Menu

Puerto Rico FORO: Earthquake Update

View this email in your browser

Earthquake Update

Donate to the FORO

From Ponce

James Neuendorf sent the following series of WhatsApp messages yesterday, which Charles St-Onge is transcribing excerpts of below:

“Connected with emergency personnel / first responders, prayed with them, sent to refugee camp they were setting up. Christel and I loaded up what we had for supplies and went to the parking lot of a stadium, situation was bad, especially for the elderly, we had several contacts and quickly found ourselves as the main volunteers, built very strong links with the municipal team. More and more people arrived at the camp and we set up an impromptu VBS for the kids, and we each made counseling visits to several people, many lost everything, got some names and addresses for follow up if we get the funds. The community leaders asked me to lead prayer for the entire refugee group, we did and I gave a message, I think it got on TV. Some pretty intense stuff at the new location, we helped in a variety of ways with the municipality people, then I met the mayor who was extremely grateful. We were the ONLY church involved believe it or not. Situation in this camp is going to be bad.The Mayaguez guys showed up and we worked to deliver things to the most vulnerable, the elderly etc. Then the mayor of San Juan showed up and we had brought just as much as them! We prayed with lots of people and talked till hoarse and my feet are killing me. Then I made some rounds. We unloaded extras to our garage for tomorrow, not knowing what is next.”

Next Steps

Pastor St-Onge, Pastor Ted Krey our Regional Director, and Pastor James Sharp (another area facilitator) will be on the ground in Puerto Rico Thursday. Rev. Dr. Ross Johnson, our head of Disaster Response, will be there as well. They will be working alongside the entire team that is, as you can see, already bringing the comfort of the Gospel of Christ as well as material help to those most impacted in the Ponce area.

What a blessing that, thanks to all of your support, we have a team present in Ponce and a Disaster Response center there as well. The Lord has prepared a great group of people who, within hours of the earthquake, sprang into action.

At the same time, the DiLiberto family is dealing with illness in their family. Their youngest child, Lucas, is in the hospital, and the team has also been surrounding them with prayer and support. James Sharp’s wife Angie will be joining us to provide an extra set of helping hands.

We will do our best to keep everyone updated. Pastor St-Onge will provide pictures and further updates next week when he returns from the island. In the meantime, we covet your prayers: especially that the team not lose heart as they engage in the work the Lord Jesus has set before them, that all who are traveling be kept safe, and that this disaster not be worse than what has already come to pass.

 

Spring Meeting
March 13-15, 2020
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico

Fall Meeting
October 8-9, 2020
Orlando, Florida

Copyright © 2020 Puerto Rico Foro, all rights reserved.

You are receiving this because you are a valued part of the Foro for Puerto Rico, coordinated by The LCMS Latin America and the Caribbean Region.

Our mailing address is:
Iglesia Luterana Príncipe de Paz
Buzón 409 Bo. Rio Hondo
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico 00680

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp