FIRES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Four major fires in Southern California have burned several thousand acres and are still only partially contained. At least 160,000 people have been evacuated so far, including several families from Disciples churches. Disciples in the area have reported terrible air quality, and some have confirmed damage at their homes.
Week of Compassion has begun processing solidarity grants for affected Disciples, and we will continue to be in contact with local churches and partners and will provide relief as needed. Please continue to keep all evacuees, first responders, firefighters and all who are affected by this fire in your prayers in the days and weeks ahead.
PUERTO RICO
Last week, several denominational staff members visited Puerto Rico. We gathered for the Joint Commission--a meeting of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the US and Canada and the Iglesia Cristiana (Discípulos de Cristo) en Puerto Rico. We were there to visit with our brothers and sisters, to prepare for long-term recovery, and to bear witness to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria. It was striking to look out over the hills and see new leaves sprouting on trees that two months ago were stripped bare. Trees, clearly battered by the fierce winds of the storm, are beginning to show signs of new life.
Ceiba tree at the Seminario Evangelico de Puerto Rico. Photo: Week of Compassion
Ceiba tree at the Seminario Evangelico de Puerto Rico. Photo: Week of Compassion
One such tree is at the center of campus at the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico, one of our partners through Global Ministries. The campus was inaccessible after the storm because of the many downed trees. Even still, the trunks and limbs of the trees border the drive, and piles of trimmings fill the lawn. Most of the trees on campus were severely damaged, but still standing in the center is a large Ceiba tree, beloved by the seminary community. In Mayan cultures, the Ceiba is a symbol of wisdom, discernment, universality, and the connection between heaven and earth. “See there are leaves,” said an alumnus, “and that is a hopeful thing.”
Yet, below the new canopy of bright green across the island, are signs of destruction.
Generators continue to fill the air with constant noise and exhaust from their engines, since more than half of residents still do not have reliable access to electricity. Power lines slump along the sides of the roads, in front of shops still boarded up. Hillsides show raw earth, marking the paths of landslides, a danger renewed with each rainfall. People wait in hour-long lines for 2 bags of ice. Among the rooftops are blue tarps and mangled tin and exposed rafters.
Damaged rooftops in Las Piedras, Puerto Rico. Photo: Week of Compassion
The damage was evident in every community, and recovery will undoubtedly take years.
Still, in the midst of so much devastation, there are signs of hope and resilience. We have broken bread with our sisters and brothers. We have prayed for and with one another. We have been blessed by their generosity and the grace with which they have met the challenges faced since Hurricanes Irma and Maria made landfall. Our brothers and sisters are finding ways to respond to needs, sharing joy and the faith that motivates them into action.
The seminary, where the Ceiba tree stands, has adjusted its schedule so students can continue classes while still meeting needs in their communities. The administration has already begun strategizing ways to meet the financials needs many students will face. Alongside these practical supports, the chaplain to the seminary is also providing spiritual and emotional care to help students cope with their trauma and fatigue.
The central office for the Iglesia Cristiana (Discípulos de Cristo) continues to serve as a distribution center for supplies, including thousands of water filters and jerry cans and hundreds of tarps, crank flashlights, and radios. Week of Compassion continues to help provide these needed material items, even as we plan for the transition into supporting long-term recovery.
The signs of damage are inescapable across Puerto Rico, but obvious, too, are the new leaves of hope.
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Current Situation:
More than half of the island is still without consistent electricity. Many communities still lack access to clean water. More than 1 million households (roughly 90% of all households on the island) have registered for individual assistance with FEMA. Current estimates are that 800,000 homes were heavily affected. All of the 106 congregations in the Iglesia Cristiana (Discípulos de Cristo) were affected--with damage to their buildings, with damage to members’ houses, or by extended power outages. Many congregations have been distributing supplies and offering emotional and spiritual support for their neighbors. The Centro Cristiano has distributed tens of thousands of pounds of food and water, as well as water filters, tarps, hygiene supplies, and cash assistance.