Photo of United Methodist Mission Volunteers to Puerto Rico after 2020 earthquake.
Photo and Story submitted by Susan DeBree
Photo left to right: Ed Handl, Eric Stimson, Betty Handl, JoAnn Hanson, Karen Bender, Dave Greep, Marcia Armstrong, Zak Martin, and Su DeBree
As of Jan. 7, nine intrepid United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) are poised to take flight toward Puerto Rico in the morning. In the photo, we are in Ft. Lauderdale, FL ready to head to Puerto Rico on Jan. 9. The plans were made months ago to help with repairs for homes damaged by the hurricanes, and we will be in San Juan, not in the vicinity of the earthquake damage. But we are bringing the love and care of the Mountain Sky Conference to all.
We are from congregations in Whitehall, Helena, East Helena, and Missoula. In communication with folks on the ground in PR, we have been told that the area around San Juan, where we will be repairing homes damaged by hurricanes two years ago, has not been damaged by the earthquakes. They have work for us to do and they want us to come.