October 8, 2010

CHICAGO – A tropical storm and severe flooding earlier this fall produced damage in 80 municipalities of Nicaragua, affecting 71,000 people. Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) provided $30,000 to secure basic food provisions, medicines, personal hygiene kits and other items in an effort to meet the needs of people affected by the storms and floods.

The ELCA South Dakota Synod provided $15,000 to support the work of its companion church, Iglesia Luterana Fe y Esperanza (ILFE) (Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope). These funds will enable the ILFE to carry out relief and recovery efforts in 14 communities in Nicaragua, complementing the work of the Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alliance in 18 other communities, according to ELCA Global Mission.

"We are so blessed to be in relationship with the ILFE," said the Rev. William "Bill" Tesch, director for evangelical mission, ELCA South Dakota Synod.

"As North American Christians often what we have to share is financial resources, but what we receive is a great deal more. We receive joy in the Lord and witness to the holistic commitment of ILFE to serving all God's people, including the poorest of the poor. That is a real inspiration," said Tesch, adding that members of the ELCA South Dakota Synod are in direct relationship with many people in Nicaragua through travel and other ministry opportunities.

More than two years ago members of the South Dakota Synod received word that residents in Nicaragua's Somoto community would be facing hunger, said Tesch. The northwest region of Nicaragua is prone to natural disasters, he said. In response members of the synod raised more than $30,000 to help support 350 families with food and seeds to plant crops.

In a matter of 15 days members of the synod raised more than the targeted amount of $30,000. Tesch said the synod kept $15,000 "on hand for future disaster response," which has now been allocated to respond to the current flooding and storms in Nicaragua. He said members of the synod continue to contribute funds for disaster relief there.

ELCA International Disaster Response matched the ELCA South Dakota Synod's response with $15,000 to replenish the ACT Alliance's Rapid Response Fund. ACT provided $60,000 in the immediate aftermath of the rains in Nicaragua to provide food, medicine and other emergency aid to people who have taken refuge in temporary shelters, according to ELCA Global Mission.

According to Megan Bradfield, the ILFE "is devoting special attention to the plight of peasant farmers" affected by the storms and flooding. Bradfield is associate director for international development, ELCA Global Mission. She said farming families and communities are facing acute food shortages, since there is neither food nor crops to sell.

"As a partial remedy, the ILFE plans to provide over 600 farmers with seeds and fertilizer … once flood waters recede and land is dry," said Bradfield.

ELCA Global Mission expressed its gratitude to the ELCA South Dakota Synod "for its quick and vigorous response in support of the ILFE," according to an action taken by the executive committee of ELCA Global Mission.

Information about ELCA responses to disasters is at http://www.ELCA.org/disaster/, and ELCA Global Mission at http://www.ELCA.org/GlobalMission/, on the ELCA's website. Information about the ELCA South Dakota Synod is at http://www.sdsynod.org/, on the Web.

ELCA News Service