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Methodists respond to disasters in Mexico, Central America

Nov. 15, 2005

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org.

By United Methodist News Service*

United Methodists are helping provide relief to hurricane-stricken areas
of Central America and Mexico.

At the beginning of October, Hurricane Stan caused flooding and
landslides in Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. In
Guatemala alone, more than 1,500 people were dead or missing, and dozens
of deaths were reported in the other four countries. The disaster also
killed cattle and destroyed houses, roads and cultivated areas.

"Conscious of the situation in the affected areas of Chiapas, the
Methodist Church of Mexico has opened its doors in many parts of the
Federal District as storehouse centers," said Bishop Moisés
Valderrama, with the Methodist Church of Mexico. "These centers are
receiving donations."

The United Methodist Committee on Relief is helping the affected people
through the Native Ecological Federation of Chiapas. The flood ruined
the coffee crops, and UMCOR is working to reach the area with help.

In Guatemala, UMCOR has started a relief program in the disaster areas
and is determining the best way to provide long-term help. United
Methodist missionary Eunice Arias is working on site to evaluate the
situation.

"The feelings of vulnerability, pain and fear overwhelm the people of
Guatemala at this moment," said Arias, with the United Methodist Board
of Global Ministries. "The storm brought flooding, landslides and
destruction to entire neighborhoods cutting roads and bridges. The
cities haven't been immune to the lack of electricity, water and
communications.

"The people of the National Evangelical Methodist Church of
Quetzaltenango have joined the community relief work and are looking for
ways to provide housing," she said.

El Salvador was not only struck by Hurricane Stan but also by the Oct. 1
eruption of the Lamatepec (Father Hill) volcano, which had been dormant
since 1904. The Lamatepec is the highest point in the country at 7,804
feet above sea level. The eruption killed at least two people and forced
thousands of people to evacuate the zone. The ashes destroyed the coffee
plantations.

"The volcano from Santa Ana, in the western part of the country, had a
violent eruption, throwing ashes and incandescent rocks, which provoked
the destruction of property and people in Ahuachapán, Santa Ana and
Sonsonete," said the Rev. Juan de Dios, a pastor in El Salvador.
"Houses, streets, trees, vehicles - everything was covered with ashes.

"Many volunteers from the Methodist Church have reacted immediately to
the emergency," he said. "We went to the disaster area to help evacuate
people to refugee sites, (such) as churches, schools, and stadiums.
People are in need of food, water, clothes and medicines. The Methodist
Clinic in Ahuachapán has been treating respiratory problems and skin
burns.

"We give thanks to God because we have experienced the unity of the
people of God and the love of Christ in so many volunteers that are
providing humanitarian aid with the Methodist Church of El Salvador," he
said.

In El Salvador UMCOR is working with the Methodist Church of El Salvador
and Action by Churches Together, the relief and development arm of the
World Council of Churches. The United Methodist relief agency has
provided grants for relief work in El Salvador, and Volunteers in
Mission teams are also working on the recovery.

Contributions can be designated for "UMCOR Advance #501300, Central
America Emergency," and sent to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY
10087-9068. Donations also can be made by calling (800) 554-8583 or by
going online to www.methodistrelief.org.

*This report was compiled by Humberto Casanova, associate editor of El
Interprete magazine at United Methodist Communications.

News media contact: Amanda Bachus, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5113;
Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759; or newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org

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