By now, Hurricane Florence as an organized storm system is history, but the devastation and tragedy left in its wake will be with us for years and years to come. North Carolina has been ravaged by rising rivers that destroyed homes and businesses, ruined highways and roads, and most disastrously, stole the lives of precious human beings who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Likewise, South Carolina will be picking up the pieces for a very long time as the flood waters there subside and reveal the extent of the damage. Tragically, at the very same time we were experiencing Florence, monstrous typhoons in the Pacific were ravaging the Philippines and the Asian continent, wreaking havoc and killing dozens in mudslides and floods.
In many ways, even though we were in the path of the hurricane, it's not my story to tell. My husband and I were personally unaffected -- we never even lost power, let alone had any kind of horrific damage. I shared with a friend that I almost felt guilty for how lightly we got off, but he pointed out that those of us who didn't suffer great losses are in a position to reach out in loving ways to those who did. I am reminded of Luke 12: 48 -- From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded. What a privilege we have to be able to share generously with our sisters and brothers who have lost so much!
There are many charities that swung into action even before the storm made landfall, and there are innumerable ways that we can help. I would like to lift up one organization in particular, UMCOR -- United Methodist Committee on Relief. UMCOR is one of the first to respond in a crisis and one of the last to leave. They don't get the press that some others do, but people need to know that 100% of the money given to a designated project goes to that particular project, not to overhead or salaries or anything else. UMCOR has already responded to this disaster with a $10,000 emergency grant, and in the days and weeks that lie ahead, we will receive significant additional funding, health/hygiene kits, and flood buckets containing cleaning supplies, and we will also welcome volunteer work teams who assist with everything from cleaning debris to rebuilding homes and churches.
For more information on how to donate your time, resources, or money, go to this link --
https://www.umcor.org/umcor/resources/news-stories/2018/august/umcor-responds-to-current-disasters-around-the-world. Checks and other donations may be designated to Disaster Response, United States (#901670), to Disaster Response, International, or to Disaster Response, undesignated. Additionally, the NC Annual Conference offers this option for giving -- UMCOR. S00176 - NC Storm Emergency Response. For South Carolina aid, you may go to http://www.umcsc.org/data/disasterresponsedonation.php.
Following in the steps of the Wesleys and other early Methodists who sought to provide health care, education, and monetary help to those in need, as well as spiritual nurture to everyone, UMCOR is one of the great strengths of our "connexion." We are the hands and feet of Jesus in the world today, and UMCOR lies at the very heart of the United Methodist response. How will you choose to play your part?
Checking "all of the above" and praying for patience for all of us.
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