This is an update on Myanmar and Indonesia.
style=”font-size: small;”>Myanmar
Cyclone Nargis
We are working with four indepedent teams of workers, three of which are local churches in Yangon while another is a fellowship of Christians involved in prison visitation before cyclone Nargis struck. All four teams have been visiting the Delta, each focusing on a few villages. When viewed overall, the villages ministered to are well-distributed throughout the Delta. Each team has been sending in regular reports of what have been accomplished and what further needs there are, accompanied with photographs.
Bags of rice continue to be distributed since this is a basic need that will gradually decrease only when the villagers are able to have income through farming or fishing. Fishing nets and boats have been bought for families, tractors have been bought for whole villages, water pumps and filteration systems have been installed, temporary schools and churches have been erected. Some villages are located in difficult-to-access areas. One relief team arranged for a telephone to be installed in one such areas, covering four villages of over 3,000 people. The telephone is located in the home of a deacon who holds it in trust for the people of that area. More than half of the villagers died in cyclone Nargis, including the pastor of the church. Another pastor, who was ministering in Yangon before the cyclone struck, has since decided to minister in that village. The newly installed telephone is a great help to him to convey information about needs to contacts in Yangon. Two other telephones are planned for these remote areas.
We had channelled some funds through a businessman to our contacts in Yangon in May. I have made four visits to Yangon to deliver relief funds, and to meet with leaders of the four teams, in June and July. In the months of August and September, we were able to transfer money to the relief teams through a money-changer, through delegates who came to the Reformed Ministers’ Conference in Kuala Lumpur, and through a friend returning to Yangon. We have about US$9,000 left of the Disaster Relief Fund, which would be used up in the next instalment to the relief teams. As with the disasters caused by the tsunami and earthquakes of 2004 and 2005, in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, we expect long term relief will be needed for the victims of cyclone Nargis.
Famine in Chin State
In my last visit to Yangon, I was told of an impending disaster in the Chin State, in the northwest of the country, as thousands of rats moved over from Bangladesh (another opinion says form Mizoram, north-east India) devouring the padi and corn along the way. The bamboo plants which are aplenty in that part of the country were blooming, which spelled disaster, since that occurs only once in 50 years. The rats feed upon the bamboo shoots and any grain that is within reach. It is a futile exercise trying to destroy the rats or to stop them in their paths. This phenomenon has occurred before and is much feared by the farmers.
The Chin people are divided into four or five major dialect groups, most of whom have been evangelised. The southern part of the Chin state consists of many villages that are animistic. As expected, reliable news is hard to come by in that nation that is tightly controlled by the military government. Our Chin contacts in Yangon have relatives who are appealing for help as the rat infestation spread from the southern Chin State northwards. Some of them are travelling to the Chin State to assess the situation. Our contact in Kalemyo is in a better position to know the actual situation, although quite removed from the place of disaster. We expect to have news from these friends before too long. What we fear is that by the time news come to us, many would have died due to the famine that apparently has started in the southern Chin State.
Due to the uncertainty, we would like to appeal for contributions to fill up our Disaster Relief Fund. Should the situation in the Chin State prove not too serious, such that our involvement is not needed there, we would use the money for relief efforts at the Irrawaddy Delta. We consider it a great privilege and a duty to help the suffering brethren in Mynmar. However, much as we are moved by the needs in Myanmar, we consider our involvement in disaster relief as secondary to direct gospel proclamation and church planting. Our resources are limited, and we do not wish to be diverted from the work of the Great Commission. We are maintaining 31 December 2008 as the cut-off point of our involvment in the disaster relief at the Delta, and if necessary, in the Chin State as well. Please send in contributions before the month of December. Detailed accounting will be provided in January 2009.
Needs in Indonesia
While on the subject, may I also bring before your attention three immediate needs in Indonesia. Our Missionary Support Fund, to which our congregations in Kuala Lumpur contribute regularly, supports missionaries in the neighbouring countries in the work of church planting. Despite operating on a shoestring budget, we make it a point not to disrupt the support of these men. Over and above the regular support, there are one-off projects concerning which we have to appeal to our friends for help.
Siberut Island
On the island of Siberut, off the west coast of Sumatra, we are helping the Protestant Church to build a student hostel. This is a much needed outreach effort in view of the inroads made by the Muslims from the mainland. The hostel is already occupied by some 30 male students despite the fact that it is not completed yet. The amount of US$4,000 is needed to build the kitchens (upstairs and downstairs) as well as the bathrooms.
West Kalimantan
In West Kalimantan, Brother H is involved in planting a Reformed Baptist church on the outskirts of Pontianak. A house suitable for holding worship services has been found, the rental of which costs US$1,000 for three years. This is rather cheap compared to the normal rates. We are sending the sum immediately to clinch this deal which, of course, eats into our already meagre Fund. Brother H’s father, Pastor A, needs a motorbike costing US$2,000. He is exploring the possibility of planting a church in another part of Pontianak, and is hampered by the need of a motorbike.
Summary of needs
1. House rental in West Kalimantan: US1,000
2. Motorbike for Pastor A: US$2,000
3. Completion of hostel on Siberut Island: US$4,000
4. Myanmar disaster relief: Contributions to come in before December 2008.
Those who contribute to the needs in Indonesia, or to disaster relief in Myanmar, may send money to our church account, stating the purpose in your email to me. The details of our account are as follow:
Bank : CIMB Bank Berhad
Branch Address : Subang Indah, 101 Jalan PJS 11/2, Subang Indah, 46000 PJ, Malaysia.
A/C No. : 1272-0000122-05-8
A/C Name : Damansara Church
SWIFT Code: CIBBMYKL
Thank you for fellowship in the gospel.
More news on the rat infestation is found at the following site:
http://news. bbc.co.uk/ 2/hi/asia- pacific/7633986. stm
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