#80 - September 2004
A Ministry of the Southwest Florida Outreach Council: LCMS

Response to Hurricane Charley

On August 13 Hurricane Charley passed through northern Lee County on its way across Florida. 

Relief efforts

Our bilingual Amigos Center staff volunteered at Pink Citrus Park with the United Way of Lee County and other social service organizations in an effort to help victims of Hurricane Charley.  The eye of the hurricane passed through Pink Citrus Park on Pine Island leaving many residents without a home. 

Lutheran Services Florida

Dr. Peter Ledecky delivered a $5,000 check on behalf of Lutheran Services Florida to Pastor Bob for the emergency hurricane relief efforts of the Amigos Center.  The Amigos Center staff provided gift certificates from Wal-Mart to families that suffered loss from Hurricane Charley.

Lost Documents Clinic

John Bulger, District Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and Lourdes García, Community Liaison Office USCIS, met with Amigos Center Immigration Specialist Christina Leddin in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley.  Plans were made to host an immigration clinic at St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Fort Myers.  A team of ten USCIS staff will come August 28 from Miami to help immigrants who lost their immigration documents because of the hurricane.  They will answer questions, supply forms and start the process of replacing these valuable documents.

Amigos Kingston Center

Our Kingston Amigos Center suffered severe damage from a fallen tree during Hurricane Charley.  Within hours, residents pitched in under the supervision of park owner and manager Sharon Kingston, to clean up the mess.  We hope to replace or repair the unit in the near future.

Lutheran Dominican Mission

Pastor Bob will participate in a strategy planning effort in Santiago, Dominican Republic from September 20 to 23.  The purpose is to bring all our mission partners together in consultation with existing Dominican leadership in Santiago to develop a strategic plan for development of the future Dominican Lutheran Church.  Plans are going forward to have two missionaries and one outreach worker on site beginning early 2005.  US based mission partners include Bethesda Lutheran Homes, Board for Mission Services of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Central American Lutheran Mission (CALM), Lutheran Dominican Mission Society (based at St. Michael’s Lutheran, Fort Myers) as well as a number of LCMS congregations across the USA. 

Mexican Consulate

Amigos Center hosted the Mexican Consulate at Hope Lutheran Church, Bonita Springs, on August 21.  Mexican Consul Rodrigo Ortega reported that 350 Consular ID cards and 210 passports were issued.  Obtaining a passport is a necessary step towards receiving legal immigration papers in the US and also for applying for a Florida driver's license.

Website

Visit our new and improved bilingual website:  www.amigoscenter.org.  You will find up-to-date information and photos about both our church planting activities and our social service agency “Amigos Center”. 

Give thanks to God for . . . 

Ø                  The outpouring of His protection and grace in the wake of Hurricane Charley

Pray for . . .

Ø                  Hurricane victims and relief efforts;