Posted in: Nepal
Our December newsletter is now available for download. In this issue you can read about the power of the Gospel in Vietnam, an overwhelming trip to Nepal, India remaining our No.1 mission challenge, our 3 education centres across Asia, and many more articles from our mission projects
Early planning for the Nepal trip is now in progress and an Itinery and expected costs are now available.
Rev Mukunda was our AFA “earthquake man” with his organisation TRANSFORMATION NEPAL. We sent more than $105,000 and helped around 10,000 people – and we will stay in Nepal in partnership with Bhutan next door. Nepal is ripe for Christ with its 15-17% church growth year after year. Yet the church is still in its infancy in Nepal. The challenge is enormous...
Transformation Nepal (TFN) has responded with relief action in many towns and villages, among others in Dhadingbesi, Dhading district. The coordination and cooperation of local churches made this easy. The pastor there was particularly active.
When the mega earthquake hit Nepal on 25th April 2015, we were in the church service. Suddenly the church building started shaking, I announced everyone to stay inside praying and covering the children. It was about a minute for 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Just after this, we asked everyone to evacuate the church building and come to an open place.
I am 73, a granny, with two grandchildren to look after. Their parents are dead. I live for the kids. I had a small house made of wood, stone and mud, but April 25, 2015 changed my life. The mega earthquake snatched away everything, no house now, no shelter, nothing.
When God blessed us with my little child, we were so happy. But the earthquake of 25 April has taken all the happiness away from us. The earthquake has taken our home. Now all that is left is the debris of our house.
I am Nirmala from the Nuwakot district. I had three children - two daughters and one son. My husband is a labourer. He is doing bricklaying helping to build houses in Nuwakot. His work is the only source of income for our family.
I wish to share with you now the astounding news that about $100,100 have been donated to our Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund. All this money is in Nepal and has been used weeks ago except that the last $10,000 is now being used for follow-up work – like enabling children go back to school, supplying stationary for them and helping individual families with special longer-term needs.
On the night of my arrival in Kathmandu after seeing some of the destruction sights I was ready to fly home. I REALLY HAD ENOUGH ALREADY: death and decay all around I see. Under those piles of rubble, were there still unrecovered bodies? Bits of clothing (like filthy rags) still visible among the rocks and pieces of cement – and people quietly walking over the debris of what may have been their homes, still searching for ‘something’, maybe for peace.
The first stage of supplying urgent relief necessary for survival can be considered completed. We did all we could to help thousands of people in three central provinces with food, medicines, shelter and other items.
It’s all history now but the tragic consequences are not: 16,000 thousand dead and countless lives turned upside down. Media attention has now gone but depression and hopelessness for thousands, if anything, is getting worse. You see, grieving in depth has only just began. Who would have thought that AFA was going to get involved in Nepal?
It's nearly forgotten already. The pictures on the TV have stopped as the cameras and journalists have left the country. And so the charity dollar is drying up also. People respond emotionally based. Nepal? That was yesterday - off the agenda now.
Overwhelmed by need and shaken by the daily terror experienced by our brothers and sisters in Nepal, I lost my composure. I lost my calm. I don't know what to do. I wake up in the middle of the night seeing in front of my own eyes the agony of Nepal.
When it rains it pours. Another massive earthquake has just hit Central Nepal a second time (7.4 magnitude). Said Rev Mukunda in Kathmandu, "The people are even more traumatized". That was last night (Tuesday) before communications went down.
Amazing Initial response: You may be delighted to know that on the basis of two emails alone about $25,000 has already come in so far - and that most of the money is in Nepal and more is being sent.
It really is with 'fear and trembling' that we are proceeding. Please note all that was said in our AFA Nepal Relief Action letter