Media attention on cyclone-devastated Myanmar is subsiding, but the need for emergency aid remains imperative. With the help of BMM’s World Relief fund and Bibles International missionaries, food, clothing, and other provisions are making it into the hands of cyclone victims.
In May, a BMM missionary traveled to Myanmar to bring World Relief funds and to encourage believers. He wrote this graphic description of his trip:
I was able to visit two remote villages …. In one village, out of 600 people 322 perished. You can imagine the physical, mental, and psychological condition of the people who survived. Most of the houses were totally damaged. In some places along the river, the only sign was the raised part where the building stood (mostly constructed out of bamboo), or a few bambooes standing. There were still the dead bodies of many animals and three to four of men by the side of the river caught in a thicket. The stench was awful. It was very difficult to eat the next day.
In the nearby towns, roofs of many houses were blown away.The need is great, but the resource is very limited. Communication, especially in the remote places is very difficult. Many, many trees have been uprooted or branches broken in the city.
Bibles International, BMM’s translation division, has many Myanmar contacts eager to help their people. Many of those affected were part of church-planting efforts that the Myanmar contacts had started.
One such work is in a slum neighborhood of Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon. Six pieces of sheet metal were blown off the Baptist church building, and three other new buildings constructed for children’s ministry, a Bible school, and missionary housing were demolished. Even worse, most church members were left homeless when the storm leveled their bamboo houses.
Become involved through prayer and giving
God has opened wide the door for us to compassionately meet physical and spiritual needs in Myanmar.
Pray that
• relief supplies can be purchased and distributed to those most in need.
• God will enable Myanmar Christians to bring comfort and God’s Word to hurting people.
To give to World Relief
Make your check out to "Baptist Mid-Missions," and include a note indicating the funds are for World Relief. Send it to Baptist Mid-Missions, PO Box 308011, Cleveland, OH 44130-8011.
Or, to give online click on the World Relief link to give securely through PayPal. In the box "Special instructions to the seller," indicate that the gift is for World Relief.
Gift receipts will be issued to all donors, verifying their gifts. Funds sent to Baptist Mid-Missions’ World Relief are tax deductible. Questions may be directed to Larry Beckman, Administrator for World Relief, at lbeckman@bmm.org.
“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” Galatians 6:10.