A man stands among the ruins of his house.
The storm uprooted many valuable fruit trees. |
In October, a violent wind and hailstorm swept through part of Assam, India. About 20 percent of those affected by the storm were Christians, and four Gospel for Asia-supported churches incurred damage.
The storm lasted about two hours, but it inflicted heavy damage upon homes and buildings and left one young man dead. Some estimated the winds gusted at 150 kilometers per hour (approximately 93 miles per hour), and the mass of the hail was recorded to be between 50 and 100 grams.
The storm ravaged an area inhabited by over 15,000 people—most of whom are poor farmers. In addition to destroying hundreds of houses and uprooting hundreds of trees, the storm killed even more domestic animals and injured many people.
People are suffering greatly with the loss of homes and valuable livestock. Due to homelessness, many people have to take shelter in others’ houses. Gospel for Asia Compassion Services teams in the area are helping with immediate needs like food and household items. They will also help in the rebuilding process. Those who lost livestock will receive new animals through the GFA Christmas Gift Catalog.
Gospel for Asia-supported workers in the area request prayer for the following:
- That God will comfort those affected by the damage.
- That the four damaged churches can be reconstructed soon.
- That the Lord will help the believers in the area to remain strong.
- That God’s presence will be revealed through this catastrophe.