ADRA Philippines extends help for families affected by Volcano Eruption; and other world news

This week on ANN. In the Philippines, the Taal Volcano Network has recorded more than 800 volcanic earthquakes, including volcanic tremor events, low-frequency volcanic earthquakes, and low-level background tremors. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has communicated with the Adventist Community Services director of the South Central Luzon Conference. Assessment tools have been shared to allow for immediate need assessments for the alert levels of the volcano. In Cavite, Philippines, ADRA Philippines’ Emergency Response Team has conducted an initial assessment in the municipalities of Agoncillo and Laurel. They are also planning to implement an initial response to help protect the affected families from the adverse effects of the daily high levels of sulfur dioxide emissions and prevent COVID-19 transmission through the provision of N95 masks. The North American Division Adventist Media Ministries Board voted to accept Debleaire Snell for the position of Speaker/Director of Breath of Life Ministries. Snell is set to replace Carlton P. Byrd, who accepted a call to serve as president of the Southwest Region Conference. Since 2010, Snell has served as senior pastor of three campuses of the First Church Seventh-day Adventist Church in Huntsville, Alabama. In Brazil, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has collected 5,000 items of clothing and shoes in Maringá, Paraná. The action was carried out in partnership with Rede Massa, an organization that manages radio and TV stations, and helped publicize the campaign and collect donations. Families from the community visited the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Vila Sete, where they could choose the items they wanted to take home. With ongoing COVID-19 restrictions across Greater Sydney, Australia, “Women of Hope,” comprised of more than 80 women from six Samoan women’s groups, joined forces to prepare 305 care packs delivered to local charities and distributed to people in need. Led by Sesepasara Tangatauli, Women of Hope president and member of the Punchbowl Samoan Church, the packs were filled with essential items, including hand sanitizers, personal hygiene packages, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. The packages were then distributed to Street Buffet Sydney, Helping Hearts Sydney, and Helping Hands Canley Vale. Encouraging Bible verses were included in the packs, sharing the love of God with recipients and highlighting the reason for the outreach. After facing rough tides, mosquitoes, and extreme heat, Hearly Mayr and his 13-year-old son, Andreas, finally reached the last stop of their 200-mile kayaking journey down the Chesapeake Bay. The duo started their adventure at Elk River in Elkton, Maryland, USA. ADRA surpassed its fundraising goal on July 31, 2021, with a total of 9.9 million dollars with the help of the Mayrs’ Bay 200 Challenge supporters and ADRA’s pandemic hunger relief campaign. Proceeds will help families worldwide access food and other essentials which have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. For more news and inspiring stories that are taking place in the Adventist Community, visit Adventist News Network. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKp4_8RyjxM