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Volunteers improve Hondurans' lives

TIMONIUM – Ten members of Timonium and Hiss UMCs teamed up for a Volunteers in Mission trip to Honduras this summer. They ranged in age from 19 to 75 years, each day working in a different community of the MAMA Project (Mujeres Amigas Miles Apart) in San Francisco de Yojoa, 60 miles from the capitol Tegucigalpa.

The medical brigade set up a clinic, a pharmacy and a dentist's office in three areas, staffing them with two doctors, a nurse and a Honduran dentist.

Each day the construction team put concrete floors in houses, completing two a day for a total of eight.

"The poverty of another country really doesn't hit you until you've seen it firsthand, seen what it's like to live in a one room house with no plumbing, little food, a small income and limited access to medical care," said Laura Crue, a Hood College student.

Church in midst of the Grand Prix

BALTIMORE – The inaugural Grand Prix car race wound its way for two miles through downtown Baltimore around the Inner Harbor and by Camden Yards, surrounding the route with jersey walls atop a 10-foot high chain link fence and bleachers for race fans on Labor Day weekend.

And in the midst of it all was Old Otterbein UMC. "It was an exciting race, with a lot of noise," said the Rev. Don Burgard, the retired pastor who serves the church. The race is 75 laps of the curving, winding, hairpin-turning track on Baltimore's streets.

Some of the members were fearful about the effects the vibrations of the 700 horsepower racing cars – which could rev from 65 mph to 130 mph in seconds – would have on the historic building, the oldest continuous-serving church in Baltimore.

The church was completely locked out, with a big tent and vans for emergency vehicles parked in its front yard. In exchange, the Indy Racing Association gave them 100 tickets.

The Grand Prix will be back to Baltimore four more times. "Next year we'll have a service and invite the people in," Burgard said.

Ames UMC members pray for schools

BEL AIR – Several members of Ames UMC helped Harford County schools get off to a good start. They prayed for Bel Air, Edgewood and Patterson High Schools, three elementary schools and three middle schools. At each place they held prayers for the students, teachers, counselors and other staff, as well as for the parents and guardians of the children. "It would be a blessing to share this awesome experience with some of the other churches," said Donna Lewis. "Our schools all need our prayers."

Church ministers to community children

BALTIMORE – Following a very successful four-week summer fun day camp for the children in the community, Ames Memorial UMC and the Ames Shalom Community, Inc. have continued serving the children that surround the area.

Ten to 20 children come for an after-school program from October through May. Volunteers serve hot meals and snacks. The children receive homework tutoring, engage in arts and crafts, play games, watch videos and have library time, said Ruth Lewis, the site coordinator.

Youth Encounter God

KNOXVILLE - More than 160 youth attended the second annual Encounter Festival at Manidokan Camp & Retreat Center the weekend of Sept. 9, three times as many as last year. The festival, combining elements from music festivals, youth retreats and summer camp, is a unique experience that fosters interpersonal and spiritual relationships. The youth heard from keynote speaker Jeremy Willet, who was also lead singer for the band Willet, and the duo Jay & Nett, Ashes Remain and for worship on Sunday, Prevenient Grace from Washington Square and St. Matthews UMCs in Hagerstown. The Rev. Sarah Schlieckert led worship. To learn more, visit www.EncounterFestival.com.