CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response concluded its recovery work in Puerto Rico this month after Hurricane Georges struck the island in September 1998. Lutheran Disaster Response is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
More than 650 individuals went to Puerto Rico "in the service of the servant Christ," said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, an ELCA pastor and director for Lutheran Disaster Response.
"Numbers do not always tell the whole story, but there are numbers to share," Furst said. More than 20 major and extensive repairs were made to properties; more than 125 minor repairs were provided; and more than 2,000 homes and yards were cleared of debris, he reported.
"Food and medication, comfort and consultation, tears and laughter, compassion and love were all provided by the presence of Jesus' servants, Christian brothers and sisters who saw the need and came to be part of the Lutheran Disaster Response," said Furst.
A service was held at Iglesia Luterana Reconciliacion (Reconciliation Lutheran Church), Levittown, Puerto Rico, on Aug. 9. Furst said worship was designed to give thanks to God for the "giant steps taken toward recovery," and to give "thanks to all the brothers and sisters who helped make recovery possible."
In her sermon, the Rev. Graciela Rivera-Sanchez, Iglesia Luterana Reconciliacion, said, "We confess our faith through the creeds, but we also confess our faith through our actions. Jesus showed us the example of how a servant loves and how love serves. An authentic servant acts in extraordinary ways to the immediate need, but every act of service points back to the supreme act of service [from Jesus] on the cross."
Furst said worshipers delivered a strong "Gracias" ("Thank you") to God and to Lutheran Disaster Response volunteers.
"In these past eleven months, many prayers supported those affected by Hurricane Georges. Many donations supported the relief and recovery efforts of Lutheran Disaster Response," Furst said.
Lutheran Disaster Response provided more than $510,000 for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for recovery efforts and "preparedness" -- preventive care for future weather disasters, said Johanna Olsen, assistant for Lutheran Disaster Response.
Hurricane Georges tore across Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands before making its way through the rest of the Caribbean and to the Gulf Coast states. It was estimated that the hurricane caused more than $2 billion of damage.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
