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Lutheran Disaster Response

Situation Report: Haiti Earthquake

 

Be a part of the response:

Pray
Please pray for people who have been affected by the earthquake in Haiti. May God’s healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need.

Give
Thanks to generous donations, Lutheran Disaster Response is able to respond quickly and effectively to disasters around the globe. Your gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response (Haiti Crisis) will be used in full (100%) to assist survivors in Haiti until the response is complete.

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, follow @ELCALDR on Twitter, and follow @ELCA_LDR on Instagram.
  • Download the situation report and share as a PDF.

A Letter of Solidarity from Brazil

In the spirit of accompaniment,  ELCA companion church Igreja Evangélica de Confissão Luterana no Brasil (IECLB) sent a gift to Lutheran Disaster Response to support our response to the winter storms in Texas. The following excerpt is from a letter written by Mauro B. de Souza, the vice president of IECLB to Gustavo Driau, an ELCA regional representative for Latin America and the Caribbean. We are grateful for the generosity and companionship of IECLB. 


Dear Gustavo,

We believe the world is turning dark and cold every day. Darkness and cold are brought not only by climate change or the COVID-19 pandemic, but mostly by oppressive systems that make people believe individualism, selfishness, and hatred are the best ways to solve problems. The Church of Jesus Christ does NOT buy into that. Instead, we believe solidarity, communion, and togetherness should be our only possible response. That is what we have been witnessing in the work of the ELCA and its working units around the world.

Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Following Jesus brings the possibility, the invitation, and the opportunity to be light. At the IECLB, we want to be the light in whatever we do. Of course, we fail more often than not. But we keep on trying.

We many know what it know it means to have no access to running water in Brazil. But it is hard for us to imagine what it means to have frozen water pipes. We just cannot imagine people dying from cold.

The resources we send are accompanied by our prayers. We hope people in need and suffering may feel a little warmer. We hope they know they are not alone.

As a partner of the ELCA, the IECLB has many times over been blessed by all kinds of resources. Right now, we feel we can offer this support. Like other Latin American churches, we want to be seen as small candle lights, shining and pointing to Jesus Christ.

Long story to say: May God bless your work and help the people in need in the cold of Texas. May God strengthen us all so that hearts get warmer and warmer, all over the world.

Sincerely, in the name of the Presidency of the IECLB,

P. Dr. Mauro B. de Souza, Vice-President

 

Situation Report: Central America Hurricanes

Be a part of the response:

Pray
Please pray for people who have been affected by the hurricanes in Central America. May God’s healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need.

Give
Thanks to generous donations, Lutheran Disaster Response is able to respond quickly and effectively to disasters around the globe. Your gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response (Hurricane Response) will be used where they are most needed.

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, follow @ELCALDR on Twitter, and follow @ELCA_LDR on Instagram.
  • Download the situation report and share as a PDF.

Situation Report: Hurricane Eta

 

Be a part of the response:

Pray
Please pray for people who have been affected by Hurricane Eta. May God’s healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need.

Give
Thanks to generous donations, Lutheran Disaster Response is able to respond quickly and effectively to disasters around the globe. Your gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response (General Fund) will be used where they are most needed.

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, follow @ELCALDR on Twitter, and follow @ELCA_LDR on Instagram.
  • Download the situation report and share as a PDF.

Long Road Ahead: Response to the Executive Orders

In a host community in Jordan, a delegation of Global Mission staff met Jasmine,* a widowed woman from Syria. She, like many others, fled to Jordan for safety with her sisters and her two young children. She had been offered the opportunity to be resettled in the U.S. “I denied the offer,” she told us through an interpreter. “I thought I’d be back home [in Syria] by now.” As time passed, and the conflict continued, she realized that she may not be going home anytime soon and that she wishes she had taken the offer.

Late January, President Trump signed a series of executive orders that would hinder/halt immigration and migration to the United States. The order that garnered the most media attention essentially banned all refugees from anywhere in the world for a period of 120 days and included a ban for anyone from 7 countries where the primary religion is Islam – Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, Iraq, and Sudan.

With the signing of the Executive order, refugees, like Jasmine, are feeling less hopeful for new opportunities. Rachel Luce, Country Director for Lutheran World Federation-Jordan – Our partner for work in the camp and host communities in Jordan – told us that there has been a “palpable sadness” in the region. “They [Syrian Refugees] already felt like no one cared about them,” she said. “But this blatant law against them has made them feel unwanted and further depressed.”

The ELCA responded to the Executive Order through blog posts, action alerts, social media, video, and a statement from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, taking a firm stand in opposition of the string of Orders that would stop or greatly reduce the efforts of asylum-seekers, refugees, etc. In her statement, Bishop Eaton said, “I agree with the importance of keeping our country secure as the administration stated in its executive order last Friday, but I am convinced that temporarily banning vulnerable refugees will not enhance our safety nor does it reflect our values as Christians.”

Matthew 25 says, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” The ELCA is committed to continued work with the most vulnerable.

Domestically, through congregations, partners such as Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services and Church World Services, along with several Lutheran social ministry organizations, the ELCA is committed to refugee resettlement in the United States.

Internationally, the ELCA continues to support internally displaced persons (IDPs), migrants and refugees through the accompaniment of companion churches and partner organizations in Europe and the Middle East, and migrant children and families from Central America and Mexico through the AMMPARO strategy that was approved through Churchwide Assembly last summer.

We have a long road ahead but Lutheran Disaster Response remains committed to bringing God’s hope, healing and renewal to people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters in the United States and around the world. We ask that you continue to walk with us as we continue to stand with displaced persons and work through the long-term effects of the Executive Actions. We also ask that you keep watch for advocacy, giving, and volunteer opportunities as they come and keep all of those working with and for refugees in both the domestic and global contexts in your prayers.

*Name has been changed to protect the privacy of the person quoted.


Be a part of the response:

Pray

Please pray for all those affected by the refugee crisis. Remember those who have lost everything and all those who are working to respond. You can use these prayers and resources in your worship services.

Give

Your gifts are needed now to help with immediate relief. Gifts designated for the Middle East and Europe Refugee Crisis and AMMPARO will be used in full (100 percent) to assist those directly impacted and have fled for safety.

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.

For More Information

 

Hurricane Sandy: One Year Later

nj damage clean up - hurricane sandyOne year ago, Hurricane Sandy swept through the Caribbean and northeastern United States, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. The areas were impacted with widespread flooding and fallen trees, which damaged and destroyed homes and businesses. Areas were without power and heat for several weeks. Water supplies were contaminated and the number of outbreaks of cholera increased.

People like you quickly responded with prayers and financial support to help the church assist our brothers and sisters through their recovery and rebuilding. Through your generous gifts, Lutheran Disaster Response raised more than $4 million to assist with Hurricane Sandy recovery. And because we are a trusted partner, the American Red Cross granted us $1.9 million to support our commitment to assist the millions of people affected by Hurricane Sandy. This grant has enabled us to expand our response efforts.

Working with our partners in the U.S. and in the Caribbean, we have played an active role in the recovery process.

Maryland – Working with Diakon Social Ministries, we have served 81 households, rehabbed 52 homes, helped in the construction of two homes, and have begun construction of six other homes in Maryland. Disaster case managers are matching client needs for counseling, health issues or food support. More than 130 volunteers have given their time and energy to help this community rebuild.

New Jersey – Partnering with Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey(LSM/NJ), we have provided more than 30 unmet-needs grants to help families cover hurricane-related expenses not covered by FEMA or insurance, such as rental assistance and repair costs. A volunteer hosting site at Reformation Lutheran Church, in partnership with Long Branch Covenant Church, has housed more than 125 volunteers, culminating in more than 896 volunteer hours for site support. We also helped bring Camp Noah to New Jersey – a fun and safe environment that has helped more than 90 children heal after Hurricane Sandy.

New York – With Lutheran Social Services of New York, Lutheran Disaster Response is providing case management for more than 260 families to assist them with unmet needs. We’ve also provided lodging for more than 60 volunteers, culminating in more than 1,400 hours of rebuilding in Queens, N.Y.

Cuba – Working with the Cuban Council of Churches, a partnership of 20 Protestant churches, Lutheran Disaster Response provided food security, water, shelter, roof reconstruction and livelihood restoration to more than 1,000 families.

Haiti –In collaboration with The Lutheran World Federation and the Lutheran Church in Haiti, Lutheran Disaster Response worked to drain excess water to help reduce the risk of cholera outbreaks following the hurricane.

Recovery from disaster carries on long after the headlines change, and so does our work. In New York, New Jersey and Maryland, we continue to provide volunteer coordination, home reconstruction management and disaster case managers, who advocate for individual families’ needs.

Please continue to pray for the people and communities affected by Hurricane Sandy as they continue to restore their homes, lives and hope.