Voices From Around The World

Vignettes that can be used in a variety of ways

I lost my left arm deflecting a sword aimed at my head. Covered in blood, I was left for dead by my INKARTA captors. Today, with one arm I am a brick mason, and I worked side-by-side with you as a volunteer to build a new day care facility in a South Africa refugee camp.

I was so excited, it was my first UMVIM trip, and I had so much to give. Funny thing, I received so much more than I could ever give.


I watched you hold little children orphaned by AIDS. I do all I can, but their numbers have overwhelmed me; and there is no money for additional paid workers. I watched you make these children laugh and smile, and respond to your antics. You gave them the love and attention they deserve, but which I have not the time to give. And yet you walked away thinking you made no difference.


For 6 months I had no place to go to acquire the food and clothes my family depended on because Hurricane Gilbert destroyed the pantry at the Methodist Church. You rebuilt that facility.


I met you near Johannesburg. You were 20; I was 8. You are Japanese and I am South African. I had never heard of Japan. You taught me origami art. You gave me a larger world.


I never received a formal education. That is different now for my children. You came to my island and renovated an old school and made it a nice place to be. You brought us books. You brought us supplies.


When I met the widows in Bosnia, we were able to understand each others pain for I too, am a widow. Even with the language barrier, we found strength in each other.


My people are native to this land. Ours is a story of deprivation and abandonment. You have helped us to build affordable homes.


In my war torn city you built a youth center to help kids like me have a safe place to go to for play, to study, to hang-out. You opened the door to a better place, a safer life, and a future of hope and promise.


We thought the world had forgotten us. For months we lived with a badly damaged house, no electricity or running water. You showed up one morning and began building us a new life.


When I was 8 years old I lost my family in the war. I walked 70 kilometers, alone, to try and find unknown relatives in Luanda. Eventually I was able to enroll in the Methodist school program for street kids. I learned as best I could, and today I am a teacher.


In my country, the church is severely restricted, yet UMVIM volunteers come year after year to help us renovate our old buildings and build a new camp. Because of your efforts, United Methodism is growing 25% per year among my people.

Submitted by UMVIM, WJ

 

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