PRAY. GIVE. SEND.

“for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part….your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.”

- 2 Corinthians 8:2,14

Puerto Rico is still suffering the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria which hit the island territory on September 20th. Electricity, clean water, healthy food, batteries, and gas are scarce essentials most of these U.S. citizens do not have.

Our Response

The first week of October, I and two others with Cru were able to get to the island and help in a small way. Liberty Church and GAiN, the humanitarian arm of Cru sent us with supplies such as: 

• water filters 
• batteries 
• work gloves
• gas cans 
• flashlights 
• clothes 
• food
• money 
• wipes 
• drinks 
• snacks 
• medical supplies

Our quick response team was one of two sent to Puerto Rico with materials and funds to support and assess the situation so that we could learn what to do next. GAiN will be joined by other ministries in Cru such as the Campus Ministry and Athletes in Action. I'm hopeful for what's to come.

WITH YOUR SUPPORT, OUR QUICK RESPONSE TEAM....

...was able to distribute all of these supplies to over 20 families in 2 days! 

GAiN is not just about relieving suffering by supplying goods, but also about restoring dignity and revealing the hope of Jesus. The last few days of our trip, we were able to do just that by sitting down with families in seven different communities and listening to their stories before praying for them.

This map shows the towns we stopped to talk with families, including my family members and my roommates grandmother. The blue lines represent our commute and the star is a location from which we connected with people even though we couldn’t get there in person.

The water filters, pictured left, are probably the most significant thing our fellow US citizens still need. The picture on the right shows a filter we implemented for my cousin in Añasco. The one on the left shows us filling a container with the clean water that was caught in the silver bucket at Kassy's grandmother's house. We were also able to clean out debris and trees that covered her garden in the backyard. We are hoping she can quickly restore some of the plants she had that provided avocado, mango, and other foods. 

With the donations of Liberty Church in Union, NJ and the assistance of GAiN, we were able to send this elderly widow a generator, gas tank, and water proof cord so that she can have a refrigerator. 

Please continue to pray the Lord supplies for those collecting water off the side of the roads and for those without homes as pictured above.

Thank you for praying, giving funds or supplies to bring down. To continue to help, you can give financially to GAiN hurricane relief or email me for other options at edithann.morales@cru.org 

You can see more pictures on my Facebook page.