"Together we have touched many lives!"
In June we had the opportunity to share with believers in El Salvador as they loved and served their community hit by severe floods. More than $15,000 NZD was raised, not including funds sent direct to Hazel for this work.
Hazel sent us this update on how the funds had been used.
With your help, we have shown the love of Jesus to 700 families devastated by flood in El Salvador. Together we have touched many lives. Thank you!
The Lord has provided through your generosity. Some of you shared with us immediately, and others are still sharing. May you all be blessed over and over again for you kindness and desire to help others in their time of need!
Our prayer has been that we have been good stewards of all we’ve been given.
So far we have reached 700 families, and I was able to be in touch with friends around the country to find out where the greatest needs were. We have been able to help in many ways with your support.
Families whose parents weren’t able to work have been given groceries. Teams shopped, prepared the bags, and visited the families in need (in several areas, the shop managers wanted to be involved and gifted extra supplies!). Our teams were also able to leave a Bible text and pray with families.
Some families, who couldn’t work (some because the clay they used to make bricks was flooded) received funds to pay bills and buy necessities.
Families in Las Delicias whose homes had been completely flooded were given groceries and supplies to replace items lost in the flood. This community has been hit with flooding previously, and I had the joy of working there another time.
Once they were back in their homes, most of them just shacks, and the mud had somewhat dried, we loaded a van with supplies. It was a very long day but a special one.
Because of your generosity, we could do even more than we had originally planned!
We gave out school supplies to those in need in Ateos (the community where I now work). We put together packets for the youngest children, and we laid out the supplies for the older children to choose what they needed. It really touched our hearts to see them saying ‘no’ to things they could do without so more children could get the supplies they needed.
The final area where help has been given is in the west of the country, where crops were lost because of flooding. When they replant, they have no seed or small plants left to sow the new crop. We have a full-time partner in the area who is in touch with those most affected and helping to cover these needs.
This has been a time of blessing for us all.
For some, it was their first time being involved in aid work. Groups prayed together, friendships were made, leaders were encouraged, and abilities were seen, which had been hidden till now. We were blessed by giving as much as those who received. It was such a privilege to share God’s word and practical love.