It’s been over a year and a half since the December 2004 earthquake and tsunami hit Southeast Asia. Lutheran Disaster Response was there immediately with emergency aid.

Rebuilding communities takes much longer. While the world’s attention has moved on to other things, your church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is still on the ground making a difference using resources your congregation helped provide.

The smell of fresh lumber, the sounds of saws and nails all testify that homes - and hope - are being rebuilt in Jesus’ name. The $7,500.00  in mission support offered by Christ Lutheran Church in 2005 is part of the reason why.

Earlier this year the ELCA took some of the mission support offerings received from its congregations and sent $800,000 for continuing relief efforts. That includes $300,000 to rebuild houses in Indonesia , administered by our partners in Church World Service. Another $200,000 went to Yakkum Emergency Unit’s continuing relief work. And in India , $300,000 has gone to the rebuilding efforts of the united Evangelical Lutheran Church in India. India’s Lutherans are building Jubilee Village, a housing and livelihood program that will especially benefit the Dalit class (at one time called the ‘Untouchables’) who often face particular economic hardships and other discrimination.

Fresh paint, sparkling windows, strong foundations, roof that do not leak are all part of helping families move forward after profound trauma. Thank you for helping them.

Thank you for your most recent mission support offering of $625.00. You can be confident that it too will be become a blessing in the lives and hearts of people who experience God’s love through your witness of generosity.