tranformation-vol 5 issue 1

TransformationV o l u m e 5 I s s u e 1

m I n I s t r y m a g a z I n e o f t h e D e s e r t s o u t h w e s t C o n f e r e n C e

ImagineNo Malaria

sprIng 2013 | Desert southwest ConferenCe CommunICatIons | www.DesertsouthwestConferenCe.org

Transformation Spring 20132

Special FeatureContentsTogether we can doanything we can imagine 3

Until mosquitos flyno more 4

They have touched myheart-we can touchtheir lives 6

When our childrenlead 8

Seeing the face of a victimof malaria changes you 10

Payson UMC’sImagine No Malaria initiative 11

40 days equals life 12

Tucson Wesley Foundationand U of A studentsrally to supportImagine No Malaria 14

Church is what we do 16

Living throughmalaria 18-19

Children can lead usin saving lives 20

Ministry overview 21

A history of healing 22

From trunks of candyto bed nets 23

Activity ideas and otherPinteresting waysto save a life 12-13

Cont

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Sprin

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13

A UMNS Photo by Mike DuBose

TransformationMinistry Magazine of the Desert southwest ConferenCe

Spring 2013Volume 5, Issue 1

Contributors

For general inquiries or subscription information, e-mail: [email protected], call 602-266-6956, or mail Communications Department, 1550 E. Meadowbrook Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85014-4040.

Transformation is published in Spring, Summer, Fall/Winter by the Communications Department of The Desert Southwest Conference. Transformation is also available online by going to www.desertsouthwestconference.org/transformation. Individual articles and photos may be used by DSC churches and organizations. Views in Transformation come from representatives of official Conference groups or by request of Conference Staff. Viewpoints may only be those of the writer and may not be representative of the entire Conference. Questions about the reproduction of individual articles or photos should be directed to Stephen J. Hustedt, Conference Director of Communications (602-266-6956 ext. 220 or [email protected]).

Publisher’s Pen

Spring 2013 Transformation 3

Special FeatureTogether we can do anything we can imagine

Sherry Brady, Rev. Rula Colvin, Rev. Valerie Fairchild, Kayla Flannery, Bishop Bob Hoshibata, Joel & Jan Huffman, Stephen J. Hustedt, Dr. Eunice Iliya, Pastor Sandy Johnson, Zvikomborero Matavire, Rev. Melissa Rynders, Charles & Kathy Schock, Chris Spencer

by Stephen J. Hustedt,Director of Communications

Photo by Jodi Strava

Recently someone told me that their church could not “compete” with the mega churches but they still felt like their church had a lot to offer. My response was that their church was suffering from low self-esteem, an issue all too common with local United Methodist churches in the United States. In fact, I’d make the argument that a mega church, no matter how large, cannot compete with their church or any local United Methodist church. How is it possible for a single church to compete with millions of United Methodists around the world? That’s the beauty of the United Methodist connection.

It’s easy not to see the power of our connection in day-to-day local church activities, a fact well illustrated in the cliché of not seeing the forest because of individual trees blocking the view. That said, there are times in the life of The United Methodist Church where the connection is just too powerful to miss. Currently the most vivid example of this power is Imagine No Malaria.

Since its humble beginnings with the Nothing But Nets campaign, The United Methodist Church and its partners have played a pivotal role in cutting the number of deaths from malaria in Africa in half. In fact, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has pointed to The United Methodist Church as playing one of the most important roles by being the hands and feet on the ground. Even the smallest United Methodist Church is a part of the connection that has stopped half the annual deaths from malaria in Africa. What mega church can say that?

The only problem is that it’s not good enough. One person still dies of malaria every minute in Africa, but, thankfully, The United Methodist Church isn’t done! With the Imagine No Malaria initiative The Desert Southwest Conference and

The United Methodist Church is taking efforts to stop malaria to the next level. The focus will go far beyond bed nets; embracing education, treatment, and more.

This issue of Transformation will focus on world health through the lens of Imagine No Malaria. There will be stories from people who have visited Africa and have seen the need first hand as well from those who have lived through malaria in Africa. There are also stories from leaders around The Desert Southwest Conference who have already started raising funds and awareness of Imagine No Malaria.

It is hoped that this issue will serve as a motivational tool and encourage creative ideas. Ultimately, the message is simple―$10 will literally save a life and The Desert Southwest Conference hopes to save at least 200,000 lives! Consider how many lives you can afford to save and go to http://imaginenobuzz.net or ask your local church leaders what you can do help save lives. Together, we can do anything we imagine! †

Stephen J. Hustedt

mailto:[email protected]

www.desertsouthwestconference.org/transformation

www.desertsouthwestconference.org/transformation


NO MOREBy Bishop Bob Hoshibata

Until mosquitos fly

Some Sundays, as I visit with congregations around our Desert Southwest

Conference, I am surprised by a special presentation: a check from the church to go toward Imagine No Malaria. In response to the Imagine No Malaria Initiative, congregations are receiving contributions to help The United Methodist Church in its efforts to eradicate deaths by malaria. And sometimes, I get to be the bearer of great news to Rolly Loomis, our Conference Coordinator for Imagine No Malaria as I hand the contribution to our Conference Treasurer, Randy Bowman.

As part of my responsibility as your bishop, I have the privilege of sharing my excitement and passion about Imagine No Malaria. As I meet and talk with individuals and congregations and other groups, I see how passionate people become when they learn that we are trying to save lives. Even though much of the work of the initiative is centered on the African continent, our Conference is demonstrating that we have tender hearts and are willing to give generously of our resources for the cause. In addition, I see some very creative energy dedicated to finding new ways to engage people in the pews and in the community.

The United Methodist Church began its historic effort against malaria-related deaths with the Nothing But Nets campaign. You might recall that the central message of that campaign was that $10 bought an insecticide-treated bed net and that

bed net, properly used, could prevent a person from contracting malaria. In other words, $10 could actually save a life.

As an Annual Conference, we have set a goal of raising enough money to save 200,000 lives. That is an extraordinarily ambitious goal. It sets the bar very high, and some people are doubtful that we will reach that goal. I hope we look at this opportunity with more excitement and optimism than that! This is, after all, about saving lives. Did you ever think that in your lifetime, you might be a part of the movement that ended when no more deaths would be caused by malaria? I grew up in Hawaii where there were lots and lots of mosquitoes. But they were a nuisance and a bother, not a potentially deadly killer. Malaria is both preventable and treatable. But we need to do some hard and dedicated work if we are going to reach our ambitious and obtainable goal. I am convinced that we can do it!

Since we experienced such resounding success with the Nothing But Nets campaign, The United Methodist Church has broadened our efforts to include not only PREVENTION (distributing insecticide-treated bed nets to communities), but to also include information about TREATMENT (making medical treatment available through community health clinics), EDUCATION (How does a person use a bed net? How does one recognize the symptoms of malaria? What are the ways we can prevent the spread of malaria? Where does one go when

the signs of malaria are detected or suspected?) and ADVOCACY (Are there any government or civic roadblocks to the life-saving efforts to eradicate malaria? If so, how can we encourage a grass-roots effort to remove such roadblocks?).

As I talk with people about malaria, many stories have been shared about personal experiences with malaria.

One person shared about a colleague, an American working in Africa who contracted cerebral malaria and died within 3 days of contracting the disease. No amount of medical attention could save her; the form of malaria she had contracted advanced too quickly.

I have come to know several people who contracted malaria themselves. Sometimes more than once! Fortunately, they were able to receive prompt medical attention and were cured and are well today.

A colleague bishop from Africa told of the grief he and his family experienced when they recently lost a child who had contracted malaria.

These are just 3 of the many stories that have been shared with me. There are many more, even in this issue of Transformation. Yet, malaria is a preventable and treatable disease. So we see some energy being invested by our congregations around creative ideas to invite others to participate in the Imagine No Malaria Initiative.

On a visit to one of our congregations, I was delighted to see a bulletin board dedicated to Imagine No Malaria. There were brochures neatly placed on a table in front of the


bulletin board. But the bulletin board itself was eye-catching: hand-made pipe-cleaner mosquitoes trapped under some netting to represent the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets that were the foundation of the Nothing But Nets campaign. The pastor told me that one of the laypersons in the church got so excited about Imagine No Malaria that she has been talking about it wherever she can and she created the bulletin board as part of her publicity at the church.

On another visit with leaders of a congregation in our Conference, I learned of a large community gathering at the church. During that gathering, members of the church were seen talking about Imagine No Malaria with people from outside the membership of the church who had come to the event. I rejoiced in knowing that not only are our congregations supporting the effort; they are also inviting others to learn about Imagine No Malaria and

participating.Members of our Wesley Foundation

at The University of Arizona took Imagine No Malaria into the university community. They kidnapped people and held them for “ransom.” Only when enough “ransom” was collected on a kidnapped person’s behalf would that person be released. Through such a fun event, not only were funds received for Imagine No Malaria, but more importantly, the word was spread about the urgent need to save lives, and the Wesley Foundation made a clear statement of their desire to work toward the common good, which is our heritage as United Methodists, to engage in social holiness.

Last fall, our youth gathered for their annual Young People’s Convention. As part of their program, they heard about the Imagine No Malaria Initiative and took a special offering. We might expect that youth might prefer to spend their pocket change on things like fast food,

snacks, soft drinks, video games and other usual “stuff,” but our youth chose instead to generously save lives through Imagine No Malaria.

I am so grateful for the generous outpouring of contributions and pledges that we have received to date. We are moving toward the fulfillment of our goal. But there is much more that we can do. Ideas abound of ways that you can participate individually and as a church or as a group within the church. There are countless examples of what is taking place all around our conference to stop this killer. Some of those examples are in this issue of Transformation, but it would be impossible to cover them all in one magazine. Only our limit of imagination will slow us down in our efforts to engage our congregations and communities in the fight against malaria-related deaths. As the camp song goes, let’s keep working until...

“Mosquitoes fly no more!” †

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They have touched my heart-we can

touch their livesBy Kathy and Charles Schock

You can have a positive effect on the mortality rate of a continent. You can help

change the world one life at a time. “Let us not love with words or

tongue but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)

We were fortunate to see Africa first hand with 40 other travelers from The Desert Southwest Conference visiting Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe. The reason for our trip was to celebrate the endowment of the Joel Huffman Chair of Health Science. This endowment was a gift from each one of us as members of The Desert Southwest Conference. Because of our gift, there will always be a highly qualified person heading up the program in the study of Health Sciences at Africa University. Students

from 26 different countries attend Africa University.

They return to their villages to work with others and to share what they have learned. As more people throughout the continent are trained at Africa University, the mortality rate of the continent will go down.

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable―if anything is excellent or praiseworthy…put it into practice.” (Philippians 4:8-9)

While we sat listening to the presentations that week in February we got chills when we realized that we are a part of this. We can save lives.

“Jesus called the children to him and said…the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Luke 18:16)

We visited the school, the orphanage, and the hospital at Old Mutare Mission. We talked with men and women working for change. I

played with the little ones at Fairfield Children’s Home. They were like any little children―trusting and loving―sharing hugs, smiles, and a “thumbs up.” We laughed with the school children who were silly and anxious to share openly as we sang together. At the hospital we saw newborn babies whose mothers were getting ready to take them home from the maternity ward. These new mothers were happy to show us their sweet little bundles of joy. We wondered what kind of lives these children will have and whether they will fall victim to deadly diseases. These are the faces that are in my mind and the memories that hold a special place in my heart as we talk about the Imagine No Malaria initiative. We can change the world.

The approach of Imagine No Malaria is a comprehensive model focusing on prevention, education, communication and treatment. Your donation will be used to provide insecticide-treated mosquito nets,


drain standing water where insects breed, trim foliage, and provide proper sanitation. Health workers will help families to understand why it is critical to sleep under a bed net which will last 3-5 years if used correctly. It is the natural “next step” following The Desert Southwest Conference’s endowment of the Chair of Health Science.

Almost every child in Africa is affected by Malaria―it is almost a “rite of passage.” You can give an extravagant gift of $30 a month, which amounts to $1,080 over three years. What does $30 buy? In Africa it can get 3 mosquito nets, it can help to provide oxygen to a sick child, it can save three lives. That’s more than 30 lives over three years!

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these of mine, you did for me.” (Mt 25:40)

Ridding Africa of malaria has been compared to stopping the spread of polio. I am old enough to know people who contracted polio when they were young. My mother

recently shared with me how glad she was to be able to get my siblings and me vaccinated against polio. The thought of us getting the disease had been a great worry to her. Every 60 seconds, malaria claims a life in Africa killing an estimated 655,000 people each year, most of them children under 5 and pregnant women. 20% of child deaths in Africa are caused by malaria. When we hear that statistic we are reminded of the sweet, happy faces of the children intrigued by the puppet we shared at the Children’s Home. What a terrible worry this disease must be for those new moms and the grandmothers we met at the Old Mutare Hospital, but hospitals need rapid diagnosis kits and life-saving medicines to treat those infected with malaria, which is 100% preventable, treatable, and beatable. Through giving to Imagine No Malaria we can help a mother to know that her child does not need to die from malaria. We can give hope. †

Students at Africa University learning how to use the lab equipment.Photo by Charlie Schock

From left to right beginning on bottom of page 6:

“The children were very intrigued by the puppet I found in the suitcase full of toys. I’m not sure which of us was

having more fun.” -Kathy SchockPhoto by Charlie Schock

A newborn baby ready to go home with her mother. They had been staying in the maternity ward of Old Mutare Hospital. Photo by Charlie Schock

A mother and her daughter going home after a visit to Old Mutare Hospital. Photo by Kathy Schock

Below: Kathy smiles in excitement as she considers the amazing work that has been done and will continue to come from The Desert Southwest Conference. Photo by Charlie Shock


It all began as a simple children’s moment lesson for our children during stewardship season. Using

the example of my tendency to have Starbucks more frequently than was necessary, we challenged our children and ourselves to give up a special treat just once during the week and give the money they would have spent on that treat to a worthy cause. The children at The Bridge: A United Methodist Cooperative Parish responded with great generosity, sharing that they had given up a trip to Sonic, a Mountain Dew, and yes, I gave up some Starbucks drinks. As we were sharing all we had given up and the money we had collected, one of the young children said, “I think we should do this the rest of the weeks of the stewardship campaign. We can give up at least one thing each week.” And so the challenge continued. After the four weeks of giving The Bridge children collected almost $40 and we began to talk about where they would want to give the money they had saved. I suggested that they join The United Methodist Church in the fight against malaria, sharing that $10 can save one life, and the money from the treats

they gave up could save 4 lives. It all began as a simple children’s moment lesson and turned into something so much more.

During our Lenten journey at The Bridge, we explored the beautiful things in all of creation, following our journey and the creation story. As a part of this journey, we followed the example of our children and worked towards saving lives and joined the fight against malaria. The Bridge launched the “What’s Your Coffee?” campaign, encouraging members to either give up at least one special treat each week and place that money in a coffee cup they were given. We came up with another way to contribute. People could still enjoy their regular treats but we asked that they pay for their treats with cash and place the change from their purchases in their coffee cup. People brought their change as frequently as they wanted on the Sundays during Lent and dropped it in a giant coffee cup at the front of the church. By Easter we had celebrated saving many more lives. Thanks to our children, we all imagined a world with no malaria. Our children have saved 4 lives―that was

the beginning―and now we will save many more. Together with the entire United Methodist Church, we will wipe out malaria! †

When our children leadBy Rev. Melissa Rynders, the Bridge

Editor’s Note: The Bridge set a goal to save 50 lives and raising $500 by Easter Sunday. They collected $1,610.68 which translates to 161 lives saved!

Comfort those who are hurting, hungry, or sick. Children can understand that and are willing to quickly give up some of their own comforts to help those in need. Photo courtesy of Pastor Melissa Rynders.


Photo by UMNS, Mike DuBose


Last year we had the great honor of being part of a Desert Southwest Conference mission

trip to Africa University that would celebrate The Desert Southwest Conference’s endowment of the Joel Huffman Chair of Health Science. We have always been advocates for Africa University, even since before its inception, but actually going to Africa and meeting the students and faculty really strengthened our commitment to the University.

Our trip included a fair amount of travel in the country of Zimbabwe. We were quite impressed with the potential of the country because of its different resources. Education and health sciences will be required to tap that potential and that will require help from outside the country. The United Methodist Church is already there but there is so much more we can do. We need to push on and we are more committed than ever to do that.

While visiting in Zimbabwe, we went to Old Mutare, our Methodist mission. There is a hospital, an orphanage, an AIDS respite, and a

school on the grounds. We stopped at the hospital and while most of the group toured the facility, I walked down a hill to a small out building. There was a Dutch door there with the top open and I stopped to watch. Inside was a mother and four‒year‒old little boy and a nurse. The nurse had just pricked the child’s little finger with a tool used to determine the presence of malaria. The test took four minutes to read the results. For those minutes the four of us held our collective breaths, each with their own prayer and fear. I thought of my own four‒year‒old great granddaughter back in Arizona whose life would most likely never be touched by this disease. We were for that time holding that little guy's life in our hearts and hands.

Well, God was with us that day. His test was negative and he had the flu, but 3.3 billion people, half the world’s population, lives in areas where there is a risk of malaria. Africa has the most cases. One and a half million people die yearly with a high percent of young children. If that little boy had

the disease, his chances of survival were slight.

Malaria is a complex, but treatable, curable, and preventable disease. If caught early enough with proper care and medication the results are good. It is time we in the other half of the world’s population join together to put this disease down for good! Together United Methodists around the world will save millions of lives through efforts like Imagine No Malaria. †

Seeing the face of a victim of malaria

changes youBy Joel and Jan Huffman

Photo by Mike DuBose

Photo of Joel Huffman in Africa courtesy of James Parkhurst


Can you imagine grown men buzzing around the sanctuary as mosquitos? Can you

conceive church members wearing bright green Imagine No Malaria bracelets for a month? Can you picture our music director Gail Gorry teaching the Mosquito SWAT song? Can you visualize puppets presenting a malaria skit? Can you imagine a mosquito bed net in the front of the sanctuary covered with pipe cleaner mosquitos created by our children? Can you see African artifacts displayed in the narthex? If you answer yes to any of these questions, you must have attended one of three Imagine No Malaria Sunday worship services at Payson United Methodist Church.

As our formal campaign is coming to an end, we are celebrating! We have already saved 623 lives, surpassing our goal of 500 lives. We post an updated announcement on the bulletin board showing how many lives we have saved. We are very proud and amazed at what we have done and we will continue to donate over the next three years.

Several of our members had personal experiences to share with our congregation. Tom Spencer, who had been on the Africa University trip to Zimbabwe in 2012, had witnessed the elderly and the children dying so needlessly, and he was passionate about supporting the Imagine No Malaria campaign. He believes that with all United Methodists contributing, this deadly disease can be totally prevented.

Annetta Follmer, whose brother is a missionary in Kenya, shared her personal story. Her brother Scott’s contacting malaria and the suffering

he endured before he was able to obtain medications was a real worry and concern for her and her parents. Fortunately Scott is cured now and Annetta hopes that others can be cured in the future as well.

Ted Corley, another member of Payson UMC, spent five months teaching math at a university in Malawi about six years ago. He told his personal experiences to our congregation. As was Malawi’s custom, Ted was required to have a houseboy to help with meals and cleaning. He lived in a small house directly behind Ted’s. They became good friends. When Ted learned his houseboy had contacted malaria, he felt helpless as he watched the pain and suffering. Ted said this campaign gave him a meaningful way to be involved and try to end this dreadful disease.

Because of their personal involvement with Africa and malaria, Tom, Annetta, and Ted joined three others who formed our steering committee. The committee planned many activities and ways to get church members involved. Communications included information on malaria in three monthly newsletters leading up to the campaign, posters around the church, and weekly bulletin teasers “what’s the buzz?” One or two‒minute DVD spots on malaria were played at the beginning of each worship service for three weeks.

A potluck was held after the 11 a.m. service and members viewed the malaria documentary “When the Night Comes‒Killer in the Dark.” Our Missions and Health Ministries Committees also sponsored a Valentine Dinner and Auction fund-

raiser.Our steering committee

is amazed and grateful for the tremendous response from our congregation. Together we can do more than Imagine No Malaria. We can stop this killer. †

Payson UMC’s ImagineNo Malaria initiativeBy Chris Spencer, Payson UMC

Photos by Chris Spencer.

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For the last couple of years I have encouraged my congregations to add a

spiritual practice to their lives during the season of Lent rather than giving up something. This year I thought that Lent would be a great time to begin the two small churches I serve in rural Arizona on the path to raising funds for the Imagine No Malaria initiative.

I wanted to offer something that would emphasize the relatively small amount of money that it takes to save a life while offering a disciplined way of thinking about what we spend on the most trivial of things.

The idea came to me that there are 40 days in Lent and it takes 40 quarters to make $10.00, enough to save a life. So after my sermon the Sunday before Lent began, I offered this daily devotional opportunity by asking the congregations to begin each day by placing a quarter in a bank or jar and thinking about all the lives this small amount of money could save. At the end of Lent, they would have accumulated $10.00 and thus saved a life.

I handed out quarter wrappers as they left worship that morning as a reminder of the gift they could bring on Easter Morning, the gift of life‒for just 25 cents a day for just 40 days.

Our goal is to save 100 lives. †

40 days equals lifeRev. Rula Colvin,Claypool UMC and St. Paul’s UMC

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.

-Matthew 25:35-36

Set up large visual displays to show your church goal and the progress to far.

Sunday school kids can ask their friends and family to pledge $10 to save a life. Andrew Sonnleitner (age 5) and his Sunday school group from St. Paul UMC raised $890!

photo by Sherry Brady

photo by Sherry Brady

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Host a community pledge drive and activity.

UMNS photo by Tricia Waldron

Activity ideas and other


Sell coffee, lemonade, and baked goods to raise money for Imagine No Malaria at church events and worship.

Create post cards/flyers and invite the community to a fund-raising event like a party or a screening of “A Killer in the Dark,” to raise money for a life-saving cause.

Resources specifically designed for The Desert Southwest Conference are available at http://imaginenobuzz.net. Visit the site to make an online donation, access video messages from conference pastors sharing stories of their congregation’s fight against malaria. Printable learning resources, devotionals, worship ideas, and more are also available online.Each church in The Desert Southwest Conference received a DVD with messages from Bishop Bob and the conference clergy. Full-color tri-fold brochures are available at the Conference office. To order these resources call 602-266-6956 or e-mail [email protected]. This magazine can also be shared as an information piece to both inspire others to join the efforts to end malaria and share the good news of the ministry taking place within and around The Desert Southwest Conference.Don't forget to spread the word through the various social networks and allow others to join the partnership that will wipe out malaria.

photo by Pastor Melissa Rynders

graphic courtesy of Boulder City UMC

resources graphics

Activities Videos

Worship Sunday school

postersoffering envelopesgreen INM bracelets

INM web and print graphicsDisplay instructions

Event planning tipsGamesInvitations

INM YouTube channelKiller in the dark DVD

Bulletin insertsWorship elementsDevotional

ImagineNoMalaria.org

It’s time we all join hands with Africa,

on a personal mission to heal.

Imagine No Malaria,

then make it real.

Sustaining life. One person at a time. One month at a time. Just $28 per month will save 100 lives.

A WORLD OF PEOPLE UNIFIED IN THE FIGHT

AGAINST A NEEDLESS KILLER.

ImagineNoMalaria.org

It’s time we all join hands with Africa,

on a personal mission to heal.

Imagine No Malaria,

then make it real.

Sustaining life. One person at a time. One month at a time. Just $28 per month will save 100 lives.

A WORLD OF PEOPLE UNIFIED IN THE FIGHT

AGAINST A NEEDLESS KILLER. LessonsGamesCross word puzzles

THE BUZZ ABOUT

LEARN MORE AT: IMAGINENOMALARIA.ORG

ACROSS 2. It’s time we all join hands with ________. 4. On a personal _________ to heal. 5. Malaria mostly affects children and pregnant __________. 8. Malaria doesn’t have to ______. But, only if you stop it. 9. Listen to the _______ inside of you.

DOWN 1. Every 45 _________, a child dies of malaria. 3. Each year, malaria kills more than 800,000 __________. 6. ___________ No Malaria, then make it real. 7. To prevent malaria, sleep under this. 10. Together, we will _______ millions of lives.

Word Search Crossword

Puzzle

1.

10.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7. 9.

8.

ADVANCE SPECIAL #3021190

ways to save a life.


Tucson Wesley Foundation and U of A students rally to support Imagine No MalariaBy Kayla Flannery, U of A

Last month twelve young adults that attend the Tucson Wesley Foundation, the United

Methodist Campus Ministry at The University of Arizona, spent their Friday afternoon under a shade tent enclosed with malaria preventing bed nets. The purpose of this event was to raise our goal of $1,200 to donate to the larger Imagine No Malaria initiative of The Desert Southwest

Conference and The United Methodist Church. It was quite the sight to see in the middle of The U of A campus.

I was personally drawn to help with this event because as a Young Adult delegate to Annual Conference last year, I was able to experience first hand the determination that I saw our conference expressing to help in this fight. When the idea for this event was brought up by our Campus Ministry

Director Rev. Dee Dee Azhikakath, I was one of the first students to jump at the occasion to help do our part in a way that would be fun and effective for college students. While the event was going on it was really exciting seeing all of my friends who were “trapped” under the nets with me calling friends and family who were either on campus or not on campus trying to reach our personal goals


of raising $100. While the twelve of us were “trapped” there were other students around the tents asking anyone who happened to walk by for any amount of money to donate. Even though it was a Friday afternoon I was surprised at how many people walked by, gave a little money and asked about the reason why we were all out doing the event.

Our goal for the event was for each of the “trapped” students to raise $100 a piece, which would mean a total of $1,200. By the end of that day when the online donations and donations made in person were added up we exceeded our goal and raised $1826.66. That is over 180 lives saved! Some of the students decided they didn’t want to stop at just raising $100 so they kept calling and texting people.

While we did spend a lot of time personally contacting people, we also posted on Facebook about what was going on at the event and what the over all mission of Imagine No Malaria is truly about. I know that

some of my friends and family who were not able to donate that day were able to learn more about the cause just because I took part in this event.

I hope that by having this event we really did help people realize that malaria is a huge issue around the world. It can be hard to think about issues that don’t happen to be so prevalent here in the United States, but as a global church we really do have to think about our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world that need our help. This event was really important because it reached out to a different community then what would be considered normal on a Sunday morning in a church pew. Even though all of us who participated attend the Tucson Wesley Foundation, not every person who attends grew up in a church and would have been touched by this opportunity before college. Not to mention the countless people who happened to walk by that day. This event was just one of the many examples of how The United Methodist Church really reaches out to

people no matter who they are, where they came from and where they are now.

Just looking at the twelve young adults who were “trapped” with me you can see the wide variety that can be reached. We had freshmen in college all the way to Graduate school students to one person who is currently serving in the United States Air Force and people who have been raised in The United Methodist Church to those who had never been in a church until recently. If those are the twelve people that we had, think of all of the possibilities of those who can be reached within a local church or even in the community surrounding a local church. I urge everyone to look deep in your hearts and think about what you can do personally. It doesn’t mean you have to donate large amounts of money, it could be anything that you honestly feel would help make a difference in the lives of those around the world we are trying to save with Imagine No Malaria. †

Even though malaria claims an innocent life in Africa every 60 seconds, malaria mortality rates have fallen by more than 25% globally since 2000, and by 33% in the World Health Organization Af-rican Region. Photos in this article are courtesy of Kayla Flannery.

Campus plan to Stop Malaria

Create a large INM display in a public area and invite people to participate.

Have fun with it.

Offer creative ways to record pledges and show the progress

towards selected goals.

Be prepared: Know the facts about malaria and offer take

home info. and ways to pledge at a later time.

FOR THE DESERT SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE

IMAGINE NO MALARIA VIDEO RESOURCES

IMAGINE NO MALARIA VIDEO RESOURCES

FOR THE DESERT SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE


I was appointed to Boulder City UMF last July and came into a congregation that is predominantly

retired folks who were already serving a variety of local charities: Lend-a-hand, Boulder City Emergency Aid, OZ (Operation Zero), and United Methodist Social Ministries in Las Vegas (UMSM), to name a few. When we learned about the Imagine No Malaria campaign and were asked to set a goal and help to eliminate malaria by 2015, we presented it to the congregation and they were eager to help. One secret of our success I believe is that we don’t just announce it to the congregation. We enlist people one on one by asking them to get

involved. We are always encouraging one another to step up and out and put our money where our mouth is!

We have received the green bracelets and are sharing those with our congregation to get them excited about the cause and receiving donations for those as well. Our INM Coordinator, Dena Weinberg, says what drew her to this ministry was that she wanted to be part of helping to save lives and demonstrating compassion to others in a practical way. She was impressed that the UMC was not only donating the nets but following up to be sure the recipients are using them correctly.

Now Boulder City UMF is excited

to get the word out in the Boulder City community and ask them to Imagine No Malaria and make a real difference in the lives of others. We are planning a booth at our upcoming Spring Jamboree being held in our city where we will be sharing vital information and taking donations to save lives. Our goal is to save 1,000 lives. We will have a poster board where people can glue a photo of a child onto the board when they make a $10.00 donation to the cause. This will be a great graphic representation of the lives we are saving.

We are also going to guess the number of “mosquitoes” in a jar and give a prize for the person who

By Pastor Sandy Johnson,Boulder City UMFCHURCH IS WHATWE DO


CHURCH IS WHATWE DO

Page 16 photos courtesy of Pastor Sandy Johnson.Top: Dena and Claire Johnson volunteering at Art in the Park handing out free water to attendees.Bottom Left: Dena with her son on Operation Zero (or OZ) to clean up Lake Mead.Bottom Right: Dena with Calvin Johnson enjoying their time volunteering during Trunk or Treat.

Malaria is preventable and curable.Increased malaria prevention and control measures are dramatically reducing the malaria burden in many places.

Photo by Mike DuBoseguesses the closest. The prize will be a “family fun night gift basket” complete with a pizza gift certificate, movie tickets, popcorn, and bowling alley passes. We hope to get these items donated by local merchants. The booth will be decorated with netting and a cot to demonstrate the nets and how lives are saved. We found a large mosquito through Oriental Trading Company and plan to incorporate him into the display as well.

Our church believes in the Rethink Church motto of “What if church wasn’t just a place we go, but something we did?” We have embraced that theme this year and are really using church as a verb in everything we do. We have served this year in Las Vegas at the Impact 2013 clean up, have helped with Family Promise for the first time and are super excited to be involved in Imagine No Malaria.

For me it is the knowledge that we can save a life for $10.00 that really makes this initiative different than other projects. We are eager to share the mission and ministry with our city and believe that our whole town will help us to reach the goal of eliminating malaria by 2015. In doing so I am hopeful that they will feel a sense of pride and accomplishment to know that they have made a difference in 1,000 lives, not just a minimal difference but a life‒changing difference! †


Living through malaria

The malaria parasite has been in my system as a Nigerian. This is due to the fact that I have

lived in a very hot and sometimes humid area of Taraba State (Zing/Jalingo) where infected mosquitoes are very prevalent. Because I have this parasite in my body the doctor recommended I take anti-malaria drugs for 1-2 months a year to prevent me from getting sick again. I did adhere to his advice. Unfortunately, last year I did not bother to take the anti-malaria drugs thinking that nothing will happen since I have been taking care of myself all this while.

However, this idea was a terrible one which almost cost me my life. It was last year in August 2012 that I was diagnosed with malaria. My blood was taken to the lab for screening and it was discovered that the parasite had multiplied more than expected. The symptoms I had then were a very high temperature and most of the time I was very chilly even when the room temperature was 90 degrees. I became very anemic to the extent that I had a blood transfusion. The blood my son donated probably saved my life. It was a very bad experience for me and my kids who thought I was going to die. I was unconscious two days, but to God be the glory I did not die. The doctors did their best and with God’s help I

survived. Nets are helping in the cities where

people know how to use them, but in the rural areas where people are ignorant of the how and when to use them it is much more challenging. This is why rural health care workers are so important and why we must train more. Imagine No Malaria, Africa University, and others are helping to do that.

I did have the nets at my house but I was not protected anyway. Sometimes I get tired and forget to put on the net or when the weather is very hot and need fresh air to circulate in the room. This is why Imagine No Malaria is focusing on more than just nets to prevent this killer disease. Malaria is indeed a deadly disease that can be prevented. People need more education on this disease and on the use of nets and other means of prevention. That is what Imagine No Malaria and the People of The United Methodist Church are doing. This can help, and will make a huge difference in Nigeria and throughout Africa. †

By Dr. Eunice Iliya

Dr. Iliya at General Conference.Photo by Mike DuBose


Living through malaria

I suffered from malaria at the age of 12. At the time I lived in a small abandoned mine town in

Zimbabwe called Mhangura. The town was mainly supported by the mine so when the mine shut down, there was no maintenance and everything went downhill from there. Everywhere you looked there were puddles of water, poor plumbing, no sewer systems and no waste managements. These types of environment are breeding places for mosquitos.

Although I only had malaria for about a week, it felt longer. I was weak in my body and often felt dizzy. My body temperature was not constant‒one minute I was hot and sweating, the next I would be layering up clothes and shivering. I was always nauseated and every time I ate, I felt like throwing up. I was only drinking fluids and eating fruits such as oranges and tangerines. Because of the poor medical treatment in Zimbabwe, the hospital wasn’t able to help me. My uncle had to catch the bus to the nearest pharmacy, which was about 33 miles away. There he bought the only medicine for malaria available in Zimbabwe. After I took the medicine I just threw up everything I had eaten before and after a couple of hours, I was back to normal.

Later, my pastor and his wife visited Zimbabwe in January for a conference and

when they came back, both of them were complaining about always being tired, weak, and feeling flu symptoms. They both didn’t think much of it and never got medical attention. About three months later while on another conference in Indiana, my pastor's symptoms got worse, his body just gave up on him and he was vomiting constantly. That night he was rushed to the emergency room and three days after being hospitalized the doctors still had no idea what was wrong with him. Finally after extensive tests, they diagnosed him with malaria and then they were able to treat it.

We are two of the lucky few cases that were able to get treatment. Many people in Zimbabwe and Africa as a whole will lose their life due to no access to medical treatment, but The United Methodist Church and their partners are working to change this. They have already cut the number of deaths due to malaria in half and together we will do much more! †

By Zvikomborero Matavire,Trinity UMC

Zvikomborero Matavire’s mother is Patience Nyaungwa, who was a guest speaker at the 2011 Desert Southwest Annual Conference and member of Trinity UMC.

Photo by Paul Self-Price

Photo by Mike DuBose


Ever wonder if it’s possible to get kids involved in a project that affects people far away

from their home town? After all, aren’t today's kids only interested in themselves, their cellphones or what’s on TV? Well, I’m here to tell you that it is possible. Since January 9th when school children returned from Christmas vacation, the Sidewalk Sunday School family at First United Methodist Church in Safford, AZ has taken on Imagine No Malaria as their personal mission project.

You may ask what inspired these children from ages five to 12 to get involved in something that doesn’t personally affect them. First of all, enthusiasm is contagious, and when you have a passion for mission, you can be that spark that starts a fire. Many churches, especially in the South District, had our conference INM Coordinator, Rolly Loomis speak about getting involved in Imagine No Malaria. At Safford FUMC, he showed a video of our conference’s trip to Africa. My heart broke when I saw children and adults suffering from a preventable disease, and I knew this was something that our Sidewalk kids could do. I wanted our Sidewalk family to see how people are suffering and that even across the world they could be a part of the healing of people.

For this mission project I didn’t have to re-invent the wheel to get the information about Imagine No Malaria. I used the resources provided by our own conference. Kids love visuals, and I started with the Imagine No Malaria video collection DVD on our first meeting in January. This video collection contains ten short clips that give kids explanations and visuals of how malaria is spread, what

efforts have not worked in the past to prevent it, what needs to be done, and how others are getting involved. There’s even a clip with Pauley Perrette, who many kids recognized from the TV program NCIS. These children saw how ten dollars could save one life, and then realized they could do that. Every week we played another video clip, took our offering, and then prayed for those affected by malaria. The rise of compassion within our children is evident when we read prayer requests that include “please pray for those sick with malaria” or “pray for Imagine No Malaria.” The Holy Spirit is working in these children’s hearts. Our goal has been set to save 25 lives before Sidewalk ends.

Don’t get discouraged if think your kids won’t or can’t get involved in a mission project. Start small if you need to, and don’t give up. I remember back in 2010 after the devastating flooding in Tennessee. Our church was accepting items for health kits that our conference was sending to UMCOR. Though our Sidewalk kids didn’t bring the personal care items, we made an

assembly line of all the personal care items starting with Ziplock bags. Each child went

down the table filling them and received such joy when they saw all the kits they helped put together for the flood victims. It all started with a lesson on helping others that included pictures of the devastation.

Am I excited about how our Sidewalk family has taken on Imagine No Malaria? You bet! I love leading the group that is the catalyst for our church’s commitment to this project. But this isn’t just limited to Safford. Sharing the love of Christ through a particular mission can be passed on to your Sidewalk Sunday School, UMW group, Scout troop, or congregation when they see your passion and enthusiasm for Christ. †

Sherry Brady, Sidewalk Director at Safford FUMC

Children can lead us in saving lives

If I could talk to every Sunday School teacher I would say to them,“Don’t get discouraged and don’t think your kids won’t or can’t get involved in a mission project. Start small if you need to, but don’t give up.” - Sherry Brady

Phot

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She

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Bra

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Every 60 seconds, malaria claims a life in Africa. It kills an estimated 655,000 people each year, most of them children under 5 and pregnant women. Transmitted through the bite of a female anopheles mosquito, malaria is a parasite that initially causes fever, vomiting and joint pain. Left untreated, its symptoms progress to convulsions, organ failure and death. Yet, malaria is 100% preventable, treatable and beatable! Imagine No Malaria is an extraordinary effort of the people of The United Methodist Church, putting our faith into action to end preventable deaths by malaria in Africa, especially the death of a child or a mother. Achieving this goal requires an integrated strategy against the disease. Our approach includes a comprehensive model:

Give: Through your local United Methodist Church or

go to www.imaginenomalaria.org - Click on “DONATE NOW” Remember $10 saves a life.

Prevention Building on the success of Nothing But Nets, Imagine No Malaria is often thought of as Nets Plus. Insecticide-treated mosquito nets are still the best way to prevent malaria, however, other measures like draining standing water where the insects breed, trimming foliage and proper sanitation, are also critical to preventing malaria. Education We train community-based health workers to share the facts about malaria, like identifying symptoms and dispelling myths about the disease. This information, coming from a trusted, local source is a very effective way to educate about malaria. Communication Community health workers also provide behavior-change communications—helping families to understand why it is critical to sleep under a bed net and how to properly care for this life-saving tool. Treatment For 160 years, The United Methodist Church has been operating hospitals and clinics across the African continent. But those hospitals need rapid diagnosis kits and life-saving medicines to treat people infected with malaria.

Ministry Overview

Printable PDF available at http://imaginenobuzz.net

.


Our Faith In Action.

A HISTORY OF HEALING.

For nearly two centuries, The people of The United Methodist Church have been engaged in partnership with our brothers and sisters in Africa. This is the very fabric of who we are as United Methodists—healing the sick and helping those in need (Ma�hew 10:8). In 2006, the United Na�ons Founda�on began a new campaign to ght malaria called Nothing But Nets. The United Methodist Church was invited to become a founding member. Nothing But Nets was an immediate success, raising more than $7 million to provide insec�cide‐treated bed nets to Africa.

In 2008, building on the success of Nothing But Nets, and with the assistance of grant funding from the United Na�ons Founda�on, a new, comprehensive program to ght malaria was created. That program is called “Imagine No Malaria” ‐ think of it as Nothing But Nets Plus. It has been a life‐changing ministry for thousands of people in The United Methodist Church. To date, more than $32 million has been raised towards a goal of $75 million. Funds raised not only help in the distribu�on of insec�cide‐treated bed nets now familiar to most United Methodists but also the improvement of sustainable and accountable public health systems that deliver appropriate aid, country by country, to health professionals, volunteers and church workers who are very close to the goal of making sure that

no child suffers or dies from the killer disease malaria. “Imagine No Malaria” has awakened the church to what disciples of Jesus can do to transform the world. Just imagine what we can and will do next.

2006 2010

Prevention Prevention Treatment Education Communication

Printable PDF available at http://imaginenobuzz.net


Our Spirit Song UMF lay leader came away from the 2012 annual conference

excited about two presentations from the laity session. She learned about Imagine No Malaria and heard an idea shared about Trunk or Treat. As we discussed both we realized the two could be combined. Yes, children could receive Halloween candy while giving to a good cause!

We planned our first Trunk or Treat and held it on Halloween 2012 in the community center parking lot and invited both church participation and community participation. Many decorated their cars and/or wore costumes for the night’s fun. Outside Pastor Valerie’s trunk was a table with a computer running the Imagine No Malaria video, a donation jar, and fliers promoting our upcoming Christmas activities. (We always try to promote our next thing.)

We advertised through the schools and through the community e-newsletter. We contrasted the pretend scare of ghosts and goblins with the real scare of mosquitoes and shared that children could give their change to help keep other children safe. It was sweet to watch parents lift their little ones up to dump baggies of change into the jar.

We brought in $242, or 24 lives saved, in change! This was a win-win all the way around. We had the opportunity to get our name out as a church, the community had the chance to partner with us, children had a safe place to trick or treat, children learned about giving instead of just receiving, and a good cause was supported. Are we doing it again? Oh, yes. The community reinforced over and over that they really liked what we had done and repeatedly asked, “You’ll do this again next year, won’t you?”

In addition, Spirit Song took a leap of faith and decided to follow the advice from the Invite, Encounter, Disciple workshop. We decided to give away 100% of our Christmas Eve offering to Imagine No Malaria. This was huge for us because we pay rent for our school facility on Christmas Eve. However, this spoke volumes to the guests in the community about our care for the world and our outward focus. (Over half of our Christmas Eve attendance was guests.)

We announced our plan ahead and on Christmas Eve we showed an Imagine No Malaria promo and explained that 100% of the gifts collected that evening would go to this cause. We received $1142, or 114 lives saved. This is only the beginning. Together our Conference and our entire United Methodist Church will save millions of lives! †

From trunks of candyto bed nets

By Rev. Valerie Fairchild, Spirit Song UMF

Imagine No Malaria

$10Saves a Life

All photos on this page courtesy of Spirit Song U

MF

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