Flooded Indiana areas get United Methodist relief

Furniture and household items destroyed in a Jan. 8 flood sit outside a home near Lake Freeman in northern Indiana. UMNS photos by Daniel R. Gangler.

By Daniel R. Gangler*

MONTICELLO, Ind. (UMNS)--United Methodists are joining other faith groups to provide relief for hundreds of northern Indiana flood survivors whose homes were heavily damaged by muddy waters.

The three northern Indiana communities of Remington, Monticello and Delphi were hard hit by early-morning flood waters on Jan. 8. United Methodist Bishop Mike Coyner of Indianapolis visited with pastors of each community on Jan. 19 and toured flood-ravaged areas in Jasper, White and Carroll counties.

As of mid-January, three United Methodist churches in the area had distributed more than 500 flood buckets, received $10,000 from the United Methodist Committee on Relief to meet immediate needs of flood survivors, and coordinated help from volunteers across the state.

United Methodist Bishop Michael Coyner visits with flood survivors Harry and Lois Albert in Remington

Coyner toured Remington with the Rev. Mary van Wijk and trustees of Remington United Methodist Church. Street curbs throughout the community were lined with water-drenched mattresses, furniture and appliances. Most homes had a dumpster filled with debris sitting on the driveway. More than 200 homes were affected in Jasper County, according to Wijk.

The hardest hit residents were 57 families who lived in a trailer park. Government authorities permitted only 35 families back in their homes.

Two senior residents, Harry and Lois Alberts, were awakened by the fire department on the night of the flood. They, along with 200 Remington residents, spent the rest of the night in the First Christian Church. The last of 30 residents were still living at the shelter 10 days later. The public shelter has since been closed.

The Alberts sustained more than $25,000 in damages due to a flooded basement. Coyner and Wijk prayed with the elderly couple in a house across the street from their home, where vacationing neighbors welcomed the Alberts until their house is repaired.

"I am used to giving to people, so receiving all this help is a bit overwhelming," said Lois Albert. "We are so fortunate friends and family (to help us.)."

Coyner visited the American Red Cross Center set up in the Remington Public Library to help residents complete forms for government assistance once the area is declared a disaster. Red Cross volunteers also handed out United Methodist-supplied flood buckets filled with cleaning supplies.

At Monticello, 30 miles east of Remington on U.S. 24, Coyner and Wijk toured flooded areas along the Tippecanoe River between Shafer and Freeman lakes, where more than 300 homes were affected. Accompanying them were the Revs. Brian Beeks and Alex Hershey of Monticello United Methodist Church and the Rev. Todd Ladd of Delphi United Methodist Church.

They walked through the home of an elderly single woman who lost all her belongings when flood waters reached six feet deep. The house was being mucked by a volunteer group from Indiana University in Bloomington. The volunteers received their assignment through the Monticello church, which is cooperating with 12 other area churches to assist survivors.

Ladd said more than 30 volunteers worked out of the Delphi church during the past week to provide assistance to area residents. More than 300 families were affected by the flooding in Carroll County.

Southern Baptist and Presbyterian Church USA relief groups also worked with United Methodists and other faith groups in flood relief in the three counties.

*Gangler is director of communication for the Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church.

Heavy rains displace thousands in southern Africa

More than 2,300 residents of Caia, Mozambique, were evacuated when heavy rains forced the Zambezi River out of its banks. A UMNS photo by the Rev. Jacob Jenhuro

By United Methodist News Service*

BEIRA, Mozambique (UMNS)--Torrential rains that began Christmas Day in Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe continue to force thousands from their homes in southern Africa, according to United Methodist leaders in those areas.

Flooding in Mozambique has particularly affected United Methodist churches in Chemba, Buzi, Save and Nova Mambone.

The United Methodist Committee for Relief is working with Action by Churches Together and the Mozambique United Methodist Church to assess needs and develop a plan of action. UMCOR will address the immediate humanitarian concerns as well as long-term recovery needs.

Urgent support is needed for the communities of Buzi, Chemba, Caia and Machanga where many United Methodists live, according to the Rev. Jacob Jenhuro, director of the North Mozambique Conference Council on Ministries.

"In the communities of Buzi due to the Buzi River, and Machanga due to the Save River, the water rose to the point that some persons had been evacuated to areas considered safe," he said. Those evacuation areas are now in danger of flooding as well.

Jenhuro said the government of the Sofala Province reported that 1,843 were evacuated in Buzui, 4,000 in Chemba, 2,313 in Caia, and 1,055 in Machanga.

"There are still reports of torrential rains in our neighboring countries," said Ezequiel Nhantumbo, a representative of the United Methodist Mozambique Initiative, an outreach of the United Methodist Missouri Annual (regional) Conference.

"Zambia, a country sharing the same Zambezi River, has declared national disaster due to floods. This river will still pump a lot more water downstream worsening the already deteriorated situation of the people of Sofala, TeTe and Zambezia provinces," he added.

"We are in prayer for thousands of families left without shelter and food. As we are made of (the) same body of Christ, we are reminded to realize that when one part of body is in pain, the other part suffers."

United Methodists can aid emergency relief efforts by contributing to "Mozambique Emergency," UMCOR Advance #156500. Mail checks to UMCOR at P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087, with the words "UMCOR Advance #156500, Mozambique Emergency" written on the memo line. Credit card donations can be made by calling (800) 554-8583. Donations are being accepted at http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/advance/donate.cfm?code=156500&id=3018386.

*Information for this report came from the United Methodist Missouri Mozambique Initiative, UMCOR and the Rev. Jacob Jenhuro.