Three weeks and counting---How to help now?

We passed the three-week mark in the storm's aftermath. Tremendous advances have been made in getting Funchal up and running, but like a body that's been battered or had to be operated on, even after the wounds have healed, the scars remain. Some scars we may get used to in time, but they will be scars, all the same.

Through the consulate, I was asked to advise on how US Gov't. aid was to be best distributed. A US$50,000 grant went to Cáritas, a relief agency of the Diocese, which took a lead role in the initial relief efforts. Another government program was available to channel funds for disaster relief for "specific, tangible" projects, up to US$10,000 per project. Within a week I had received proposals for 41 different projects! In the end, a total of US$50,000 was awarded to 5 projects, and my folder still had 36 proposals in it.

Portuguese Evangelical Alliance

Evangelical churches in mainland Portugal have started a fund to help Madeira. The President of the Alliance came to Funchal last week and met with us 6 local evangelical pastors, seeking advice on how best to use the funds that are sent in. Based on a couple of the 36 projects in my folder, it was decided to contact the city of Câmara de Lobos, just to the west of Funchal, to help buy appliances and basic furniture to rehouse the 75 families in that area that lost their homes. (One estimate pointed to an island total of 600 families that will have to be rehoused.) Another pastor and I were appointed to speak with the local officials about the mechanism for the distributing of this aid (estimated to be around €6000, approx. $9000). The city will list the families and specific needs for each (stove, refrigerator, beds, etc.) and a couple of the pastors or church members will purchase items to fill the list provided by the city hall, for delivery to the specific address.

Our church's account

Roberto, our church treasurer, said that we already have close to €1000 in the special account we designated to help those in need. We have purposed to use all funds sent to help the community outside the church; any needs of our members will be handled through our own general fund. Again, based on the information gleaned from proposals made for aid, we are in a good position to contact the agencies that are dealing directly with those who lost everything. The officials are aware that there are those who will try to take advantage of the situation, and some fraudulent claims have already been detected. The local governments are making on-site inspections to verify that those applying for aid are, in fact, families that lost their houses and goods.

The bank numbers for those who are led to contribute

Due to the nature of blog postings, such information gets "pushed out of sight". I will try to get this information in the heading of the blog, or at least a link to it.

Name of Account Holder: Igreja Baptista do Funchal

BES account number for transfers between BES accounts:
0007.0167.3266

Inter-bank transfers within Portugal,
NIB: 0007 0000 00701673266 23

International Bank Transfers:
IBAN: PT50 0007 0000 0070 1673 2662 3
SWIFT/BIC: BESCPTPL



Final note regarding last week's post:


When I was at the prison yesterday afternoon, Alexei suddenly said, "Do you hear that bird singing?" It was one of those "blackbirds" I wrote about, that sing in the middle of the night and in the rain. Yesterday one of them was "in prison", perched atop a tree in the court yard. I don't think he realized he was surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards.

After the storm

It's been two weeks now. This morning the sun is shining, the temperatures are close to 70º (around 20ºC), and the birds are singing. Out of journalistic honesty, I have a couple of things to say about the above picture: l) it wasn't taken here; and 2) it wasn't taken by me.

Our son, Jeff, who lives in Dallas, sent this picture of a cedar waxwing that showed up at the house to eat holly berries. As a way of saying "thank you", he sat still so Jeff could snap his picture. This does not mean the birds are not singing here, however. They don't happen to be as bold as this waxwing, so photos are harder to come by. AND...the bird we hear most often around our house sings in the middle of the night!

More often than I like, I find myself sitting at the computer translating into the wee hours of the morning and beyond, when the morning hours are not so wee, until well after daybreak. It's not uncommon to hear the melodic song of a blackbird at 2:30 or 4:00 in the morning. He was at it again this morning at 5:00 when I woke up during the night. Sitting in the dark among the branches of a nearby tree, he sings for all he's worth, and many times the wind is blowing and the rain is coming down. (I am not sure of the exact species of the bird, but I call him a blackbird, because that's what he is: a black bird.)

When the sun is shining and the air is warm and the breeze is refreshing, it may even be hard for us to keep from singing. But I think of our blackbird and wonder how many of us would sing just as loudly and cheerfully in the dark, on a bleak and stormy night, or in a prison cell, like Paul and Silas.

Now That the Dust Is Beginning to Settle

That statement is not to be taken literally, of course. Dust is not something we've had much of recently. There's been enough rain off and on to keep mud-covered roads from generating dust; the dust will come later.

But in a figurative sense, the initial shock of the disaster is over, the new "normalcy" I mentioned in a previous post has begun to set in. Attendance Sunday was up to our previous levels, with the church house full Sunday night. We now begin to take stock of what real needs there are around us, and particularly, the ones we should seek to meet.

Other needs will become evident in time, but at the moment here are the ones we are most aware of among our church members:

Sister Fernanda--widow who lives on her small pension, member since 1989. Her ground floor dwelling had about 6" (15 cm) of water that ruined the flooring in the hallway, living room and bedrooms. (The kitchen and bathrooms have ceramic tile floors). Her floor is the floating tongue-and-groove type, imitation wood made of a compressed paper material. The planks soak up the water, opening joints between them, and swell, so that doors don't close properly. The damp material will begin to rot and be a breeding ground for molds and bacteria. Sis. Fernanda has always liked the type of vinyl rubber imitation oak flooring we have in the church. It is waterproof and practically indestructible. Bro. José Carlos spoke with the dealer, who has offered to provide the material and installation for about 1/2 the normal price. Estimate: €3600 (approx. US$5000). Fernanda insists that there are others who need help more than she does, but the church feels it is not just an issue of interior decorating, but a health issue that will only get worse.

José Luís and Sónia--This family was baptized last year in May. They live in Ribeira Brava, the second-hardest hit town on the island. Fortunately they have been able to return to their apartment, with all the utilities restored. Unfortunately, Sónia's car was inundated, and it is currently in the shop to be cleaned and put back in running condition. Estimate: €200-300 (US$280-420).

Some family members of some of the church members were also affected. The son of one of our members was parked in an underground parking lot that flooded, and the sister of another member had over a foot of water in her house, which suffered structural damage. The house was rented and she will eventually be provided with housing. At that time there will be a need for some furniture and appliances. The nephew's car was buried in rocks and mud up to the roof, but after being carefully excavated, it was discovered to have only a scratch here and there, with no dents or broken glass, lights or grill. The mechanic cleaned the engine and it's running as good as new. As the Lord provides and gives direction, we will help those needs we become aware of.

Should you feel led to help, this is the bank account information for the special fund the church has set up for those who have suffered losses:

Name of Account Holder: Igreja Baptista do Funchal
Bank transfers within Portugal,
NIB: 0007 0000 00701673266 23

International Bank Transfers:
IBAN: PT50 0007 0000 0070 1673 2662 3
SWIFT/BIC: BESCPTPL


As I mentioned in an earlier post, we are not actively raising funds, but we will seek God's will to wisely use what funds others feel led to give, and believe that He will show us the needs in accordance with the gifts received.