Tsunami Disaster Relief

A visitor to the south Sri Lanka area observes that devastation cannot be described in words. People recently able to support themselves are lined up as beggars. Within the same setting, horrid selfishness and sacrificial goodness of people risking their lives for others are evident. For the Christian visitor, the determination to lead people to Jesus Christ is heightened in urgency. So many were swept away into a Christ-less eternity.

Near Phuket, Thailand, the UrakLawoi (sea gypsies) have lost their sole means of support with the destruction of fishing boats. Elections happening today will determine what money the government will distribute to those without homes or boats. Some financial help from mission people is being used to repair the specialized vessels used by the UrakLawoi. Most of the tribe are spirit-worshipers (animists), causing them to be very afraid of the spirits of the dead in the ocean. There is a great need to get one Christian-owned boat ready to go out to sea, showing the village that they have nothing to fear.

In one place on the sea gypsies' island, the beach front houses are relatively unaffected by the tsunami; but further inland where the ground slopes down, water scoured out the sand beneath pilings. Floating debris caused more significant damage. It is not safe for people to return to their homes. Construction teams from the United States are at work.

Some of the hardest areas to reach with aid are places where rebels have been active. Long ago, missionaries and mission agencies were forced to evacuate, leaving no stations or reliable contacts for the distribution of supplies. God rules, however, as now Christ-followers are being invited into sections of Sri Lanka and Indonesia where there was no invitation before December 26, 2004.

Arab Christian broadcasters are creating TV spots urging viewers to pray and encouraging viewers to give. Programs featuring discussions of one of the great debates within Christianity, the problem of pain, are being aired. One TV producer affirms these efforts saying, "Prayer opens heaven's gates and brings to earth the mercies of God."

Tsunami Relief Work

There are plans, partnering with several area churches, to develop a rotation of medical and construction teams to minister in tsunami-affected areas for the next several months. Teams will go for about 2 weeks at a time. The first group will be leaving shortly and will be establishing the site and logistics for future work crews. If you are interested, please contact Pieter DeSmit (missions@centralpc.org). Whether or not you choose to go, please pray for this effort, for the unknowns to become blessings and the dangers to be minimal.

See also NV: Tsunami Relief - How You Can Help 1/9.