The following testimonials are from people working within the Lutheran church in Nicaragua, ILFE [Iglesia Luterana Fe y Esperanza], after their attempt to bring aid to Aquespalapa, a community affected by severe flooding in their region. May God’s hands continue to hold them in their time of need and may our prayers sustain them in their good work.

“I could see in the journey to Aquespalapa a lot of water, flooding, and that everything in the fields was dead. I saw cattle that were trying to eat the last of what was in the pastures; there was the Estero Real River which had overflowed its borders and flooded the community. We also encountered many people in the area fishing, I imagine that they had probably nothing to eat and were looking to other resources. We finally arrived to the main entrance to the community; we could not advance any further because the water covered the road, created deep holes, and was also in all the houses. It was very sad that we could not enter and help our brothers since they had called us from within the community to ask for our help. We have hope in God that the water ceases and allows us to enter into the community the next trip we make so that we can help our brothers.”

“I started the day with a lot of hope and this hope continues for our brothers in the communities. However my hope does not change the fact that we could not enter into the communities of Aquespalapa and Jicote. We saw many signs of the disaster in our excursion to the communities; flooded fields and houses, destroyed highways, and lost crops. All of these we saw before we even made it to the community. At the entrance to the community we had to stop because the road was underneath water. We saw a tractor pass into the community but it was not possible in our pick-up truck. We were so close but we could not bring the help, the food, nor the hope that we had brought with us to give to our brothers. For me, this was the most difficult; to be so close, but without the power to do anything. However I know that our brothers need and will continue needing our help and the Nicaraguan Church of “Fe y Esperanza” will be present with the helping hand of God for our companions in Christ!”

“My years are already many with my work experience within ILFE and there have been many humanitarian aid activities in which I have participated, however that does not mean I am not impacted of how once again a natural phenomenon can cause such a large disaster and affect the poorest people. Before my visit to Chinandega, I did not believe that the damage was that great because in the city, where I live, even though the rains have been strong, you do not see many effects. I went with much enthusiasm and love to take this small packet of food, but more importantly, to take the word of God and give all the people who are suffering a message of hope. I am full of great sadness that we could not make it to the community because the road was flooded and the current threatened to take our car. The team made the painful decision to not risk it and instead return to Managua until the water subsides so that we can try again to enter the community. I took a camera and tried to capture what most impacted me and now I share that with you all.”

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Due to heavy rains over the past week countries from southern Mexico to Costa Rica have been flooded. The hardest hit countries have been Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. Of greatest concern at this point are safety and access. With so much rain many have had to leave there homes, upwards of 700,000, yet with flooded roads being impassible there is little access to movement. This has made getting aid to people a major concern. And throughout the region there are many areas prone to mudslides, which have already led to over 90 deaths. Another concern is that crops that are just getting ready to be harvested will be lost in the flooding. This will lead to a double tragedy with an immediate food shortage and a lack of seed for next year’s crop.

The ELCA, through its Internatial Disaster Program, is staying in contact with our companion churches in the region and the Lutheran World Federation to assess the situation and possible responses. The ELCA already has funds positioned in Guatemala(~$20,000) and has released funds for Nicaragua ($3,153) that will be used to help meet the immediate needs of the region. As the situation develops we will be posting information on the ELCA Disaster webpage and here on the blog.

For an initial report from the region, see the ACT article by Thomas Ekelund Central America: death toll from torrential rains rises.

Natalie Dale, of Christian Aid, recently blogged about a day she spent at the registration center of the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya. The center is the initial point of entry for new refugees and so is their first encounter with the camp. Dale followed one individual through the process and shares some of her experiences and thoughts of the day.

She also has some great things to say about the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and their managing of the camp, particularly about LWF’s ability to manage all the different aid groups that are working in the camp.

Check out her post: Aid Worker Diaries – Registering refugees in the camps

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Japan Lutheran Emergency Relief (JLER), which was formed by the Lutheran churches in Japan following the tsunami and earthquake, has been taking a lead role in responding to the continued work of clean-up and restoration within the hardest hit areas of Japan. This second newsletter from earlier this month gives an update to their work. I would especially recommend the first two articles. the first one gives an overview of the first phases of response and the second a field report from Fumitaka Sato.

The point that stuck with me from the field report were that besides decreased populations in hard hit areas, cities were also dealing with the issue of shifting demographics as younger people choose to leave and older adults, to stay. It was an issue I had not heard before and one I hadn’t thought about and gave me pause.

So give it a read and let us know what you think. And please continue to keep the people of Japan and those working on their behalf in your prayers.

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It is hard for me to write about the six month anniversary of the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami without naming that it actually falls on the same day as the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. I spent the past week feeling a strange tension as my personal life was flooded with conversations and media portrayals of the past ten years here at home and my professional life called for a reflection on the past six months halfway round the world. Two pieces that stuck out to me during this time were the Church World Service’s Japan Situation Report and Rev. Kevin Massey’s Disaster Response blog “Field Report: New Jersey and New York City“. I figured the best way to be honest to myself and get the message across was to talk about how these two documents have fit together in my head.

The CWS Situation Report gives a good update on the continuing work going on in Japan and the fact that the need will continue to be there into the foreseeable future. The major areas of work are around providing shelter, food, pest control, psycho trauma care and debris/home clean up. To date the ELCA has committed $975,000 to this appeal and continues to be present with and through our companions and partners. This report reminded me of the church’s commitment and calling to be present with people in their moments of need and how the gifts of our members can have such a powerful impact in places few of us have heard of, let alone been to.

In Rev. Massey’s (Director for Lutheran Disaster Response) post, I heard of how disaster affects us, not just in the destruction it brings physically but for the gap it can leave spiritually and emotionally. Even ten years later, the disaster and tragedy of 9/11 still casts a shadow across many hearts. Yet, through our communal rememberance of the tragedy there is the chance for solidarity and unity, for pain to be released.

And through both documents I saw how the church is present in disaster. Whether it happened at home or halfway round the world. Whether it happened yesterday, six months ago or ten years ago. The church is present to help in the naming of Christ present in tragedy through word and deed. So as we look back on the past six months of work in Japan, and the past ten years here in the United States, let us thank God for sustaining strength, continued resolve and the space for healing.

One aspect of the ELCA’s unique position within disaster response is the breadth and depth of our direct relationships. With approximately 240 missionaries in 48 countries and 120 companion synod relationships between ELCA synods and other global Lutheran churches, our response to disaster is also a response to the needs of our brothers and sisters. So when we started to hear that the drought in the Horn of Africa might be spreading to Tanzania we turned to this network to learn more.

From the ELCA Regional Representative for Tanzania and Madagascar Barbara Hinderlie (barbara.hinderlie@elca.org) we have been learning of the growing need in Tanzania. She shared that approximately 1.8 million people are affected by drought over three districts, and that the Tanzanian government is assessing the situation with a report expected in mid-September. This report could then open the way for aid organizations like the ACT Alliance, of which the ELCA is a member, to begin responding.

Through a conference call in which 7 ELCA synods in companion relationships with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania participated (Delaware-Maryland Synod, Greater Milwaukee Synod, Northern Great Lakes Synod, South Carolina Synod, Southeast Michigan Synod, Southeastern Pennsylvania, Western Iowa Synod), we heard of how these synods have been in direct contact with their companions as the situation has developed. They shared their companions’ concerns of failed crops not harvested, growing inflation of food prices and the particular concern of mandatory energy rationing. Some Tanzanian dioceses were reporting only 1-2 hours of electricity a day. The reason for this is that much of the energy in Tanzania comes from hydroelectric plants, but with lower water levels these plants have not been able to produce enough energy for the country.

As this situation evolves and we learn more, we will continue share the message of our partners overseas and at home. We give thanks for the work of our ELCA missionaries and synods as they continue to live out their relationships with our companions. Please keep them and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania in prayer, that these relationships may remain strong and the lines of communication open. So as need becomes known we can respond quickly and appropriately, strengthened by a spirit of mutual understanding and accompaniment.

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