Giving children the gift of reading
Throughout March, we'll collect donations of new and gently used children's books to benefit Dallas Bethlehem Center. Bring donations to the donation station in the Children's Welcome Center.

Host homes sought for college students
Members of the Texas A&M concert choir will perform at UPUMC on Friday, March 26. Can you help? We need homes for housing a minimum of two students each, then attend the concert, pick up students and luggage in Fellowship Hall after the concert, provide Friday overnight housing and Saturday breakfast, returning them to the church by 9 a.m. Saturday morning. Check out the photo link – looks like a cool group of students! Contact Jody Lindh at 469.916.9617 or by e-mail.

Volunteers needed for Amigos Days
UPUMC members will share God's love by preparing and painting the entire exterior of a home during Amigos Days April 16-17 and 23-24. Many volunteers are needed to share in both the work and hospitality events being planned for our crew. We hope you will give Amigos a try this year! Register in the Welcome Center or online.

Making a difference in Guatemala
Be part of God’s amazing work in the western highlands of Guatemala by joining a construction team Aug. 7-14. A $100 deposit by April 4 will hold your place. Balance is $750 if paid by June 15, after it is $850. Some scholarship support is available. Contact Rebecca Frank.

UPUMC needs volunteers for Amigos Days! Below, a look at how Amigos Day began and its impact.

At the beginning of 1998 a group of people from San Juan Fellowship and several other churches in the Dallas Northeast District began asking, “How can we work together so that San Juan Fellowship can have a bigger impact in the lives of people in their neighborhood?”

That small gathering of friends was the genesis of Amigos Days. By June of that year, we teamed up with People Helping People, a division of the Department of Housing of the City of Dallas, and members of 10 churches began repairing homes in East Dallas.

After three days we celebrated with the neighbors living around San Juan Fellowship the wonderful way that the Spirit of God was moving through their community.

Word began to spread that something vital was going on in East Dallas. Momentum for Amigos Days has continued to build in the past 10 years. It has impacted
nine urban churches and repaired more than 300 homes. Each year 1,000 Amigos from 44 United Methodist churches restore homes, renovate churches, and forge new relationships among people from many cultural and economic backgrounds.

Our prayer continues to be that our God, who fashions us into one people in Christ Jesus, will join our hearts together in love and in service.

Amigos veterans have often said the dirtier they get, the closer they feel to God. God’s presence is very real during every hour of the workday. What a joy to express our gratitude to God by sharing and working together!

UPUMC Life is an electronic newsletter published weekly and distributed to those who have opted to receive it. If you wish to be removed from this distribution, please contact Carolyn Washburn at 469.916.9611.