UM Women assemble
180 health kits for needy

United Methodist Women assembled 180 health kits last week in Kerrville.
The kits, which include personal hygiene items, are going to the United Methodist Committee on Relief depot in Baldwin, La. From there they can be sent to needy people at natural disaster sites around the globe.
Churchwomen brought health kit items to Mount Wesley Conference Center as part of the July 20-23 School of Christian Mission.
Southwest Texas women contributed 180 toothbrushes, 180 tubes of toothpaste, 180 hand towels, 446 wash clothes, 150 nail clippers and files, 180 combs, 260 bars of soap, 995 adhesive bandages, and 345 sealable plastic bags.
In addition, students brought 17 kits already completed according to relief committee directions. Each kit was to contain a toothbrush, tube of toothpaste, hand towel, wash cloth, comb, bar of soap, six adhesive bandages and a nail file or clipper.
More than 180 people—men, women, teens and children—attended the annual mission training event. Theme was “Harvesting Peace.” Adults could sign up for:
> A spiritual growth study on peace led by John Douglass, Bulverde UMC; Wanda Holcombe, Asbury UMC, Austin; and the Rev. Cynthia Kepler, Berkeley UMC, Austin.
> A geographic study on India and Pakistan led by the Rev. Peter Aguilar, First UMC, Laredo, and Shelley Ross, Floresville UMC.
> A general issues study on globalization led by the Rev. Steve Clinton, First UMC, Weslaco, and the Rev. Sharon Stewart, Coker UMC, San Antonio.
Ten teenagers studied peace and globalization with the Rev. J. Paul Bruhn, First UMC, Columbus, and Elizabeth Houst, Bulverde UMC.
Twenty-three youngsters, ages 3 to 11, learned about India and Pakistan with Rosemary Creamer, Industry UMC, and Maudi VanWinkle, First UMC, New Braunfels.
Classes were designed to help churchwomen grow in understanding of Christian mission so they could:
> Give particular attention to women’s responsibility in fulfilling that mission.
> Strengthen leadership and membership in UMW.
> Initiate times for spiritual growth and education in local congregations.
Graduates are asked to help present one of the three studies in their local congregations during the coming 12 months.
The purpose of United Methodist Women, a mission auxiliary, is to know God and expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the denomination. Conference UMW units are related to the Women’s Division of the United Methodist mission board.
The Women’s Home Missionary Society of the former Methodist Episcopal Church started schools of Christian mission in the early 1900s. Today all 63 conference UMW organizations in the United States sponsor at least one school each year.