As noted in our last update, Covid-19 case counts are rapidly rising among our Moravian brothers and sisters in Latin America. Thanks to the many recent gifts to our Disaster Response fund, a large shipment of medical supplies and protective equipment is now on the way by ship to the medical clinic in Ahuas, Honduras. They desperately need these supplies now, and the pandemic will continue to require us to respond with aid for some time to come.
Wildfires continue to ravage states all along the west coast of the United States and as far 
inland as Utah and Colorado. The Rev. Gregg Schafer of the Morongo Moravian Church in California reports they are safe from the fires at the moment but are seeing a lot of smoke and ash. The air quality has been dangerous in all of these states. The Morongo Congregation, the Hope Fellowship (also in California), and the Northwest Fellowship in the State of Washington are all in the affected area, please hold them in your prayers.
Hurricane Sally came onshore in Alabama on September 16, 2020, as a category 2 storm. Because of its slow movement, flooding from the storm surge and heavy rain has caused significant damage. Some areas report receiving four months’ worth of rain in just four hours. And just as Hurrican Sally left, Tropical Storm Beta is making landfall near Galveston, Texas causing more localized flooding. We have no Moravian Congregations in the areas most affected, but we will remain in contact with our ecumenical partners to see how we can help.
You can help support all Moravian disaster relief efforts by sending your donations marked for “MDR” to the Board of World Mission, 1021 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018. Those living in Canada may send gifts to Moravian Church in Canada, 600 Acadia Drive SE, Calgary, AB T2J 0B8. You may also make donations online at www.moravianmission.org/give/ and click on the green “Donate Now” link at the top of the page (this online option is not tax-deductible for Canadians). Your support changes lives.
