UPAVIM Visit

Our visitors from UPAVIM, Guatemala, will be arriving on Wednesday, November 8. There will be five women along with Brian Tyler, from Sister Parish. During their visit from Wednesday, November 8 to Thursday, November 16 they will be staying in church members' homes and we have planned a variety of activities to help them get to know our congregation and community, and to have fun. Their photos and biographies are on the notice board in the narthex along with the schedule of events, which is also posted below. Take a look and let the church office or Ina Osborn know if you'd like to participate in any of the activities.

They will be joining us for worship on Sunday, November 12, sharing treats and selling crafts in the Parlor, before joining us for Messy Church in the gym. On Wednesday, November 15, they will help prepare our special family meal and teach us how to make tortillas! If you would like to join us for Messy Church lunch at noon on Sunday or Wednesday's dinner, please call the church office and let us know so that we prepare enough food. Do come!

Thank you for the generous donations of warm coats, hats and gloves. Anything we do not use will be donated to our PADS clients.

This will be their 3rd visit to us and we have made five trips south facilitated by Sister Parish, the organization that fosters links between churches in the United States and communities in Central America. Their vision is "to transform the world by sharing each other's experiences so that we can better understand and overcome the sources of injustice and oppression."

Itinerary

Wednesday, November 8

• Arrival in evening at O’Hare

Thursday, November 9

• 8-8:30am Meet at church for Reflection and Delegation to call home with safe arrival news
• 9:45am Walking tour of downtown Downers Grove to include visit to Watts of Love (10:45am)
• 11:30am lunch at local restaurant (@ Paradise)
• 1:30pm Tour of Family Shelter Service in Downers Grove
• 4pm Volunteer at PRC with a tour of the facility before our shift starts at 5pm.
• 6:30pm eat at Culver’s on Plainfield Rd before going to host family

Friday, November 10

• 8-8:30am Meet at church for Reflection and Delegation private discussion time
• 9:30am Visit Transition School (Young adults with disabilities)
• Lunch at Osborns’ home
• Visit Hillcrest grade school 6th grade classroom (visit to classroom of Dana Murphy and John Smoke)
• Thrift Store Shopping at Salvation Army

Saturday, November 11

• Travel to Oregon, Illinois to visit farming community (Penny Fox’s hometown.)

Sunday, November 12

• The women will be speaking at the 8:15, 9:30, and 11:00 services, sharing traditional sweets and crafts in the parlor, and join the Messy Church Lunch. All are welcome to join and participate!

Monday, November 13

• Meet at church for Reflection and Delegation private discussion time
• Travel into Chicago for tourist day weather dependent plans
• 5pm Order Pizza dinner at church
• 6:30pm Host a discussion on status of hermanamiento invite Missions, Justice & Community work area and others

Tuesday, November 14

• 9am Tour of Downers Grove First United Methodist Church Pre-school
• Dollar Store shopping and lunch near 75th Street
• 3pm Travel to DGS to watch Steppers rehearsal at 3:30pm
• 4:30pm Visit the setting up of PADS overnight shelter for the homeless in church gym
• 5pm Pickup at church by host families for dinner
• Bowling at Suburbanite Bowl at 7pm

Wednesday, November 15

• 9am Join the Women’s Bible Study room 213
• 10:30am Delegation private discussion time
• 11:30am Lunch at church
• 12:00pm Cook dinner with Don Safford’s crew
• Visit children’s choir rehearsals
• 5pm Church weekly Wednesday dinner in the gym.

Thursday, November 16

• 8am Farewell breakfast at Downers Grove First United Methodist Church
• Leave for airport around 9:15am