wfn.org | ABCUSA: Costa Rica-Panama Relief Efforts Funded

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Rich.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 1/25/05)--American
Baptists are being asked to contribute to relief efforts in the wake of
major flooding this month that has brought widespread damage to sections
of Costa Rica and Panama.

American Baptist Churches USA World Relief Officer Lisa Rothenberger has
sent $3,000 in One Great Hour of Sharing emergency funds to assist in
relief efforts in the stricken region.

At least 8,500 people have been forced to evacuate their homes as
intense, ongoing rains continue to produce mudslides and damage crops.

Limon Province in Costa Rica has been particularly hard hit, according
to Jim and Sara Wiegner, American Baptist International Ministries
missionaries who work with the Baptist Federation of Costa Rica.  They
note that assessments confirm "it will take years to restore the damaged
roads, economy and infrastructure" there.  They reported last week that
"the rains just do not stop" and that Panama and Costa Rica "are equally
flooded" in the new wave of bad weather.

In Panama, American Baptist missionary Ingrid Roldan reported recently,
"The flooding has been catastrophic, both on the Costa Rican side of the
border in Sixaola, and on the Panamanian side of the border, here in
Changuinola."  Banana plantations have been devastated and "crops that
survived earlier mudslides are being washed away in the new mudslides,"
she noted.

American Baptists can respond immediately to the continuing crisis in
Costa Rica and Panama by contributing online to the "Give Now" option
available on either www.abcusamissions.org or www.abc-usa.org.	Churches
so doing will receive credit for OGHS giving.  Contributions also may be
made through normal channels using the Monthly Report of Mission Giving.
All contributions should be marked "OGHS-Sixaola Flood-Costa Rica."

K/2005ABNS/05ABN15

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA
x2077 / (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org