CARROLLTON, Texas, Jan. 17, 2011 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Anthony lost his home and everything in it as floodwaters washed through his village last week in Sri Lanka.
Anthony, who also serves as a pastor in the Batticaloa district, took refuge with relatives. Thankfully, he, his wife and children all escaped injury as the house collapsed due to the flood waters, but they did lose all of their possessions.
Anthony, and hundreds of believers from churches led by Gospel for Asia-supported pastors, are reeling from this blow. They have lost their homes, their crops lay ruined and they have nowhere to turn for help.
The Latest Blow
Sri Lanka has borne the brunt of several major flooding events in the last 12 months. This latest flood is the result of unusually heavy monsoon rains that began in November and continue to fall. The worst-affected areas are in central and eastern Sri Lanka—with the districts of Batticaloa, Ampara and Trincomalee seeing the most damage.
The people in this region of Sri Lanka were just beginning to emerge from the horrors of a 20-year-old civil war, which ended in 2009. Many had finally made strides in recovering from the 2004 Asian Tsunami, which devastated much of this same coastal region.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 1 million people have been affected by this round of floods—more than half of them in the Batticaloa district alone. The death toll stands at 18 and includes a 6-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl who were killed in landslides last week.
The Sri Lankan military has even been called out to rescue hundreds of people who were trapped in the flood waters.
At least 5,0000 homes have been washed away and more than 200,000 acres of crops—including the country's staple rice paddies—are under water.
"The people of Sri Lanka are suffering in a way that is almost unimaginable," said Gospel for Asia President, Dr. K.P. Yohannan. "The country has not yet recovered from the record rainfalls that brought severe flooding last year, and now they are battling the same thing again. They need relief, and they need our prayers."
Gospel for Asia Compassion Services teams are already venturing out into the affected areas to bring emergency relief to the people. Last week, they took 200 food packets to people in the Batticaloa region. Each food packet contained rice, lentil beans (dhal), sugar, dried fish and soya meat (soy protein and meat substitute). The families also received soap so they can prevent the spread of disease which happens frequently after floods.
The teams also handed out mats to the people who are sleeping on the floors in the emergency shelters, which are mostly in schools.
Feeding Body and Soul
The teams do not just drop off food and run on to their next destination. They spend time with the people, who are desperate for someone to listen to their sorrows.
"Gospel for Asia's Compassion Services Teams are there to help, to listen, to pray and to share the love found in Jesus Christ," Dr. Yohannan explained. "Of course we will meet their immediate physical needs, but we'll also be there to tell them about a cure for their spiritual hunger and a love that will long outlast the food we give them."
The teams encountered difficulty reaching the affected areas because of high water; however, they persisted and their vehicles were able to make it through some of the flooding, for which they are thanking the Lord.
"I spoke with our Sri Lanka country leader last Thursday morning, and he was heartbroken as told me about the massive devastation," Dr. Yohannan said. "I assured him that our commitment to care for the suffering is strong and that we will commit whatever resources necessary to help these people rebuild their lives. We will continue to get teams in to deliver emergency supplies as long as necessary, and we'll also commit to working with them for the long-term."
Gospel for Asia is an evangelical mission organization based in Carrollton involved in sharing the love of Jesus across South Asia.
