Nepal Update

Our outreach to the earthquake affected areas of Nepal and India continues. I just returned trekking through remote mountain villages of Nepal, visiting villages and overseeing the relief work. We were the first ones to reach most of these remote villages. It was a privilege to see our team of missionaries reaching those in physical need as well as touching the lives of those in spiritual need.

Congregation on Mountain Top

In one mountain top, which we reached after almost 90 minutes of trek, the pastor gathered the believers who had lost their everything. They had gathered under a tent we had provided. As we bent our knees, he opened His Bible to Habakkuk 3:17-19 and read, “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.”

 Please know that there is still great need. We are shifting our focus to reconstruction of destroyed houses and churches now. Please see the opportunity you have to give at the end.

I am pasting below the latest updates describing the situation in the region, along with some encouraging pictures.

Taking relief supplies home

·        Through our gifts, more than 10,000 people have now received help in various districts in Nepal. This is in the form of food, shelter, clothing, medicine and prayers.

·         To this point, suffering people in about 100 villages have been helped by our relief work.

Fallen Homes

·         The Gospel has been shared with all the people who have been helped. In addition, the church planters distributing the supplies are praying with the people and counseling them.

Relief Supplies

·         The death toll from the earthquake has now passed 8000 people. In some villages, no one survived. Avalanches moving at a speed of 186 mph killed many people.

·         Our Nepal area junior leader told us, “We could see the houses sway like a rocking chair. The destruction was inevitable.” I, too, experienced several aftershocks when visiting remote villages. 

·         Many people are still sleeping outside because their homes were badly damaged or destroyed. In one village where we had provided tents, the villagers told me, "We now have to keep watch at night because a leopard is now prowling this area."

Cement Bags 

·         Our church planting partners continue to provide basics like food and water. However, they have now begun to provide tents for shelter, beds, sleeping mats, cooking pots, clothing, and basic supplies like tin sheets for roofing and cement to help with house repairs. The goal in this second phase is to “help the victims re-start their lives.”

·         Tragically, families and villages are still being discovered which have not yet received help. Relief supplies are being provided to them as they are found.

·         Several thousand people have now received medical care from the team of doctors we equipped with medicines and supplies. By the end of 

this week, at least 10,000 people will have received medical relief through these doctors.

·        Cholera and diarrhea which often result from poor sanitation and lack of clean water are “becoming common”; we have provided medicines for those as well. For those requiring surgeries, they are being transported to one of our partner Christian hospital in the borders to be treated.

Going to the next mountain

·      We are currently focusing on villages and remote areas where most aid agencies or even the government have not reached out to .  Our field leader from Kathmandu reports  “Even today, a large number of villages have not

Tents put up in a leper village

received any relief aid.  Several villages in remote mountains are running short of supplies and are not sure how long they can survive without relief supplies."

·         Kathmandu police say nearly 900,000 people have left the Valley in the past few days. This means, in the villages where our relief efforts are focused, our workers are now helping and ministering to a second wave of people, who also need resources. 

·         Because churches meet on Saturday in Nepal, it is estimated that several hundred believers died in the collapse of churches.

·          Providing spiritual encouragement to our believer brothers and sisters is critical. The congregations have started to meet again for worship and study of the Word of God. I trekked to many remote villages and found great strength.  

Some metal roof sheets put up as temporary shelter

.         Our next focus is to purchase reconstruction materials (metal roof sheets for $10 each, cement bags for $7 each, bricks, etc.) to help the people rebuild their houses and be able to stand on their feet again.

Thank you for your giving and prayers. Your compassion and prayers for Nepal is greatly appreciated.

Nepal

                                                                                                                                                         

Tents and Blankets

Destroyed Homes

 Our next focus is to purchase reconstruction materials (metal roof sheets for $10 each, cement bags for $7 each, bricks, etc.) to help the people rebuild their houses and be able to stand on their feet again. To give, please press the Donate button at the top (right) or bottom of this page.