Puerto Rico Disaster Relief
Puerto Rico Disaster Relief Efforts
Early on Wednesday, September 20, Hurricane Maria (a powerful category 4 hurricane with 150 mph winds) made direct landfall on Puerto Rico, bisecting the entire island and drenching it with several feet of rain. What has happened since has been truly catastrophic for Puerto Rico. There’s limited power on the island. In many places, there’s still no water to drink or bathe in or to flush toilets. There’s limited food and cell service, and dozens of remote villages have been completely cut off from everything for weeks. The Markles are seeing God’s providence daily in the dynamics of life which change constantly as a result of the Hurricane. Please Pray for wisdom as the Markles desire the Lord’s leading for every turn in the road. Pray also for their physical and emotional strength. The Markles continue to come across people who have little or no food. Pray for a great harvest of souls and for people to be receptive to the Gospel at this time.
Baptist World Missionaries Jeremy and Laura Markle are working to use the tragedy to open doors to the Gospel. Two special funds have been set up to see that financial help is available to them. Your gift to either of these funds is tax-deductible, and you will will be able to print your receipt immediately. If you wish to give to the Markle family, you may do so by following the instructions in the Markle Family section below.
Juana Diaz Church and Church Family Project
The Juana Diaz church building sustained damage in the hurricane. Homes of church members also saw damage, some of it extensive. The purpose of the Juana Diaz Church and Church Family project is to help cover the cost of the following: 1) Electric pole and wiring of the church and general repairs, 2) Roof restoration of church members' homes, and 3) Mattresses and other personal needs. This project will have a beginning date of October 26, 2017 and go through April 30, 2018, with a possible revision, depending on how quickly the government moves in their rebuilding efforts and supply availability on the island. If the monies that come in for this project exceed the amount actually needed for the island, we will transfer these extra funds to our general disaster relief fund to help with the next crisis. We have already tapped into funds left over from previous crises to help with the current needs in Puerto Rico.
Unlike gifts mailed to our office, online contributors will receive their receipt electronically. Please keep your receipt, since no other receipt will be sent you.
Public Relief Effort
The Markles are raising money to be used to pay for food, water purifiers and other items to give to the public in need. With each gift, a gospel tract is given. Should more money come in than is used to purchase goods, any remaining will be set aside by Baptist World Mission for use in future disaster relief efforts for our missionaries.
Unlike gifts mailed to our office, online contributors will receive their receipt electronically. Please keep your receipt since no other receipt will be sent you.
Markle Family
If you would like to contribute funds to the Markle family, you may do so by writing a check and sending it to Baptist World Mission. Label your gift "Christmas gift" and send it to Baptist World Mission. These funds can be used to help them with the loss of appliances, furniture, clothing, or other personal items and property issues caused by the hurricane. Though it is not tax deductible for the donor, it is considered a non-taxable gift to them and would help them personally with rebuilding.
You may send your check to: Baptist World Mission, PO Box 2149, Decatur AL, 35602-2149.