TSUNAMI
SOUTH ASIA

With the most of the countries affected by the disastrous tsunami having stopped their search for bodies and survivors, the painfully slow task of rebuilding lives begins; with families torn apart, homes destroyed, livlihoods ruined the world now has to see how it can support the slow recovery.

Whilst the aid drive in the UK, has now dropped a gear, the agencies are still very happy to use your gifts for the critical work that now needs to take place. If you would like to help on a more direct basis, donations for Fr Amed can be dropped into the rectory / parish office (cheques made payable to Fawkham and Hartley PCC) and we will arrange for the money to be forwarded to the bank account in Sri Lanka. Or you can click on the link on left below, then fill in the form, we will send you the account details for you to make a payment directly, but please be aware that your UK bank may make a significant charge for this service

Click here for pop-up mail form. We will mail you the required account details.

CLICK ON
MORATUWA
FOR A LARGER SCALE

As Richard said in his January 2005 Newsletter, through his work in Sri Lanka, we have a link with the Rev Amal Fernando who is based in MORATUWA, a town about 8 miles south of Columbo. Richard and the Amal shared a house in Sri Lanka for a couple years when Richard was working there.

After the tsunami, Richard was obvioulsy very concerned and tried emailing Amal. Understandably, it took a few days for him to receive a reply:-

Dear Richard & the members of the parish

Many thanks for your e-mail.We appreciate your love & concern very much. I
am very happy to read your news letter. I'm certain it will be a blessing &
challenge to all of us. Richard, you have the gift of writting. Hope you
still remember what I told you in Hewadiwela.!!

Now the families have vacated our parish hall. Some are resettle in other
camps as directed by the local authority. But we are in touch with them. I'll
attach an e-mail which I sent to another friend.That will give you some
idea of what we plan as a team.

My telephone number -XXXXXXXXXXXXX It's always better to contact me in the
night (After 9p.m.) or before 8 a.m.(Sri lankan time) Send me your phone
number too.

Diocese of Colombo is also very much involved. If you wish you could contact
them for more details.

Yes.Even in this situation we experience the presence of our Heavenly
Father."God with us" His promises are true. He will never, ever leave us
alone. He is faithful even now. Continue to remember the people of our
country when ever you talk with our Father.

Shalom !
Amal

Amal spoke about an email he had sent to another friend which gives more information about the help they are giving, and the help they need:-

Thanks for your prayers & concern.I need not give you all the figures & description of all what had happen as you get those news via CNN.It's unbelievable !!

The church is also taking a active part in relief & rehabilitation work.We thank God for all the support we get as a country.We feel the whole world is with us in this hour of great loss & disaster.

Few of us intend to take the responsibility of taking care of at least 12 families.It's family helper project with a long term basis.For this we hope to select 3 infants & about 8 babies under 2 yrs of age.All the mothers are feeding their children.We concentrate on total development.Health. nutrition education self employment etc.We wish to support them till they are able to stand on their own with self dignity.It might take 3 to 6 months or even one year.We will provide dry rations & other needs if what they get from the govt. is not sufficient.Rebuilding of houses - we have to wait till govt. takes a policy decision.

We don't have a committee as such but we hope to work as a team with the local authority & respective religious leaders.(Most of these families are Buddhist) Hilarian & Sriya - Members of our drama group.: They have lost all their belongings.To sons are sitting for A.L exam in April.Their urgent need is to find a small annex.We hope to build a small house for them as the church has given them land some time ago.Till such a time we have to support them with house rent.

We don't appeal to any one.But our friends & relations have ask us how they can help.This information will give them some idea.

Amal has sent an update email to Richard with news on the latest activities he has been involved in:-

Dear Richard,

Yes, the programme at Tangalle was very fruitful. It was focus on children. Education dept.& Police with the Methodist church organized & Back to the Bible Broadcast sponsored. They started with inter religious prayers & some secular songs for children. Then they were divided in to small groups for various activities, eg; songs dance drawing etc. I had to lead a session for teachers & some other leaders in that area. Some teachers were affected by the tsunami. The session I had with them more else took the shape of a discussion, sharing, dialogue & time to time I gave some insights. We were concentrating on how to understand children, help them to face life positively,over come the tragedy & continue studies.We were exploring the best possibilities,ways & means of doing.It was the first time they had a session like that after tsunami.So you can imagine the response.They requested me to conduct those sessions for parents adult students also.Days events were concluded by giving a gift package & then going to the sea.

There were about 200 children & 18 teachers.This week we are meeting to evaluate the programme.It will take pages to write their stories.Hope I have given enough details.Let me know when you transfer the money.A doctor from England will be coming on he 3rd of march to work with us.This is through St.Margaret's Convent.Continue to pray.Thanks.

Warm regards,

Amal

Whilst we pray about ways we can help the people of Sri Lanka, please keep Amal, the Diocese of Colombo, all the people of Sri Lanka, an all those affected by or helping with the recovery from the tsunami firmly in your prayers. God is at work there, he can and will help , through all those involved.

Watch this space for further news from Amal.

If you would like some ideas of prayers to pray for the victims of the tsunami, then click here for some prayers from CMS.