LCMS receiving reports from missionaries in Caribbean, Mexico after disasters

Even as Hurricane Maria continues her destructive course in the Caribbean and residents surrounding Mexico’s capital city frantically work to dig through rubble left by a major earthquake on Tuesday, Sept. 19, the LCMS Office of International Mission and LCMS Disaster Response are working to connect with our missionaries and partners in these two regions to determine the scope of the disaster and how the church might be able to respond.

In Puerto Rico, we evacuated our missionary family ahead of Maria’s landfall there, and our team in the Dominican Republic is finishing preparations to weather the storm. Once the storm passes, our regional leadership team will work with local church leaders to determine how the church might bear Christ’s mercy.

In Mexico City, our two missionary families are safe following the earthquake. In coming days, they will assess the impact of this earthquake on the local church, the communities, and individuals among whom they work.

We will provide updates as we know more about the scope of these disasters.