May 29, 2021

Dear Praying Friends and Supporters,

Friday 21 st May was a special day for AVCA. On that day AVCA received a 40’ container packed with relief supplies to assist in our Relief and Recovery effort for people affected by the volcanic eruption.
 

Three hundred and one (301) boxes containing clothing, towels, sheets, toiletries, cots, food etc., along with shovels, industrial brooms, sledge hammers, etc., which will be used when we get to the recovery phase, - to clean up, repair and rebuild. Praise God!
 

This container represents the love and compassion of the people of God in South Florida. where my family lived during the time I served as the president of MIA. Rev. Dr. Michael Campbell, Sr. Pastor of Old Cutler Presbyterian Church and his wife, our daughter Keren, were the prime movers in this effort. The local TV station (Channel NBC 6) aired our story and interviewed Rev. Campbell and helped to promote our effort. I was also interviewed by video recording, and images of the devastation were shown. Our other children, Barbara and Kevin did their part in soliciting funds etc., for this effort. AVCA has organized a Relief and Recovery committee, and selected 20 pastors from the Red and Orange zones, (the areas most affected by the eruption) who will help to serve as our hands and feet in the distribution of relief items, and we will continue to work along with them in our Recovery phased when the Volcanologists say it is safe to do so. At present we are serving some 70+ private shelters (friends and family homes) providing food and personal needs, and also some public shelters with water and
counseling, and spiritual input. We have seen some responding to God’s gracious invitation.

 

We are trusting God for a harvest of souls in response to the gospel message later. We have hosted shelter managers for debriefing and strategy planning, and a team of counselors led by AVCA’s counselor, Mrs. June Russell, (New Leaf Wellness Center) at the church. The work is stretching us, but God is proving Himself to be faithful by the sufficiency of His presence and the enabling and directing of His Holy Spirit. 2 Cor. 9:8 (He is able to!)

Thank you for your prayers and generosity in this effort. Our aim is to make Christ known more fully. We are tired, (yes, at our age) and sometimes spend many sleepless nights in praying, planning, projecting and even performing in our sleep, but we know that His promise is sure, He will restore our joy in service as He embraces the chaos and turns it into glory for He does all things well.

Thanks again for your partnership in prayers and finances. May God continue to bless you richly.

In Him,

Rev. Walford and Jen Thompson

Sr. Pastor of Arnos Vale Covenant Assembly

St. Vincent & the Grenadines