UM Women at mission school collect underwear for kids


Southwest Texas United Methodist Women collected nearly 2,000 pairs of underwear last month in Kerrville.
More than 180 adults, 10 youths and 15 children assembled bags of underwear July 18-22 at Mount Wesley Conference Center during the 2007 School of Christian Missions.
Those underclothes are bound for the 40 boys and girls of CEREIMI in northern Chile. CEREIMI provides meals, medical attention and help with schoolwork for youngsters.
Each Chilean child is to receive a bag with 14 pairs of underwear. His or her name is on the bag. A note is included, signed by the ladies of each district. The note lets the child know that those women prayed for him or her while preparing the bags.
Children and youths at the CEREIMI center range in age from 1 to 18.
Churchwomen brought 1,016 pairs of boys’ and men’s underpants, 60 undershirts and nine pairs of socks to Kerrville. They collected 672 pairs of girls’ and ladies’ underpants, six undershirts and 24 pairs of socks.
Extra underwear brought to Mount Wesley is to be divided among four United Methodist-related community centers in the Southwest Texas Conference:
> Good Neighbor Settlement House, Brownsville.
> Wesley Community Center, Robstown.
> Southside Community Center, San Marcos.
> Holding Institute, Laredo.
Children attending the School of Christian Missions collected a special offering for the YMCA in Jerusalem. It has a refugee camp.
Theme for the 2007 edition of the annual school was “Sing Across the Walls.” Adults could sign up for:
> A geographic study on Israel and Palestine.
> A spiritual growth study on music and mission.
> A general issues study on globalization.
Teenagers studied globalization. Children studied Israel and Palestine.
Classes were designed to help churchwomen grow in understanding of Christian mission so they could:
> Give attention to women’s responsibility in fulfilling that mission.
> Strengthen leadership and membership of 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 next 12 months.
The purpose of UMW, a mission auxiliary, is to know God and expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of The United Methodist Church. Conference UMW units are related to the Women’s Division of the UM 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.