The situation in Puerto Rico has not improved. However, The Alliance is already taking practical steps to help those most severely affected. Two disaster coordinators from the Puerto Rico District are assembling a task force consisting of two pastors from each of Puerto Rico’s six regions to gain a better understanding of the extent of the damage and how to best respond.
Mike Sohm, president of CAMA Services, the Alliance’s relief and development arm, spoke with Javier Gómez, Puerto Rico District superintendent, who expressed his gratitude for the love and concern coming from churches. However, because of the difficulties associated with communications on the island, he has asked that at least for now, calls and emails from the U.S. be curtailed to better enable crucial communications within the island. Phone and Internet service on the island is hard to come by, and 90 percent of those with cell phones have no service.
Instead, Javier requests that inquiries and offers to help be e-mailed to cama@camaservices.org. CAMA will track calls and e-mails and summarize offers of help for the disaster coordinators.
“Please pray!” Mike urges. “When people on the island call or talk with Javier, they are crying, and all he can do is cry with them. Let’s weep with those who weep.”
Please pray for
- those who have suffered great loss and find themselves without adequate shelter or basic necessities;
- ongoing protection; potentially life-threatening rain and flooding is forecast for the island this weekend;
- wisdom for Javier and the Puerto Rican relief coordinators and pastors. They are struggling to know how to help because they are suffering alongside their congregants;
- communication to be restored. Only 20 of the 63 churches in Puerto Rico have been reached, and it is difficult to assess the damage as a result;
- Alliance churches on the island, as many have been badly hit. One was flooded with seven feet of water;
- God’s peace and hope to cover the nation as they grieve all that has been lost and destroyed.