Following the outbreak of tornadoes in West Ohio in late May, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) awarded a grant of $100,000 to West Ohio's Disaster Response ministries. The money is being used to hire several project managers and to repair homes in the Dayton area. A big THANK YOU to UMCOR for their support! For more information on how you can help, visit West Ohio's Disaster Response page here.

A word from West Ohio-supported missionary to North Katanga, Lorraine Charinda...

Whoever said the words 'seeing is believing' knew exactly what life is all about. I used to hear all kinds of stories from travelers who came from different districts. They used to inform us of the bad conditions and dilapidated roads that they encountered on their travels. To me it was all tales and I did not really grasp the extent of the bad conditions they mentioned until I went on one trip myself. This past month my team and I went to 3 districts. We used motorbikes to carry us to our destinations. I was excited to embark on the journey, but little did I know the conditions that would meet us. I remember the first 16km we journeyed felt like an eternity. It took us almost 2 hours to cover that distance. I began to panic at how much time it would take us to reach to our final destination, which was 200km away. As we covered 40km in sandy roads and sometimes riding in the rail road, it really hit me that this is an almost everyday experience for the majority in North Katanga for most of their lives. How was I to better serve the people and fulfill my mission if I complained at every discomfort and threw negative remarks every chance I got to the very people who have endured these conditions the better part of their lives? I found a new respect for them! Some used bicycles for the same destination we were heading, with a lot of luggage on their carriers. It took them days to reach there but they never gave up and were always optimistic on their voyage. It gave me strength and I kept telling myself, 'THIS IS LIFE OF A MISSIONARY.' We serve in communities far from home, and always have new encounters that humble us and change views on how we see the world. I am happy to be part of this journey as it has taught me a lot and made me to be appreciative of every little thing that I used to take advantage of. 

Learn more about Lorraine and her ministry here.

The Hunger Network of Ohio is offering 'Advocacy in Advent: Proclaiming God's Justice that is Breaking into the World,' an opportunity to advocate for more just hunger policies on Tuesday, December 10, from 9:00 am-3:00 pm at the Ohio Statehouse. First, get a policy update on hunger and policy in Ohio - specifically SB 165, which will update SNAP (food stamps) requirements - and then you will have the chance to meet with state officials. No experience is necessary! All you need is a passion for making sure that all are fed. For more information or to register, click here.