> Hispanic-Latino Academy 

Hispanic Women Congress report (from TNUMConnects 9/21/11)

by Enrique Hernandez-Vigil, Dir. TN UMC Hispanic/Latino Academy

For those who may not know, this marvelous program has been happening in the TN Conference now for the last five years. Initially less than 30 women participated, but this gathering has experienced consistent growth since that first year.

The women in attendance represented 13 out of the 14 Hispanic Fellowships we have here in Middle Tennessee. A United Methodist Hispanic church from Boiling Green, KY was also in attendance this year.

This was also the first time the event was opened to other denominations. Nazarene, Assembly of God, Baptist and other independent churches were represented. A total of 96 women and 14 children were ministered to during the 2011 gathering!

The featured speaker was missionary Nola Warren. Nola has worked in Mexico having established several churches as well as a Bible Institute were she is currently the principal. Her children are also very active in ministry. One of her sons is the famous Christian singer Marcos Witt, who has won three Grammies in his career as a singer.

It was clearly evident that Nola was the right person to bring forth the message at this year’s Hispanic Women’s Congress. Her testimonies and words of encouragement pierced the heart of all in attendance and lifted the spirits of many who came with heavy hearts and burdens.

After Nola’s message, testimonies of how the Spirit had touched many of the lives of the participants were then shared. The ladies also collectively thanked Laura Ibarra, the event organizer, because of her skillful organization and for her leading one of the themes for the Congress.

The times of worship were also a highlight at Congress. The Lord mightily used a guest worship band from a sister church in Nashville. The times for fellowship and breaks were also memorable as it was a great time to catch up with the happenings from other Hispanic fellowships.

The Hispanic/Latino Academy of the TN Conference would like to express our appreciation to the volunteers from Murfreesboro First UMC and St. Marks UMC that helped in arranging the lodging and meals for this event. Also, our thankfulness goes to the same congregations and additionally to the Fellowship and McKendree United Methodist Churhes that facilitated space and air mattresses for Congress.

The meals were donated by COSROW and all of the participants enjoyed a wonderful lunch on Saturday afternoon! We realize this is a team effort and none of this would be possible without the participation of many. Thank you, and may God bless you!

This article was featured in the TN Conference weekly eBlast TNUMConnects. FREE to your INBOX weekly!
Click the button to subscribe now!

[Back to Top]   [Print]   [Direct Link]   [Share This]

Puebla revisited - Risk-Taking Mission & Service continues in Mexico (from The Connector, May 2011)

by Rev. Barbara P. Garcia

“It took a week to make me a believer!”

The eighteen women gathered with smiles, bags packed for the week, and energy to put the most fit and impervious to heat to the test. They had finished the first week of training as Community-based Primary Health Care Workers six months ago, and were now ready to continue with the Intermediate Course. Their energy, anticipation, faith and commitment inspired me more every kilometer that took us nearer the Tree of Life Training Center two hours from the city of Puebla. Here were women who were so excited to be serving their families and communities, and were answering God’s call to serve thousands who don’t have ready access to medical help.

Known as the More Than a Bandage Program in The Methodist Church of Mexico, and especially in the rural areas of south central Mexico, village women are equipped as volunteer primary health care workers in their community. Through interactive learning and hands-on experiences, the women are equipped to return to their communities with the ability to share their knowledge and use their new skills. In this way the health workers empower people to prevent serious disease by changing the conditions in which cause it and treat illnesses in their earliest stages central to their own community.

The women attend 3 one-week long courses over an eighteen-month period. They experienced and learned about a variety of topics related to health issues. Upon completion of the first week’s course, the health workers were then invited to offer their services in addressing the health needs of their family, church and community.

In the Basic Course they learned about self-esteem, parenting, child Development, vaccinations, basic sanitation, disinfecting fruits and vegetables, family nutrition, dental hygiene, and even how to build a dry composting toilet system! And with six months of sharing ‘back home’ about these most basic topics, they were ready for more!

In the Intermediate Course, they learned more about common diseases and their remedies, amoebas and parasites, CPR, and first aid measures to take with burns, fractures, cuts and scrapes, hemorrhages, nosebleeds, bites and stings, eye injuries, symptoms of diseases, and even how to give intramuscular injections.

Because so many villages do not have doctors nearby, these women become crucial to the health and even lives of many people! But could they learn all this in a week?

Each woman was given a three-ring Binder filled with complete information on each topic, and an extensive First Aid Kit so that they were equipped for service upon return. Throughout the week they practiced just what they have learned, first with one of the other women. Then in teams, they had to present the “classes” to the whole group, creating their own approaches and methods of teaching. By the end of the 7 days, they had observed, practiced, taught, demonstrated, taken written and oral exams, and then taught some more! Also, keep in mind this was not conducted in an air-conditioned hospital space, but rather in an open-air classroom at the Tree of Life Rural Training Center throughout long, hot days which began at 6:00 am and continued till 9:00 pm. On the last day, many had wet washcloths over their foreheads to combat the 88-95 degree heat in the shade - yet not one of them waned!

A special thank you:
A special word of thanks to the Tennessee Annual Conference from the 18 women themselves: “Gracias! …for the beautiful backpacks remaining from a Conference activity and by the AWARE Team from Brentwood UMC! The women were able to transport their huge notebooks and other materials back home ‘in style and security!’ And equally important, the women were thrilled to know that others are supporting them in their VERY BOLD ventures to serve their families and communities, helping to heal and serve others in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank you!”

It took being there and seeing the remarkable work and planning of the leaders in this program, plus all of the women at work to see that all this could be done in just one week!

Please visit www.gytte.org to learn more about this and other “Risk-Taking ministries” happening through the Give Ye Them To Eat Ministry of The Methodist Church of Mexico in collaboration with The General Board of Global Ministries - and to see where and why I am enjoying “volunteer life” in Mexico!

This article or a version of it was featured in the TN Conference newsletter The TNUMConnector. Get a full year for only $12!
Click the button to subscribe now!


 

[Back to Top]   [Print]   [Direct Link]   [Share This]