Connecting with tsunami victims through prayer

Connecting with tsunami victims through prayer

The Southern Asia Office of Global Ministries has had many requests from people who want very much to connect with people who have suffered in the aftermath of the tsunami.

 

ImageThe Southern Asia Office of Global Ministries has had many requests from people who want very much to connect with people who have suffered in the aftermath of the tsunami. We cannot take on the difficult logistics of matching communities for financial support – all our support goes through designated channels of our partners’ organization which are able to ensure fair distribution of relief, but we can offer an opportunity to offer focused prayer support for one small area over the months and years of recovery.

There are many hundreds of villages that were devastated by the tsunami and we can’t list them all. For that reason, we have grouped communities by general location, so that you or your church can focus prayers on a smaller geographical area. We suggest that you chose an area that you would like to connect with over a period of years and that you make a personal or communal commitment to learning about that region and following news reports and Global Ministries’ website updates on that part of the region. You may find it useful to “google” a location and the word “tsunami” (together) to find tsunami-related developments in that area.

ImageSome have suggested having the name of a village (or area) engraved on a bracelet as a reminder to yourself of the commitment you made to pray for that village (or area). There are many ways you might choose to express your connectedness, but we invite you to begin with focusing your prayers as a way to connect more intimately with one community or area during their struggle to recover from this disaster.

Indonesia – over 200,000 lives lost and more than 600,000 displaced
Northern Sumatra, Utara Province
Northern Sumatra, Aceh Province
Islands off the west coast of Sumatra

Sri Lanka – tens of thousands of lives lost and as many more displaced

Southern Sri Lanka
Eastern Sri Lanka
Northeastern Sri Lanka

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Tsunami victims in recovery from Kanyakumari, India

India – tens of thousands of lives lost and many more displaced
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
The State of Kerala
The State of Tamil Nadu
The State of Andhra Pradesh

Thailand – thousands lost and displaced
Southern Thailand

Myanmar – little is known due to the political situation, but probably many lost and displaced
Southern Coast of Myanmar
Northern Coast of Myanmar

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Photo by Paul Jeffrey/ACT International.

If you wish to make a financial contribution to relief and rehabilitation, please send a check to Division of Overseas Ministries (if you are in the Christian Church) or Wider Church Ministries (if you are a member of the United Church of Christ) or give on line at the Disciples of Christ or United Church of Christ websites. Our partners are engaged in delivery of emergency relief supplies, counseling, provision of temporary and permanent homes, re-supplying schoolchildren, rebuilding schools and churches, caring for children orphaned by the tsunami and providing medical care. See the Asian Tsunami Updates on our website for more information on the work of our partners.