On October 25, 2010 Mount Merapi located in Central Java, Indonesia erupted shooting out plumes of volcanic ash, debris and lava into the atmosphere. Along with such activity, there have also been several intense earthquakes. This catastrophic event has left over 250 people now dead and over 320,000 displaced without food, shelter and clothing.
On November 11th Pak N a local friend and indigenous leader here led a team of nine people to some of the most remote and hardest hit locations within Mount Merapi's effected areas. Pak N decided to take all supplies directly to the people in need, rather than at some of the drop off points to insure that all items got into the actual hands of those in need and to make contact with many villagers and village leaders in a more personal way. Our team brought supplies such as blankets, t-shirts, face masks, womens underwear, babies milk and food to nine refugee camp sites within a two day period. In all total over 3,500 refugees were served within this distribution of goods.
On November 11th Pak N a local friend and indigenous leader here led a team of nine people to some of the most remote and hardest hit locations within Mount Merapi's effected areas. Pak N decided to take all supplies directly to the people in need, rather than at some of the drop off points to insure that all items got into the actual hands of those in need and to make contact with many villagers and village leaders in a more personal way. Our team brought supplies such as blankets, t-shirts, face masks, womens underwear, babies milk and food to nine refugee camp sites within a two day period. In all total over 3,500 refugees were served within this distribution of goods.
On the last day of the distribution some older villagers wanted to take the team up closer to the effected area itself, where many of these villagers had just recently had to flee (what I experienced there was both incredible and heart breaking). The entire village was completely under ash and anything that once lived was now dead (livestock, fish, trees, crops). The team was then allowed to "conversate" over some of the people and the village itself.
Please, continue to be conversant for so many who have lost their family members in this tragic event, who have lost homes, who have lost their income for the year and many who have yet to come to Father as their friend and only hope. Pak N continues to conversate that our being there to meet the physical needs of these villagers has served to help create relationships with village leadership and communities there long after the clean up and disaster is over. There is already talk of being asked back to begin helping many of these villagers learn and receive clean water education and equipment. Converse that such a meeting would again lend itself to greater conversation and contact concerning Father and the hope found only in Him.
I also want to give all you who have been apart of this endeavor (giving of funds and conversation) a hearty THANK YOU!.... for without your love and generosity none of this would have ever taken place. I am thankful to find myself surrounded with friends such as you all. Your gifts where a huge source of love for N as well.... he could not get over how each of you gave in such short amounts of time.... he made the statement... "Your fellowships are the real deal". That is completely how I see it as well. I love you all and have conversations concerning you often. For protection from the wolves, those who seek to bring division and false teaching. As well I have conversations that you also continue in your love for one another, the good news and your growth to be more like Father which each and every passing week you all come together. What an honor to serve with and for you all here in this place.
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