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Holy Week resources and reflections

JH&H Weekly News Update – Earthquake in Peru

The Joining Hearts & Hands News Update has been reserved this week for a special message from Linda Valentine, Executive Director of the General Assembly Council, which follows below:

 

Greetings to members of the General Assembly Council, Middle Governing Body Executives and friends,

The faith and resolve of the Peruvian people remain unshaken in the wake of the massive earthquake, which struck Peru last week. As international relief workers dedicate themselves to bringing aid and hope amidst such destruction, we, as Presbyterians, join in solidarity and in prayer with the people of Peru and those who are ministering with them in such dire circumstances. Through the collective presence of the broader ecumenical community — our partners who are hastening to respond — Christ’s presence is known.

Of those Presbyterians who were quickly on the scene, Jacob Goad’s witness and personal testimony are especially compelling. Jacob, a long-term mission volunteer serving the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Lima under the auspices of the Mission Initiative: Joining Hearts & Hands, has a passion for the work of peace and justice. Of his own call to serve, he has said that the Gospel drives him to respond immediately whenever he looks upon people with needs. And respond he has. I share with you below a report he wrote on Saturday, August 18:

Dear friends,

Many of you know that I traveled to Pisco on Thursday to assess the situation after the earthquake. 85% of the city has been completely destroyed and hundreds have died. The total number of deaths has been reported as high as 600.

After riding in a Peruvian Air Force plane (Thanks to Barbara Fraser from Maryknoll Press for that suggestion), I went to the center of town. I told some firemen that I wanted to go to Pisco. One man laughed at me and said, ‘What, Pisco? There’s nothing left to see.’ He smiled and told me to come on anyway.

From there, I went to the center plaza and saw several dead bodies pulled from the San Clemente Church. It was a surreal and difficult experience.

There has been a lot of chaos in coordination of search and rescue, and relief efforts. I spent Thursday night not sleeping in the plaza, talking to displaced families, while trying to keep warm beside a campfire. Some guys from Ayacucho let me take turns with their blanked.

I looked around town on Friday for relief efforts assessments. Everything is still in the search and rescue mode operationally.

I am thankful to a Peruvian doctor who gave me some bread and a warm cup of tea on Friday morning. It was the only think I had eaten since breakfast on Thursday. Food and water is scarce for the whole population of Pisco. Donations are being stored at the airport, and distributed by military personnel.

Please see the CBS report on the earthquake and relief efforts (in which I am interviewed):

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=3180364n&channel=i_video 

Also, I have taken several photographs and commented on them from my travels to Pisco. You can see those photographs at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11643144@N07/  (slideshow below)

I hope that all of this will begin to open dialog with how we might best funnel relief funds and efforts to Peru to collaborate with them time of need. I was just informed that the Anglican Church is working through Comunión Peru. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has stated they are working through ACT (Action by Churches Together).

Please unite with us in this endeavour with your prayers and your creative, collaborative work. I told the people of Pisco that I would get the word out.

Peace in the midst of sorrow,

Jacob Goad
Delegations Coordinator-Peru
Presbyterian Church (USA)

 

I have just learned that Jacob will be visited next week by a five-member delegation from First Presbyterian Church and Starmount Presbyterian Church, both of Greensboro, NC, which have long been planning a mission activity in Peru with Jacob as their shepherd and guide. I know that Jacob, whose home church, Alamance, is also in Greensboro, will appreciate both their presence and their prayers, as they look forward in hope to a new day in Peru and to the new paths in ministry they will forge together with God’s people there.

As you feel called to respond, please visit the homepage of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance at http://www.pcusa.org/pda/ . You may also visit Jacob’s homepage at http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/goadj.htm  for further updates.

May we each reach out with the love of Christ to our brothers and sisters in Peru.

Faithfully,

Linda

 

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