BETHEL RELIEF EFFORTS IN THE STORM DEVISTATED DELTA AREA

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BETHEL

After 14 days of devastation of Yangon city and the delta areas such as, Bogalay, Laputta, Phyarpone, Daydayaee,  Kyitelatt.   As you might already learned that there is 12 millions suffered by this deadly storm Nargis.   As we have been visiting around and see the dire needs of the Christian brethren and non Christians as well as the Lord leads.  Our initial step was to help the immediate needs of food, clothing, medicine, water, Bible and gospel tracts as well as books that will comfort them. We are trying our best with the whatever amount we have with us which is just nothing compared to the great need. But we are so happy to serve in whatever way we can.  

And the second step is to help them the rebuilding of houses and churches.  So far our contacts concern we have met 238 families in the city of Yangon and 47 houses are badly effected.  And the rest are needed only minor repair.  In the town of Phyarpone there were one out of two was totally destroyed and altogether 182 families lost all the roofs of their houses.  In the town of Kyitelatt there were 26 families and the Pastors house was the only house that was left saved. All the people we have met have great needs, not just for their daily manna but also for the rebuilding of their houses.    There are many more needs as we go to more interior places.  

Praise the Lord with us successfully delivering all the 400 packets to Christians and 100 packets for the non Christians we brought from Yangon.  As the rumors causes us fear that the authority might confiscated our packets on the way.  By the grace of God we were saved to bring all the 500 packets and three kinds of  books  50 of each, a dozen of the Holy Bible and 300 tracts totally that filled of our long jeep vehicle.  1750 kg of rice was purchased from Bogalay itself delivered through their pastors for about 480 Christians that is in 5 villages during the trip yesterday. Below are excerpts from one day's activities of the Team in Bogalay area for which you can PRAISE the Lord.

The following is an update of our activities. Five of the team member including the 78 years old of our vice chairman board member traveled to Bogalay starting at 5:30 am and arrived at 10:30.  Then we took a boat to  Saar phyu suh village where no aid had ever reached.  The village has about 300 people and out of this 50 people died.  Miraculously all the believers in that village totally 68 people were saved.  Their church was fallen down and all the houses of the believers too.  We had a time of fellowship with the believers. Words of encouragements and prayers for the people were being held.  We delivered 5 bags (50 kilos per bag) of rice  for 12 families, a total og 68 believers there. And the special packets that contains were given to each individual.  And in cash we give them 5000 Kyats(about 5 US$) per family.

We could visit to Amar area that is the edge of the delta where about 412  believers from four villages are devastated.  We met with Pastor Thaung whom I know well when he was a student for pastoral ministries.  We delivered  332 packets that we bought from Yangon and purchased 30 bags (50 kilos per bag) of rice for the believers in the Amar area. And also give to 42 families 5000 Kyats(about 5 US$) per family.

When we see the real situation our hearts are so much moved with compassions. There was no aids for the Christians. They were abandoned.

In the  afternoon there was a heavy rain while we worked. The people were so happy and enjoyed seeing us help and we all do the same way.  We returned back to Yangon in the evening and reached home.  The whole day was an incredible experience.

Please continue to PRAY for the relief work that is more and more needed especially rice, the staple food.

The people need to have means for their farming as the season to plough is approaching.  There is a suggestion by the pastors that if they could have the small trucks for plough that could help them do their cultivation quickly.  We discovered that  we can provide twofor about US$ 1500 each to help these five villages in the Bogalay area.