Rainbow Covenant - Yellow Band - Children's Fund

The Yellow Band of the Rainbow Covenant is the Children's Fund Band. Each year several projects dealing with children are selected to be included in the Children's Fund. This year two of these projects are "The Dream Catchers" in Bok Chitto, Mississippi and "Pencils and Possibilities" in South Sudan.

The Dream Catchers is a part of the Choctaw United Methodist Mission, which serves three small Native American congregations on the Choctaw Reservation in Mississippi. There are 9,000 - 10,000 Choctaw in Mississippi and more that 50% of the population is under the age of 18. The Methodist Church has been in ministry with Choctaw Indians since 1827. The children attend church on Sundays and Wednesdays. They sing songs, play games and participate in crafts and activities to help them learn the weekly Bible story. On Wednesdays they participate in a prayer service where they leam to pray to God and for others. The children receive sensitive, loving, caring mentoring and through mission projects they travel beyond the reservation, which gives them the chance to see the possibilities for them.

The Republic of Sudan is the largest country on the African continent. It is rich in natural resources but the area of South Sudan is one of poorest parts of the country. For the past 21 years Sudan has experienced political and military turmoil. The war has resulted in major destruction and neglect of social and physical structures, such as schools, roads, and health and water facilities. More that 4 million people became refugees or internally displaced persons and roughly 2 million people died. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is helping South Sudan's next generation through their education programs in South Sudan and South Darfur. These programs provide classroom construction, teacher training, school desks and chalkboards for classrooms, school supplies, and uniforms for the children. UMCOR is also providing sources of food, cash income, and skills to restore jobs; train farmers and restore agriculture; and improve water and sanitation.

Editor's Note: Donations to support this and other Rainbow Covenant projects can be made at any time. Please make checks payable to MPUMC with a notation of "Missions" marked on the memo line.