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Dear Christian friends,
I want to share with you the moving report from Melanie Josephson (our
Lutheran Disaster Response coordinator for Minnesota) regarding the current
situation in southwest Minnesota.
Gil Furst
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MELANIE JOSEPHSON May 18, 1998 at 14:10 Eastern (3813 characters)
As we met with the Comfrey, MN pastors Tim and Patricia Baglien and others
on Friday afternoon, May 15th, the sirens had sounded to the East in
Mankato and St. Peter. A funnel cloud had been spotted. Although we were
in no immediate danger, it seemed all too familiar. The children of
Comfrey became very anxious in school, many of them cried wanting to be
with their parents - wanting to be home. The dark clouds, the heavy rains
and winds reminded not only the children, but the adults as well, of the
moments just weeks ago when the tornado smashed Comfrey, destroying more
than 50% of the town.
As I listened to the community leaders, you couldn't help but hear their
fatigue. They have done, and are continuing to do, a tremendous job
despite their own losses, the long hours and the additional stress they are
under. But the road is long to recovery and many of those traveling it are
weary.
It has been seven weeks since the tornado. Two of the three ELCA churches
of the Comfrey parish were heavily damaged and the insurance settlement has
not been made. 110 homes and 19 businesses have been torn down in the
small town of 2500 people. Now there are tensions about rebuilding. How
will families who were insured at assessed value for their home
($30-40,000) ever be able to afford to rebuild? Will families return when
the school is rebuilt in 1-2 years? Will the churches each rebuild or will
they merge into one? How many people will not return to Comfrey? These
questions and others are facing the community.
As I drove home, I couldn't help but think of some others in our history
who had faced a similar situation. The Israelites had been forced from
Jerusalem and taken into captivity by the Babylonians, their homes and
temple destroyed. It was 70 years later that they were allowed to return
and to begin to restore their community. Slowly they rebuilt, but the wall
surrounding the city was in ruins leaving them vulnerable to enemies.
Nehemiah, hearing the situation, left his duties to the king and came to
help. Through his leadership and service, the Israelites were given hope,
rebuilt their wall and rededicated their lives to God.
Many of the tornado-affected people of Comfrey and other towns and rural
areas of Southwest Minnesota have been forced into exile. They are living
miles away from their friends, relatives and the community they knew and
loved. Some have been able to return and are working to rebuild their
homes and communities. Others will find the journey back to Comfrey just
too difficult to make. The task of rebuilding often seems overwhelming and
the enemy of despair threatens to invade through the broken walls of their
security. But our God will provide for their needs, just as he provided
Nehemiah to lead the restoration of Jerusalem. You who come sharing your
talents are the Nehemiahs, bringing help, hope and protection against
despair!
The work will continue in the SW for some months to come, and Lutheran
Disaster Response will be there to assist. Currently there are LSS/LDR
offices in St. Peter, Comfrey and LeCenter serving these communities and
their surrounding areas. Volunteers are needed to help with demolition,
rebuilding projects, visiting, assistance with Vacation Bible School and
the LSS/LDR Camp Noahs (week long day camps for disaster affected
children).
If you would like to volunteer or donate items, please call
LSS/LDR of Minnesota at 1-800-987-0061.
To make a contribution, please send your check to:
ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
P.O. Box 71764
Chicago, IL 60694-1764
God bless you,
Melanie Josephson, Lutheran Disaster Response of Minnesota
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
2485 Como Ave. St. Paul, MN 55108, Phone 1-800-987-0061
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GILBERT B. FURST (written on Wed, May 20, 1998, at 8:54 am)
Associate Director, ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
Internet address: [log in to unmask]
GILBERT B. FURST (written on Thu, May 21, 1998, at 10:55 am)
Associate Director, ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
Internet address: [log in to unmask]
For more information, click on our web site: www.elca.org/dcs/disaster
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