On Wednesday the 4^th of April around 8p.m., a large part of the Western suburban area of Buenos Aires and even the downtown, were affected by the passing of a storm that left considerable damage.

In Ituzaingo, the area surrounding the Youth With A Mission centre in Buenos Aires, the damage caused by the wind gales, the rain and the hail, left thousands of fallen trees, 95 percent of the city without power and 70 percent of the city without telephone lines. Some 500 businesses were affected and around five thousand residences were seriously damaged.

Immediately, the Municipality and National Guard began working, but they were overwhelmed within hours and solicited the help of diverse organizations. As YWAM, we responded to the request for help and Thursday morning we began to send work teams to collaborate with the task of tree removal, rubble and debris removal, clean-up, water repartition, and more.

The teams are working 10 hours a day, as long as there is daylight, since the greater part of the city has not yet recovered electricity due to the need to first remove wires and cables, tin sheets and other debris in order to restring the ruined electrical lines.

God has given us the opportunity to be able to pray and minister to the people affected by the story and we have received testimonies from our volunteers. One elderly woman despaired, saying: “God doesn’t hear my prayers. He doesn’t hear us. How did this happen?” To which the team replied: “Don’t you think that we are God’s answer?” which moved the woman to tears.

Another man approached the team and stated: “I would say ‘May God be with you’, but evidently He already is.” We are continuously receiving stories such as these; the people are grateful for the work and the dedication. As our truck goes by, the neighbors come up and offer to pay for the work, but this is not our goal, but rather to bless the community with what we have.

The situation is still critical as we do not have enough tools. There are people living on the street, and pickets and protests are widely seen by neighbors who are angry at the water and electricity providers, though they are working around the clock to help improve the situation of those that have lost it all.

YWAM Argentina invites you all to be part of helping with the recover in Buenos Aires through:

- Prayer and Intercession

- Sending teams and/or work tools

- Sending finances to be able to buy things that are needed: tools, mattresses, tin sheets, water, candles, non-perishable foods (for those left homeless)

If you can help, please email the YWAM Buenos Aires centre at : comituzaingo@gmail.com or call : 011-1556057896