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West Virginia Flooding

Last week, a flash flood ravaged West Virginia, with at least 23 people confirmed dead, hundreds of homes severely damaged or destroyed and thousands of people left without power.  Due to the nature of flash floods, there was little time to prepare or escape. Thankfully, Camp Luther, in session during the onset, was able to evacuate over 350 children and staff and continue camp at a shelter site.

A post from Camp Luther’s Facebook page read:

Ladies and gentlemen, the Camp Luther staff aren’t likely to sing their own praises–so let me. Please consider the following: In the middle of a major disaster–one large enough to make the national news for 3 straight days–the Camp Luther staff was able to evacuate and move 350+ people over a mile in unfamiliar, flood-stricken territory and were not only able to keep everyone safe, fed, and sheltered but were also able to CONTINUE CAMP!

Think about that for a minute. There are many people who would’ve been hard-pressed to take care of just THEMSELVES under those conditions and the Camp Luther staff was able to pull it off with 270+ campers and 80+ staff coming from 50+ home congregations. That is incredible in my book! (read more)

We thank God for the dedication and of the camp staff and their efforts to keep the children fed, dry, and actively engaged in camp activities.

Lutheran Disaster Response is on the ground assisting those who have been affected by the flooding.  Our network, including our coordinators from West Virginia and neighboring Ohio, along with congregations, synods and  other disaster affiliate organizations, have come together to address the needs of survivors in the flooding in West Virginia. We know that the road to recovery is long. Over the coming months and years, we will walk alongside the people of West Virginia.

Be a part of the response:

Pray

Continue to pray for the people affected by the flooding, may God’s healing presence comfort them in their time of need.

Give

Gifts to West Virginia Flooding designated under U.S. Flooding will be used to assist those directly impacted until the response is complete.

Connect

To learn more about what Lutheran Disaster Response is doing:

To learn more or sign up for volunteer opportunities:

World Refugee Week

 

RS10943_LWF_4575-credOver 62 million persons have been displaced from their homes by violence, poverty, war, discrimination and marginalization, natural disaster and the effects of climate change. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has found that about 51% of refugees are children. These large numbers of children, along with high numbers of women and elderly, are even more vulnerable as they are more likely to experience to abuse, sexual violence, and neglect.

The situation of large-scale movements of migrants and refugees has become such a global concern that it has led the United Nations to call a high-level meeting of Member States on September 19, 2016. It will review the overall situation and consider, among other things, processes to lead to the development of new “global compacts” with respect to refugees on the one hand and to migrants on the other.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and

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always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NIV)

Over and over again, God implores us to love our neighbors and bear their burdens. The refugee and other displaced persons are our neighbors. In 1 Corinthians, it says that love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.”

Over the last three years, Lutheran Disaster Response has invested about 2.5 million dollars in various global migration causes. While Lutheran Disaster Response continues to bring God’s help, healing, and hope, the Global Mission unit of the ELCA has been asking how, as a unit, we can serve our neighbor more efficiently. We have made a commitment to use accompaniment values to build awareness around the issues facing the world’s displaced persons, especially children, women and families, and advocate domestically and internationally for their well-being and dignity.

 

 

 

Be a part of the response:

Pray

Continue to pray for displaced persons around the world, may God’s healing presence comfort them in their time of need.

Give

Your gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response will be used where there is the greatest need.

Connect

To learn more about global migration and what Lutheran Disaster Response is doing:

  • Like Lutheran Disaster Response on Facebook.
  • Follow us on Twitter.
  • Visit our website at LDR.org
  • Sign up to receive Lutheran Disaster Response alerts.

Follow us for World Refugee Day – June 20

 

 

World Refugee Day

June 20, 2016Newly arrived Somali refugees wait in line to register at the Dadaab camp in northeastern Kenya. Swelled with tens of thousands of recent arrivals fleeing drought in Somalia, the camp has had difficulties absorbing the recent arrivals. The Lutheran World Federation, a member of the ACT Alliance, is manager of the camp and on July 25 began moving hundreds of families into new tents.

World Refugee Day is this Monday, June 20th. Lutheran Disaster Response will be taking this day, and all of next week to build awareness around global migration. ELCA Global Mission is already active in response to a number of critical refugee/ migration crises in the global and domestic context. We have relationships both within the ELCA and with global companions through which we provide humanitarian assistance, extend a welcome to the stranger and encourage those in power to work for peace with justice.

Follow along as we explore what is happening both domestically and internationally around global migration, how Lutheran Disaster Response has been involved over the last few years, and how you can be involved.

Follow Us for World Refugee Day:

 

 

Double the Impact

+match

The world is experiencing one of the highest concentration of disasters, in recent times. Various populations confront extreme child malnutrition, even starvation. More people are displaced now than ever before.  Many communities face weeks, if not months of waiting for weather to calm and repairs to begin.

Lives all across the globe are being ripped apart by conflict, earthquakes, severe storms, flooding, and drought. When the cameras leave, and the world turns it’s head, Lutheran Disaster Response stays behind to make sure that “the least of these,” are provided a chance at a “new normal.”

Through dedicated colleagues, trusted partners, our network of affiliates and companion churches, we have presence and knowledge of the needs at the local level. Your gifts are urgently needed for rapid and flexible response. We cannot do this important work without you.

Through Lutheran Disaster Response, your gifts will provide help and hope in the face of devastation. Thanks to a generous donor, your gift now will be matched – dollar for dollar – until we reach $100,000.

Be a part of the response:

Pray

Continue to pray for the people affected by disaster, may God’s healing presence comfort them in their time of need.

Give

Your gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response will be will be matched – dollar for dollar – until we reach $100,000.

Connect

To learn more about what Lutheran Disaster Response is doing:

World Humanitarian Summit

What happened?

The first ever World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) took place last week. The summit was a global call to action with three main goals:Share_Humanity1

  1. To re-inspire and reinvigorate a commitment to humanity and to the universality of humanitarian principles.
  2. To initiate a set of concrete actions and commitments aimed at enabling countries and communities to better prepare for and respond to crises, and be resilient to shocks.
  3. To share best practices which can help save lives around the world, put affected people at the center of humanitarian action, and alleviate suffering.

At the Summit, global leaders– approximately 5,000 leaders from government, voluntary agencies, affected communities, and many others– were tasked with discussing how to effectively respond to major humanitarian challenges, and how to be better prepared to meet challenges of the future.

United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, lifted up five core responsibilities in his opening statement:

  • Prevent and end conflict
  • Respect rules of war
  • Leave no one behind
  • Working differently to end need
  • Invest in humanity

What does this all mean and why should we care?

The world’s largest humanitarian crisis, since WWII, is happening right now. In 2015:

  • 125 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance
  • 60 million people were forced from their homes
  • 37 countries were affected
  • $20 billion dollars were needed

These statistics continue to ring true. Every day, more than 100 million people affected by natural and man-made disasters face impossible choices.

 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.

Mark 12: 31

As members of the body of Christ, we are called to love our neighbor. Love is not still. Love does not look from a far and hope for better. Love creates hope for those affected. Love is action. With the world watching, leaders from all over made commitments to be present in the world and love their neighbors. Lutheran Disaster Response will continue to bring God’s hope, healing and renewal to people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters in the US and around the world. Keep us in your prayers as search for more efficient and effective ways to serve our neighbors.

Be a part of the response:

Pray

Continue to pray for the people affected by disaster, may God’s healing presence comfort them in their time of need.

Give

Your undesignated gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response will be used where the need is greatest.

Connect

To learn more about what Lutheran Disaster Response is doing:

  • Visit our website at LDR.org
  • Sign up to receive Lutheran Disaster Response alerts.
  • Like Lutheran Disaster Response on Facebook.
  • Follow us on Twitter.

To learn more about the World Humanitarian Summit:

Kumamoto Earthquake: Nobuo Inoue

On April 14, 6:25 pm local time, a 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit Kumamoto, Japan. Another 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit Kumamoto only 2 days later. Over 1,000 aftershocks continued to shake the area between and after the 2 earthquakes. To date, there have been 49 confirmed deaths, including a member of Kurume Lutheran Church, and over 25,000 buildings deemed unsafe, leaving many homeless. The ELCA has 10 mission personnel in Kumamoto and along with our companions, have been reported safe. Lutheran-affiliated buildings received some damage.

Nobuo Inoue’s Story

Japan1_Ishida-NobuoNobuo Inoue’s home was fine after the first earthquake on April 14. However, the second quake, in the early hours of April 16, made his house completely unstable. “I don’t know how I got out,” recounts Inoue. “The power had gone out and somehow I escaped my house,” he said. “If there was any sign of hope, the cross I had hanging in my entrance way remained.”

Being in the construction business, Inoue was called by Pastor Motoi Koizumi to come help repair some damage done to Kengun Lutheran Church. “I felt so alone after escaping my house that I came right to church.”

Now, Inoue lives in his car while he takes his meals at the church. In fact, the church has housed as many as 40 whose homes became inhabitable after the earthquakes, as well as proving meals to those whose livelihoods have been disrupted.

Inoue can safely re-enter his house and in his gratitude for what his congregation has done to help him, he wants to take in those who remain homeless.

Story and photo by: Franklin Ishida, Area Director for Asia Pacific

The earthquakes were the strongest that have hit Japan in the last five years. The Lutheran churches and schools in Kumamoto are gathering points for people, like Nobuo, in their communities, and their members are helping provide whatever assistance is still needed. Working with our trusted partners and the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lutheran Disaster Response is working to bring God’s hope, healing, and help to those affected by the earthquakes.

 

Be a part of the response:

Pray

Continue to pray for the people affected by the earthquakes. May God’s healing presence comfort them in their time of need.

Give

Gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response, International will be used to assist those directly impacted by the earthquake until the response is complete. Select Lutheran Disaster Response, International from the Designation drop-down list.)

Connect

To learn more about the situation and the ELCA’s response:

  • Sign up to receive Lutheran Disaster Response alerts.
  • Check the Lutheran Disaster Response blog.
  • Like Lutheran Disaster Response on Facebook and follow @ELCALDR on Twitter.