{"id":468,"date":"2018-03-06T20:37:06","date_gmt":"2018-03-06T20:37:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.presbyterianmission.org\/weekly-offerings\/?p=468"},"modified":"2018-03-13T20:17:20","modified_gmt":"2018-03-13T20:17:20","slug":"oghs-pda-in-pr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/centernet.pcusa.org\/weekly-offerings\/2018\/03\/06\/oghs-pda-in-pr\/","title":{"rendered":"One Great Hour of Sharing: Disaster Assistance in Puerto Rico"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Response Quickly to Hurricane-Ravaged Puerto Rico<\/h2>\n
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credit: Rick Jones<\/p><\/div>\n

Even before Hurricane Maria made landfall in September 2017, Edwin Gonz\u00e1lez-Castillo and other Presbyterian leaders in Puerto Rico received promises of help from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA).<\/p>\n

Edwin, the stated clerk of the Presbytery of San Juan, says PDA lived up to its word quickly. Days after the storm hit, the first wave of PDA grants arrived and immediately pressing community needs were being met.<\/p>\n

In the presbytery, funds were distributed among each of the 15 congregations, and the presbytery matched PDA\u2019s initial funding for community assistance.
\nDesperately needed items such as food, water, diapers and medical supplies were swiftly in the hands of hurricane survivors. \u201cWe were able to help families who had lost almost everything,\u201d Edwin says. Maria\u2019s 150 mph winds destroyed homes, infrastructure and vegetation across the island and resulted in the death or injury to many. In addition, Maria left millions without electricity or drinkable water.<\/p>\n

A Response Enabled by Generosity<\/h4>\n

Your generosity helped PDA respond immediately after three major hurricanes pounded the United States and\/or the Caribbean, a devastating earthquake shook Central Mexico, and raging wildfires wreaked havoc across the Pacific Northwest. One Great Hour of Sharing gifts enabled PDA to mount responses that\u00a0were timely, nimble and effective.<\/p>\n

In Puerto Rico, Presbyterians never doubted that PDA would respond fast, and they know that PDA will remain for the long haul, Edwin says. \u201cThe help PDA brings is long-term, and we are grateful that when other groups leave Puerto Rico we will still have PDA giving us a hand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Puerto Rican Presbyterians appreciate the prayer support and encouraging words they have\u00a0 received from across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). When people from the mainland ask them about providing tangible help, Edwin says Puerto Rican\u00a0 Presbyterian leaders have a standard reply: \u201cWe tell everybody the best way to help us is through PDA.\u201d<\/p>\n

Raising the Presbyterian Profile<\/h4>\n
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credit: Mike Fitzer<\/p><\/div>\n

The hurricane response has elevated Presbyterian visibility in Puerto Rican communities, and Edwin expects that denomination\u2019s name recognition will continue to grow as the recovery efforts continue.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn many places\u00a0 here, Presbyterians are not ver<\/p>\n

y well known, but through things like this, when we attend disasters and when our communities get the kind of help PDA is helping to provide, the Presbyterian name becomes familiar and people see that our church is here to help,\u201d Edwin says.<\/p>\n

Your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing enable our church to bear this kind of caring witness in Puerto Rico and around the world. Please give generously.<\/p>\n

Let Us Pray:<\/h4>\n

Gracious God,
\nWe pray for the survivors of disasters. Comfort them as they struggle with unspeakable grief and the monumental task of rebuilding their lives. Help us to extend\u00a0 neighborly love to them wherever they live. Amen.<\/p>\n

Join Us<\/h4>\n

For more information and resources related to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering, visit\u00a0presbyterianmission.org\/oghs<\/a>\u00a0.
\nThis post is based on the minute for mission script which can be found on our\u00a0website<\/a>\u00a0as a\u00a0script<\/a>\u00a0and a video<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Please give generously to the Offering:<\/p>\n