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Church of Christ Tsunami Relief Update (12 Mar 05)
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Tsunami Update (6 March 05)
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Church of Christ Tsunami Relief Update (10 FEB 05)
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"Our email crashed briefly. We are sorry it has taken so long to get news out to you. The work continues daily. At this point we have served more than 8,000 Tsunami victims. God is blessing us richly.
Don will probably be back in the states for a week or so to take care of business affairs and then will be back in India.
Financial information, as well as newsletters are currently being prepared and will go out within the week."
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UPDATE:
"On a flight to Coimbatore to Bombay, I sat staring out the window, trying to imagine what goes through the minds of those we are trying to assist. I am reminded of Job (Job 1:21). Who can understand the feeling of losing your family and all of your earthly possessions within a matter of minutes?
Things are improving slowly. We are now also working in Nagapatnam, the worst affected area in India. A visit to a government school on Friday reminded me that our work is only beginning. Fifteen families are living in a few classrooms. Their living conditions are beyond description. I experienced a brief departure from the reality of the situation as a mother held her baby and that baby began to play with me. He was about the age of my smallest granddaughters. The mother then explained how the baby had lost her older brother in the Tsunami. They showed me his school photo. He was probably in the first grade. A few feet away, a young girl wept aloud. An inquiry revealed that the family of her fiance will no longer wed their son to her. The dowry, saved for many years by her parents, had been swept away by the Tsunami."
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"Sixty Nine new souls in Christ
"Thanks be to God for the power of His Word and the lifting up of His Son (John 12:32). The work we do is a work of compassion. The most compassionate thing we can do for mankind is sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. One reporter called my hotel room and asked, "Are you proselytizing these people?" I did not hesitate to answer, 'Yes!'
Most who have been baptized have been Tsunami victims, but many more have obeyed because they have seen the churches of Christ and this great work. They want to be a part. We rented the local YMCA as one of our relief camps and the manager quickly explained to me upon our arrival that he was a Hindu. For several weeks, he observed the love, care and compassion of the church of Christ. After one particular long day, I returned to the camp several weeks ago and this formerly Hindu man was on his way to be baptized. He had been studying with one our faithful Indian preachers during the day that day."
More to come....
Church of Christ Tsunami Relief Update (15 Jan 05)
Banner Elk Church of Christ, P.O. Box 1413, Banner Elk, NC 28604
"The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy" (James 5:11)
Brethren, I am so thankful for the kingdom of our dear Lord and the kindness shown to the Indian victims of the tsunami.
Our Indian brethren are so appreciative. They are working diligently, and the resources provided by our brethren here are enabling them.
"Most of you know that I am not supported by the church, but I have a business here in the states. My work required that I return briefly. I arrived at my home on Thursday night. I will be returning to India on Tuesday.
"This work continues to be heart wrenching. Many are the stories we hear daily. Last week, a widow requested money to take her daughter to the hospital. We gave her 100 rupees ($2.20). The next morning, the widow came to the camp to say her daughter had died during the night. Sand had gotten into her liver and she was untreatable. We gave the distraught mother 500 rupees ($10.10) to pay for her daughter's burial.
"Our greatest attention has been focused on widows and children. We leased the local YMCA Camp. We hired a full cooking staff. Our faithful preachers go daily into the devastated areas and interview to find the worst of situations. We load them on our vans and bring them to our
'Church of Christ Tsunami Relief Camp'.
"Before the noon meal, we preach the compassion of our Loving Savior and the kingdom he has established. The food we serve is the best. For weeks, many have only eaten white rice. They are surprised when we serve somber (a daily staple), stew, bananas, boiled eggs, and chocolate for the youngsters.
Today we fed 200 people. On some days, we feed as many as 260.
"Following the meal,we present many necessary items. Our goal is to have all of these daily, but it is quite a job just to purchase and supply our stock room. The items are as follows:
l. A kerosene-operated hot-plate style cooking stove
2. A new sahree (traditional Indian dress)complete with underskirt
3. Bath towel
4. Hand towel
5. Large aluminum bucket (from which to bathe)and the accompanying dipper
6. A smaller bucket
7. Two cooking pots, one small and one large
8. One blanket
9. A plastic mat (on which to sleep)
10. Three metal glasses
11. One metal plate
12. Toothbrush and toothpaste
13. Face soap as well as laundry soap
14. Face powder
15. Clothes line
16. gravy dipper
17. Slippers
18. Coconut oil
19. Brooms
We often personally counsel these widows. Many just want to talk. On the side of the buckets and utensils given, there are stickers that read, "The Churches of Christ salute you" (Rom 16:16) with the local address and telephone number of the church. We also give them a booklet containing who the church is and why we are there. One of our three rented vans then returns the ladies to their villages or camps. At present, we have more than 30 widows (besides children) living in our refugee camp.
More to come.
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