Wesley UMC in Mission, UMVIM in Action

Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.
1 Peter, 4:11 

Wesley UMC has been blessed to be able to send mission teams to serve in communities both domestically and internationally for decades!  Wesley’s mission participation dates back farther than shown by our in-house records from 2003.  However, that is about the time when we became representatives of the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM).  Our involvement with UMVIM has afforded us with ease of planning, organizing, reporting and resources such as affordable supplemental foreign insurance, background checks and more.
Since 2003, Wesley’s adult mission trips have been arranged and led primarily by Jackie Kawashima and Mona Otomori.  Other Wesley congregants have been trained as UMVIM leaders and have served in key roles as well.  It is time to pass the baton of UMVIM leadership within Wesley UMC!  We are looking for anyone who has an interest, a suggestion for a mission project,  or would like to hear more information about mission trips.  Opportunities are available for one-day, weekend, week-long, or extended projects. No region is too near, nor too far!   There is no limit to the possibilities of serving in mission!
Please contact Mona Otomori through the church office if you are interested or simply curious.  Mona is able to serve as advisor to new and future mission trip leaders, helping you to learn the UMVIM system, as well as our in-house procedures.

A little background on Wesley UMVIM:
Our mission teams are varied in age, skill level and physical abilities.  Teams have been comprised of groups from Youth, Young Adults, Adults and Primetimers, as well as mixed-age groups and single adult contributors.  Mission trips are open to all who would like to participate and our Wesley VIM Fund offers scholarships because we believe anyone who is called to mission deserves to go.  Team members contribute to the overall cost which covers airfare, lodging, local transportation, gifts to hosts and host churches, meals, local sightseeing and construction materials.  Local fund-raising and donations help to supplement the costs as well.
Wesley UMC has sent teams to both domestic and international locations.  Our teams have numbered 5 to 20+, and until 2021 had sent at least one team per year, and up to 4 teams in one year.  Youth have served in California, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Dakota, Washington and Japan.  Our Young Adults have traveled to Louisiana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas and Mexico.  Our Wesley UMC Primetimers have served several times at the UMCOR Depot West in Salt Lake City, UT. 
The adult VIM teams focus on connectional missions, and usually combine with building construction and medical services as well.  We have provided annual medical services and basic medications with teams of volunteer lay persons, doctors and nurses in both Mexico (8 years) and Fiji (4 years).  Wesley teams have helped to build churches, performed repair and renewal projects to churches and parsonages and raised funds to purchase building materials in California, Fiji and Mexico.  As well, both individuals and teams have gone on connectional and fact-finding trips to Alaska, California, El Salvador and Fiji.
Wesley UMVIM teams go out with an attitude of respect, friendship and humility.  We are reminded that we are not going to change lives, fix economic situations or teach a better way of doing things.  We work side by side with the residents and churches as their equals, learning their methods and using their locally sourced materials.  We return home spiritually uplifted and fulfilled, renewed in our acceptance of all people as equal, deserving, valued and loved.  It is a blessing that only God can grant, and we are honored to share God’s love in this way.