March 7, 2003: The southern African nation of Mozambique has once again been inundated by flood waters and hurricane force winds. This week Cyclone Japhet, the second cyclone to hit Mozambique this year, caused extensive loss of homes, schools and other infrastructures in the southern province of Inhambane. Damage done in January by Cyclone Delfina to the northern part Mozambique is still being assessed. UMCOR has released a grant for immediate relief. We join Bishop João Somane Machado in asking for your donations to Advance #156500, Mozambique Emergency, so that we may engage in reconstruction as the flood waters recede.
Clean up and case management continue in Louisiana as a result of the devastation caused by Hurricane Lili and Tropical Storm Isidore last November. In this hardly-recognized disaster, response personnel continue to find the families who are devastated and provide them with help and support. Volunteers are still needed. Please give to Advance #901528-2 or call 1-866-870-1449 to volunteer.
On February 24, the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China was struck with an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale. More than 268 people were killed and more than 4,000 injured. Over 8,800 houses were flattened and more than 9,000 seriously damaged. Amity Foundation, an ecumenical partner with a long presence in China, is providing assistance to the relief and rehabilitation efforts. Your contributions to International Disaster Response Advance #982450 designated "China earthquake" will help fund their work. For example, one family-sized tent can be purchased for $266, a quilt for $10, a house for $726, a school for $12,099 and a water tower for $9680. Your generosity will be a gift of hope to townships whose average annual net income per capita is about $72.
UMCOR disaster response personnel conducted a basic response training in the California-Nevada Conference last week. Leaders and other volunteers were trained in how to prepare for and respond when a human-made or natural disaster occurs in their area. This training is available to all Annual Conferences in the United States.
Please remember our neighbors in Central America who are suffering from malnutrition and poverty as a result of weather conditions, coffee price fluctuations, and global economic trends. Your gifts of compassion to Central America Emergency Advance #501300-0 will provide immediate food supplies as well as seeds for self-sustaining food security.
Encourage your congregation to participate in the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering on March 30. Information and materials are available on UMCOR's OGHS website
UMCOR provides emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out more about UMCOR's ministries, please visit umcor.org. You can donate to any project by placing a contribution in the offering plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068; or by calling 1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted. UMCOR is exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States and qualifies for the maximum charitable contribution deduction by donors.
And, please pray for those who are hungry, displaced, sick or in poverty because of these and other natural and human-made disasters, and for the workers who minister to them.
