For Your Information

I haven't written much about what is happening in our neighboring country as I am sure you all are just as horrified as I am and I trust that you are praying as well. I found this on our mission organization's website. Please continue to pray for this situation. I firmly believe God is at work and I take great comfort in knowing that He directs the hearts of kings, even though in times like these it is hard to believe a sovereign God would allow such atrocities we must believe that He is working all out for good and for His glory. There are Christians in Burma who live under extreme persecution. Pray for them to be strengthed and bold to share the Hope they have. Please don't forget to pray for them...remember Christ's words, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Stephen echoed these same words before he was stoned to death...may we as western Christians truly stand in the gap for our persecuted brothers and sisters and beg for God's mercy to be shown forth in this country. The following letter is from our co-ordinator at MTW and expresses what MTW is doing and some needs to bring before the Father.
May 2008

Dear Minuteman,
Is Aid Getting Through?MTW is able to get funds into to Myanmar to be used for the cyclone victims. Our national partners, who are standing ready to help in the name of Christ, have been able to purchase supplies, and have begun distribution to the most needy people that they are able to access. They are hopeful of being able to expand their reach further south. We are less positive of being able to send disaster relief workers, but they have applied for visas and are prepared to go. Please pray that God will open doors. And pray for the suffering people of Myanmar.

Horrifying and harrowing stories are emerging in the aftermath of the catastrophic tropical cyclone that devastated much of already poverty-striken Myanmar. Reuters News is reporting as many as one million people left homeless. No one really knows how high the death toll may rise, but estimates are still being revised upwards, possibly in excess of 100,000. The military government has not responded quickly, and relief agencies are frustrated by delays in receiving emergency visas. Assistance has only begun to trickle in. We are grieved at early reports from survivors that describe terror and devastating loss of loved ones. The urgency of the crisis increases almost hourly.

The area hardest hit by Cyclone Nargis is Myanmar’s fertile Irrawaddy delta known as the Rice Bowl. Of course, this means that the rice crop, upon which the country depends, is almost certainly lost. So, even those areas of Myanmar that did not take a direct hit from the storm will be deeply affected, possibly catastrophically. And as is always the case, children and the elderly will suffer the most from lack of shelter, water, and food. If circumstances continue unchecked, disease is sure to follow, driving the misery and the death toll even higher.

Our assessment team will leave whenever visas are issued, and after that we hope to move quickly with disaster response teams followed by longer-term assistance. The crisis will not pass quickly.

MTW’s national partner, with whom we have worked for the last ten years, lives in Yangon (formerly Rangoon) which, though it is outside the hardest hit area, also suffered significant damage and loss of life. It has been difficult to communicate so far with this valued partner, but we do know that he is well and that he has expressed willingness to work with MTW in the relief efforts.

To make a donation by check, please make your check payable to Mission to the World and write” 93985-MMMM08WEB” on the memo line. (To give online, click here.) And would you pray as well as give? We expect to face many challenges.

Sincerely in Christ,

Paul D. Kooistra, Coordinator

PS: MTW’s Minutemen gave $30,691 to the 2007 Tabasco, Mexico appeal. Any funds not used in the current appeal will be used for similar appeals.

PPS: If you would like to receive Minuteman appeals by email, please send a message to minuteman@mtw.org with the subject line “Add to Email List.”
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