VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION (VIM) – TRIP REPORT

FEBRUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 14, 2007

FUNDACIÓN EMMANUEL GUADALAJARA

Words alone cannot express the wonderful experience shared by the 12 Volunteers in Mission (VIM) trip that was recently made to Guadalajara, Mexico. The Fairfield Glade United Methodist Church organized the adventure for February 5-14, 2007. The initial invitation to help the ministries of Fundación Emmuanuel Guadalajara (FEG) came last June. A scouting trip by Pastor Max Mayo and VIM leader Paul Wennermark took place early in the month. They soon saw the need to help the orphanage operations, food distribution, and evangelism among the poor and prisoners in Guadalajara. Plans were immediately made for a return trip in February 2007.

The primary mission work task was to initiate Phase II of the Casa Hogar Emmanuel Orphanage facility plan. Specifically, Phase II was the construction, adjacent to the main orphanage building, of a two-story 1600 square foot residence for the FEG Director.

The soil survey introduced greater than anticipated difficulties. The men along with two of the women spent six hard working days building rock and cement footer and foundation walls in seven foot deep trenches. The ladies spent a lot of time cooking, serving meals, doing laundry, or in craft activities, puppet shows, games and reading to 51 children in the orphanage. Part of the VIM team made visits to three different prisons and one hospital in the area.

Not all of the time was spent working. Sightseeing and shopping time was included in the schedule. Two major fun activities with the children involved puppet shows and crafts. A hanging aquarium of foam and CD fish and other creatures was created for the dinning hall. Older children were trained in putting on Christian based hand puppet shows.

Thanks to the generosity of many church and community members, many other gifts were given to the children of the orphanage. $2,000 was spent for new clothing, hand puppets, teddy bears, miniature toy cars, toothbrushes, videos, songbooks, and reading books.

The last evening before departure was a very emotional one-hour goodbye worship service and communion given to many of the children for the first time in their lives.  This was followed by a two hour fiesta with puppet show, drama, singing, dancing and an all-American party meal of hot-dogs, potato chips, Doritos and ice cream sundaes. 

The 12 hardy VIM Team members who made the trip are: Jorge Berrios, Tom Bowman, Louise Deck, Richard Edler, Rebecca Gentry, Pastor Max Mayo, Howard Robb, Margie Schwerm, Bev Stanfill, Pat Tonkel, and Marty and Paul Wennermark.

The best part of any Volunteers In Mission project are the wonderful Christian people on the VIM team and those you meet, work and live with in the mission experience.  Fairfield Glade UMC is sure to continue their prayers and support of the orphans and ministries of Fundación Emmanuel Guadalajara.