Floods often release poisonous snakes, and taking snakebite venom in a cooler into the stricken area was much appreciated by the doctors who were treating people there. In addition to the usual rice and beans, the bags contained candles, coffee and Clorox, the latter for purifying water, along with toilet paper, soap, matches, candles and tracts. Costa Rica was relatively unaffected by Hurricane Mitch, but the storm added to the number of immigrants, mostly illegal, who came from Nicaragua to find work and better conditions. Over a half million have already flooded into Costa Rica, refugees from the revolution, poor living conditions and their loss of homes because of Mitch. Lillian is raising money for medical and dental projects, since these people do not have access to government clinics.
Disaster also means spiritual comfort and witness.
I am instantly in charge of all overseas finances channeled through us for relief work within our church community and the city. I have suddenly found myself weeping with and counseling a grieving girlfriend of one of our church's musicians, a deacon whose uninsured apartment was demolished, and our children's ministry leader who contracted a rare infectious disease due to the polluted air and water. Disaster also means making new jobs for people whose jobs were lost. But in the middle of Tebaida, one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods of Armenia, LAM missionary Jorge Atiencia found hope. All parts of the tree are edible and nutritious.