Members in Santa Fe, Argentina, will long remember the final days of April 2003 when river-deep flood waters evicted many from their homes. Now the clean-up begins. The coming days will be marked by hard work and perhaps sadness. Still, better days lie ahead, says a local stake president.
"There is hope for our future," said Jorge Alberto Prieto, president of the Santa Fe Argentina Stake.
Although many of President Prieto's members lost valued possessions in the April 29-30 floods, the Church leader said they remain buoyed by unity, faith and testimony.
"The Spirit has been remarkably strong in our [Sunday] meetings," President Prieto said.
Many of the Santa Fe members recently returned to damaged homes. Other houses remain uninhabitable.
Meanwhile, the Church is doing what it can to help with the clean-up and ease personal suffering. President Prieto said a cadre of bishops, priesthood leaders and Relief Society sisters have spent the past two weeks caring for their respective flocks. It was a challenge making contact with each member in the first days following the floods, but eventually all were accounted for and their needs assessed.
Members in Buenos Aires have also assisted, gathering to stuff 5,000 food boxes with beans, oil, flour, sugar and canned goods. The boxes were then shipped to Santa Fe, a city in northeastern Argentina. Other emergency supplies, such as medicine and blankets, have also been sent to the area, according to Church Welfare Services spokesman Garry R. Flake.
Brother Flake called the Buenos Aires relief drive "an incredible experience with members working together."
Those Santa Fe-area members who had to leave their homes during the flooding found refuge with relatives, friends, or at area stake centers or meetinghouses. Local chapels were also used to shelter many non-members.
Church-donated relief supplies were taken to Santa Fe-area meetinghouses for distribution. Affected families then went to the meetinghouse and exchanged bishops' food orders for supplies and food. Many who don't belong to the Church were also provided goods, Brother Flake said.
"Both the members and those not of our faith have been so appreciative," Brother Flake said.
Affected members returning to their homes are being greeted, in many instances, by substantial damage. Water lines in some homes are several feet high. Those members who have been unable to return home should be back later in the month, Brother Flake said.
Local priesthood leaders, under the direction of the South America South Area, are also assessing the long-term economic needs of the those members severely impacted by the flooding. President Prieto said many from his stake are self-employed and should be back in business soon.
