A Year After Nargis: An Inside Perspective

The world forgets, but we will not.
I’m listening to a local relief worker. It’s summer: hot, sweaty. Cyclone Nargis was over a year ago, and yet its shadow, painful memories and devastating consequences remain vivid today.

“I will never forget stopping the truck where children were stretching out their hands, asking for something to eat.  An old lady took some food and said, ‘Thank you my son, for I haven’t eaten since this morning; this is my first meal.  All my family members are dead, my house and cows and animals are all gone.  I have no home, no family… and nothing will be different tomorrow.  I can eat this – it’s enough for today – but I have no hope for tomorrow or the days to come.’  I shared Christ with her – that He is our future.”  (From a team member working in relief a few days after Cyclone Nargis) 

What now?
Relief work continues: villagers need more walls around reservoirs to keep pigs and animals out, but as farmers, they can’t afford to build them themselves.

These people’s tomorrow is an open door for us. So much good has been done since Nargis, thanks to your prayer and financial support. There’s still much more that can happen. With your help, our acts of compassion and continued commitment to those in need have built bridges of communication into previously unreached areas in Myanmar. What an opportunity, not just to give physical help, but to use this window to share the Gospel! Though Nargis is history, the history of our compassion and response is still being written.

Water
Why water? Distributing rice will fill today’s need, but reliable, healthy water will unite villages to work together and will last into the future.

Food
Food supplies are needed for development in the cyclone-hit areas as well as other areas of Myanmar. Various agricultural projects assist farmers so that they can get rebuild. In Chin state, there has been a famine because of an influx of rats that has destroyed crops. The rice for this area will go specifically to famine relief.

Telling about Jesus
We also want to tell people the message of Jesus through DVD video in the cyclone-affected areas. We’d like to distribute literature to local pastors and Christians to show in their villages. 

A word of thanks

On behalf of our team and especially the many communities that have been helped, I want to thank you for your support of our relief work. We thank God for opening doors. Despite many restrictions and obstacles, we were able to build many houses, dig wells, install sanitation systems, re-create rice fields, repair roads and provide tools for farms. Your support allowed us to assist with medical help, school buildings as well as text and exercise books. In some places, we even were able to help provide teachers. Thank you so much for your support in the past and future as we continue to provide help for the people of Myanmar.

Thank you so much for your prayer and partnership!

Go Chin Zam
Director, OM Myanmar

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24

For more information on Myanmar and how you might contribute, contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it … or your local OM office. www.om.org

OM’s role in the Church is to mobilise people to share the knowledge of Jesus and His love with every generation in every nation. OM pioneers and leads initiatives to redeem lives, rebuild communities and restore hope in over 110 countries.