October 2017
Hurricanes Irma and Harvey left behind over $150 billion in damages this September and were quickly followed by Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico. When looking at the devastation facing questions of where to start and how, like Peter walking on water, it is easy to be overwhelmed. Our answers and peace come by lifting our eyes to the Lord; we start where God opens the doors.
Individuals, church congregations, and school families across the Northern Illinois District and throughout Synod have done just that, serving compassionately as the hands, hearts, mouths, and ears of Jesus while bringing aid to those affected by the hurricanes.
Every type of ministry has a vital base block: prayer. The same is true with this year’s hurricane relief. Whether in the quiet stillness of individual hearts or in community at an organized time, like Immanuel, Palatine’s observance of the September 3rd National Day of Prayer and Immanuel, Downers Grove’s Heart for Houston Benefit Concert, people were mobilized and peace entered hearts thanks to God and the power of prayer.
Harvey made landfall around Corpus Christi, Texas the night of August 25 and dropped over 49 inches of rain on Houston in the following days. One week later, Irma made landfall in the lower Florida Keys, quickly moving its way north. Two weeks later, Maria ravaged Puerto Rico. Congregations and individuals from the District did not hesitate to offer aid through Lutheran Church Charities (LCC), LCMS District Disaster Response Coordinators (DDRC), and Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT).
124 LCMS congregations in Texas were impacted. In Florida, approximately 16 million people lost power. The entire island of Puerto Rico lost electricity, water, cell service, and consequently, regular access to food. Areas hit by the eye of one of the hurricanes were largely in need of debris and tree removal, LERT chainsaw crews from congregations including Trinity, Lisle and Lord of Life, LaFox were there to help. Flooded areas were and are in need of muck and gut crews, District members were there to help. Further than physical need, many found themselves simply in need of comfort, LCC K9 Comfort Dogs Angel and Tobias were there to help with their handlers, Kristen Stapleton of St. John’s, La Grange and Jenni Hoffmeyer of Lord of Glory, Grayslake.
As of October 1, LCC had not been able to get into Puerto Rico. However, they were able to work with David Blas, a Puerto Rican vicar serving in Sheboygan, Wisconsin who did a DR LERT Training in January of 2014. LCC was able to send money to his mother in order than she might be able to care for her and her neighbors’ needs. In 2014, God opened a door for service that we did not know about until now, almost four years later.
On a local level, school families have jumped in to serve, showing that people of all ages are able to offer aid. Three Immanuel Lutheran School, Batavia 8th graders planned, baked, organized, and ran their own bake sale during lunch hours at school, raising $600 to help animals affected by Hurricane Harvey. Many schools, including Concordia University Chicago, joined in LCC’s Care Cards ministry, which provides gift cards and letters of hope, comfort, and encouragement to those affected by these major disasters. If you are seeking to aid a school in Florida or Houston with your local Lutheran School, please visit schooltoschool.lcms.org.
It has been repeated that disaster recovery is a marathon, not a sprint. As headlines from major publications arrive with less frequency, Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, areas on the east coast, and individuals on other Caribbean islands will continue to need our prayer and support. As a District, let’s continue to pray for our brothers and sisters.
Lutheran Church Charities continues working with LCMS DDRC’s in Texas and Florida and District LERT members to coordinate relief efforts to communities still struggling with recovery following major hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Donations can be made here. All donations are $1 in, $1 out; 100% of your donation goes to the cause. If you are interested in becoming LERT certified, please visit the LCC website.
Finally, remember the words of Manfred Cholodewitsch of Good Shepherd, Elgin who told LCC of his experiences serving in Texas, saying, “talking with the people and what they are going through, it is just wonderful to see God in His glory, allowing me to partake of His love. Not a thing in this world can compare. We are all blessed.” Let us not merely hear the Word, but be doers of it also; “we are all blessed.”