Page 7 - Moravain Messenger December 2020

Hurricane Eta Update
- Board of World Mission
Mr Wilfred Merian, who had done similar work in Silesia. He was able to supply a certain amount of agricultural implements - Swiss property - but he still requires 250 cows, 60 horses, 400 pigs, 600 sheep and 1,200 hens in order to do normal work. This is but one example of the existing difficulties. The railway lines in the surrounding country having all been destroyed, outside help cannot be counted on for a very long time.
One of our greatest anxieties is the future existence of the whole of the Moravian Church in Germany. This Church numbering barely 10,000 members, including the large educational staff for her schools, was hitherto a Free Church in the best sense of the work and was financially independent. The agricultural establishments in the different colonies were able to cover any deficits that might occur in the schools, above all the retiring-pensions and the pensions of the numerous missionaries returning from the foreign field. (For) Very many of these agricultural establishments lying in Silesia, the outlook for the future is very dark.
In order to be able to manage for the present, it has been arranged not to pay any salaries to the workers in the community, but to give them a mere minimum as a means of existence. This amounts to
On Tuesday, November 3, 2020, Hurricane Eta made landfall near Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, as a category 4 storm with top winds at 140 mph. The storm then moved slowly across Nicaragua and then into Honduras, continuing to drop heavy rain, causing streams and rivers to flood. Since leaving Honduras, the storm has also caused damage in Guatemala, Belize, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, and Florida.
Most heavily damaged is the area around Puerto Cabezas at the point of landfall. But the heavy rains and accompanying mudslides did horrific damage all along its trek inland.
There has been significant damage to homes, businesses, schools, and church buildings from the coast up into the mountainous mining towns of Bonanza and Rosita. There has also been significant crop and livestock loss, which will affect access to food for many months to come.
In La Mosquitia, Honduras, while the winds were not as destructive, the flooding has been. Throughout the region, upwards of 30 inches of rain fell in the span of fewer than two days. All of the rain that fell inland is now making its way to the coastal low-lands where there are many Moravian congregations. While damage to the Moravian Clinic in Ahuas was not severe, of concern there is that Dr. Kenneth Serapio's home in Puerto Cabezas received heavy damage, so he will be going home as soon as the roads are safe.
Many of these areas are still without electrical power, making recovery and communication difficult. There is now concern about the spread of waterborne diseases from raw sewage being washed into rivers and wells in all of these areas. Complicating this even further is the fact that Covid-19 spread will become an issue as folks who have lost their homes crowd into shelters.
In addition to working with our Moravian Church leaders in Nicaragua and Honduras, we are exploring partnerships with organizations such as Mission Aviation Fellowship and Feed the Hungry who are well established organizations in the area. Working with them will help us to reach people more effectively.
The immediate needs are for food, clean water, and sheltering materials for damaged homes. We need your help to bring these needed resources to the people that need it right now.
If you would like to donate please send cheques to Church House payable to Moravian Union Inc, or telephone us on 020 8883 3409 to make a card or bank payment. Thank you.
Unmarried people per month ␣
Married couples per month␣
Additional sum for children ␣
RM 50 and rent RM 90 and rent 10 to 15
The circular letter that makes this statement closes with the
words 'Now that so much has been taken away from us that gave us sense of safety and security, we will learn to depend all the more on Him concerning whom we are told 'Casting all your care upon Him for he careth for you''.
We are glad to hear that services can be held without fear of being molested. They all take place in the one hall that is left - the dormitory in the girls school. It is there that the congregation meets daily for Morning Prayer as in the first days of Herrnhut.
It is good news too that a deputation of Czech brethren from Prague came to Herrnhut in order to help keeping up friendly spirit of the Russian officer in command by pointing out the international character of Herrnhut.
And yet there is one more difficulty that must be mentioned. The Herrnhut chemist shop was burnt down. Should contagious diseases be introduced by the refugees, we have not even got the most necessary remedies. The question here arises as to whether the Red Cross could not find means via Prague of sending us medical aid. Mr Steinmann has brought us the list of the remedies most urgently required.
Inside what was the Moravian Church building looking out
Zurich, August 30th 1945
J G Fuerstenberger
(The above report was drawn up for the information of the Swiss friends and of the Committee for Christian Reconstruction in Geneva. C.H.S.)
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© Sr Sarah Groves