Not since 1924 had a Category 5 hurricane hit Cuba. That changed last Friday when Hurricane Irma struck the communist island nation, leaving extreme devastation in its wake. The amount of destruction is astonishing, even on an island accustomed to major tropical storms. Severe wind damage and massive flooding have affected the entire island, from the sparsely populated east, all the way to Havana, with over 2.1 million inhabitants. Ten people are confirmed dead.
ELNAC has mission churches and home groups across the island including all the affected areas. Immediately prior to Irma we were able to evacuate some of our pastors and workers; but the storm extended much further inland than anyone could have anticipated. Our headquarters church sustained significant damage as did the homes of many of our workers. Below is a short video clip from one of our mission pastors.
We are working, first of all, to ensure that everyone is safe. Cuba doesn't have the same resources that we are blessed with in the U.S. They do not have FEMA or other governmental agencies to help them rebuild after such disasters. Understanding that there are hundreds of thousands affected, we must deploy our resources to support our friends and family in Cuba.
ELNAC has established a dedicated fund that will provide resources and relief. As we did with Hurricane Matthew last year, we will partner with churches and communities in the affected areas to multiply the impact of the resources. We will engage our network of disciples, supporters, and volunteers to deliver supplies and work within their communities. Our goal is to provide immediate relief, then to bring hope long after the storm is gone by rebuilding and restoring what was lost. All of the funds collected will go directly to relief and rebuilding efforts in Cuba.
Please join us in bringing hope to Cuba!
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