Many of you have contacted me in the last several days to find out how the cyclone in Burma has affected me. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I don’t have any family that was in the affected area, but I have several Burmese friends whose families have been affected and some who still have not been able to contact their family.
The news of cyclone Nargis is overwhelming. This is the worst natural disaster in Asia since the Tsunami. The Burmese military officially says that 22,980 people have died, but the UN fears the toll could reach 100,000, and that as many as 1.5 million people could have been affected and displaced. The most tragic part of all of this is that relief is still not reaching the people who need it most. The Burmese military has still not granted visas to international relief teams, and while some aid is being distributed in the cities, outlying hard-to-reach areas remain without help. This demonstrates the corrupt military regime’s general incompetence and lack concern for its people.
In light of this tragedy I have been asking God how we can best respond, and I want to invite you to participate with me.
1. Prayer and fasting: This Sunday May 11 I plan to fast all day and dedicate my meal times to praying for Burma. Please let me know if you will join me in this. Specific things to pray for:
- That God’s love and light would penetrate the hearts of the Burmese military leaders and they would turn around and show compassion on their people by allowing international relief teams into Burma to quickly and efficiently bring relief to the people;
- That the international aid that is being given to the organizations in Burma would go directly to the people who need it most instead of into the hands of the corrupt military leaders;
- That world attention would increasingly turn to Burma in light of this tragedy, and that the international community would continue to pray, speak out and pressure the military regime to change it’s unjust ways.
2. Giving financially: There are a number of ways you can contribute to the relief efforts in Burma. Here are some organizations that are on the ground working in Burma that I trust:
- World Aid: Please write checks with “cyclone relief” at the bottom and send to 2422 S. Ferdinand Street, Seattle, WA 98108. Money will go to water purification tablets. Clean water is essential fast. It is reported that a bottle of water is 1 1/2 days normal salary.
- Free Burma Rangers: They are now developing a relief network consisting of local groups that can respond to this disaster. This network will assess the needs, purchase or order supplies, package them, transport them and distribute them in the most caring and efficient manner. They will account for and report on the assistance given. Donate online via PayPal on the Free Burma Rangers website: http://www.freeburmarangers.org/About_Us/Support/
3. Use your voice to speak up for Burma:
- Send a message the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urging him to take action to ensure that international aid reaches the people of Burma. You can send an email through the US Campaign for Burma website: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1189/t/5102/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=24494
- Join one million voices for Burma: http://uscampaignforburma.org/index.php
Thank you for taking the time to read this email. I know this is a lot of information, but I pray that the Lord will lead you to respond in the best way you can. This is a tragic moment but I also have hope that it could be a turning point for Burma.
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