Music
My name in the Serna Samuel; I am the Caribbean regional missionary with
United Methodist Women. I just want
express thanks and appreciation
to the United Methodist Women who have
pledged
financially to the wrk that I am
doing.
I'm Finda Quiwa, a regional
missionary,
and I work with young people in
sub-sahara Africa.
The United Methodist Women are doing a great work
because of the checks they sign, the support they give to our work;
it's been so nice to see that
transformation it's giving to young
people
in the area where I work. The pledge is
very important, to fight against
violence against women, to fight against 
trafficking of women, to fight against those 
immigration laws that tend to,
to disadvantage women. It is very
important because
as women we need to be at par
with men. We also need to ensure that
as we raise our children they know - 
the girl child -  they know that are equal.
Because it's giving them the opportunity
to say
"all is not lost." 
It's challenging them, empowering them to be what they're really hoping to be,
despite the challenges they go through.
In Haiti, for example, after the earthquake,
and lot of the women lost their
livelihoods so they did not have money
to send their children to school. They have to pay their school;
see they have to buy books, they have to buy the uniform;
and so United Methodist Women did a pledge of 
over 15 thousand US dollars,
which was very good, and that allowed
children to go back to school.
The United Methodist Women's pledge is not only money;
Their faith, their commitment Jesus,
their involvement in the church
reverberates
into the hearts of women in the remote
areas in many countries.
There is a problem - a deep problem - in Haiti.
The illiteracy rate is between
70- 75 percent.
So it is saying that every 100 persons
70 or 75 persons cannot read.
Prayers that comes from the power of believing
that with the pledge they have 
then they can change lives. And there have  been women whose lives were changed.
I'm talking about young people
who are sent to school. You know how
in rural countries; it's being
supported by the UMW in many ways
since I was a student! And this has been
heart up missionary zeal that was given
to us in 
the Philippines and now a blessing to many.
So really, those funds, with their giving,
they will go a long way to ensure that
women, children and young people in
those areas
will improve their livelihoods.
Without mission giving there will be no
regional missionary initiative.
Without mission giving there will be no
health care
for mothers, for women.
Without mission giving, there'll be no transport fares for us to
travel.
to the various places where we serve.
Without mission giving,
there'll be no daily bread even for
the missionaries.
Therefore it is absolutely necessary.
We do not take for granted what they are
doing;
many of them make huge sacrifices.
They pray for us but their dollars are
absolutely necessary and they are invaluable 
in the work we do. Together my sisters -
we can make it happen.
