The Compassion Fund

Jesús de Nazaret Acapulco

Compassion Fund: Global Disaster Response

Project # 40043

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Updates From Acapulco

UPDATE 2: November 8

In the aftermath of Hurricane Otis, MTW’s missionary and national partners are focusing on helping the families of the five MTW partner churches and the school. They are clearing the debris and trees in the families’ yards and houses and the school. The work team has also been able to travel to Chilpancingo to purchase food and water. They have also received food and water from several other churches. Many members from the Marantha church have created meal kits and delivered them to individual families and smaller churches.

Our missionary now has electricity and water in her apartment and is able to focus on helping others while living in her home. She said that many other families and individuals have not been as fortunate. One church family is currently sleeping in a school. Most have lost their jobs and all of their household possessions—books, computers, clothes, pictures, etc. Those who have not experienced a complete loss still have a long road ahead of repairing the damage to their houses and neighborhoods. Several areas in the city are still in bad shape with limited access to help. Your gifts continue to provide food, water, and shelter for the people in Acapulco who lost everything. Thank you!

UPDATE 2: November 8

UPDATE 1: October 30

Our missionary on the ground, Ellen Barnett, said many church members in Acapulco have lost much. Emmanuel Church in La Colosia, part of the Maranatha Presbytery MTW helped start in the 80’s and 90’s, has been completely destroyed. The student pastor of Emmanuel Church said that during the hurricane, water on the first floor of his house kept rising even after the rain had stopped. The water level reached his neck before he and his family left. He, along with many church members, lost everything in their houses from flooding and wind. New Horizons School (where our missionary Ellen Barnett teaches) lost four classrooms.

Despite heavy damage to their buildings, other churches in the presbytery, including Jesús de Nazaret Acapulco and Maranatha Costa Alegre, were able to host worship services Sunday morning. The few who were able to get to Jesús de Nazaret Acapulco had a joyful reunion with lots of tears. They spent time in worship, praise, and reflection on Psalm 23. Many church members have left the city until they can access basic services again.

Everyone is praising God that no one is injured or dead from the congregation. However, the needs remain great. Many people have been left with nothing and the city itself has a long road of recovery ahead. Your gifts are important for providing food, drinking water, and shelter for the people who lost everything. Your donations will also go toward repairs for the churches and ministry buildings that were heavily damaged. Thank you!

UPDATE 1: October 30

Photos From the Field

Your Gifts Restore Hope

Category 5 hurricane Otis slammed into an unprepared Acapulco, causing catastrophic damage throughout the city and claiming more than two dozen lives. Many more are missing and the city appears to be a disaster zone with crumbled buildings, flooded streets, and debris piled everywhere. Mud slides continue to exacerbate the situation.

Our national partners, missionary on the ground, Ellen Barnett, the children and staff at the children’s home Casa Hogar del Niño de Acapulco, and the members of Jesús de Nazaret Acapulco are all safe. However, many of their homes and structures were damaged and/or completely destroyed. Several members of the church are now homeless with little access to food, shelter, and power. Five partner churches sustained damage, some severely. The hurricane tore the roof off one church building. Fortunately, the children’s home had minimal damage and the children will be able to live there after some clean-up. However, the devastation to the city’s infrastructure has made it difficult for the children to get food and other supplies.

Thank you for your prayers and support. Your gifts to the Compassion Fund will go toward emergency food, drinking water, and repairs for the ministry buildings in the area, and to other unexpected disasters like this across the globe. You are helping restore hope to people in great need.

*Funds received by MTW as part of a disaster response appeal are used for relief and recovery, construction, travel for response teams, and related needs as well as for longer-term rebuilding and church planting. Exceptionally, when there are unspent funds, they will be used in future disaster and compassion situations.