Dear Friends,
My apologies for not writing earlier. My computer crashed, causing considerable inconvenience. I had to replace the hard-disc of my laptop computer, reconfigure it, and transfer over data from backup discs. Some materials of the past two months were lost, including photos of recent travels. All these in the mist of the ongoing ministry of the church. Thank God, I am now in action (on the computer) again.
Recent visit to Yangon
I managed to travel to Yangon from 28 to 30 June to deliver US$8,500 to Pastor M and US$500 to Pastor Z. Again, Malaysian Airline System was kind to allow me to bring boxes of surplus clothing beyond the normal baggage allowance. I met up with leaders of four church groups to discuss relief efforts to the Irrawaddy Delta, preached on Saturday night in a church, and in the morning and evening services on Sunday as well.
Pastor M’s church sent out the second team of ten persons (not eleven as I reported the last time) to the Irrawady Delta from 11-24 June. Two hundred bags of rice were distributed, together with curry beans, cooking oil, and tarpaulin sheets. One hundred copies of the Burmese Bible were given to two churches. The team also helped to bury about fifty dead bodies and animal carcases. Two tractors were purchased for the two villages that had requested for them. A third team of three persons set off for the Delta yesterday, 14 July. The plan is to clean up wells and supply a generator to the Patlay Baptist Church at Myaung Mya on Pinsaloo Island. From there, the team plans to go to Haingkyi (pronounced Heng-chi) Island to minister to the needs of a church devastated by the cyclone Nargis. The pastor, a former student of Pastor M, has been ministering to the congregation of about 30 people for the past two years. Two children died in the disaster while all the houses were destroyed. All the people are living in make-shift tents.
Funds needed
Another team, from another church in Yangon, has returned from a trip to the Delta. This team was led by a building contractor who is also involved in prison visitation. The team visited the Ma U Bin township, Bogale township, and Labutta township. They report that a total of 500 church buildings in the Delta were affected by the cyclone, out of which 300 were totally destroyed while 200 had the roofs blown off. Of the 300 churches totally destroyed, 100 are being rebuilt with assistance from abroad while 200 have yet to receive any aid. The team is embarking on the following projects, which require the estimated needs shown:
Temporary buildings for four primary schools, made of bamboo and tarpaulin sheets, in Ma U Bin township: US$2,000.
Water supply systems – including hand pumps, piping, and storage pools – at Ka Tha Hmiyin village, Bogale township: US$4,450.
Reconstruction of three church buildings at Bogale township: ($49,000 + $49,000 + $56,000) = US$154,000.
How you can help
It is almost impossible for foreigners to be directly involved in the disaster relief. We are focusing on channeling money to our contacts in Myanmar. Details of our bank account is in our earlier newsletters, which will be posted on the Gospel Highway website.
Pray for the safety and usefulness of the teams that go out. Travel from Yangon to the Delta takes a whole day. Travel by boat to the islands, which are mostly overlooked by other relief groups, is not without its dangers. Recently, a motorised boat capsized in the strong wind and waves, killing 30 people. Relief efforts will have to shift from emergency help to short term aid, and later to long term rehabilitation.
We do not foresee being involved in the disaster relief beyond the end of this year. This is due to our limited resources and the pressing need of direct gospel ministries, both at home and abroad.
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