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World Vision Experience: AIDS
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Step into Africa
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American citizens traveling to or resident in Zimbabwe should register with the U.S. Embassy by completing a registration form online at https://travelregistration.state.gov. Registration enables the Embassy to contact American citizens in case of emergency and provide updates on the security situation. As the Department of State continues to develop information on any potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its consular information program documents, available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.
Nothing But Nets The Baltimore-Washington is among the leaders in providing long lasting bed nets in Africa. Through the Baltimore-Washington Conference and the United Nations Foundation we are the only conference providing nets to Zimbabwe. In 2006 we supported the purchase of 5,000 nets with the assistance of a matching grant from The Gates Foundation. When the team arrived with plans for distribution, there were 7,000 nets for distribution. This was a good problem to have, but this is just a fraction of what is needed to help prevent the spread of malaria from the sting of the mosquito. Our goal is to raise $50,000 by January 1, 2009 in order to get another 5,000 nets to Zimbabwe. We will continue to pray that we will receive another mathcing grant and be able to sucessfully deliver 10,000 nets. God is good and provides! I have heard so many stories of how you have been helping to raise these funds, from individuals to Sunday School challenges, to Vacation Bible school mission projects, to UMW and UMM fund raising, to birthday celebrations, to basketball free throws and other sports where points have been scored using a net. Funds have been raised by the young and the not so young. So anything is possible. A bed net only cost $10 and can save a family of 4. The Baltimore-Washington Confernce can always be counted on when it comes to doing mission. Below is just one more story that came to me this week. Use it as a challenge in your local congregtations today. Mail your donations to The Baltimore-Washiington Conference, Attn: Nothing But Nets, 7178 Columbia Gateway Dr, Columbia, MD 21046. Or you may send it through the Advance Special # 982015. Every gift counts. NOTHING BUT NETS STORY “Nothing but Nets” is a powerful program where the United Methodist Church is in partnership with the National Basketball Association and many other civic and religious groups. The purpose is to raise money to buy special treated nets to be taken to Africa where they can be used to cover persons while they are sleeping. The nets protect folks from the sting of the mosquito that carries malaria. Each net costs $10. On October 26th, our senior pastor preached an excellent sermon on being a church with a strong mission program. In his sermon he mentioned that SPUMC was #1 in the conference in giving to the “Nothing but Nets” campaign. During the singing of the closing hymn, I was inspired to go to the altar and take the microphone. Interrupting the hymn, I asked the members of the congregation to put the pastor’s words into action. I put a $20 bill on the altar ($10 from me and $10 from my wife) and asked those present to follow my lead. When I returned to my seat, my wife said: “Look at that. Isn’t that a beautiful sight?” Folks were streaming to the altar. We collected nearly $1,000. In the weeks since, other groups in the church have contributed and our total is nearing $2,000. Then the basketball coach at Severna Park High School (a member of our church) called me and asked how he could get his team involved in this project. He and his team will support “Nothing but Nets” by soliciting donors to contribute money for every free throw the team makes in upcoming weeks. What a wonderful response from a member going into the community. Recently I sent an e-mail to my brother Philip who is in Khartoum, Sudan. Philip is the Superintendant of Khartoum American School, an international school with over 200 students from many nations and cultures. I told him about our special offering where almost $1,000 was placed on the altar for “Nothing but Nets”. Here is the reply from my brother Philip: “I’m glad to hear that you’ve joined the crusade against Malaria. Malaria is such a big thing over here. Before I came to Africa, the mere mention of it was scary. For people like you and me, it’s not the big danger that it is for many Africans. I sleep in air-conditioned rooms and there is never a question of mosquitoes getting into my house. Since the mosquito which carries the disease only comes out from dusk to dawn, the risk of exposure is pretty small for me. The majority of the poor, however, sleep outside or in open areas where their risk is far greater. There is a course of medication that is readily available here so it shouldn’t really kill anyone but, unfortunately, it does. Especially if you’re poor, or a child, or elderly. Anyway, the nets are catching on over here through a lot of public advertising and the work of many NGOs.” It’s good to hear first hand that this project is successful. SPUMC wants other UMC churches to join us in this project. If you want to contribute, you can. Simply write a check (maybe in a multiple of $10) to: “Name of your UM church”. On the note line put: “Nothing But Nets.” Help the conference reach its goal and get a match from the Bill Gates Foundation. You can score a slam dunk and save lives. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it….…… John Clinton
Travel Alert - U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
The Embassy Travel Alert is issued to update U.S. citizens on safety and security concerns throughout Zimbabwe due to ongoing political instability following the national elections.
My name is John Clinton and I am an active lay person at Severna Park United Methodist Church (SPUMC). I have a story to tell.