Compassion in a Time of Crisis

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Monsoon rains brought massive flooding to the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh in September. Hundreds of people scrambled up these hills on the outskirts of their village to escape the rising waters..
For more than a week, villagers huddled together, stranded in the pouring rain. From their perch, they watched with horror as the Godavari River overflowed its banks, swallowing up their homes. By the time it stopped raining, the river was 60 feet above normal.
When the people descended from the hills, they barely recognized their village. Roads were nearly gone. Houses had been washed away. More than 40 people were dead.
The floods also washed away the livelihood of many villagers. This man lost his entire cotton crop. The water eroded away much of his land, too. He is left with precious few acres on which to replant.
Flood waters nearly reached the roof of a GFA-affiliated church in the village. Instead of focusing on their loss, these GFA missionaries immediately went to work, arranging for a GFA Compassion Services team to bring help to the villagers.
The Compassion Services team provided villagers with household supplies including bed sheets, cooking utensils and clothing. Local political leaders endorsed the ministry by pitching in to help distribute the supplies.
Local GFA missionaries also helped distribute the relief supplies. Missionaries and Compassion Services volunteers also spent hours praying with the flood survivors.
After several harrowing weeks, hanging on to the edge of existence, flood victims were thrilled with even this small gesture of help to rebuild their lives.
posted 11/28/2006