Email from K.P. Yohannan in Sri Lanka
January 11, 2005
Dear Friends:
I am writing to you from Sri Lanka, in the middle of the wasteland left by the tsunami. I traveled here to meet with our leaders and to work on a very important project, which I would like to share with you: Local officials in Sri Lanka have asked Gospel for Asia to take on responsibility for 10,000 of the displaced children as a result of the tsunami tragedy.
It saddens me to hear reports of people abusing these helpless children. Because these officials know our ministry, they were confident they could trust us to take care of these little ones. GFA missionaries are already setting up ten transition homes with massive kitchens. We are hoping that in the coming days, relatives will come forward and claim many of the children. We do not know how many will need to remain in the orphanages, but it is a very important and ongoing responsibility.
But in the meantime, your gift to tsunami relief through GFA will make a difference-and save children's lives. (click here to donate)
Another vital task is to make sure there is safe drinking water for these children. The water supply has been contaminated in the worst way-through death. Without pure water to drink, even more people will die. Texas Baptist Men's Disaster Relief teams have come to work with us, bringing special equipment to sanitize water.
Besides these two tasks, we also have plans to build 1,000 homes for some of the thousands of people who lost everything in India and Sri Lanka. We hope to have land donated so we can build small villages with about 100 homes in each.
Some officials who did not welcome our missionaries into their villages in the past are now, by the grace of God, asking us to build homes for their people. One man who had previously opposed some of our missionaries, violently beating them and driving them from his village, now welcomed them back, saying, "I never knew your Jesus loved me so much!"
And Gospel for Asia missionaries are committed to going out into the chaos every day to offer clean water, good food, clothing and medicines in His name.
Your prayers for these selfless brothers and sisters-and your support for them-are deeply appreciated.
If you were here with me, you would see how tragic this really is. It is one thing to read a newspaper article, or watch television coverage, but to be here and see the destruction and feel the people's pain is overwhelming.
You see, those who were not among the more than 150,000 victims still suffer from grave physical injuries and unimaginable mental anguish. To watch as your family is swept away right in front of you by the killer wave-how do you ever forget that image?
Our missionaries are reaching out to these people every hour of every day to not only tend to their physical needs, but also to share the Gospel and offer them comfort in His name. Everywhere I look I see men, women and children reeling with grief. In fact, there are many mothers here who lost a child and, in the process, also lost their minds. They need to know that God is with them in their darkest moments.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4).
Brothers and sisters, I am confident that the Lord will use this tragedy to bring people to Him. This is one of the finest opportunities for the entire Body of Christ to demonstrate His love. Please pray that the Lord will give our leaders wisdom in ministering to the survivors. I also ask you to please pray for our workers that they will be given strength to serve in these very trying circumstances.
It is also our prayer that with your help, we can become a shining beacon of God's love and compassion in the face of such massive suffering.
If you are moved to help the Tsunami victims, please click here:
or call: 1-800-WIN-ASIA (946-2742).
We will continue to post updates, photos and prayer requests on the website. As always, 100 percent of your donation toward the relief effort will go to those in need on the mission field. May God bless you for your prayers and generosity.
Your brother in Christ,
K.P. Yohannan
Founder and President
Gospel for Asia
