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Dear friends in Christ,
"It is strange to see the mountains. They were covered with 400-year-old
ponderosa pines. Now we see bare ground and once-magnificent trees are
burnt trunks...looking like the stubble of whiskers. Everywhere we look we
are reminded of our loss." "Even though my home didn't burn, I still feel a
profound sense of loss." "I don't know if we have the energy to move
onward." "When I saw a fire truck in the parade, I just sobbed." "It's
difficult sorting things out. There is a sense of heaviness among some of
our members."
These are some comments heard recently in Los Alamos, New Mexico, where Dr.
Gary Harbaugh (LDR "Care for the Caregiver" specialist) and I spent the day
with community religious leaders. Gary remained in Los Alamos for a week,
meeting individually with the faith leaders, and presenting a one-day
session with community care providers and FEMA workers.
Last May major forest fires affected Los Alamos. There were massive
evacuations, and 380 homes were destroyed before the people could return.
Lutheran Disaster Response, the cooperative ministry of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, has been
responding through Immanuel Lutheran Church (Pastor Doug Escue) and
Bethlehem Lutheran Church (Pastor Ed Thomas), in coordination with the
local interfaith organization (Allison Gregory, coordinator). It is nine
months after the fire, and hardly anyone is back in permanent housing.
Because of complex circumstances, rebuilding houses has hardly begun.
The effects of the fire continue to weigh heavily on the hearts of the
community. One pastor told how his 10-year old child, who was evacuated in
terror during the fires, is now frightened to be alone. The people feel a
lot of stress, due to the changes caused by their personal and community
losses.
Our Christian faith speaks to us in times of loss. We are reminded that
God does not abandon us in times of loss, but in fact comes to us with
grace and love. Even in the "valley of the shadow of death" God is with
us, setting aside our fears, providing us with comfort. As God's people,
we extend God's presence by working on behalf of those whose lives have
been impacted by disasters. By bringing Gary Harbaugh to Los Alamos for a
week, LDR is providing care and support for the religious leaders and
community workers, those who in turn are providing care for the fire
survivors.
Your prayers of support continue to help the people of Los Alamos, who
continue to recover from their chaotic, blazing destruction. And your
contributions enable the church continue its respond and support, providing
help and hope for the long haul to those whose live have been forever
changed.
To contribute:
ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response - "Los Alamos"
PO Box 71764
Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764
Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522
Credit card gifts via the web: www.elca.org/disaster
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 Tue, Feb 6, 2001, 8:57 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
