July 21, 2008 Update
Lastest Update from Myanmar July 20
MARCH for Christ has sent their 4th team into Burma/Myanmar and have been mostly working with churches in the city of Yangoon. They have been prohibited from entering the Iradelty area where most of the damage has been. Rapha has received this report from Gigie Carranza and her team on the ground:
Today is our last working day here in Myanmar. We had a wonderful fellowship this morning. We were blessed to meet our newly-baptized brethren from Hmawbi. Aye Aye Aung and her brother was immersed last week by uncle Kyaw Sein. It was a little sad saying goodbye to all of them.
In the afternoon, Bernie went to North Oklapa to do the children's class with Winsome. Dr Evelyn, Mhalbe and I went with brother Philip to sister Esther's home where another congregation meets. We were so happy to spend time with them. Our only regret is that we did not meet them sooner.
Mhalbe was supposed to travel to Laputta yesterday morning with a Burmese couple. They still came to see us at the hotel to explain why they could not bring him with them to their village. A local Baptist pastor accompanied them. He was able to go there to help four times already since the Cyclone struck. The pictures he showed us were gruesome. That village is desperately needing help! The pastor can help get us the pass and so can our Burmese businessman friend Martin. Please pray that the next team will be able to travel to Laputta to come to the aid of this village. As you know, without a pass issued by the authorities, it is impossible for any foreigner to go to the Delta region.
Yesterday, at Aduttaw, we began the weekly feeding programme for the children. As it turned out, we were able to feed the entire village. What a joy it was to watch them enjoy a fine home-cooked meal! Mhalbe made many new "tiny" friends. The children loved playing with him very much. Dr Evelyn still saw a few patients while the feeding was on-going.
In the evening, Mhalbe and his sister Bernie were invited to the home of their new friend Tin Tin (the hotel receptionist) to study the scriptures. Apparently, she got into trouble the previous night for reading the holy book with Bernie at the coffee shop where her co-workers could see them in plain view. Being invited to Tin Tin's home, however, turned out much better as Mhalbe and Bernie were able to meet her family and to study with them too.
This has been a great fortnight for me, Dr Evelyn, Bernie and Mhalbe. We thank you for your many prayers.
We leave in the morning for Bangkok, Thailand, then the next morning for Manila. Please pray some more as we head back home.
For God's glory,
Gigie
Kenya shipment on it's way!
The shipment to Kisumu, Kenya, left the Rapha International warehouse on Thursday, June 19 at 1pm! It took five hours of loading boxes and boxes of medical supplies, office furniture for the clinic, a generator, refrigerator, filing cabinets, computers and much, much more! The container is due to arrive in Kenya by July 24.
The Christian Relief Fund operates and manages schools in the Dominican Republic, Liberia, and Malawi. There are 198 children in grades 1-6 at the Ring Road School in Kisumu, Kenya. A clinic has recently been build next to the school so this is where most of these supplies will be used.
After the container left, we have been working on getting the manifest redone and revalued to try and meet the demands of the agent in Nairobi. We are praying that all is now well and that the shipment will arrive with no extra fees to be paid on that end.
China Update
Rapha is still continuing to help the relief work going on in Burma (Myanmar) and in the area of China which was devastated by the earthquake several weeks ago. Ron Brown sent this email:
Our people in Sichuan say there are over 4,000 orphans. We should have the contract for the construction to begin on the Christian Care Center this next week. I will keep you updated on our progress. Vivian and Stephen, two of our 47 workers in China, are in E Wei Shan, Sichuan. This is the location where we propose to build the Care Center.
Urgent Request for Funds
Rapha is continuing to help in these areas. The funding needed to help restore just 10 villages is over $100,000 US Dollars. As in the tsunami relief effort of 2004, we will do the best that we can with every dollar donated and make it count. No donation is too small.
To help, please send funds to:
Rapha International
402 Blue Smoke Ct. W
Ft. Worth, TX 76105