Families affected by the flooding of the Mearim River, in the cities of Pedreiras and Trizidela do Vale, Maranhão, received benefit cards from the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International. In all, 587 cards were delivered, with a R$150 credit (approx. US$30).

The delivery was administered by ADRA Maranhão, which, since the beginning of the floods about 30 days ago, has worked in partnership with Adventist Solidarity Action (ASA) of the Sul Maranhense Association, the Adventist Church headquarters for the southern portion of the state, to help those affected by the floods.

Francisca Ribeiro, a farmer, was one of the beneficiaries. "The help is very welcome; it came at the right time. I want to thank the Adventist Church. This card will help me, I was needing it a lot," she said.

Hundreds of families were left homeless by the flooding of the Mearim River.

In Maranhão, the number of cities affected by the rains has reached 70, according to the Civil Defense. Pedreiras and Trizidela do Vale are among the most affected towns.

For a frame of reference, in Pedreiras alone, there are more than 200 homeless families, distributed among 30 shelters. Several villages in the region are isolated, and dozens of families are homeless.

In this scenario, the Adventist Church has been acting to alleviate people's suffering. ADRA Maranhão, with the volunteer members of the churches in this region, visited and registered the families to receive benefits because they lost their furniture and personal belongings, like in Eduarda Francica's case.

"We leave our house not because we want to. My house fell down; I lost a lot of things under the water. My husband and I are unemployed, I have two small children: one two years old and the other four. This card will already help us," Francica says.

Carol Melo, secretary of Social Assistance in Pedreiras, sees the Adventists' help as important in this moment of catastrophe. "With the cards, these people will have the freedom to buy other items they may need," she says.

ASA Delivers Items of Need

For its part, ASA in southern Maranhão invested R$20,000 (approx. US$4,000) in 500 personal hygiene kits and dozens of basic food baskets.

ASA has been coordinating assistance to families since the first people were displaced by the rains in this region.

On Global Youth Day, for example, celebrated on March 18, many stopped their local church programs to provide some kind of help to the families, according to Pastor Wilkson Tmar. As the days passed and the needs of those affected increased, the support of the church, with local authorities, has made all the difference.

"We are very happy, not only with the response from ADRA, but with the brethren's help to the community. The church is active, fulfilling the mission, it has been gratifying to see that," evaluates the local pastor.

Mikael Pereira, one of the volunteers, says he is happy to be able to help. "It is very rewarding to participate in this project. To be able to look into the eyes of these people who are in need of help. This helps us grow as human beings, because we begin to understand the pain of others," he explains.

Church Volunteers

In the words of Pastor Valleide Máximo, director of Adventist Solidarity Action for the southern region of Maranhão, "It's in these difficult times that the church, as an extension of Christ's ministry, needs to help those most in need, through solidarity actions."

Additionally, in recognition of all the effort and services provided to those affected by the floods, ADRA decorated the volunteers with merit badges.

Pastor Valmir Barros, president of the Adventist Church in the region, reaffirms the function of the church in situations like this. "As a church, we understand that we have a responsibility. We are a church of the Word, but we are also the church of bread. We know that we have to preach the Word but also be concerned about the people who need help so much.”

Concluding the work in this region, Marcos Roberto, director of ADRA Maranhão, recognizes the joint effort and praises the solidarity spirit of the volunteers. "We know that it is not much, especially if compared to what they have lost, but it is a bit of hope for each of these people. We, as ADRA, are very happy to be God's instruments for this moment," he concludes.

The original version of this story was posted on the South American Division Portuguese-language news site.