ArchivedCVCF missionaries :: A message from Pastor TravisA message from Pastor Travis
Today, I was forwarded a message from Pastor Travis Hunt, updating everyone on the situation in India.
Read on.
Hello to all, and thank you to Jesus!
What a bitter sweet return to a land that I love so much. We have spent most of today in the capital city of Chennai gathering supplies and coordinating workers to reach the people who are in the greatest need right now. A staggering announcement has been made on the Indian National News Network, 50,000 children are now either dead or missing along the Southeastern coastline. This is a huge jump above the previously announced 10,000 (men, women and children combined). We have been hearing stories of miracles and tragedies interlaced together.
-A small boy on his way to church with his bible who was carried by a 20 foot wave into the treetops where he clung to a branch for many hours until someone rescued him.
-Multiple hundreds of survivors heading to the local Christian church where believers are now sharing their already meager meals with these strangers to keep them alive until help can arrive. In fact the local government was so impressed by this that they sent a small police force to live at the church and protect the facility and refugees from harm.
-India refusing to accept any foreign aid money, even when faced with overwhelming humanitarian needs.
-The entire Southern fishing fleet being officially grounded because of the amount of human "debris" being ingested by coastal fish. This will lead to serious poverty and potential starvation for any survivors who could repair their boats.
-Three of the villages where we shared the gospel of Jesus Christ last year have been completely destroyed; just an occasional building here or there.
-The biggest emotional roller coaster occurred when we found out that two orphan children who were being supported by a family in the fellowship had just returned to their family in Pondicherry, which suffered the worst of the tsunami. It seemed like forever until a phone call was able to reassure us that they had been able to escape although extended family members had been killed under the wall of water.
Oh, the list could go on and on. As one of the brothers who has been in the field assessing the needs shared with me, "There is a big difference between seeing the pictures and seeing this with your own eyes..." as his voice was choked off with sadness.
How do we begin? First an assessment team has located the most desperate villages from Chennai to the Southernmost tip of India. While towns with a greater population have been visited by relief workers, the small fishing villages are being overlooked because of the cost and difficulty to reach them. This is our goal! Tomorrow we will send out volunteers from the local churches with a token or coin that they will be giving to the families. This token can then be redeemed at our distribution centers set up near the town. This will keep riots to a minimum and allow for a safer distribution of the relief. At this point, clothes do not seem to be the largest need, but pots, pans, brushes, soap, a small stove to cook food and such. This "emergency kit" along with food (rice, bread, etc.) will be placed into reusable bags and handed out as complete sets. Along with this we are discussing how to set up our temporary water filtration stations (we purchased 5 personal hand pump water filters and enough replacement filters to purify 2000+ gallons of drinking water). We have brought and are continuing to purchase electrolyte replacement powders for those who are beginning to suffer under Typhoid fever and Cholera. The doctors back home have counseled us that it is a far higher priority to rehydrate those suffering from these severe fevers and diarrhea, than to give out antibiotics. Most people will beat these two monsters as long as they don't die from the dehydration. This is already beginning, please pray for our wisdom and that those we are coming to can hold on until we arrive. To me it is a picture of God's command to reach those who are perishing (Matthew 28:19-20). God has provided, only now we have to go!!!!! Right now, the villagera are treating the sick by giving them more contaminated water to drink. Part of our effort will be to teach how to properly boil water for purification (10 minutes rolling boil) and how to treat severe dehydration (through small and continuous doses of electrolyte solution). It is my belief that we can save hundreds and likely thousands of lives if we are only able to impart this basic knowledge of disease and hygiene.
Personally, I am asking for prayer. Any excitement has been replaced by the somber look of a man preparing for a terrible battle. God loves these people and has proven it through you and us. Deuteronomy says that we need to "cling to the Lord, for He is your life and length of days". God may they cling now at their darkest hour!
I am sorry that this is only a preliminary run-down, but tomorrow very early we will be in the field and will know exactly what we are dealing with and will have more specifics. This I know, God has shown His great love and care through you to these survivors. We would appreciate your fervent prayers tomorrow as we experience first-hand the suffering.
With a heart full of gratitude for your sacrifice,
Travis
Here's a link to an article that talks about the situation.
Thousands raised locally for quake aid
County donations: Area religious groups gather funds for tsunami relief; county pastor heads for India
http://www.newsreview.info/article/2005 ... /101050047
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