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Dear friends in Christ,
Lutheran Disaster Response, a shared ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America and The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, is responding to
fires that are blazing in northern New Mexico. Nearly 22,000 residents of
Los Alamos, Espanola, and White Rock have been evacuated. Local news
stations report at least 110 homes have been destroyed by the fire.
According to Congressman Tom Udall, 300 to 400 homes have been damaged.
The National Weather Service is predicting wind gusts up to 60 mph today
and lower relative humidity -- an expected 10 to 15 percent. Lower
humidity dries brush even more, making it more flammable.
LDR is in working with the LCMS Rocky Mountain District (President Roger
Krause) and ELCA Rocky Mountain Synod (Bishop Allan Bjornberg), as they
contact members and congregations affected by this fire, and look to rally
support for the response efforts.
"It is possible that one-quarter to one-third of the people of Los Alamos
could be homeless by this evening," Bishop Bjornberg told me. "We pray
that will not happen." Nearby congregations in the Santa Fe area are
setting up "command posts" to coordinate ministry services to those who
have been evacuated. Pastors from Albuquerque are coming to offer
assistance.
This disaster is still very much in the immediate response phase. The
needs of the people will be more easily assessed after pastors and members
can return to their homes and communities. LDR is present now, offering
prayer and emotional support. And LDR will be present in the days and
months ahead, long after the headlines have been written and forgotten.
Your prayers of support are so very helpful, even now in this chaotic,
blazing moment. And your contributions will enable the church to respond
quickly and appropriately, when the smoke has cleared and the dimension of
the destruction is known.
To contribute:
ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response
PO Box 71764
Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764
Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522
LC-MS World Relief
P.O. Box 66861
St. Louis, MO 63166-9810
Credit card gift line: 1-888-930-4438
In Christ,
Gil Furst
GILBERT B. FURST (written on Thu, May 11, 2000, 4:52 pm). Director for
ELCA DOMESTIC DISASTER RESPONSE (Division for Church in Society) and
LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE (a cooperative ministry of the ELCA and LC-MS)
8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago 60631 PHONE: 773-380-2822 FAX: 773-380-2493
Please visit our website: www.elca.org/dcs/disaster
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