The Salvation Army in Argentina Deals with Effects of Chilean Volcano

Bariloche, Argentina – The eruption of the Puyehue Volcano in Chile is making the news mainly because of the problems caused to air traffic across the south Pacific. What is less well publicized, however, is the effect felt by people living nearer to the volcano.

The city of Bariloche in Argentina, for instance, is in a state of emergency as the constant fall of ash causes health difficulties and structural problems. Captain Victor Tasori, the Salvation Army officer in charge of Bariloche Corps (church), reports that there is a need for face masks, eye drops, water, mattresses, and blankets. Zinc and plastic sheeting are also required to repair roofing that has collapsed due to the weight of the ash.

An initial sum of US$7,000 has been provided by International Emergency Services to purchase emergency supplies, which will be distributed by Captain Tasori and Salvationists from his corps. As the volcano is still erupting, it is not yet clear what will happen in the next few weeks but the captain and his team will continue to provide whatever help they can. Submitted by IHQ Emergency News # # #

 

Support from Across Spain Boosts Salvation Army Earthquake Response

Spain – The Salvation Army in Spain has stepped up its response to the earthquake that caused widespread destruction to the town of Lorca, Murcia, on 11 May. The team of seven people from Alicante Corps (Salvation Army church) which arrived in Lorca on 12 May was joined the next day by teams from Barcelona and Madrid Central Corps. The team from Barcelona took a van-load of food and clothing.

Lieutenant Luigi Muedas (corps officer, Alicante) was in the first team to reach Lorca, where contact was made with Corporal Ortiz, from the Spanish military, who was coordinating the relief effort.

The lieutenant says: “The city looked like there had been a war; there were fallen walls, military and firefighters everywhere. We have seen the faces of desolate people and a lot of tears.”

Captain Cristóbal Alvarez has been designated as The Salvation Army’s Command Headquarters Emergency Coordinator. She was part of another team that travelled to Lorca on Saturday 14 May to support the ongoing work.

Also on Saturday a smaller tremor hit the region, causing more damage. As a consequence, people are still afraid to enter their homes to pick up personal belongings. Government experts are working to assess the damaged buildings and put a mark on those which are uninhabitable.

The main need at this moment is for shelter, blankets and hot food. People have been receiving sandwiches for many days but Captain Jenniffer Beltrán (corps officer, Alicante, and wife of Lieutenant Muedas) was concerned that children in particular had not been receiving the nutrition they need. The Civil Coordinator for Emergency gave permission for The Salvation Army to distribute hot food in one of its tents and 400 families received soup, pasta and rice.

Personal hygiene items including toothbrushes, toothpaste, tissues and baby wipes, along with jars of baby food, were distributed on Sunday evening. This week The Salvation Army’s thrift store in Mallorca is sending a load of clothing which volunteers will help to distribute.

 

 

 

 

The Salvation Army in Australia Assesses Flood Damage

Queensland, Australia – While The Salvation Army in Queensland, Australia, continues to provide assistance to people affected by the region’s catastrophic floods it is also having to assess and clean up its own buildings.

The Salvation Army is working in 13 relief centers across Queensland and New South Wales, providing hundreds of people each day with meals and emotional support. To date, it has released AUS$500,000 to assist affected communities during the initial relief effort and through to recovery, which is expected to take many months.

The Army has launched a flood appeal and is asking that people donate money rather than goods. ‘What people need are funds,’ says Australia Eastern Territorial Emergency Services Director Norm Archer. ‘We want to let them rebuild their lives with dignity.’

The full extent of damage to The Salvation Army’s Bundaberg Community Welfare Center, where water reached the roof, is still being determined but Central and North Queensland Divisional Public Relations Secretary Captain Meaghan Gallagher says, ‘The waters have now gone down and the welfare center has been cleaned out. It has been operating from the corps (Salvation Army church) for the past few weeks.’

Water almost three meters deep flowed through the Bundamba Corps building, damaging most of the property, including church seating, the platform, pianos and a small library.

‘They were able to save the files and minor items, but everything else is a total write-off,’ says Trevor Trollis, South Queensland Divisional Property Administrator. ‘They also have a commercial-style kitchen but the only thing saved was an oven.’

Riverview Farm at the Canaan School for Training and Development was heavily flooded, with up to 70 per cent of the farm’s 460 acres covered with water. Trevor Trollis explains: ‘We lost a shed with the training kitchen, the training shed with all the saws and the storage shed with all the play equipment.’
Laidley Outpost suffered significant structural damage to its building as a result of fast-moving water, and Employment Plus centers at both Ipswich and Goodna experienced considerable damage.

The Salvation Army’s Riverview Aged Care Center was forced to evacuate more than 150 residents at the height of the floods crisis.
From a report by Esther Pinn

 

Letter From Japan Brings it Home for Me

Reading this letter from Japan really got me thinking about how I take a normal day for granted. Instead of concentrating on small things, such as which pair of jeans to wear today, which restaurant to eat at for lunch, What is Charlie Sheen doing right now or even which team am I rooting for in the final four, I should be concentrating on how good I really have it compared to so many people around the world and even in my own community… Internationally – think about the people in Japan and Libya, Nationally – think about the economic and political crisis, Locally – think about the men and women lining up right now to stay in a Salvation Army shelter tonight just to have a hot meal and a roof over their heads.

Please take the time to read this letter below and think about what you can be grateful for and who you can be praying for or can help:
A Letter from Japan
American Salvation Army Officer Describes Life in Tokyo

Captain Christopher Marques is a young Salvation Army Officer (minister) who is from Decatur, Illinois, but is currently stationed at The Salvation Army’s Headquarters for Japan. His normal work is with the young people in Japan. Following are some excerpts from a message we received from him early on Wednesday Morning, March 16:

…Thank you for your prayers. They are perhaps the greatest gift we can use right about now. As you know, the country is still being shaken by aftershocks; even today we just felt a larger one after lunch. But so far they have not been near the level we saw on Friday I am starting to get used to the ground shaking a little bit on and off, but still am surprised by some of the frequent medium-sized incidents.

There is still a problem with the reactors that are critical and leaking in the Fukushima area (in-between Tokyo and the tsunami-hit area of Sendai). The immediate area surrounding the plant has, of course, been evacuated from a 30 kilometer radius.

For now, those near the affected area who have not been evacuated or staying in temporary shelters have been advised to stay indoors. In the rest of the country we aren’t moving much since gas/petrol is hard to find…the fuel lines are still stretching for blocks for anyone trying to get their car filled up.

The power supply is being cut in various areas to save the whole electrical system from crashing. With subways and trains running reduced schedules, and cars being used less- many are either using bicycles, walking or staying home.

The stores are struggling to keep shelves full and some things are simply impossible to find—even for us trying to get food for the relief victims. Today was not quite as crowded or busy in the grocery/convenience stores.

Most of us here have thankfully been able to go to work each day and help manage the relief effort from our Tokyo office.

My boss has left to help support the first relief teams that are further north. He has training and experience with disaster situations, so he was a natural choice along with the rest of the group. However, he is very close to the reactor area helping with victims and I pray for his safe return.

Today, during our daily morning devotions, we sang Count Your Blessings, and that song really came alive as we thanked God for our lives, His protection, our basic needs being met at this time and just having shelter, clothing and access to some kind of food each day.

We appreciate your continued prayer support for the people here during this difficult time. May God bless you all back home and keep you hearts firmly connected to Him.

God Bless You,
Chris
Source: Captain Christopher Marques, The Salvation Army Headquarters, Tokyo, Japan

The Salvation Army has had a presence in Japan since 1895 and is also mobilizing a significant international response to manage both immediate and long-term needs. Two experienced International Emergency Services workers have flown to Tokyo from International Headquarters in London to assist their Japanese colleagues. The Salvation Army’s Korea Territory has arranged for the K-Water Corporation to provide 100,000 bottles of water to be sent to Japan – 30,000 bottles by the end of the week, followed by the rest within a short time; the Korea Disaster Relief Association will also be sending 5,000 first-aid kits.

There are four ways people can contribute money to The Salvation Army’s disaster relief efforts in Japan:

Monetary donations are the most critical need as supplies and personnel are mobilized.
These funds offer the greatest flexibility and enable local disaster responders to purchase exactly what is needed as close to the disaster zone as possible.

• Text the words “JAPAN” or “QUAKE” to 80888 to make a $10 donation.
• By phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY
• On-line at: www.salvationarmy-georgia.org
• By mail: Send your check, marked “Japan earthquake relief” to:
The Salvation Army World Service Office
International Relief Fund
PO Box 630728
Baltimore, MD 21263-0728

The Salvation Army is extremely grateful for the generosity that has already poured in to help us meet both immediate and long-term needs.

Caribbean Territroy Marks One-Year Anniversary of Haiti Earthquake

Haiti – In many ways, not much has changed in the one year since the devastating earthquake that took the lives of over 300,000 people in Haiti. Ninety-five percent of the rubble still litters the city of Port-au-Prince and surrounding countryside. Because of national elections, all progress in rebuilding has come to a standstill. Hundreds of thousands of people still live in tents, terribly vulnerable to adverse weather. Although there are signs of improvement in places, to even a casual observer, Haiti has gone only a short way on the road to recovery.

Navigating in this most difficult terrain, The Salvation Army in the Haiti Division has nonetheless made progress. A special team of officers and local employees have formed the Haiti Recovery Office. A special office at International Headquarters has been established, dedicated solely to expediting and coordinating the massive and widespread response to the emergency.

Despite the urgency of all that needs to be done, for a moment it was time to reflect and renew. On the one year anniversary of the quake, January 12, 2011, The Salvation Army both remembered the tragedy and launched a new beginning.

In a meeting with nearly 1000 in attendance, limited to that number only by space, The Salvation Army recalled both the victims and celebrated the survivors in a memorial service at its compound in Delmas 2, Port-au-Prince. In typical Haitian fashion, the singing and sense of celebration were reminders that while the earthquake was a great tragedy, God had never forsaken Haiti. A challenging message was preached by divisional commander, Major Lucien Lamartinière. With great passion he shared,

“In just a few seconds on January 12, 2010 thousands of people died, thousands became physically handicapped, and thousands became poorer than poor. On January 13 I was homeless with only one shirt and one pair of pants. Yet, those of us who survived live with the reality of God’s goodness every day. If we are alive it is because of God’s grace. The earthquake is not a punishment from God because we have sinned. It is the way we build that caused so many to die, so we must assume some responsibility. We have to conclude that the hand of God was in action. Have you asked why you are alive? God has the answer. If he has kept you alive it is because he has a mission for you to fulfill. There is a city to rebuild, there is a country to save. God’s wants you to be a Nehemiah and to help us rebuild our country. Do not be an observer, become a builder.”

Immediately following that service, a procession led by territorial leaders, Colonels Onal and Edmane Castor and supported by Lt. Colonels Lindsay and Lynette Rowe as well as members of the Haiti divisional staff, marched to a new set of temporary buildings that will serve the College Verena, the Army’s school whose buildings were compromised by the quake. The building will also double as the temporary home of the Port-au-Prince Central Corps. The two wooden buildings will house 12 classrooms while they are used during the week. Major Jean Volet’s ingenious design, allows that in a matter of a minutes the movable walls can be pushed aside to provide open space to allow for the worship and service of the Port-au-Prince Central Corps. This open plan will allow for seating for 700 people.

Following the ribbon cutting by Colonel Onal Castor, Territorial Commander, the crowd streamed inside where the celebratory mood was infectious. Approximately 750 people crowded into the building or stood outside to join in the happy event featuring specials by various Corps groups and enthusiastic singing from those gathered, underscoring the victory. This was the first step in the Army’s reconstruction effort since the earthquake. Almost all the Army’s buildings in Port-au-Prince were damaged beyond repair necessitating a massive rebuilding program.

One of the most moving moments came when Advisory Board chairman, Mr. Hervé Denis, spoke about the death of his mother in the earthquake. “They found my mother on her knees where she had been praying. Our family believes that when the earthquake struck she was praying for us.” Mr. Denis said he considered his service with The Salvation Army an important way to honor his mother and to give back to his native land.

Colonel Onal Castor then brought the address, speaking about not only the spiritual challenge created by the earthquake but the Army’s response from around the world. “We salute you,” said the Colonel, “We salute your courage, we salute your faith. You are people of faith even though you are victims because when the earthquake came you forgot about yourself and served God’s hurting people.” “We salute the International Army. From the sixteen countries of the Caribbean Territory to the 122 countries that form the Army world they gave money and many came to help us take care of our people and begin to rebuild.” The Colonel reminded the congregation that their General, Shaw Clifton, and Commissioner Helen Clifton who had been with them just two months before the earthquake, were with them now in prayer and that they send their love and warm greetings on this day of commemoration. The Colonel then shared with the congregation the rebuilding plans for the future and the many programs that would support and empower the community to make it more resilient and prepared to respond to future disasters.

Afterwards, in reflecting on the day and his trip that afternoon to participate in the High Council, Colonel Castor said, “My heart is just overwhelmed. The countries and territories of the world have made the reconstruction of the Army possible. I want the world to know that we are grateful, so very grateful. Words fail us. We are proud to be a part of the worldwide Salvation Army that moves when there is a need and gives almost beyond measure. That is the message I will share with The Salvation Army leaders from across the world.”

Submitted by:Major Ron Busroe, The Salvation Army, Haiti Recovery and Development