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CUBA
UMCOR Hotline August
17, 2004
http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor-hotline/
USA and Caribbean: UMCOR Responds After Charley Thrashes Coastal Areas
Earlier last week, when Hurricane Charley roared through Havana province
and the west side of Havana city in Cuba, severe winds and rains
devastated some 40,000 homes, killed four people, and darkened many
areas of the city. Soldiers are clearing trees and have organized teams
of electrical workers to repair downed power lines. Some Havana residents
are still without running water. UMCOR currently is assessing recovery
interventions for Cuba as well as for other US coastal regions that will
be affected by the violence of the storm.
Gifts of money are especially needed in these early phases of recovery.
Please donate generously to UMCOR Advance #982410, Hurricanes 2004, and
pray for the hurricane survivors in all the affected areas.
UMCOR provides emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out
more about UMCOR's ministries, please visit
http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/
.You can donate to any project by placing a contribution in the offering
plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR,
475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115; or by calling
1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted.
And, please pray for those who are hungry, displaced, sick or in poverty
because of these and other natural and human-made disasters, and for the
workers who minister to them.
United Methodist Committee on Relief
General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church
Room 330, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115
Voice Phone: 212-870-3816; FAX: 212-870-3624
Email: umcor@gbgm-umc.org
Web: http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
We greet you and wish you blessings of God:
Different from previous years (hurricanes), we have not been able to send
you information because the national office only has power. Still, many
places lack power and it is difficult to travel in the affected areas
because the destruction of the parks and streets is total.
In Playa, where the office at Marianao is located (Bishop Pereira’s
church) four days have passed without electricity.
There are four churches with heavy damage. At the church of San Antonio,
the damage is very serious. The parsonage and the homes of many church
members were lost. At the Jaimanitas church, many members lost everything,
and are staying in shelters and clinics, without knowing when they can
recover their homes. The church at Bauta suffered damage, as well as at
Santa Fe, and Punta Brava, places where the hurricane passed and damaged
with great severity.
The Bishop and the Havana DS have been visiting affected areas and giving
away everything that we have to purchase minimal food supplies.
Right now, Bishop Pereira and the pastors are at a Family Retreat at Camp
Canaan. Even though the damage is great, the direction of the church is to
continue with the national programs. However, together in prayer and
fasting we intercede so that God can help our sisters and brothers that
are victimized by this hurricane.
Receive our sincere appreciation and love,
Alicia Gongora Guerra
The Bishop’s Secretary
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Amados hermanos:
Les saludamos a todos deseándoles muchas bendiciones de Dios.
A diferencia de años anteriores, no hemos podido dar muchos informes
porque solamente tiene electricidad la Oficina Nacional. Todavía muchos
lugares carecen de este servicio e incluso es difícil transitar en ellos
ya que la destrucción de parques y calles es total.
En Playa, donde está la Oficina de Marianao desde hace 4 días no hay
electricidad.
Hay 4 iglesias muy dañadas. En la Iglesia de San Antonio se afecto
seriamente la casa pastoral y muchos miembros de la iglesia perdieron sus
casas.
En la Iglesia de Jaimanitas muchos miembros lo perdieron todo, de modo que
están recluídos en albergues y políclinicos, sin saber cuando volverán a
recuperar sus casas.
Igualmente reportan grandes daños las Iglesias de Bauta, Santa Fé y Punta
Brava, zonas en donde el ciclón pasó y azotó con severidad.
El Obispo y el Superintendente del Distrito Habana han estado recorriendo
lugares afectados y dando todo lo que tenemos para comprar alimentos
mínimos.
En estos momentos, el Obispo Pereira y los Pastores se encuentran en el
Retiro de Familias en el Campamento de Canaán. Aunque los daños han sido
grandes, la dirección de la iglesia ha entendido no detener el programa de
actividades nacional .Pero unidos en oración y ayuno interceder para que
Dios ayude a nuestros hermanos/as damnificados por este Huracán.
Reciban nuestro aprecio sincero y afecto.
Alicia Góngora Guerra
Secretaria el Obispo
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