Late last week the ELCA committed over $500,000 to help the Lutheran Church in Haiti as it continues to respond to the cholera epidemic that has affected the country since October 2010. As of May almost 125,000 people have been hospitalized resulting in over 5000 deaths. The main cause of the epidemic has been linked to poor access to drinking water and insufficient waste management. This newest commitment by the ELCA is on top of an original designation of $525,000 for cholera prevention and education made last November.

The Lutheran Church in Haiti is responding in two of the hardest hit areas, targeting 17,000 families (approx. 100,000 people), by providing management of patients and prevention education and efforts. This new phase, running from May to October, is a continuation of an earlier phase that ran from February to May. The focus of both phases is on educating and supporting families by sharing ways to prevent the spread of cholera and what to do once a person becomes infected. As part of this effort a mobile medical and paramedical team of 90 health agents, 2 doctors and 4 nurses has been mobilized. So far the earlier intervention has led to 430 lives saved and 3,100 cases of cholera contained.

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I had the pleasure yesterday of sitting with Bishop Eduardo Martinez of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia (IELCO) to gain his perspective on what has been happening in his country. Here is a bit of what we covered:

The major point relayed by the bishop is that the situation in Colombia is worsening. With reports that the rains last month were equal to the annual rainfall of Colombia and the excessive rains over the past year, many have been left without access to housing or food as they are forced from their homes by the rising waters and left incapable of harvesting the sustenance crops they live on. There are also dangers for people as the move onto higher ground as mudslides have become more common. This all would be a crisis enough on its own, but with somewhere between 3.5 and 5 million people already listed as IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) within the country these new additions have begun to overwhelm aid agencies.

With this new situation the government has been calling on the churches to lend a helping hand. The bishop described how the IELCO is historically been focused on responding to the humanitarian crisis but with this new situation they are finding way to build on this work to address the humanitarian concerns of disaster response and development. To this end they are working on a proposal for the Latin American Council of Churches, ACT Alliance and ELCA to help meet the growing needs of the people.

The bishop also attended the synod assembly of the Southeast Synod of Minnesota and will attend the assembly of the South Carolina Synod, both of whom have companion synod relationships with IELCO. His hope is to share the story of his people so that their brothers and sisters in the ELCA may know of their situation.

Please pray for Bishop Martinez, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia and all Colombians that the spirit of Christ may sustain them through this time of crisis and the Easter message of life from death, creation from destruction, may continue to give them hope.

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During an interview with Orion Samuelson for “This Week in Agribusiness” (video), Bishop Hanson took time to speak about his experiences visiting Haiti in February. He told stories of seeing a people “defined not by the rubble, but by restoration,” a quote he got from the president of the Lutheran Church in Haiti, Rev. Joseph Livenson Lauvanus. He shared of the forest restoration project funded by the ELCA and partners like Lutheran World Federation and the Lutheran Church in Haiti to replace trees cut down for survival after the earthquake, of a coffee cooperative that was funded in part by the ELCA prior to the earthquake that still thrives after, and of other farming, vocational and housing projects underway.

To learn more read the ELCA News Release.

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Our thoughts and prayers remain with Japan’s communities impacted by today’s earthquake, one of the largest in history.  As we continue to monitor the situation, the ELCA has been in contact with companions throughout the region threatened by the earthquake’s ripple effect sending tsunami waves throughout the Pacific region.

Reports from ELCA Global Mission personnel located in Latin America state that precautionary measures were taken to evacuate most coastal communities.  Anxiety in the region decreased after initial reports from Hawaii indicated the impact would be less than originally anticipated.

Chile continues to wait for the last tail end of the tsunami to come to shore sometime late tonight.  According to ELCA companion EPES in Chile, since early this morning families were informed about the situation in Japan.  In coastal areas, schools were suspended so that families could take precautionary measures.  In Penco, families of two camps that EPES continues to work with after the devastating 2010 earthquake have moved to elevated areas or are awaiting further instruction from government authorities.  Local news services report some 80,000 to 130,000 Chileans are part of the country’s evacuation measures.

The video below from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) illustrates the earthquake’s ripple effect through the Pacific region.

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Over two days at the end of February ELCA Presiding Bishop, Rev. Mark S. Hanson, visited Haiti to see first-hand how the church is continuing to engage the people and their needs in this period of recovery and restoration. He was accompanied on his trip by the ELCA’s International Disaster Response representative and was hosted by the President of the Eglise Lutherienne d’Haiti (The Lutheran Church of Haiti), Rev. Joseph Livenson Lauvanus.

In a statement that seemed to sum up the good work going on Rev. Lauvanus proclaimed, “We Haitians will not be defined by the rubble, but by restoration, for we are a people of the resurrection.” Bishop Hanson said that what he saw in the work and lives of the people of Haiti was an embodiment of this statement and the reason why these moments when the church can accompany brothers and sisters are of benefit to all those involved.

Let us continue to pray that this resurrection spirit continues to dwell and inspire the work of restoration from the rubble.

Read the full press release.

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Gifts to ELCA International Disaster Response allow the church to respond globally in times of need. Donate now.

The Brazilian floods earlier this month left wake of natural devastation with standing water and mudslides burying cars, homes and anything else that got in the way. Along side this natural disaster was the human tragedy of 650 lost lives and many of the survivors left without shelter or food.

In an effort to meet these needs ACT Alliance members have been traveling as quickly as possible to villages and cities to distribute physical and spiritual support.  As I read through the report I was pleased to see that they are working together and setting up support committees to make an orderly response.

God’s people doing God’s work with God’s wisdom.

To learn more read the full ACT Alliance report.