New Information About the Tabasco, Mexico, Catastrophe

National Presbyterian Church of Mexico cancels 60th anniversary celebration to divert funds to Tabasco needs.

Chris McReynolds, US cordinator of Proyecto Amistad, writes the following:

The severe flooding in the Mexican state of Tabasco has prompted Mexican communities everywhere to organize relief efforts, collect funds and supplies, and form caravans to haul supplies to where it's needed. The General Assembly of the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico (INPM) is calling on all of its churches to help (about 30% of INPM's churches are located in Tabasco). The 60th Anniversary celebration of the INPM in Orizaba, Vera Cruz, has been cancelled and the leaders have asked that funds that would have been used to send delegates to the meeting be used, instead, to help the relief effort. PC(USA) has donated funds and is working in partnership with the INPM to help multitudes that are affected by the flooding. Information dated Nov 10 stated that 850 towns are flooded—approximately 70 percent of the state—with flood levels ranging from 2 inches to 36 feet.

The water is receding now but, as you know, the long recovery for thousands of people is just beginning. David Thomas and Stan DeVoogd of PC(USA) wrote "If your U.S. presbytery or local church can help, please send contributions to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, using the following account code: DR000014 for Mexico ." You can do this on the PC(USA) website .

Dennis Smith's Trip Through Mission Presbytery Well Received

Dennis Smith arrives home in Guatemala City tomorrow (November 04) to see his family for the first time in over a month. He traveled four presbyteries speaking in churches, often many times a day. This was part of Mission Challenge 07 which you may read about in our October 09 posting.

Here in Mission Presbytery he spoke at the Presbytery Meeting in Mission and inspired all with the need we have for working relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world. He then spoke at nine churches, many of whom invited other Presbyterians to share the opportunity to hear him, and also at the Seminary.

Everywhere Dennis spoke he made a strong witness for reaching out beyond our own congregations to the churches of the world and to receive the gifts that they have to give us as well as to share what we can with them. May God help us to put into action what we learned.

Presbyterians in Action in Tabasco, Mexico

70% of Tabsco's citizens affected by disaster

Here is some information on the flooding in the state of Tabasco from Dave Thomas, PCUSA liaison to the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico, and the work that is underway:

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

We are writing to inform you of a disaster in Mexico that is not receiving much news coverage in the U.S., but one that has already had greater impact than the recent landfall of Hurricane Dean. Several days ago, there was a weather phenomenon that caused large waves to inundate the coastline of the state of Tabasco, accompanied by heavy rains in the area of two major rivers...the Grijalva and the Usumacinta...which both pass through the state in the city of Villahermosa. The resulting flooding has affected an estimated 70% of the state´s residents. The situation in Tabasco is severe and extremely critical for thousands of Tabasco residents. The presbytery office in Villahermosa has been converted into a major shelter, and the Tabasco Synod office there is completely flooded.

Earlier this week, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance sent $10,000 as a rapid response fund, but the magnitude of this situation -- which is beyond the control and capability of the local and state government -- demands a comprehensive effort. The good news is that the Mexican government is allowing and facilitating aid from a variety of church-related agencies including the Presbyterians. PDA needs funds right now to deal with this situation. What is desperately needed is canned food, bottled water, blankets, floor mattresses, first aid medicines, equipment and materials for purifying water, and clothing...but because of the limited access to the region, it's preferable that financial aid be sent. It's still possible to buy needed supplies in the local marketplace, which is the best way to meet the needs of the people.

If your U.S. presbytery or local church can help, please send contributions to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, using the following account code: DR000014 for Mexico . You can do this on the PC(USA) website .

PDA is working closely with the leadership of our partner denomination, the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico, helping to coordinate the disaster response with the local Synod and local Presbyteries in Tabasco. Yesterday afternoon [November 02]there was a meeting with 8 presbytery representatives from the Tabasco Synod, but many others did not attend because they couldn't get there. The Mexican Presbyterian leaders who are coordinating the recovery in Tabasco have undergone special training that was conducted cooperatively by PDA and other disaster agencies.

As someone who is involved in a partnership with a Mexican church or presbytery, we urge you to consider making a financial contribution to PDA so that immediate assistance can be rendered in the state of Tabasco.

Que Dios le bendiga,

Dave Thomas, Regional Liaison with Mexico; and Stan DeVoogd, Area Coordinator for Mexico and Central America