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New Jersey: Lutheran Disaster Response Affiliate Hosts a “Hand in Hand” Sandy Service Day

Megan Brandsrud

​HandinHandGarden

On Jan. 20, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s National Day of Service, Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey (LSMNJ) organized more than 50 volunteers who offered a helping hand to the many people in the area still dealing with impacts from Superstorm Sandy. Volunteers, ranging in age from 7 to 65 years old, hauled debris, prepared the community garden at the Visitation Relief Center in Brick, N.J., helped insulate pipes in a home impacted by the storm, tore out damaged flooring at an American Legion Hall, and assisted in several other projects.

Every month, LSMNJ Disaster Response organizes a “Hand in Hand” Sandy Service Day in coordination with area long-term recovery groups and other partnering recovery organizations.

Assistant Disaster Recovery Coordinator Alex Elefante is impressed by the selflessness of the volunteers that show up at the monthly events. “They amaze me each time,” Elefante says. “The positive impact they have on the lives of those still affected by Superstorm Sandy, even if for a little while, is tremendous.

The next “Hand in Hand” Sandy Service Day will be Feb. 15. To sign up or learn more about the volunteer event, visitwww.lsmnj.org.

Central African Republic – Running from Violence

Megan Brandsrud

​January 27, 2014

CAR refugee camp

Approximately 2.2 million people in the Central African Republic are in need of humanitarian assistance due to insecurity and intense violence occurring in the country. The United Nations estimates that 935,000 of these people have been forced from their homes due to the severity of fighting in their area. Some of these people have found refuge in various locations, such as churches, and some of these people are living in the bush, running from fighting groups as they attack nearby villages.

 

For Fredd and his family, the violence in their area started on a late Friday morning. As the violence continued that night, he and his family decided to move into the bush away from the village to spend the night in a friend’s field about 10 kilometers away. As they traveled, they came across several other people who were also fleeing.

 

“A Muslim man came and told us that someone had informed the Seleka that all those who lived on the east side of the village were Christian and those to the west were Muslim, so the Seleka were planning to move into the east and search for people even in the bush,” Fredd says. “We decided to walk under the cover of darkness through the bush to the west side of town.”

 

Fredd and his family continued to walk to the next village since they could hear heavy gunfire from behind them. Within the group, there were several children, including three babies all under five months old. “The older children, including my eight-year-old daughter, all walked, while we carried the smaller ones,” Fredd says.

 

After walking through the next day and night, they decided to stop for a half hour to rest. Fredd’s wife then caught a high fever and she couldn’t walk. “We wrapped her in thick cloth, but she was still trembling very hard and complaining of cold,” Fredd says. “We knew she had malaria.”

 

Fredd started to worry about what would happen to his wife if she died. Would he be able to bury her, or would he have to leave her body behind and follow the rest of the group? The group made a small fire and put her feet by it and prayed. After a couple of hours, Fredd’s wife felt better and she could walk again.

 

“This was a miracle for me,” Fredd says. “She had been treated with prayer and a small fire. We walked for 12 days and finally made it to the clinic. Had it not been for the Muslim man, I believe this story would be different. I might not be telling this story.”

 

The Seleka rebel group is a largely Muslim alliance that seized the capital in March 2013. The group is now referred to as ex-Seleka rebels because the alliance has officially, but not actively nor effectively, disbanded. A mostly-Christian alliance, known as the anti-Balaka, formed in response to the Seleka rebel group and has also played a large role in attacks in the country. While both of these groups tend to be labeled by their religious affiliation, the fighting in the Central African Republic is not bound by the lines of religious war. The conflict in the country is a result of political power and economic grievances. Fredd’s story illustrates the understanding that peace cannot be achieved alone—an inter-faith response is needed.

 

Lutheran Disaster Response – International is working with Lutheran World Federation and our companion church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic (EELRCA), to provide food assistance to IDPs in the CAR. We are also working with our companion church to play a role in peace-building and reconciliation between Muslim and Christian communities in the country.

 

Your gifts allow us to continue to address the needs of the most vulnerable and walk with our brothers and sisters toward peace.

Upstate New York Flooding- Lutheran Congregations Unite to Repair Church

Megan Brandsrud

​kitchen floor removal - POP volunteers

In June 2013, central New York was impacted by flooding. Trinity Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in Herkimer County, suffered severe damage. Through the efforts of Patsy Glista, the Lutheran Disaster Response Coordinator for Upstate New York, and several congregations from the Central Crossroads Conference of Upstate NY Synod, work has been well underway to clean out damage in Trinity and rebuild. Lutheran Disaster Response – U.S. invested in the recovery of this area by giving $25,000 for flood relief efforts.

Below, Pastor Ann Zimmerman shares updates on work being done at Trinity Lutheran Church and the story of other Lutheran congregations helping Trinity rebuild. Whenever Lutherans come together to respond in times of need, Lutheran Disaster Response is in action in its purest form.

“As I reflect on this last year, it has been challenging to say the least. Our village community of Herkimer was affected by localized creek flooding in June 2013. Never before had flood waters come down German St and engulf the church like an island. The water seeped into the foundation and an underground spring that was dormant for decades bubbled water for three weeks after the flooding ended. Our three Faith Formation rooms, nursery, fellowship hall, storage areas and kitchen were heavily damaged.

We knew that this would take some time to recover and rebuild. Calls were quickly made to Patsy Glista, Lutheran Disaster Response Coordinator for Upstate New York Synod and Jeff Spann, ELCA Building Consultant for their advice. Their prompt response started us on the road to recovery. Even though we never had standing water from prior heavy rains, we noted that there was water seeping behind the walls, causing mold and mildew in all of the ground level rooms. The sheetrock on all of the walls had to be cut up four feet on interior walls and six feet on exterior walls. The kitchen was gutted and appliances removed. The wooden flooring in the kitchen was removed, as well as the carpet in the fellowship hall. Next came the planning, visioning and rebuilding phase so Trinity could move “Forward in Faith.”

Initial cost estimates were more than $100,000, and our congregation, with a very small endowment fund and just meeting the mission needs of the budget, knew that this could be a time of trial and tribulation. Praise God from whom all blessings flow… just as the Good News of the Gospel is spread person to person, so was word of our flood issues. Other Lutheran and ecumenical congregations sent funds totaling more than $11,000. Our own congregation held a quick building fund match and raised more than $10,000 in two months. Donations from individuals who heard of our plight gave more than $8,000 from their abundance, and we received three grants totaling almost $5,000. We are well on our way to recovery.

God’s Work, Our Hands has a new meaning, as so many folks have rallied to help us in our time of need. Work teams from Lutheran churches in Clay, Liverpool, Syracuse, Utica and Clifton Park have come through our doors and many folks more than once. We still have a way to go, but we know that God is with us. We give thanks and are grateful to so many folks who share from the blessings God has given them.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you.  (Isaiah 43:2)  Thanks be to God!”

 

Rev. Ann Zimmerman

Trinity Lutheran Church

Winter Storm Atlas: A Rancher’s Perspective

Megan Brandsrud

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On Oct. 4, Winter Storm Atlas hit western South Dakota after days of temperatures in the 70s. The storm delivered freezing rain followed by up to four feet of snow accumulation. Although South Dakota is no stranger to winter weather, this storm was unexpected and out of character for the time of the year.

More than 22,000 homes and business were without power for several days. Ranchers in the region were particularly impacted by the storm, as they emerged from the storm to find many of their cattle had not survived.

The cattle had not yet grown their winter coats and ranchers didn’t have enough warning to be able to move their herds to protected winter pastures. The freezing rain, heavy snow and 70-mile-per-hour winds proved deadly for tens of thousands of cattle. In the fall, ranchers sell their calves to market. Many of the ranchers had not yet sold their calves when the storm hit. The calves are gone, and so are the cows that were pregnant with next year’s calves. It can take a rancher up to 20 years to fully develop his or her herd. Winter Storm Atlas caused ranchers to lose the cows they had been raising for many years, and they suffered a severe financial loss.

Working with Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, Lutheran Disaster Response – U. S. has committed $150,000 to assist in spiritual and emotional care for those impacted by Winter Storm Atlas, with a promise of more funds as needed. Thanks to your undesignated gifts, Lutheran Disaster Response – U.S. was able to respond when the need arose.

Several weeks have passed since Winter Storm Atlas hit western South Dakota. Below is a brief testimony and video from Janet Jorgensen, a rancher who was affected by the storm. Her story describes the impact of the storm and the generosity her community received afterward.

“People may wonder why this happened. No one will ever know the reason, but we must remember that God is in control and is our strength. The parishioners of Indian Creek Lutheran Church – Meadow, SD and the folks in “West River” South Dakota are the recipients of love in many forms, whether prayers, livestock or donations. People’s hearts are so generous. Indian Creek Lutheran Church is appreciative and is grateful to those who have given of themselves and their gifts.

This video was created to give the viewer insight to a ranch family’s life. The ranchers tend to their livestock to prevent illness and to provide good nutrition and shelter, which reflects good stewardship for  the land and animals. It is with hopes that my journal and photos plus Kelly Hayworth’s artistic gift will enhance the viewers’ understanding.

Although the Mega Blizzard caused a large loss, we need to keep the proper perspective. We lost no family member and that is what counts. God was a part of our lives and will continue to be.”