The Sichuan Province Earthquake Disaster Part 2 |
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Fischer Family Ministries and our Faith to the Nations Summer The Aftermath… As the
team walked down the street Steve
photographed this elderly woman sitting
under a temporary canopy beside the rubble
that used to be her apartment building… And an elderly man who stands by his govt issued tent where he now resides with his family, while the toppled remains of the apartments he used to inhabit loom in the background. Looking across a rubble field which was once a home for this Chinese family—now existing in a makeshift tent, we were greeted with curious smiles as we gestured back with friendly waves. A boy rides his bike past numerous temporary dwellings squeezed between the foliage originally intended to beautify, now providing structural support for hundreds of tarp/tent structures. Steve and Jael pose with some of the local children who escaped the collapsing Liu Long Elementary School—where many of their friends were killed. A man sells food from the sidewalk adjacent to a fallen building where six people were killed in its collapse. Almost
100,000 people have been confirmed dead or
missing. Most of the bodies have now But one problem still exists…Where do you put the 5,000,000 people whose homes were destroyed? In Tents Cities…and Temporary Buildings… Tens of
thousands of people are living here on what
was formerly a rice field; while
construction is still ongoing for thousands
more. We visited this smaller tent city of only a few thousand to minister to the people. As our bus drove into the tent complex. We were promptly greeted by the security police and given permission by to walk around, just told not to take pictures, so we began to unload the supplies and interact with the people. We were quickly surrounded by many curious Chinese, adorned with smiles, wanting to investigate us as much as we them. Considering the probable boredom one would encounter in a situation like this, I’m sure we were the event of the day. Then suddenly, this guy appeared wearing a dark shirt and some kind of badge (left picture below) and we were told we had to immediately leave. …So what do you do when you’re in Communist country and you’re suddenly told to leave—without reason or explanation??? …You smile…You get on the bus…and You wave goodbye… We then visited the site of what would be the relocation area for Beichuan county, an area heavily damaged where over 80% of the buildings were destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of people would be relocated in “permanent” relocation areas like these. Much of the Beichuan area could not be rebuilt as landslides completely covered some of its former cities.
Our team went out into the tented areas and mixed with the people. They found some who spoke English and welcomed them into their homes…or, tents. The team shared the Gospel with them and prayed for them. All those they encountered were very open to listen and be prayed for.
Other team members were able to share love and make new friends handing out stickers to the children and youth.
Friends were easy to make and pictures easy to take.
Everywhere we went we were greeted with smiles and curiosity. Quite a positive reaction considering the loss some have recently forgone. The picture on the left is a bike repair shop and on the right, a “hole in wall” restaurant where local Chinese men frequent to socialize. The fatigue was evident on our team the day they arrived in Chengdu as they were they were already tired from making numerous border crossings and doing late night English corners. The complication was, they were not able to fly out of Shenzhen to the earthquake zone at 5pm the day before as a hurricane was passing directly over Hong Kong. They had to wait in the airport for the storm to pass not knowing when their flight would leave. Finally, at about 3am, they were allowed to board their plane for Chengdu. The team arrived at the hotel at 7am, only to be told they had 1 hour to shower, change, and be downstairs to get on the bus going to the earthquake zone at 8am. Like troopers they didn’t complain and were ready to go at 8am, for what, nobody knew, was going to be a heart-wrenching, life-changing, love-sharing experience. Also, at the time Steve took this photo he didn’t know that the back of the bus was filled with Chinese Evangelists who had come to live in the Earthquake damaged areas for several months to preach the Gospel. After our Chinese contact informed Steve, that he was giving them a ride into the earthquake area also, Steve quickly sowed enough money into them to pay for all their transportation from Beijing and get them started on their venture in the Sichuan Province.
Steve then loaded them with Chinese books they had brought—of which nothing else could have better equipped them to accomplish the mission they had set out on. Only God, and his Divine timing and foresight, could have brought this all together. At their destination, the Evangelists (wearing backpacks) were loaded up by Joab and jubilantly waved Goodbye. The team arrived at our Missionaries house on the day of his daughter’s birthday. Our US team members brought and wrapped many beautiful birthday presents for her, celebrating her 3rd birthday. The team also prepared an “essentials pack” with many American foods and spices they cannot get here. And of course, we resupplied them with several bags of Bibles and teaching books. We always go to great lengths to care for our contacts in remote regions, equipping them with money, supplies, and most of all, prayer and encouragement. They live in a city of two million Chinese people and the total number of Westerners there is less than 100. That can be quite a challenge to a young family so far away from home.
Our trip into the Sichuan Earthquake region was quite a life-changing experience for all. Not only for us, but our Western Missionaries and Chinese contacts—who are now even further connected with the hurting people of the Sichuan Province. In coming months, and even years, we will continue to assist in the Evangelism of these hurting people and take advantage of what the devil meant for evil and turn it into good. We will continue to love, encourage, visit, supply, and pray for all in this area, and we’ll be enabled to do it by you—our Partners! Thank you for enabling us to get the job done!!! Now, as the world turns to watch this part of China…
We close with these words and pictures from the people living in the forever changed Sichuan Province… Please don’t
forget about me… Or Me…or Me… Or Me…or
Me…or Me Or Me… For I was hungry and you gave me something
to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me
something to drink, Then
the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when
did we see you hungry and feed you, or
thirsty and give you The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:35-40 Thank you so much, all of you who have sent in money for the Earthquake relief! If you would like
to be a part of this project—helping the
Chinese of the Sichuan Fischer Family
Ministries Inc. Make checks
payable to Fischer Family Ministries Inc. All contributions are tax deductible and a tax deductible receipt will be issued. You are the hope and help
for these people and we will continue to
serve them— We love you all, we consider ourselves an extension of you here,
And all from Fischer Family Ministries |
