[revival-fire] China - OFH Update 053108

******* REVIVAL FIRE!!! *******

Updates from my friends in China . . . pictures at bottom. Laura

Hello Folks,

 

Wow!  What a week!  It has been crazy around here as people from all over have contacted us to lend their support.  The local groups have been absolutely amazing.  This morning one group dropped off 440 brand new blankets for us to take to the people in Sichuan.  In local terms, that kind of support is amazing, especially when you consider that people are being squeezed from all sides to give, and have given to the relief effort.  We have received cash donations of more than $2000USD from local small groups and friends.  Though they have seen nothing in additional support for the people of Sichuan and the work we hope to do there, Far Reaching Ministries has covered the cost of moving the supplies we gather and the purchase of $4000USD in medical supplies.  We stepped out, kinda way out, in faith and the boss has provided.  There is more work on the horizon.  I was a bit worried but as things have come together and amounts jibe with need I have no choice but to forget worrying about how the boss is going to do all that He has set before us.  Instead, I need to just keep my eyes focused on Him and allow him to do what he desires both in and through me and the rest of the team.  I am already blown away but what I see. 

 

I don’t know how to say this so that it doesn’t sound like bragging or something like that but one thing that the amount of local support that we are seeing is the faith that people have put in us.  I guess I just want you to know that we, you and I, all of us together have a solid reputation among the people here.  If you thought Americans were cynical, we don’t hold a candle to the Chinese.  For them to simply hand us supplies and send us on our way is phenomenal.  It speaks to the efforts of those that live here and have visited.  I am so blessed to see that kind of trust extended to us.  I know that is a boss thing.  I am grateful that we have not blown it so badly that people refuse to work with us.  On top of that is the spectrum of traditions that have come together behind this thing.  It is amazing.  Please keep us lifted that we can maintain that kind of support and that we would not do anything to tarnish what people see in us as individuals and an organization. 

 

Our plan is that I will fly back to Chengdu Saturday night.  I need time to get the beds and bedding into the apartment.  I think with bunk beds in all rooms that we can sleep 12 very comfortably.  If we add pads on the floor we can probably sleep 16, at least for a bit, without problems.  In addition to beds I will be crawling through the second hand shops to find other things.  The biggest items will be a refrigerator and a washing machine.  The team will follow me up and be there around 3am on Tuesday.  The truck will have been loaded and on the road by Monday evening. 

 

Please lift up the truck and driver.  We have been cautioned by the Red Cross to make sure we have a reputable driver and company.  We think we do.  We were also encouraged to send a chase car or at least send someone with the load.  We are lifting that up.  I don’t know who I would send.  If I’m sending someone for the sake of security then the only one I would send would be me with a big stick.  As a USMC alumnus, I know 10 ways to kill with a pocket comb.  Da Xing Xing, it means gorilla in Chinese and is my nick name, with a big stick practically guarantees that we won’t be molested.  If things are so bad that I have to send someone, I don’t know who I would put in that kind of situation.  Please lift this up. We have been lifting here and I haven’t been able to make a decision yet.

 

Please lift up the folks that are on the ground in Chengdu.  They have been hard at it since the first day.  The situation and the kind of help the people need changes almost daily.  Right now one of the major concerns has become the dams weakened by the quake and rock slides that have dammed portions of the river.  Those rock slide dams are weak and the lakes that are forming behind them are swallowing villages and threaten to burst those earthen dams.  Preparations are being made to move 1.5 million people out of the valleys below the dams.  I don’t know how that will increase the ranks of 5 million already homeless but it must be significant. 

 

I wish I could impress upon everyone the suffering that we have seen and level of the disaster.  It would be like trying to describe the Grand Canyon.  Everyone has seen a canyon.  The Grand Canyon is a canyon but it’s more than just a really really big canyon.  I can describe it all day but until you stand on the rim of that magnificent hole you just can’t understand how big it really is.  I think that this quake and the damage it has left behind, and the damage the aftershocks continue to do, is a lot like that. It is almost impossible to understand the scope of things unless you are standing in the midst of it.

 

I have traveled from one side of the area affected; from South to North on the Eastern side of the epicenter and the destruction is nearly total from Dujiangyan to Mianyang.  Mile after mile along main roads we saw buildings either toppled or clearly so damaged that they could not be occupied.  The construction changes from concrete and brick to wood and stone or wood and clay in the hills around major cities.  These areas are nothing but piles of rubble and splintered wood.  Close to the cities, people have stayed near their homes in makeshift shelters.  Family from the cities have joined them.  From the mountains around major cities, people have walked eight, ten, twelve hours to reach refugee camps, leaving behind their possessions and those that could not travel or be carried on someone’s back. 

 

It breaks my heart to read some of the internet responses and statements people have made about what is happening here.  Some have been so gross as to suggest that this nation deserved what happened on May 12^th.  I don’t know if they are saying things for their shock value or they really feel that way.  I don’t know how anyone could say something so horrible in light of the suffering that I have seen.  I can’t even imagine what it must be like for the people Dujiangyan to have stand helpless in the aftermath and know that 1000 of their children and teachers lie crushed, lifeless under the rubble of their school.  Forgive me, but these are not two dimensional images on a screen to me.  They are people.  They are not representative of a political or economic ideology.  They are men, women and children suffering through one of the most devastating natural events in modern history.  Shame on those that would write or utter the hateful and horrible things that I have read. 

 

Please keep this nation and its leaders lifted as they seek the best way to respond to the mass of humanity suffering through this time.  Please lift up those that have lost loved ones and those who will continue to loose loved ones to injuries that will not heal.  Please lift up the children that have been orphaned.  Please lift up those children that have yet to be reunited with their families.  Please lift up the millions in camps that they would safe from disease.  Please lift up those of us doing relief work, that we would be effective and kept safe.  Please lift up that doors would remain open for us to take the good news to those that need to hear.  Please lift up the needs and ask the boss how you or your local group can be involved in what is happening here, not only immediately but in the long term as well.   Please lift up the team: Dan, Daniel, Melody, Bea, Mr. Li, Aaron, Alice, Kristin, Ms. Chang, Rachel and me.  Please lift up Operation light and John and Bob.  Please lift up those holding down the fort at OFH: Trudy, Rudy, Forrest, Jason, Abel, James, Utah, Asia and Meagan. Please lift up teams from Macau and Japan that are joining the effort.  Please thank the boss for all those locally and stateside through which the boss has made provision.  Thank you for keeping us lifted. 

 

I’ve said this before but I am reminded now most especially of Napoleon’s observation that that armies move on their stomachs.  I am convinced of this, the body of believers moves on the knees of the saints.  Please keep us lifted, especially that we would be obedient to all that we are called to do.  Thank you for all you do.  In the vine, Tim

 

 

 

Meagan controls the inventory and manifest.	Unloading 440 blankets.
Aaron the animal!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Li recieving on the medicines delivered to OFH.	Rudy is blown away by the response!
Kristin checks the bill.	Tim pretends he's doing something amidst the piles of drugs.
Ampicillin	Amoxycillin
stacks a cillin

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