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Jan 26 - One Month Later

Tsunami Updates Index

Baldaeus Theological College,
Disaster Relief Update, Jan 26, 2005

Dear Friends,

All the shops are closed today, 26th, remembering the 32,000 who lost their lives just one short month ago.

This past weekend we attended a Thanksgiving Service for the life of Mrs. Rosalind Kiruparaj in Batticaloa. Her family were one of the more 'fortunate' ones, they found her body and were able to embalm and bury her, unlike the many who have no idea of where the bodies of their loved ones went, whether they were among the many washed up and quickly burnt just south of Batticaloa, or just disintegrated in the sea. In one Batticaloa community alone the sea took 1000 of the 1800 folk living there.

Visiting the area it is amazing that any escaped, with the sea on one side and the lagoon on the other, the wave came in its full height and destructive power from both sides. The whole community was totally raised to the ground, quite literally as the waves' force also came from underground, pushing up foundations causing the houses to crumble in seconds. The people had just a few moments to run out of their houses, to the nearest main road in search of safety, some were saved by clinging to electricity posts but many found no place of safety and were swallowed by the watery monster. The devastation is incredible. Now brick walls just lie broken and the contents of the houses, from beds, TV's to Christmas cards and trees cover the whole area. It will take much to rebuild such communities and lives again. In so many families you hear of 2 or 1 left out of five, while others lost 25-30 members of their extended families. Men who went out to work returned to find their wives and children dead and their homes demolished. Such destruction and despair in a few short but terrifying minutes one short month ago.

Yet it is so encouraging to see how many from all around the world have responded in giving and coming over to help: men from Texas cleaning wells, doctors from Cuba, counsellors from France....all doing what they can to alleviate suffering, heal and rebuild lives and communties.

One of our past students brought us a list today of 1500 local school children who lost virtually all they have to the Tsunami. They need shoes, underwear, school books, pens, pencils, etc. We plan to send our students to the local schools to distribute these items individually to the children. Hopefully we can not only supply their physical needs but also their spiritual needs and share something of the the message of truth, love and forgiveness by a wonderful Saviour, in whom alone is hope.

Thank you for standing with us in this labour of love,

Yours in Christ,

Jaqui


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