Relief Efforts Continue Through Dangerous Situation

May 29, 2008


Note: Shem and Chito now have to use Tagalog, their national language, to communicate. There are too many actual and internet spies especially in the internet cafes. Please continue to keep these efforts in your prayers.


Every day the wind changes here. Yesterday, the papers said that we could distribute relief goods. Two days ago, even the vehicles of relief workers were impounded. We will verify the status from the township council in Kyauktan before we go out and distribute today. We just found out that Douglas has a brother-in-law who is in authority there.

Philip and the Labuttan team arrived this morning. They showed up here in the hotel and we let them go home because they were tired and traveled all night. The people are truly in desolation. There are still many dead bodies that remain unburied. Philip and the Labuttan team were glad they went.


The man from Partners in Progress is also here now. We had dinner with him last night. PIP had a license to operate here, but they were not able to renew it. Perhaps that is what he is working on at this time. The Barrier boys have some funds, but this will be for follow-up evangelism.
We will go later to the Bible school to talk to the brother who is a retired township member. We will ask him if he is willing to follow up with the contacts and the work in Labutta since he is known to have connections there.

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My beloved brethren!


We are in good hands, but the situation is becoming more difficult with regards to relief work. Starting yesterday they prohibited the giving of relief in the Yangon area. The brethren did not allow the two Americans to go out yesterday, but we proceeded to north Dagon to visit the cousin of Winsome. We brought some relief bags for their neighbors while we were there. We are on our way to Kyauktan to "sightsee". Trucks are no longer allowed to go in the area so we are in two cars. The two Americans are with us today because Doug knows some people in the area.


Teaching children in the villages is a good idea. W also wants to do VBS. We will try to evaluate the situation today to see whether we can continue to come here (on the pretense of teaching children). We can also let them teach at the orphanage behind the school. I suggest that if it is possible, let G get a business visa.


Last Monday, Dr. C gave a lecture at the orphanage on hygiene and we gave deworming meds and vitamins. We shall return tomorrow.
In the afternoon, there was a small clinic at Sister E's house where 15 patients came. They are also thankful to us because the large pile of garbage in the middle of the road in their neighborhood is no longer there (we paid for it to be removed). Yesterday the brethren were afraid to go out so we only had a few patients.


By the way, we also gave seven (7) sheets of GI roofing to the cook at the Bible school who lives in north Dagon.