he helped us understand important aspect of our ministry there as United Methodists.  He was very grateful for the ground work our labor has done to enable the United Methodist Church to grow there.  As you may remember, this past year has been a difficult one for variety of reasons, to close non Orthodox churches.  Fortunately, that has not happened and the United Methodist Church was given permission to resume it ministry.  This, more than many other years, is the year to make a strong impact on the political leaders in Smolensk and to open the hearts of the people to Christ through the ministry of the United Methodist Church locally and globally.  Bishop Vaxby is hoping to open another congregation there with our help!

The team this summer will be working on improving a school for chronically ill children between the ages of 8 and 16 yrs old.  We need many hands to paint, wall paper, landscape, cut grass, scrub, tile, do carpentry and plumbing.  Whatever your skill, there a space for you!  Before we left Smolensk in 2007 many of the VIMs working together that summer visited that facility and our hearts ached as we left.  We could feel the Holy Spirit opening doors for United Methodists to make a difference in the lives of the children as well for the community of Smolensk.  Our humanitarian work is the foundation on which the United Methodist Church will be able to bring people into a relationship with Christ and with each other.  Come help us.    

The VIM trip is open to people ages 18yrs old and older.  We've even had younger youth accompanied by their parents. Talk to me.  We will be leaving around Jun 22nd and returning around July 7th.  We'll fly into Moscow and go immediately to Smolensk, a 6 hour bus ride.  Our "hotel" will be in the school in which we previously worked, and we'll go to the project each day a few miles away.  At the end of our work project we will be hosted by families in Smolensk, all of whom have worked with us for the past decade.  The hospitality of our friends there is overwhelming and very touching.  You?ll love being a guest in their homes and they will love having you there.  We will then return to Moscow (or St. Petersburg) for a few days of rest and relaxation and site seeing before flying home.  The cost of the trip is around $3,000.00.  The cost of the project is around $25,000.00.      

Please plan to come to an information session and first session to organize the trip on January 18th, 2009, at 3:00 PM at the Conference Office.  Forms will be available there for the trip.  If you wish to go but cannot make that meeting, please call Ginny Kaiser at the Conference Office: 732-359-1043.  You may call me with any questions: Bob Smith, 609-538-0048.

Peace,
Bob Smith, Capital District Superintendent