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Mozambique
University UMC has been in relationship with and ministry with the United Methodist Church in Mozambique since 1998. Mozambique is in the southeast of Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean opposite the island of Madagascar. In 1998, it was the second poorest country in the world, following nearly 30 years of liberation and civil wars ending in the early 1990's.
Central of Beira UMC worshiping without a roof, 2004 University UMC has several rich, ongoing relationships with The United Methodist Church in Mozambique, through The Mozambique Initiative of The Missouri Conference of The United Methodist Church. Learn more about The Mozambique Initiative Learn about plans for 2011 mission trip to Mozambique Applebee's Breakfast Fundraiser, Saturday, August 14th 8AM-10AM at Maplewood Commons will benefit the airfares for the trip. Click above to find out more about this and the trip. Foremost, we have been in a Covenant Relationship with Central Beira Parish of The United Methodist Church since late 1998. This church is located in a central residential area in the city of Beira in Sofala Province, in north central Mozambique. We exchange information and news, pray for each other, and have been blessed to have occasional visits both ways by pastors or leaders in the congregations. University also provides $450 per year for pastor's support for our partner, along with Grace UMC which contributes a like amount. This partnership was formed in 1998, and continues to present. We exchange greetings and news several times a year by e-mail. We pray for each other, and in particular, celebrate Worldwide Communion Sunday as a special day for the relationship. We have also participated in the long efforts of Central Beira to complete their large sanctuary, which is designed not only to handle their needs, but to serve as a gathering place for district and Mozambique wide gatherings. The building was started in 1997, and in 2008 the large steel-girder roof was finished. In 2009, plans are for additional finishing work, such as doors, windows, plastering, painting and floor finishing. Chicuque Rural Hospital and our work there University UMC also has an ongoing relationship with Chicuque Rural Hospital, a joint operation of THe United Methodist Church and and the Ministry of Health of Mozambique. We have had a team or individual member of the church visit the hospital 5 times since 2002 to work on construction, assist with medical or dental care, work with the children of the church, and give technical assistance on computer operations at the hospital. both before and after, have sent contributions or sent needed supplies to the hospital. An 8 person team worked at Chicuque Rural Hospital in 2007. Tasks included work on foundation and walls of a new public health intiative headquarters building, Center of Hope, assisting with dental care, providing of anti-malaria bed-nets for new born children, exploring and fact finding for computerization of hospital registration system, kicking off the My Life / Your Life children's cultural exchange project (see more below), and discussions on how to upgrade emergency and ICU care. In 2005, a 5 person team visited, working on refurbishing the radiology / AIDS testing and counseling building, conducting the first public health survey in the neighborhoods of the hospital, and assisting in physical therapy. 2007 Team digging foundation for Center of Hope public health initiative headquarters in Chicuque:
Left: Sheilah Hamilton assists the Dental Technician at Chicuque Rural Hospital. Click here for: Chicuque Rural Hospital website
My Life / Your Life, a children's cultural exchange and art exhibit between children of Chicuque UMC and University UMC"s Kids Place after-school program (2007-2009). See a sampling of the art -- under construction |
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