ACAPULCO — Samaritan’s Purse North American Ministries and Disaster Assistance Response Teams are providing hope by giving food and water to residents of Acapulco, Mexico, in the wake of a category 5 hurricane.

Hassan Villegas:

Acapulco has struggled. It used to be the pinnacle of Mexico. And then once corruption came in and scandals, it just went down to the bottom of the list and it just never recovered. It’s never balanced back. It’s just struggled, it struggled. When this hurricane hit, I mean, these winds came and they gutted the floors. Everything is gone. She didn’t move right off like nothing, like a piece of paper. Telephone lines, poles, everything was on the ground. Everything is drenched. And we had calls where it was like, “Pastor, we don’t even know where to sleep.” And it was a time where everyone was looting. I saw it. They were just going for everything. I walked into like the end of the world, man. That’s what it felt like. I was just paralyzed. I hope had been drained out of me like man, I was overwhelmed. I didn’t even know where to start.

Jason Kimak – Samaritan’s Purse:

Hurricane Otis was a category five storm. It completely destroyed all of Acapulco. The people in the streets, they’re desperate. That’s why we’re here, to bring some hope for the people of Acapulco.

Hassan:

When I heard Samaritan’s Purse was coming down, Oh, you have no idea the relief it gave me.

Samaritan’s Purse has had a great partnership with the Mexican government in order to provide these resources.

We have rolls of tarp that will be used to weatherproof the homes. We also have hygiene kits, solar lights.

We have water filters and water filtration systems. We’re providing food, and we’re here to help people with the physical needs. but most importantly, with their spiritual need to know Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah Roberts – Samaritan’s Purse:

The military’s identified several sites and we’re working with them to bring water to people in need.

Sara Choque – Samaritan’s Purse:

We are helping distribute food packets that will feed many, many families. We’re counting on 14 tons right now. So we’ve collaborated with different churches and pastors to be able to help package these food items.

We didn’t know how really to disperse of the few resources we had.

Hassan:

Samaritan’s Purse has given a lot of structure to the churches.

Sara:

Churches are just really excited to be able to walk alongside us so that they can then also just see the hands and feet of Jesus through these distributions.

It’s a unique response. We’ve been working with churches that have been involved in Operation Christmas Child. All of Samaritan’s Purse is having a part in this response.

While people come up to get water, Billy Graham chaplains share the gospel with them. And so as people come for the water that’s being distributed, they can also hear about the living water who’s Christ.

Annmarie Flores – Billy Graham Evangelistic Association:

My mission and my reason for being here in Acapulco, Mexico is to be able to share the hope in Christ. There was a time in my life that it was hopeless, and I know how that feels. So by letting them know that they can place their trust in God, I’m here to share that hope. Yesterday I had the opportunity to talk to a young lady. She just started weeping. And she said, this is the first time that I started to cry. And I said, it is OK to cry. She said, no, it’s not OK because I have to be strong for my children. And I said, by you crying, you’re not showing weakness. You’re showing strength to them and they need to know that Mommy is also hurting. It’s okay for her to cry and cry out to the Lord.

Prayer is something that Jesus taught us how to do, to come to the Father and ask Him to be our daily bread because we know we can’t do this on our own. We need to rely on His faithfulness and His provision. God will provide.

As long as we’re here, we’re going to continue to boldly go to people who need food, give water to people who are thirsty, and share the gospel with people.

Hassan:

We want to give Acapulco back its glory. That Acapulco would be heard of again, but not so much because of the beaches, but because the Lord’s doing something. We want people to hear of Jesus Christ moving in Acapulco.

Lord, You have been so faithful. Even though all of this, we know You are moving. Lord, our request is that You save souls. That the city of Acapulco see their need for a Savior. That they see the need is more than food or a roof, but a God that loves them. May Acapulco be restored, but in Your glory, Lord. May Your Name be proclaimed in every corner of this city. Amen.

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Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Samaritan’s Purse International Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) program is committed to meeting the critical needs of victims of war, poverty, famine, disease, and natural disaster. We stand ready to respond at a moment’s notice whenever and wherever disaster strikes. The DART specializes in providing water, food, shelter, and medical care while sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

CONTACT: Kaitlyn Lahm, news@samaritan.org

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