South Asia

Rising from the Rubble

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By sysadmin, 01 January, 2016

As I write this update, my hands are numb from this year’s extra cold winter. Indoor heating either by electricity or gas is limited by the long power cuts of 14 hours every day and chronic shortage of fuel products entering into the country is already in its fourth month. Since October, our children home has been using firewood for cooking in the evening. Now that our LPG cylinders have run out of gas for cooking in the morning, we are resorting to buy from the black market – paying 3 times more than the usual rate. The local news reports that the city of 2 million people is only getting 4 percent of its LPG demand.

The building construction of the new orphanage has also stopped completely due to obstruction of materials supply by the ongoing blockade at the borders. The current situation has stopped national efforts in reconstruction work for earthquake victims. Over 600,000 houses are fully destroyed by the quake and many affected families are still living in temporary shelters and having to endure the current sub-zero winter.

In spite of all these, we have embarked on house rebuilding work in our church plant areas for selected earthquake victims found to be the most disadvantaged. We have started building for such 10 households and aim to return housing securing for over 200 families in dire need. Ask the Lord for open heaven provision so that through this genuine good work, many will embrace His great love and come to worship His Son Jesus as Lord and Savior. As we plow on in His kingdom‘s work may we find more of His divine favor in this New Year.

Since the earthquake, returning to normalcy has been both tough and challenging. We manage each day in the grace and strength of the Lord. We press on in our spiritual ministry and at the same time, work to bring tangible help to the needy outside the church. Financial support was resumed for some of our 26 affected pastors by the disaster.

Our 22nd batch of church planting trainees graduated in July. Almost half of them started a new church plant upon returning to their home villages. With the help of the Lord, 8 new works started this year bringing a total of 181 church plants that have come forth from our training centre. Praise and glory of our God!

#175 Squash Church - This new work is located in the central region an hour bus journey from the city. It is small growing fellowship group with a few families gathering weekly.
#177 Raffia Church - This new fellowship is experiencing good growth with over 50 believers gathering weekly. This church, located in the mid-West, is reached by 18 hours of bus journey followed by 3 hours of walk into the remote village.
#178 Broccoli Church - This is a growing fellowship located in the mid-West with close to 30 believers meeting weekly. It is accessible by 3 hours of walk after a 12-hour bus journey.
#179 Kafir Church - Over 20 believers are gathering each weekly in this new fellowship. To reach them it takes 18 hours bus ride and another 3 hour by walk into the remote village located in the mid-West.
#180 Lemongrass Church - It takes 12 hours bus ride to reach this new work situated in the mid-West. Families with children are coming to the fellowship group weekly.
#181 Rockmelon Church - This new work is situated in the Central region about 4 hours bus journey from the capital. It takes another hour’s walk to reach the small growing fellowship. The church is led by a recent lady graduate after successfully completing our church planting course.

If you would like to contribute to the house rebuilding project, you can make a cheque payable to “X-BORDER MISSIONS” and mail it to the address below and indicate behind it that it’s for “South Asia Disaster Rebuild.”

51 Middle Road, #05-01, Singapore 188959

All gifts are receipted. Just include your email address or a return address.