Southern Africa Methodist Volunteers In Mission

Project list and teams 1989-2010

2010-04-05T11:38:00.000+02:00

SOUTHERN AFRICA METHODIST VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION

PROJECT LIST, 1989-2010

Updated 1 April, 2010

0100 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE DISTRICT

BEACON RIDGE METHODIST CHURCH in Mitchell's Plain was constructed with a team from Kansas City, Missouri in November 1998, with the help of one of SAMVIM's brick layers, Joseph Lusenga. In August, 1999, a work team from Oklahoma City helped the local society paint the interior of the church, hang doors , and install a much needed wheelchair ramp at Beacon Ridge.

LWANDLE METHODIST CHURCH AT SOMERSET WEST has been under construction since 2003 with help from various Volunteer in Mission Work Teams from the Oklahoma Conference in the USA. Two to three teams per year help with the construction and help with local aids and sewing projects in Lwandle.

St JAMES METHODIST CHURCH PROJECT IN BELHAR, CAPE FLATS: Teams from Moody Memorial Methodist Church in Galveston, Texas and the Missouri West Conference in Kansas City, Missouri visited Cape Town late in 2006 to help construct this much needed community center in Belhar Section of the Cape Flats.

DuNOON METHODIST CHURCH: In March, 2008, A work team from the Louisiana Conference and the First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge, under the direction of Larry Norman and team leader, Mike Owenby, helped local church members with the installation of a roof for a church under construction in Du Noon, a township on the outskirts of Cape Town. They also helped paint the interior walls of the church and held the first service of celebration with the congregation at the end of their trip. The Louisiana Conference has supported South with a number of visiting teams during the past decade.

0200 GRAHAMSTOWN DISTRICT

CONCORDIA METHODIST CHURCH SOUP KITCHEN opened in 2005 after being constructed with local work teams and a work team from Belmont United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. The team not only helped construct the soup kitchen, but also helped paint two crèches in the neighboring areas. The team from Nashville was led by Rev. Steve Bryant, Director of the Upper Room Ministries.

HORNLEE CHURCH PROJECT, CONCORDIA SECTION OF GRAHANSTOWN DISTRICT: Funds from the Scandia Foundation in the USA were used under the direction of Volunteer in Mission Coordinators, Midge and Betty Mitchell, during 2002 to build this much needed Community Building. For almost 80 years the Hornlee Society met in homes and for the past 15 years they worshiped in the basement of the Anglican Church. The new building will not only be used for church, but also for HIV/Aids education, drug abuse counseling, family support, and crime prevention alternatives. A soup kitchen, adult literacy classes and an advice bureau is also planned.

JOHN MASIZA METHODIST CHURCH IN THE WALMER CIRCUIT: May and June, 2009: A team from the Oklahoma Conference under the direction of Rev. Jeremy Basset, helped construct a church at the John Masiza Methodist Church in the Walmer Circuit of Port Elizabeth. The team led by Rev. Robyn Thomson-Goggs and Rev. David Croninger who has been to South Africa 4 times previously on mission trips not only helped in the construction of the John Masiza Church, but also held a day camp for children who have lost parents to the Aids Pandemic.

0300 QUEENSTOWN DISTRICT

MOOI PLAAS MISSION STATION, March, 1993, SAMVIM volunteers help erect steel structure to be used as a barn. More recently, July 1999, a youth team from Bergvliet Methodist Church painted the barn and participated in the activities at the Mission Station.

KEI MOUTH CIRCUIT PROJECT involved the replacement of a roof on the church at Kei Mouth in the Queenstown District. A team led by Bonnie Laycock from First United Methodist Church of Wichita, Kansas helped Rev. Gareth Syncock replace the old roof in June, 2001.

0500 KIMBERLEY, NAMIBIA & BLOEMFONTEIN DISTRICT

MAMOSA METHODIST CHURCH AT BOTSABELLO was built with a work team from Kansas City, Missouri in September 1995. Most of the funds for building their church came from the Missouri West Conference and most of the work of finishing the church was done by the local society under the direction of SAMVIM representatives.

0600 NORTHERN FREE STATE AND LESOTHO DISTRICT

SEMONKONG HOSPITAL repairs done in February and October, 1993 with teams from Benoni and Durban.

0700 NATAL COASTAL DISTRICT

ZUELETHU METHODIST CHURCH in Umlazi hosted a work team from Durban North Methodist Church in November, 1993. The team repaired the gutters and replaced facia boards on the church.

THEMBAKUYE METHODIST CHURCH at Kwahlongwa, near Mandini erected the walls of a church up to window height. In June, 1994, a work team from Texas joined work teams from Durban and the local community to enclose the vestry of the church so it may be used for a sanctuary.

JOHN WESLEY SCHOOL AT PINETOWN was the site in July, 1994 for a work team from Texas constructing a much needed classroom with the help of the Pinetown Methodist Church and local parents.

MTHANDAZO METHODIST AT kWANDENGEZI was built with funds received from the Kloof Methodist Church and a work team from Manning Road Methodist Church in November, 1994
FOLWENI METHODIST CHURCH AT UMLAZI was constructed in May, 1995 with a team from South Carolina and help from local church members. A combined team from Durban North Methodist Church and Manning Road Methodist Church help with the installation of the roof in June, 1995.

SHAKAVILLE METHODIST CHURCH started a creche with foundations dug and cast by a youth team from Kearsney College in July, 1995. The local society finished the work of building the structure.

MANGUZI CHURCH AT KWANGWANASE , In August, 1995, a six member work team from Empangeni, Richard Bay, Durban, and Pietermaritzburg installed a roof over a 12 X 25 meter structure started by the church 4 years before. Local funds and local church workers helped make this project a success with subsequent work teams from the Together in Mission Teams helping in the casting of the floors and installation of a communion rail.

ZWELETHU METHODIST CHURCH AT UMLAZI, In March and April, 1996, Saturday work teams from Umlazi and Durban North helped with the addition to the Zwelethu Church by erecting a steel structure and installing roofing on this church extension at Umlazi. Most of the "finishing up work" was done by the local church members with SAMVIM supervision.

ZUMAT AIRPLANE HANGER PROJECT. In May and June 1996, local work teams from Richards Bay Methodist Church and Durban helped in the preliminary work before a work team from an organization called Hands Around the World in the United Kingdom arrived to erect this hanger, which was completed to 75% in just three weeks. Subsequent work teams from Westville and Pinetown Methodist Churches helped in the casting of the floors and driveways.

MCO SIDEWALK PROJECT, In August 1996 a couple of SAMVIM volunteers helped cast the sidewalk at the MCO offices in Durban

VERULAM METHODIST CHURCH, Repairs to the roof of the Verulam Methodist Church were carried out in 1997 with SAMVIM Volunteers and local church members, saving the local society over R100,000 in repair costs.

THEMBAKUYE METHODIST CHURCH AT Kwahlongwa, Mandini is completed in June, 1997 by the same Texas team that worked on the vestry two years before. Local church members finish installation of windows and doors, cast the floors and plaster the building.

MANSE ADDITION TO MUSGRAVE ROAD METHODIST CHURCH. The enclosure of a porch at the manse is carried out by a SAMVIM work team adding much needed living space at a reasonable price.

PAHAKAMISA SCHOOL PROJECT IN PINETOWN: This project was visited by Glazebury Methodist Church from the U.K. in March of 2006. While their primary goal was to unload a container for the John Wesley School which was sent previously, the team helped with local projects at the school.

THORNWOOD PROJECT, CLERPINE CIRCUIT, KWAZULU NATAL: Rev. Ian France has identified this project as a need in the Clerpine Circuit and raised enough funds to purchase land and erected a steel structure. In November, 2006, a work team from The Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas helped local volunteers in the construction and funding of the church.

EMMAUS CHURCH AT ST WENDOLINS IN CLEREPINE CIRCUIT: July, 2009: A team from Church of the Resurrections in Leawood Kansas volunteered in Pinetown, helping to build furniture for the Emmaus Church at St. Wendolins in the Clerpine Circuit. They will also help paint the Marriann Ridge Methodist Church in the Clerpine Circuit. Church of the Resurrection has been sending annual teams to Durban to help Rev. Ian France build and develop churches in the Clerpine Circuit.

0800 NATAL WEST DISTRICT

A TEAM FROM SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY’S PERKINS SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY IN DALLAS, TEXAS, led by Drs. Evelyn Parker and Joerg Rieger in January 2008, visited the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg where they looked at the role of women in the church during the post-apartheid decade. The Perkins Global Theological Education Program prepares pastors-in-training to lead congregations in culturally sensitive, competent and effective mission both within and outside the USA. The program offers significant immersion in cultures other than those of the participants and students gain first hand experience in building intercultural relationships and learning from others with a different life experience and outlook.

0900 CENTRAL DISTRICT

CENTRAL METHODIST MISSION hosted a work team from Georgia in the United States in October, 1996 and much work was done in restoring the workers accommodations on the 6th floor of the downtown Johannesburg Methodist Church Building. Presiding Bishop Mvume Dandalaville joined the work team on a Saturday morning and helped the team with painting.

DIEP SLOOT METHODIST CHURCH PROJECT: Bryanston Methodist Church purchased a piece of property in Diep Sloot in hopes of starting a Community Church. Services started in the 4 car garage on the property. In 2001,The Hydraform Block Company sold their machines to 9 countries throughout Africa and needed a place to bring delegates for much needed training. SAMVIM helped coordinate the project to bring 24 trainees to this site to help teach the block laying skills required by this “dry stacking block system”. SAMVIM later stayed on to finish the project with local volunteers.

DIEP SLOOT COMMUNITY CENTER: In 2004, a youth team from James Madison University (Wesley Foundation), in Virginia visited Diep Sloot and helped to erect a steel structure that would later become a Community Center, feeding over 1000 local people per day when complete. During the first phase, a 19 X 48 meter structure was completed using the Hydraform Block System and local people were trained by SAMVIM in the skills of brick laying. Phase 2, an additional 19 X 48 meter structure was completed by a commercial company.

EBONY PARK CHURCH AND COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT: In May, 2002, SAMVIM helped Calvary Methodist Church in the construction of this much needed community center in the Ebony Park section of Tembisa township. Calvery Methodist church in Midrand has helped in a number of projects in Ebony Park including a computer training course and a crèche for preschool children. The building was started by SAMVIM and a local builder was hired to finish the project by the end of May 2002 for Synod to be held “on site”.

YOUTH TEAMS FROM AUSBURY METHODIST CHURCH IN PENNSYLVANIA VISIT LICHTENBURG: Each year in January, the Ausbury Methodist Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania send a youth team to Lichtenburg, west of Johannesburg to conduct bible studies and youth camps for the local children. The Vacation Bible School activities are conducted on a farm owned by Derek Matthews, a local farmer who has converted his old milking barn into sleeping facilities for the campers.

THE ALBERT STREET REFUGE SCHOOL IN DOWTOWN JOHANNESBURG was visited by delegates from World Missions Possible located in Clear Lake, Texas in July of 2008. Roxane Richter and Dr. Tom Flowers met with Bishop Paul Verryn to look at this school which opened its doors recently to accommodate children of the more that 800 refuges from Zimbabwe that sleep in the Central Methodist Church in downtown Johannes burg each night. Over 600 school textbooks were collected from the Rotary International School Textbook Program in Bedfordview and steel tables to be used for desk were also purchased by World Missions Possible. Ted Warnock from the United Methodist Commission of Relief (UMCOR) lead a work team from Germiston the following weekend to help build bookcases and additional desks. In 2009, funds were raised to renovate the bathrooms and room divisions were done for additional classrooms

CRECHES IN IVORY AND EBONY PARK SECTIONS OF TEMBISA TOWNSHIP received a team from Huntsville, Alabama, led by Anne Forgey. Anne and her church has been supporting the crèches financially in the past and wanted to help paint the classrooms and conduct Bible School at each of the preschools during their stay. The team also participated in a celebration of 14 years of service to the community.

1000 HIGHVELD AND SWAZILAND DISTRICT

FERNIE METHODIST CHURCH in Kangwane constructed with workers from the Con Roux Company in Dunswart and local societies in March 1989. This was our first project under the name of SAMVIM.

DIEPDALE METHODIST CHURCH in Kangwane built with a team from Trinity United Church in Kempton Park using materials salvaged from the Fernie site in April 1989.

GLENMORE METHODIST CHURCH in Kangwane built with a work team from North Carolina in January 1990 with preliminary work done by Trinity United Church in Kemption Park and later repaired by SAMVIM after wind storm damage.

MOOI PLAAS METHODIST CHURCH in Kangwane initially started by the Boys Brigade in Benoni in May 1990 and finished by the local society.

KROOMDRAI METHODIST CHURCH in Kangwane built in July 1991 by teams from Trinity United Church in Kempton Park in cooperation with the local society.

SON VALLEY METHODIST RETREAT CENTER at Delmas, refurbishing of cabins in June, 1990 with work teams from the Fathers Ministry at Northfield, Benoni and workers from the Con Roux Company in preparation of the first Walks to Emmaus in South Africa.

JOHN WESLEY SCHOOL AT MPULUZI, Kangwane , Phase 1, consisting of three classrooms, kitchen and ablution facilities constructed with a work team from North Carolina and local work teams of parents and school children in March, 1991. Phase 2, four additional classrooms completed in February, 1992 with work team from North Carolina assisted by a team from Northfield Methodist Church in Benoni.

ELKUWATINI METHODIST CHURCH in Kangwane constructed in September, 1991 with a work team from Kansas City, Missouri, with help from Northfield Methodist Church in Benoni and the Con Roux Company.

SWALLOWS NEST METHODIST CHURCH in Kangwane built with used materials from a train station demolished by the Con Roux Company in July, 1992. Work teams from San Diego California and Trinity United Church in Kempton Park were used along with the local society in the construction.

KATLEHONG METHODIST CHURCH uses SAMVIM volunteers to finish Sunday School Building under the direction of Joseph Lusenga, a builder from Kangwane.

ORANGE FARMS CHURCH EXTENSION AND PAINTING PROJECT undertaken by team from the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church in America. Foundations for the vestry and kitchen were started by a work team led by Jon and Lisa Lord in July, 2001

TJAKASTAD METHODIST CHURCH AND COMMUNITY BUILDING PROJECT: The Tjakastad Methodist Church in Kangwane, built by two teams in August, 2002 was dedicated in June, 2003. One team led by Mack McKinney from Wyoming (and team members from San Diego, California) started the brick work which was finished by another team from South Texas led by Walter Herbst. Local workers were training in brick laying skills, by Jospeh Lusenga, SAMVIM’s official building contractor and volunteer instructor.

WATTVILLE CHURCH PROJECT, BENONI CIRCUIT: The Wattville Society is growing at a rapid pace and they have started a church expansion program in the fast growing community. In 2002 J.P. McGuire led a work team from the California Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church in America to help with the construction of this community building. Aids training, counseling and community health programs are scheduled to begin here once the building is complete.

AMSTERDAM METHODIST COMMUNITY BUILDING: A work team from Louisiana Tech University, Wesley Foundation, spent the month of June helping to build a new church/community building at the Kwa Thandeka Township near Amsterdam. The team of 29 students and faculty joined a team of local volunteer workers that were trained on a SAMVIM project at Tjakastad in 2002. The old stone church at Amsterdam was condemned previously because it was considered unsafe to occupy. There are still hopes to restore the old building that has been declared a National Monument by the Historical Society of South Africa.

ZENZELE DAY CARE CENTER PROJECT IN DAVEYTON: J.P. McGuire, from the California-Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church in America, led a work team to Daveytown Township in July of 2003 to help build this day care center that is also used as a church on Sunday. The American team was joined by a volunteer youth team from the Charles Wesley Church in Daveyton and together they were able to help erect the steel structure and start laying the bricks at this much needed community center. Prior to the team’s arrival, the Father’s Ministry from Benoni Central Methodist Church helped dig and cast the foundations for the footings.

LEONDALE METHODIST CHURCH: An African American work team from Baton Rouge, Louisiana helped cast the floor on a church expansion at Leondale in June, 2004. The team stayed in the homes of the local people and developed close relationships with the society members. Many of the team members also helped in the crèche which will occupy the premises once the building is complete. Also in 2004, a work team from Louisiana Tech University, Wesley Foundation, in Louisiana helped with the construction of the church.

BETHSAIDA METHODIST CHURCH IN KATLEHONG: A team from the First United Methodist Church in Round Rock, Texas helped the local society finish off this church in Katlehong by building a bell town and entry hall in July, 2004. The team also helped conduct sewing classes and worked at Khanyisile Aids Clinic located close to Bethsaida Church.

HARTBEEKOP METHODIST CHURCH PROJECT IN KANGWANE: Once again in 2004, Mack Mckinney led a team from the Wyoming and California-Pacific Conferences to build this church in Kangwane near Oshoek. Foundations and the steel structure were previously done with a work team from Trinity Springs Methodist and Benoni Methodist Church. Volunteers from other parts of the Kangwane Circuit also helped on the project. Volunteerism is becoming a way of life in the Kangwane Circuit with many volunteers available on each project.

ST. MARK’S RAPE CRISIS CENTER IN DAVEYTON was constructed with a team from First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana in March of 2005. The confirmation class from Benoni Central Methodist Church helped install trusses at the project later in the year.

KHANYISILE CENTER FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN has been visited by many overseas work teams, namely the Ohio Wesleyan University in 2005, the Wesley Foundation from McNeese State University in 2006, The First United Methodist Team from Round Rock Texas in 2004 & 2006, and the Louisiana Tech Wesley Foundation Team in 2004. Teams usually help with construction projects or spend time with the children. Home visits to aids patients are also allowed with supervision and guidance from staff.

BALFOUR METHODIST CHURCH PROJECT: The Broadmoor United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana sent a work team to work in the Siyathemba township at Balfour, south east of Johannesburg in October, 2005. The Broadmoor team was joined by a youth team from Trinity Springs and local church members who finished casting the floors and laid bricks up to approximately 1 meter in height around the entire building. A bible school for the local children was held in the old church building during this time. In April, 2006, trusses were built by work teams from Benoni and Balfour. Later in the year, a work team from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana helped install the trusses with the help of the local church members.

THE A. S. NGUBENI METHODIST CHURCH IN KATLEHONG was extended with the help of work teams from the First United Methodist Church in Round Rock, Texas in 2004 and with a work team from Peachtree City, Georgia in 2005. While part of the teams help with the construction, others help teach sewing classes in the church.

THE SHADY GROVE METHODIST CHURCH IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA sent a work team to South Africa in June of 2008. The youth work team of 15 stayed at Epworth Children’s Home in Germiston and visited the AMCARE Aids Center of Faith, Hope and Love in Alberton. They visited aids patients with care givers and helped dig vegetable gardens in the Tokoza Township South of Johannesburg. The also visited the Akani Kids After School Care Center in Diep Sloot Township north of Johannesburg, in the Central District, which is a project supported by the Bryanston Methodist Church.

LONMGELETJANE SCHOOL IN SWAZILAND was the project of a visiting team from the First United Methodist Church of Round Rock, Texas in July, 2008. The team of 5 led by Kelly and James Voorhies helped local people install a fence around the perimeter of the school property and build classroom dividers for the classrooms. They also helped paint classrooms at Black Umbulzi, a school north of Manzini.

AMCARE AIDS CENTER IN ALBERTON: In September, 2008, a team from Blue Ridge Parkway Methodist Church in Kansas, Missouri sent a work team to work at AMCARE Aids Center in Alberton. The team visited aids patients with the care givers for the home based care units and helped AMCARE officials assess the project. Rev. Ken Lutgen from Blue Ridge Church has visited South Africa many times in the past and is supportive of our work in Southern Africa.

KHANYISILE AIDS PROJECT IN KATLEHONG: January, 2009 : A Youth group from Asubury United Methodist Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania visited Lichtenburg, South Africa to conduct a Vacation Bible School and youth camp in this rural tribal settlement of the North West Province called Deelpan. The primary vision for the mission was "to provide a safe, accepting Christian environment through living in a camp-based community in order to lead campers to experience Christ, accept Christ, grow in Christ and go forth in Christ". The 2009 mission to South Africa was one of the best attended camps over the five year period the Asubury church has been participating in this program. The experience has not only transformed the people of Lichtenburg and Deelpan, but also the visiting team members. The team also worked at Khanyisile Aids Clinic in Katlehong where they helped paint shipping containers used as HIV/Aids offices.

LOMNGELETJANE SCHOOL IN SWAZILAND: May, 2009, A work team from the Louisiana Conference and Munholland United Methodist Church, under the direction of VIM Director, Larry Norman and team leader, Rev. Janet Cavalier, helped local church members dig foundations for a teacher's cottage at Lomneletjane Methodist School in Central Swaziland Circuit. They also helped paint the classrooms and the newly constructed toilets at the School. A bible school for the children was also held at the school. The Louisiana Conference has supported South Africa with a number of visiting teams during the past decade and SAMVIM sent two work teams to help the Munholland Church is their restoration after Hurricane Katrina in 2006.

LOMNGELETJANE SCHOOL IN SWAZILAND: June, 2009, A work team from Belmont United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee finished casting the foundations and started the block laying of the Lomngeletjane School in Swaziland. The team of 23 lead by Rev. Steve Bryant continued the work started by Munholland the month before. The team consisted of 8 adults and 15 youth from Nashville. Local youth from Lomngeletjane assisted in the casting of the foundation. Wind break trees were planted and a fire break was established to protect the trees and the school. Landscaping was also done around the toilets and school buildings by team members.

BULEMBU MINISTRIES, SWAZILAND, 2nd July to 20th July 2009: A team from the Boulder Creek UMC in the California/Nevada Annual Conference, under the leadership of Rebecca Perry, visited an old mining town in Bulembu, Swaziland where they held a Vacation Bible School and worked with the children and families of the community. Bulembu is an old asbestos mining town that has been converted into a Christian village by Bulembu Ministries. More information about the team and the Bulembu Ministries can be found on the following website by Chris McLain: http://chrisinswaziland.blogspot.com/2009/07/july-2-5th-bulembu.html

TRINITY METHODIST CHURCH FROM SPRINGS (SOUTH AFRICA) sends work team to Swaziland: A group from Trinity Methodist Church in Springs went over to Mahamba in Swaziland for a week in July, 2009 with 21 young people (age 15 to 22). Their main goal was to expose their youth to foreign mission opportunities, and begin to stir within them a passion for doing God's work. They spent every day at the Mahamba High School, bringing devotions at assemblies, leading worship at lunchtime, preaching messages of hope, teaching sport and cultural activities, holding organic vegetable growing workshops, and presenting every student with a bible. They conducted leadership workshops for potential leaders and also built 12 bunk beds for future teams.

1100 LIMPOPO DISTRICT

NO PROJECTS DONE

1200 MOCAMBIQUE DISTRICT

KASANA METHODIST CHURCH started in February, 1994 with the digging of foundations by a South African youth team . Another youth team from South Africa arrived in July, 1994 to erect the steel structure and was joined by a youth team from Mocambique. The church was later finished by the local society.

BUNICA METHODIST CHURCH was started in July, 1995 with a work team from South Africa. In July of 1996, another youth team from South Africa joined the local society to help with the block work.

CAMBINE MISSION STATION was visited with a team from Kansas City, Missouri in August 1997 and again in 1998, when repairs were made to the dam that was destroyed by the rebels during the war. Since that time, regular visits are made by Missouri and Texas Volunteer in Mission Teams.

MAPUTO CENTRAL CHURCH was painted in July, 1999 by a team from South Africa. SAMVIM regularly coordinates mission trips to Mocambique during the July holidays.

CHOKWE CHURCH PROJECT: In 2003, a twenty member work team from Trinity Methodist Church of Springs and Benoni Central Methodist Church helped construct a new sanctuary to replace the old thatch roof structure that was destroyed by the floods of 2001. A steel structure was erected and concrete blocks used to build a stronger building. Local church and community members spent many nights on the roof of the old structure waiting for the food waters to recede.

AUDIOLOGY TEAM TO MOZAMBIQUE: Each year in July/August, an Audiology Team led by Dr. Jackie Clark of the University of Texas at Dallas conducts hearing tests for students at Chicuque in the Northern District of Inhabane. In 2005, 3900 students were tested and 1177 were identified with hearing disorders. Ear molds were made and hearing aids along with extra batteries were dispensed. Also local Audiologist were trained to continue the work of the team in their absence. We are happy to help facilitate these teams to Mozambique that provide a much needed service.

1300 CLARKEBURY DISTRICT

QOKOLWENI YOUTH HOSTEL PROJECT built in 1998 under the supervision of SAMVIM with a work team from Bryanston Methodist Church helping in July, 1998. Funds from the Methodist Church of Germany used to construct the hostel.

MVUZI YOUTH HOSTEL PROJECT also built in 1999 with supervision of SAMVIM and funds from the Methodist Church of Germany. Both of these youth hostel were built using the new Hydraform Block Machine concept involving the dry stacking of blocks made from soil at the work site.

DANDALAVILLE METHODIST CHURCH rebuilt after being destroyed by a tornado in January, 1999 under the supervision of SAMVIM. Donations from Edenvale Methodist Church, Bryanston Methodist Church, and the South West Texas Conference were used to supplement the meager payout of the insurance company of R18,000. A work team from Prestbury Methodist Church recently install the window glazing. Discount Steel of Pietermaritzburg donated the installation charges of the steel structure.

GERMAN WORK TEAM TO PORT ST. JOHNS helped work on a church under construction. Steel structure erected previously was used and brick walls were erected by youth team in March 2001.

2009 Work teams to Southern Africa

2009-11-11T13:25:00.000+02:00

ABOUT SAMVIM:

Southern African Methodist Volunteers in Mission, SAMVIM, was established in 1989 to support the Methodist Church of Southern Africa through it's Volunteers in Mission program. Our goal is to identify projects and coordinate work teams from local and overseas destinations to help work on projects throughout the Connexion. Our purpose is to share the love of Jesus Christ in ways that make a Christian difference through volunteerism. The organization is part of the Mission Unit and has been managed by Richard Bosart since 1989. Hundreds of projects have been completed throughout the Connexion during the past 20 years and many lives have been changed by visiting teams during these volunteer in mission adventures.

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January, 2009 : A Youth group from Asubury United Methodist Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania visited Lichtenburg, South Africa to conduct a Vacation Bible School and youth camp in this rural tribal settlement of the North West Province called Deelpan. The primary vision for the mission was "to provide a safe, accepting Christian environment through living in a camp-based community in order to lead campers to experience Christ, accept Christ, grow in Christ and go forth in Christ". The 2009 mission to South Africa was one of the best attended camps over the five year period the Asubury church has been participating in this program. The experience has not only transformed the people of Lichtenburg and Deelpan, but also the visiting team members. The team also worked at Khanyisile Aids Clinic in Katlehong where they helped paint shipping containers used as HIV/Aids offices.

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May, 2009: A work team from the Louisiana Conference and Munholland United Methodist Church, under the direction of Larry Norman; and team leader Rev. Janet Cavalier; helped local church members dig foundations for a teacher's cottage at Lomneletjane Methodist School in Central Swaziland Circuit. They also helped paint the classrooms and the newly constructed toilets at the School. A bible school for the children was also held at the school. The Louisiana Conference has supported South Africa with a number of visiting teams during the past decade and SAMVIM sent two work teams to help the Munholland Church is their restoration after Hurricane Katrina in 2006. Photos below show thedigging of the foundations and the painting of the school and toilets.

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June, 2009: A work team from Belmont United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee finished casting the foundations and started the block laying of the Lomngeletjane School in Swaziland. The team of 23 lead by Rev. Steve Bryant continued the work started by Munholland the month before. The team consisted of 8 adults and 15 youth from Nashville. Local youth from Lomngeletjane assisted in the casting of the foundation. Wind break trees were planted and a fire break was established to protect the trees and the school. Landscaping was also done around the toilets and school buildings by team members.

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May and June, 2009: A team from the Oklahoma Conference under the direction of Rev. Jeremy Basset, helped construct a church at the John Masiza Methodist Church in the Walmer Circuit of Port Elizabeth. The team led by Rev. Robyn Thomson-Goggs and Rev. David Croninger who has been to South Africa 4 times previously on mission trips not only helped in the construction of the John Masiza Church, but also held a day camp for children who have lost parents to the Aids Pandemic.

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July, 2009: A team from Church of the Resurrections in Leawood Kansas volunteered in Pinetown, helping to build furniture for the Emmaus Church at St. Wendolins in the Clerpine Circuit. They will also help paint the Marriann Ridge Methodist Church in the Clerpine Circuit. Church of the Resurrection has been sending annual teams to Durban to help Rev. Ian France build and develop churches in the Clerpine Circuit. Photo at left show cabinets being installed at the Emmaus Church

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2nd July to 20th July: A team from the Boulder Creek UMC in the California/Nevada Annual Conference, under the leadership of Rebecca Perry, visited an old mining town in Bulembu, Swaziland where they held a Vacation Bible School and worked with the children and families of the community. Bulembu is an old asbestos mining town that has been converted into a Christian village by Bulembu Ministries. More information about the team and the Bulembu Ministries can be found on the following website by Chris McLain: http://chrisinswaziland.blogspot.com/2009/07/july-2-5th-bulembu.html

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During the month of July, the Albert Street Refugee School in downtown Johannesburg, was visited by Dr. Tom Flowers and Roxane Richter from World Missions Possible, a service organization sending doctors and nurses around the world. They conducted health classes for over 500 Zimbabwean children and bring teaching aids for the biology class. The school opened in July, 2008 and has just celebrated it's first anniversary. SAMVIM has been instrumental in acquiring text books for the school from Rotary International in Bedfordview. School desks and bookcases have been built by volunteers from Germiston and the USA under the direction of Ted Warnock, a missionary assigned to UMCOR, United Methodist Commission on Relief. The school desks are now "cut out" from used donated materials by volunteer Barry Mey of Germiston and delivered to the school where the children assemble the desks. The school principle, school administrators and teachers are all Zimbabwean refugees. SAMVIM is also helping in the drafting of plans for renovation of the school which is to include more classrooms. The photo above right shows the Bathrooms being tiled with funds raised from World Mission Possible.
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Trinity Methodist Church from Springs (South Africa) sends work team to Swaziland: A group from Trinity Methodist Church in Springs went over to Mahamba in Swaziland for a week in July with 21 young people (age 15 to 22). Their main goal was to expose their youth to foreign mission opportunities, and begin to stir within them a passion for doing God's work. They spent every day at the Mahamba High School, bringing devotions at assemblies, leading worship at lunchtime, preaching messages of hope, teaching sport and cultural activities, holding organic vegetable growing workshops, and presenting every student with a bible. They conducted leadership workshops for potential leaders and also built 12 bunk beds for future teams. The photos above and left show some of the activities and the bibles being distributed during the mission trip.

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Stop Hunger Now Project: SAMVIM is helping Rev. Ron Robertson in the development of a fortified rice-soy meal introduced into South Africa by Stop Hunger Now out of Raleigh, North Caroline, USA. The concept involves combining rice, soy mince, and dehydrated vegetables with a vitamin and mineral cube to produce a meal that can be used to help feed the homeless and people in a disaster relief zone (xenophobia). All the ingredients can be found in South Africa except for the vitamin and mineral cube, which is being imported from the states with the help of Volunteer in Mission teams visiting South Africa. This is an excellent program for volunteer groups, churches and home groups. For more information on Stop Hunger Now, click on: http://www.stophungernow.org/ or contact Rev. Ron Robertson: mwtuc@mweb.co.za Photo shows home cell group at Trinity United Church in Kempton Park preparing over 600 meals in less than one hour.
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Chris McLain in Swaziland: SAMVIM continues to support Chris McLain, our full time coordinator in Swaziland assigned to the church owned schools in the Central Swaziland Circuit. Work continues at Lomngeletjane School north of Manzini and we are in hopes of organizing South African teams to work there this year and the next. To check out Chris' work, click on: http://chrisinswaziland.blogspot.com/

The photo below shows the progress of the teacher's cottage in August, 2009 at Lomnjeletjane, started by the Munholland team from Louisiana and the Belmont team from Nashville. Funds are still needed to complete the structure. Contact Richard at details below to make a contribution.

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Teams for 2010:

20th Feb. to 9th Mar: J.P. McGuire team from North Carolina to work at Leratong Children Center in Lesotho

12th to 21st Mar: Church of the Resurrection from Kansas to work in Pinetown.

May to July: Jon and Lisa Lord from Louisiana to visit South Africa (pulpit swap with Bill Meaker).

17th May to 5th June: Larry Norman team from Louisiana (McNeese University)...Lomngeletjane School in Swaziland....cast foundations for new classrooms.

July-August: Roxane Richter and Dr. Tom Flowers team from Mission Possible to work at Albert St. School Project

23rd July to Aug 3rd: Church of the Resurrection team to Durban.

22nd Oct to 3rd. Nov: Church of the Resurrection team to Durban.

Future teams or Projects:

Anyone wishing to join a team or make contact with the Volunteer in Missions Office is requested to contact:

Richard M. Bosart
Director, Southern Africa Methodist Volunteers in Mission, SAMVIM
P O Box 9128 Unit 6
Brentwood Park, Benoni, 1505
South Africa
Cell: +27 (0)83 630 7478
email: samvim1@icon.co.za

SAMVIM Work Teams

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Work Teams to Southern Africa 2008

Updated 31 December, 2008

28 December, 2007- 11 January, 2008 : A Youth group from Asubury United Methodist Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania visited Lichtenburg, South Africa to conduct a Vacation Bible School and youth camp in this rural tribal settlement of the North West Province. The primary vision for the mission was "to provide a safe, accepting Christian environment through living in a camp-based community in order to lead camper to experience Christ, Accept Christ, grow in Christ and go forth in Christ" in the Deelpan community. The 2008 mission to South Africa was one of the best attended camps over the four year period their church has been participating on this program and has not only transformed the people of Lichtenburg and Deelpan, but also the team members. The photo below shows the team preforming for the Vacation Bible School.

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The Perkins School of Theology from Southern Methodist University In Dallas Texas visited South Africa in January to look at the role of women in the church during the post-apartheid decade. Their program offers significant immersion experiences in cultures other than those of the participants. These students gain first hand experience in building intercultural relationships and learning from others with a different life experience and outlook. They visited the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg and also the Phkamisa School Project in Pinetown. The photo below shows the Perkins Team.

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6th-21st March, 2008: A work team from the Louisiana Conference and the First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge, under the direction of Larry Norman; and team leader Mike Owenby; helped local church members with the installation of a roof for a church under construction in Du Noon, a township on the outskirts of Cape Town. They also helped paint the interior walls of the church and held the first service of celebration with the congregation at the end of their trip. The Louisiana Conference has supported South Africa with a number of visiting teams during the past decade. The photo below show the team installing the roof at Du Noon.

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11th- 21st June, 2008: A work team of 15 people from Shady Grove Methodist Church in Richmond, Virginia visited South Africa, stayed at Epworth Children's Home worked at AMCARE Mission in Alberton. They visited aids patients and helped dig vegetable gardens in Tokoza Township south of Johannesburg. They also visited Akani Kids After School Care in Diep Sloot Township north of Johannesburg which is a project of The Bryanston Methodist Church. The photo on the left below shows the team working in Tokoza and the photo on the right below shows the Akani Kids preforming for the visiting team.

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Roxane Richter and Dr. Tom Flowers, from World Missions Possible in Clear Lake, Texas visited South Africa in July to look at the Zimbabwe Refugee crisis at Central Methodist Church in downtown Johannesburg. They met with Bishop Paul Verryn, who manages many projects from the Central Methodist Church, one of which is the Albert Street Refugee School that opened it's doors recently to accommodate the children of the 800 refugees that sleep in Central Methodist each night. Ted Warnock of the United Methodist Commission on Relief (UMCOR) join us as we took the school administrators, all of which are refugees also, to the Rotary International Warehouse to collect school textbooks for the students. Over 600 textbooks were collected and three steel tables donated on behalf of World Missions Possible. Ted Warnock lead a work team the following weekend to the school to help build bookcases. Photos below show the school administrators Alpha, William and Raphel picking out school text books and the students helping to unload the books.

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July 5th-21st, 2008: The First United Methodist Church of Round Rock, Texas sent a work team, led by Kelly and James Voorhies to work at Lomngeletjane School in Swaziland. The team helped install a fence around the perimeter of the property and build classroom dividers for the classroom. They also helped paint classrooms at Black Umbulzi, a school north of Manzini. See photos below of the work team in progress:

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September 10 -21, 2008 Blue Ridge Parkway Methodist Church from Kansas City, Missouri sent a work team to work at AMCARE Mission in Alberton, South Africa. The team visited aids patients with the care givers for the home based care units and help assess the project. Rev. Ken Lutgen from Blue Ridge has visited South Africa many times in the past and we are excited about the upcoming project and team. The photos below show the team visiting aids patients.

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October 1-13, 2008: Team led by Anne Forgey from Huntsville, Alabama in the USA visited South Africa and worked on the repairs, painting and restoration of 5 creches in Ivory and Ebony Park township in the Johannesburg area. They also conducted a bible school in each creche during the week.Anne's church has been supporting the creches over the past years financially and this team will participate in a celebration of 14 years of service to the community. Photos below show the team sharing the bible school at one of the cerches:

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Church of the Resurrection in Leewood, Kansas sent a work team to the Pinetown Methodist Church in Durban to work with the Creches and preschools in the Phakamisa Project. They helped paint a creche and repair the floors in another creche. Photos below show the team in action.

What is SAMVIM?

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SAMVIM

Southern Africa Methodist Volunteers In Mission

Background

Southern African Methodist Volunteers in Mission was established to support the Methodist Church of Southern Africa through our Volunteers in Mission program. We identify projects and coordinate work teams from local and overseas destinations to help create a Christian difference in the communities in which we volunteer.

Director Richard Bosart established this organization in 1988. The management of SAMVIM have a long standing participation in the ministry, involving themselves in all aspects of the organziation's spectrum of activities.

The management of SAMVIM collectively possess over twenty years of operational and administrative skills and hands on experience in both local and international missions. Their success with various organizations within the Christian Community is due to their ability to manage with a hands-on approach.

Our Purpose

To share the love of Jesus Christ in ways that make a Christian difference.

Our Task

To share our abilities and provide needed skills in partnership with our team members and the communities and organizations who host our teams. We participate in accomplishing particular goals set by and in cooperation with our teams, local communities, church societies, and project management.

We strive to educate the local societies and communities in much needed skills to sustain further growth in the community long after a work team has departed. Our objective is to do the work with the local communities and not for them.

The organization provides significant opportunities to leverage the opportunities that exist by virtue of the strong links between parties both within South Africa, its neighboring countries and those overseas.

Our Values

To provide basic skills development along with a spiritual message encompassed in the ministry of an "each one teach one" philosophy, to share in the love of Jesus Christ, and to bring about awareness for the needs of lost souls.

To volunteer a share of our talents, lives and our time to build relationships that enhance those we’ve come to aid.

To ascertain and raise financial aid to operate this organization at its full potential.

We seek to glorify God in all that we do.

To be an extension ministry of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa responding to specific requests of Methodist related churches and agencies, both locally and around the world, and to partner with them in mission.

To equip our local leaders, team leaders and local projects managers for effective ministry and seek, through our tasks and the sharing of our own time, talents and lives, to build relationships that enhance ministry and fulfill our purpose

Fundraising

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SAMVIM is part of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa and provides relief and assistance to all spheres of the churches in South Africa, in other parts of Africa and overseas.

We rely greatly on financial donations and annual contributions by various organizations. Due to our affiliation to the Methodist Church which is a Section 21 Organization, we fall under the same umbrella and are allowed the same benefits, which we pass on to those who financially sustain us in the benefit of a tax benefit to those companies in South Africa.

Fundraising is a vital part of the ongoing operation of SAMVIM. Affiliation to the General Board of Global Ministries in New York allows the Methodist churches who support us to benefit from advance credit.

Donations can be made at your local church to the attention of the Annual Conference Treasurer, who forwards them to the General Board.

Contributions to SAMVIM can be made:

Through your Methodist church by designating your check as follows:

ADVANCE-GCFA, SAMVIM PROJECT, CODE # 14363

Send direct donations to the Global Board of General Ministries of the United Methodist Church at the following address:

Global Board of General Ministries
ADVANCE GCFA
P.O. BOX 9068, GPO
NEW YORK, NY 10087-9068

Make sure to designate your check as follows:

ADVANCE-GCFA, SAMVIM PROJECT, CODE # 14363