June 10, 2008
I got my business visa yesterday and I am now preparing for my 2nd relief trip to Myanmar.
Since Shem and Dr. Conrad left Myanmar last May 30, Partners in Progress has been working with the same four preachers with whom we had started to send money into the remote villages of the Irrawaddy. With Phil G. leaving Myanmar this June 13, I expect that the funds you all entrusted to MARCH will take over the funding of these trips and aid distribution. One of the first things I will do when I arrive in Myanmar this weekend is to sit down with them and make an assessment of their work so far, and find out what they see remains to be done.
I know that the four have been bringing in money to buy food, diesel, etc. in the remote villages that are reachable only by boat. The rehabilitation of wells is also one of their priorities. The Barrier Brothers had earlier brought water purifying tablets for distribution. Let us continue to lift these brothers in prayer that God will sustain them with health, vigor, endurance, integrity and His over-all protection. Their tireless efforts are very instrumental in keeping our supply lines to the Irrawaddy open.
A fifth preacher, K. Sein, who is a retired township official, is also waiting for me so we can firm up his proposed livelihood assistance to villages which have received help so far. There is also the scholarship program that I am optimistic will be a fruitful tool for evangelism. Imagine having an influence in the lives of these future village leaders. I am excited to see how we can set this in motion.
I have a team of doctors that is on standby and already have visas for Myanmar. I will ask our Philippine ambassador for assistance in accrediting them to do medical work. My first option is to work with the medical contacts I was able to make during my visit. I will propose that we fund these local doctors to deliver medical services to combat the spread of disease and to treat the sick.
I will also assess whether we can now start sending our children and youth ministry team composed of Gigie, Mhalbe Lagria and Bernie Lagria-cal. If they can work in the villages in nearby Yangon where we have on-going relief work through our Burmese brethren, then they will be in Myanmar around June 17. Mhalbe is a great youth worker while his sister's expertise is teaching children.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support. I will keep in touch.
Your brother and fellow servant in Christ,
Chito
Thursday, June 12, 2008
May 30 Report - Partnering with Partners In Progress
Yangon Myanmar, May 30, 2008 First Response effort: The local Christians are feverishly involved in distributing first response relief supplies to the areas hardest hit by the cyclone. From Yangon to the most devastated area is a 2 to 3 days journey by bus and boat so they are going and coming, taking supplies from Yangon that cannot be purchased there and buying food stuff on the scene fro distribution. Thus far they have only been able to help about 150 families but with our input of funds they are gearing up to provide for 2000 or more in especially chosen areas that have been neglected thus far by others.
Longer Range plans are being formulated in an effort to impact the chosen areas for good and to help people get back on their feet as quickly as possible while establishing a permanent presence for the church.
The death and destruction is unbelievable. Whole towns and villages disappeared. Brethren report dead bodies are floating everywhere and that the Government is using large ships with nets stretched between them to gather the bodies. Because of the fear of cholera epidemics they are towing the bodies out sea and releasing them rather then attempting to retrieve them for burial.
The sea water that came inland more the 200 miles has turned their rice paddies into salt paddies where nothing will grow for three or four years and has left the poorest of the poor without a means of food production.
Politics and Old Tribal rivalries has played a roll in who is receiving aid from the government and people of minority groups are being basically condemned to death unless they get help from outside.
Now is the time for Christian to act quickly to save hundreds of thousands of people and show God's love while sharing His salvation. Many whom have never had the opportunity to hear that Jesus lives, can now be taught if we will respond to this crisis while there is yet time.
William E. "Bill" McDonough
International Director
Partners In Progress
**************************
Dear Bill,
Thank you for your report. I am glad that we will be able to work together in Myanmar to bring relief and the message of Christ's love to its hurting and "abandoned" people. Being among the first from the church of Christ (if not the first) to be able to see the devastation in the Irawaddy delta region, I realize how great is the task and how important for us to pool resources.
M.A.R.C.H. (Medical Action for Relief, Counseling and Healing) for Christ has been doing medical mission work and disaster relief since 1991 in the Philippines. We have been blessed to have participated in the Sri Lanka Tsunami Rebuilding, the Pakistan and Jogjakarta, Indonesia earthquake disasters, Bangladesh typhoon relief and now in the Myanmar Cyclone Nargis Relief work.
Please take note that the trips that were made by our brethren, as reported, were undertaken with limited funds channeled through MARCH. From May 12 up to May 30, daily we tirelessly partnered with brethren to deliver as much goods as we could to the Irawaddy and some affected villages around Yangon. Bringing rice, dried fish, dahl, candles, tarps, water, bread and even diesel fuel, we made it known that it came from Christians who cared because Jesus cares. We did not choose whom to give the goods, but gave freely to those who were in need. We found many wherever we went.
Today we have many contacts and friends in these villages. As you make plans for long term relief work to be undertaken by PIP, we are also looking forward to continuing our assistance to this villages in the Irrawaddy and the Yangon area. This time we want to help in rebuilding their houses, their sources of livelihood and for their psycho/emotional healing. Perhaps we can work on this together.
I hope you can consider the services of our volunteers. We have medical doctors, psychiatrists, counselors and experienced relief workers who can read (and teach) the bible, conduct VBS and children's bible class from the Philippines who are available. Some already have their visas.
While our 2nd team is already back in the Philippines, I will be returning to Yangon within the first ro second week of June. I look forward to meeting you and your man on the field to discuss how we can work together to use this time as a means to further the boundaries of God's kingdom. A 3rd team is already undergoing training and preparing for friendship evangelism and children's ministries to commence in the last week of June.
I would like to thank the brethren from the Double Springs (Alabama) Church of Christ, Saturn Road Church of Christ, Ada (Oklahoma) Church of Christ, Bread from a Hungry World, Richland Hills Chruch of Christ, Rapha International, Body and Soul Ministries (J.C. Bailey), Betty Choate,the Barrier family and Geylang (Singapore Chruch of Christ) for the funds they sent and for their continued support. Thank you for the continued prayers offered for our good health, safety and success in bringing glory to God.
Your brother and fellow worker in the vineyard,
CHITO CUSI
and the men and women of MARCH for Christ
Matt 9:36 - "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."
Longer Range plans are being formulated in an effort to impact the chosen areas for good and to help people get back on their feet as quickly as possible while establishing a permanent presence for the church.
The death and destruction is unbelievable. Whole towns and villages disappeared. Brethren report dead bodies are floating everywhere and that the Government is using large ships with nets stretched between them to gather the bodies. Because of the fear of cholera epidemics they are towing the bodies out sea and releasing them rather then attempting to retrieve them for burial.
The sea water that came inland more the 200 miles has turned their rice paddies into salt paddies where nothing will grow for three or four years and has left the poorest of the poor without a means of food production.
Politics and Old Tribal rivalries has played a roll in who is receiving aid from the government and people of minority groups are being basically condemned to death unless they get help from outside.
Now is the time for Christian to act quickly to save hundreds of thousands of people and show God's love while sharing His salvation. Many whom have never had the opportunity to hear that Jesus lives, can now be taught if we will respond to this crisis while there is yet time.
William E. "Bill" McDonough
International Director
Partners In Progress
**************************
Dear Bill,
Thank you for your report. I am glad that we will be able to work together in Myanmar to bring relief and the message of Christ's love to its hurting and "abandoned" people. Being among the first from the church of Christ (if not the first) to be able to see the devastation in the Irawaddy delta region, I realize how great is the task and how important for us to pool resources.
M.A.R.C.H. (Medical Action for Relief, Counseling and Healing) for Christ has been doing medical mission work and disaster relief since 1991 in the Philippines. We have been blessed to have participated in the Sri Lanka Tsunami Rebuilding, the Pakistan and Jogjakarta, Indonesia earthquake disasters, Bangladesh typhoon relief and now in the Myanmar Cyclone Nargis Relief work.
Please take note that the trips that were made by our brethren, as reported, were undertaken with limited funds channeled through MARCH. From May 12 up to May 30, daily we tirelessly partnered with brethren to deliver as much goods as we could to the Irawaddy and some affected villages around Yangon. Bringing rice, dried fish, dahl, candles, tarps, water, bread and even diesel fuel, we made it known that it came from Christians who cared because Jesus cares. We did not choose whom to give the goods, but gave freely to those who were in need. We found many wherever we went.
Today we have many contacts and friends in these villages. As you make plans for long term relief work to be undertaken by PIP, we are also looking forward to continuing our assistance to this villages in the Irrawaddy and the Yangon area. This time we want to help in rebuilding their houses, their sources of livelihood and for their psycho/emotional healing. Perhaps we can work on this together.
I hope you can consider the services of our volunteers. We have medical doctors, psychiatrists, counselors and experienced relief workers who can read (and teach) the bible, conduct VBS and children's bible class from the Philippines who are available. Some already have their visas.
While our 2nd team is already back in the Philippines, I will be returning to Yangon within the first ro second week of June. I look forward to meeting you and your man on the field to discuss how we can work together to use this time as a means to further the boundaries of God's kingdom. A 3rd team is already undergoing training and preparing for friendship evangelism and children's ministries to commence in the last week of June.
I would like to thank the brethren from the Double Springs (Alabama) Church of Christ, Saturn Road Church of Christ, Ada (Oklahoma) Church of Christ, Bread from a Hungry World, Richland Hills Chruch of Christ, Rapha International, Body and Soul Ministries (J.C. Bailey), Betty Choate,the Barrier family and Geylang (Singapore Chruch of Christ) for the funds they sent and for their continued support. Thank you for the continued prayers offered for our good health, safety and success in bringing glory to God.
Your brother and fellow worker in the vineyard,
CHITO CUSI
and the men and women of MARCH for Christ
Matt 9:36 - "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."
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