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Mabaan Flood Relief

 

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ABOUT:

The South Sudan is the newest nation in the world but has struggled as a fledgling country due to fighting among their leadership. The Mabaan speaking ethnic group occupies Mabaan County of the Northern Upper Nile State.

In July 2019, heavy rainfall from a weather phenomenon called the Indian Ocean Dipole flooded the war-torn county and an estimated 420,000 people have been displaced. 

Tens of thousands of acres of cropland have been destroyed and scores of livestock have been lost. Freshwater has been contaminated. The South Sudan soil has been unable to absorb the water and, in some areas, it continues to rise. The U.N. said in a statement recently that it needs $61 million to save lives and ensure the continuity of response to flood victims in South Sudan.

There was no place to flee so people have lived in the murky flood waters for many months and are living in crowded makeshift shelters. Many villages are only accessible by boat. If efforts aren’t made soon, aid organizations fear that the cramped conditions will lead to a rise in diseases, diarrhea, respiratory infections, and malaria. The South Sudanese President has declared a state of national emergency. The UN estimates that 85% of the population, which is more than 7 million people, are at risk of starvation. With the lack of shelter, food, clean water and sanitation the need to assist them is a race against time.

Over the years some of the Mabaans have been relocated in the United States and specifically in the Des Moines area. The South Sudanese Mabaan United Methodist Church was formed and now worships at First United Methodist Church in Des Moines.

To provide aid to their families, the Mabaan Flood Relief committee has been formed. Their goal is to provide fundraising efforts through the United Methodist Church and beyond. 

The U.S. Mabaans would like assistance to help their people reorganize their lives when the waters recede. The Iowa Annual Conference is committed to help the Mabaans drastically affected by this flooding. Donate by going online to https://www.iaumc.org/MFR or sending a check to: Iowa Annual Conference, Treasurer's Office, 2301 Rittenhouse St., Des Moines, IA 50321, On MEMO line: #53321-MF.

To learn more about the South Sudan flooding go to: www.NorthernUpperNileFlooding.com.

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     PUBLICIZE     

Please use these notes in your newsletter and/or include them in worship bulletins beginning in February and continuing periodically through June 30, 2020.

Thank you for your support!

  1. Will you help? Floods in South Sudan have demolished housing, destroyed cropland, killed livestock, contaminated drinking water, and taken out roads. We have hundreds of Mabaan living in Iowa, across the country, and in Canada. They are asking for our help to send relief to Mabaan County, South Sudan. Knowing the devastation floods have brought to our own state, please express your support for the Mabaan by donating online to https://www.iaumc.org/MFR or sending a check to: Iowa Annual Conference, Treasurer's Office, 2301 Rittenhouse St., Des Moines, IA 50321, On MEMO line: #53321-MF. Thank you!
  2. Will you help? South Sudan is the newest country in the world. Hundreds of members of the Mabaan community there have, over the years, relocated to Iowa. The South Sudan UMC worships at First UMC in Des Moines. Many Mabaan also live in Storm Lake and the Council Bluffs/Omaha areas. Mabaan County in South Sudan has experienced severe flooding leaving family and friends of our Mabaan neighbors without housing, drinkable water, and livelihoods from farming and livestock. As Iowans we know first-hand how devastating flooding can be. Please join United Methodists across our conference in sending aid to Mabaan County. Donate by going online to https://www.iaumc.org/MFR or sending a check to: Iowa Annual Conference, Treasurer's Office, 2301 Rittenhouse St., Des Moines, IA 50321, On MEMO line: #53321-MF.Thanks for your support and prayers.
  3. Will you help? The South Sudan Mabaan United Methodist Church shares space with First UMC in Des Moines. Many Mabaan have also settled in Storm Lake and Council Bluffs/Omaha. Their families and friends are suffering from flooding in South Sudan. Our Iowa Conference is committed to raise $200,000 to be sent to Mabaan County for flood relief. We in Iowa know the aftermath of flooding is a long-term event.
    Please join in supporting our Mabaan neighbors with your prayers and your financial gifts.  Donate by going online to https://www.iaumc.org/MFR or sending a check to: Iowa Annual Conference, Treasurer's Office, 2301 Rittenhouse St., Des Moines, IA 50321, On MEMO line: #53321-MF. Thank you!
  4. Will you help? In South Sudan, the newest country in the world, tens of thousands of acres of cropland have been destroyed and scores of livestock lost. Fresh water has been contaminated. All this is the result of flooding. Our United Methodist South Sudanese Mabaan neighbors in Iowa – particularly in Storm Lake, Des Moines, and Council Bluffs/Omaha – are asking for our help to send relief funds to their homeland. In Iowa we know what flooding can do to a community. Please pray for those who suffer and consider making a financial gift for Mabaan Flood Relief by donating online to https://www.iaumc.org/MFR or sending a check to: Iowa Annual Conference, Treasurer's Office, 2301 Rittenhouse St., Des Moines, IA 50321, On MEMO line: #53321-MF. Blessings and thank you!
  5. Will you help? The South Sudan Mabaan UMC has over 200 members who worship in Des Moines. Other large groups of Mabaan persons have settled in Storm Lake and Council Bluffs/Omaha. Their families and friends who remain in South Sudan have experienced severe flooding in recent months. Cropland destroyed, livestock lost, homes ruined, roads washed away, fresh water contaminated – all creating a disaster for residents. The Iowa Conference seeks to raise $200,000 to be sent for relief work in Mabaan County, South Sudan. Iowa knows first-hand of the results of flooding. Please pray for those affected and donate by going online to https://www.iaumc.org/MFR or sending a check to: Iowa Annual Conference, Treasurer's Office, 2301 Rittenhouse St., Des Moines, IA 50321, On MEMO line: #53321-MF. Thank you!

     FUND RAISING IDEAS     

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FOR THE CHURCH

Noisy Money Sunday

On the month that has five Sundays, have a Noisy Money Sunday. Note this Sunday in your monthly newsletter, have four glass jars for the collection and encourage members to save their coins to throw in the jars. Put in your money first so everyone can hear the noise of the coins! Quiet money is also welcome!

Flood the Bucket

Secure a small metal or plastic bucket (at Lowe's/Menards) to use as a receptacle for money. Place it in a prominent location (church entryway, close to the coffee pot, etc.) and make a sign: “Flood the Bucket.” Encourage people to throw in money to fill the bucket. 

Kid's Meal

Ask the kids to bring the cost of one McDonald's Happy Meal on a selected Sunday each month for three months. Prices vary but approximate cost for a Chicken Nugget meal is $4.59 and a Hamburger meal is $3.99. Donations will help families purchase necessary food items as rice, bean, flour, oil and water from their local market.

Water, Water Everywhere

The Flood in the Mabaan area caused water to reach roof levels. People had nowhere to go to avoid the flood, so they lived in water for over two months. Many of their water sources (boreholes) were flooded with dirty water so families must either drink this water or if they have funds, can purchase bottled water.

Provide each Sunday School child (four years and up) with a small notebook to keep track of how many glasses of water/juice/soda they drink each day for one week. At the end of the week calculate the number of drinks from a water source and multiply it by $1.00. Bring that money to Sunday School for the Mabaan Flood Relief.

Special Offering Sunday

Select a Sunday to take a special offering for the Mabaan Flood Relief. Ask pastor to give brief explanation about the Mabaan flood and the Iowa response to it. Tell flood story during children's time. 

Lenten or Easter Offering

Donate a portion of your Lenten or Easter offering.

Silent Auction

Ask 10 persons in congregation to give a home-made or valued knick-knack, picture/painting, food item or white elephant to be placed for a silent auction on a selected Sunday. Use children's pictures to be auctioned off! Proceeds would go to Flood Relief. 

Flood Walk-A-Thon

Target your youth and walkers in your church to sponsor a walk similar to the CROP walks. Determine length and location of the walk. Recruit participants who then secure sponsors to pledge funds per mile with proceeds going to the Mabaan Flood Relief. Try a DANCE-A-THON!

Raindrop Jar

Procure a large jar and fill it with flat clear decorative rocks/pebbles to represent raindrops. Allow church members including kids, to guess the number of rocks in the jar but to do so they have to pay $.25 cents (or choose amount). Perhaps each week you could add more rocks. Be sure you know the number of rocks in the jar!

Lawn Ornaments

Place a group of flamingos, rabbits, toys on someone's yard/lawn so they have to pay to get rid of the lawn attraction. You can pass these ornaments to others who also have to pay.

United Methodist Women

Prepare items for a kitchen raffle...hot pads, oven gloves, hand/tea towels, scratch pads, aprons, etc. with price placed on item. Set date and have fun raffling them off.

FUND RAISING IDEAS FOR KIDS

“Nickels for Noah”

Make an ark or place a bucket in Sunday School area then ask kids to bring nickels to throw in the ark/bucket to help Noah in his attempts to save the animals during a certain time period!

Pop Cans Collection

Bring a large trash receptacle and ask people to bring their (washed) pop cans to be taken for the 5 cents refund.

Kid's Carnival

Set up some games like “Go Fish” in which kids can participant by paying for a “ticket” to play.

Drawing Contest

Provide large piece of paper with crayons or markers to have children draw a picture of what they think the Mabaan flood looked like. Have children put a price on their drawing. Display pictures with 1st, 2nd, 3rd selections. Have people bid on the picture(s) with funds going to Mabaan Flood Relief.

Kid's Meal

Ask the kids to bring the cost of one McDonald's Happy Meal on a selected Sunday each month for three months. Prices vary but approximate cost for a Chicken Nugget meal is $4.59 and a Hamburger meal is $3.99. Donations will help families purchase necessary food items as rice, bean, flour, oil and water from their local market.

Fund Raising Ideas were generated by Pastor Lori Shannon of Gray UMC, a member of the Mabaan Flood Relief Committee. Marcia Peeler, Katherine Howell, Candy Sweeney, Christine McFarland, Linda Rowe, Amy Fuson, Martha McCallister and Beverly Nolte also contributed.

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