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Dear Friends,
These past weeks have been filled with such devastating news as people have weathered one disaster or life-changing crisis after another. These things are coming so fast, that it is difficult to know where to go, how to sort out the information, or what to do.
In this lengthy newsletter, I am sharing information about several of the events that have happened and where you may go if you wish to respond. First, I am asking that your first response is to be in prayer: for people, for upside down moments, for chaos, for loss of home, for waters that pummel everything. Be in prayer asking for God’s mercy and comfort in the hearts of all of his children who are facing catastrophic events.
In my prayers these past days, I was reminded of a song that Maureen Griepentrop and Gretchen Michaels (St. Paul’s, Glen Burnie MD) wrote titled:
Lord, You’re My Anchor.
The waves may rise up, The rains may pour,
The thunder echoes at heaven’s door.
Through clouds as dark as night I can endure.
Lord, You’re my Anchor, Firm and secure.
Lord, You’re my Anchor, Holding me fast.
Weather threatens, but it won’t last.
So when the storms of life Do what they will,
Lord, You’re my Anchor, Holding me still.
It is true that in the midst of all that is happening, our Lord Jesus is the constant. He is the anchor keeping us close to Him – always. We pray that in these moments, people will hold tight to His promises and that those who do not yet know Him will experience His love for them. May the Holy Spirit move us to fervent prayer for others and to find opportunities to serve.
An Important Readiness Note:
As Hurricane Ida makes her way through the Southeastern District, we have response teams and individuals who are ready to assist. Please let us know how we may serve you. We have trained and well-equipped chain saw teams, there are folks in our District who know how to help clean out flooded homes, and there are folks who know how to hold hands and bring the comforting words of the Gospel. Please let us know. We are standing together in prayer for the safety and well-being of all.
Contact Sally Hiller: sjhiller@se.lcms.org or call: 800-637-5723, Ext. 204
If you would like to help, also contact Sally. Include your name, contact information, and how you are able to assist: tree removal, tarping, mucking (cleaning homes), gathering supplies. These are the first actions needed. In addition, gift cards are always welcomed. LCMS Disaster Response shares that $100 gift cards to WalMart, Target, Lowes, Home Depot, are especially helpful. You will see that gift cards are noted as ways to support response in the Disaster Responses that follow.
Haiti:
Just days after a devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake, Tropical Storm Grace pummeled families desperately trying to survive. Now, the threat of COVID-19, cholera and other infectious diseases loom large as we work to reach families in need. Lutheran World Relief is active in Disaster Response to Haiti. You can give a gift to help at: https://donate.lwr.org/give/352921/#!/donation/checkout?utm_source=activecampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=enews_08.26.21_nonFNpreheader&utm_campaign=haiti21&c_src=eNews_08.26.21&c_src2=nonFNpreheader
LCMS Disaster Response is also on site in Haiti assessing needs. You may support recovery work through LCMS Disaster Response at: https://www.lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy/disaster-response
Tropical Storm Fred: Areas in Western North Carolina experienced severe flooding. Camp Linn Haven was featured in a news story about the flooding. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2021/08/20/camp-linn-haven-bridge-went-underwater-during-storms#
Rev. Eric Hollar, Bethel Lutheran - Claremont NC, is organizing a team to go and help NC Baptists on Mission with a mixture of debris, muck out, and chainsaw work. There is space to stay at Crestview Baptist Church in Canton, NC. Information and forms for this are on the SED website.
Hurricane Ida:
The news about the devastation that Ida has already wrought is unbelievable. Our hearts go out to all who have felt her impact and we know that recovery will take many years. One way your congregation can help is to take an offering for gift cards or contributions, to be mailed to the SED District Office, note "IDA Relief", through the Donate Now button below, or directly to the Southern District: http://www.southernlcms.org/disaster-response/
Afghanistan Resettlement:
Lutheran Social Services of the Washington Capital Area is working to resettle 800 Afghan Allies. Not far from the District Office and Washington DC, refugees have been housed at the Dulles Expo Center, while they wait to resettle. A gift to LSS provides for transportation, temporary housing, and other immediate needs upon arrival. You may contribute at: https://lssnca.org/take_action/donate-afghan-allies.html
If you are interested in volunteering, or in receiving information about how to volunteer, more information can be found on the SED website.
Our friends at LIRS (Lutheran Immigration Refugee Services) are working hard to welcome nearly 50,000 of the evacuees. They share that “unlike the refugees we typically serve, many of the evacuees will enter the U.S. under humanitarian parole, which is a status that limits public benefits or services funded by the federal government after 90 days. Thankfully, the 'Long Welcome' is possible, a mosaic of support that will serve a refugee not just for 30 or 90 days, but for the long haul, making sure families have the resources to live in safety and freedom.” If you are interested in learning more about what LIRS is doing, contact them at www.lirs.org/helpnow for updates and ways you can continue to help.
Seminary of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church
Mekane Yesus, Addis Ababa:
The Seminary sits on the bank of a river that grew six feet in three minutes without warning; students and faculty did not have time to get out. Those that survived did so by climbing on the roofs of buildings that were severely damaged in the devastating floods, in which 8 people died. Additionally, the offices of the Lutheran Hour Ministries - Ethiopia were destroyed, while LCMS Missionaries Rev. Eric and Johanna Stinnett and Rev. Dr. Mark Rabe lost their homes.
To make a contribution to Mekane Yesus Seminary to help support staff and to rebuild, go to the sed website: donate now
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