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March 16, 2004
Haiti: Report From the Field
"It is strange to come back to the United States and not find anything about Haiti on the news," Kristin Sachen remarked. UMCOR's head of emergency services returned from Haiti Monday March 15 following meetings with l'Eglise Metodiste leaders. Listening to battery-operated radios there, Ms. Sachen said she heard heavy news coverage of events in Port-au-Prince. She learned of a crackdown on gunmen firing on U.S. forces in the troubled capital and of ousted president Jean-Bertrand Aristide's return to the Caribbean.
The purpose of her visit was to express solidarity with the Haitian people. Church leaders with whom she met emphasized the role of the church in education and health in a country that ranks 153rd of 173 in quality of life. The only hope for creation of a civil society in Haiti is to educate future generations, they told Ms. Sachen. The leaders prioritized three projects as critical to Haiti's longterm recovery from the present crisis. For one project they estimate that 1,200 families will be unable to afford their children's school fees--a tariff of $250 each--as a result of the crisis. A second emphasis will support health care for Haitians who live in rural areas far from access to medical treatment. A third project will train pastors and church leaders in spiritual care during this time of trauma. Cash rather than material goods can be used most effectively to assist the most vulnerable Haitians, the leaders pointed out. Food and supplies not only endanger persons who have them but also are liable to be stolen or misdirected. Please stand with Haiti by making a generous gift to UMCOR Advance #418325, Haiti Civil Emergency.
United States: Texas, Oklahoma in Storm's Swath
Flood and wind damage are the reminders of early March storms in Texas
and Oklahoma. High winds and tornadoes overturned mobile homes, ripped
off roofs and snarled traffic in a wide area. One Oklahoma town flooded
so rapidly that rescue workers had to deploy boats to assist residents.
When storms like these leave their marks, your generous donations to
UMCOR Advance #901670, Domestic Disaster Response, will assure that UMCOR
will be ready to assist with recovery efforts.
Madrid: Joined in Grief and Prayers
The head of the Evangelical Church of Spain has called for renewed commitment to peace in the wake of terrorist bombings of trains in Madrid on March 11. The Rev. Joel Cortes Casals expressed "absolute rejection to this inhumane act of blind violence." He stressed that peace is a "daily task [to be] present in all our relationships."
That day, the son of United Methodist missionaries Mark and Diane Abbott narrowly escaped harm while commuting to school. Chris Abbott safely evacuated a train traveling in the opposite direction of one that was bombed. "God sent an angel," wrote his father. "A man who rides the same train every day came up to Chris and gave him a mobile phone to call home." All the Abbotts request United Methodists to pray for persons killed and injured, and their families, as well as for "those behind this inhumane terror."
UMCOR's staff join in expressing sympathy, love and solidarity with the people of Spain at this time.
UMCOR Benefits from One Great Hour of Sharing Offering
Works of recovery and life-changing ministry don't happen without the broad support of congregations and individuals. This coming Sunday, the One Great Hour of Sharing offering ensures that when catastrophes cause suffering, United Methodists will be in the lead to ease the pain. Donations help to underwrite the administrative costs of UMCOR. That means the United Methodist humanitarian aid agency can continue to deliver resources enabling the transformation of entire communities. If your church hasn't ordered its One Great Hour bulletin inserts and offering envelopes, posters and worship resources, please call toll free 1-888-862-3242 today. The offering may also be received on any other Sunday during the year.
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.
