N.C. Baptists continue tsunami relief (updated Feb. 16)

From staff reports

About 65 N.C. Baptists have helped with tsunami relief efforts in Southern Asia. Two more teams are scheduled to leave within a week.

Eight teams of N.C. Baptists have been or are in the region, according to Gaylon Moss, disaster relief coordinator for N.C. Baptist Men.

The teams have worked or are working in Sri Lanka and other countries that are not being identified for security reasons.

In Sri Lanka, N.C. Baptists have cleaned more than 700 wells; removed debris from about 10 homes and one business; and distributed more than 100 water buckets provided by Samaritan's Purse.

In a nearby country, one team of N.C. Baptists working with Cooperative Baptist Fellowship personnel has cleaned more than 50 wells and installed a water purification plant. That team has returned and was replaced by another that will be installing another water plant for people who have lost their homes.

Twelve N.C. Baptists returned Feb. 6 after serving in the same country on a medical team working through International Mission Board (IMB). They treated about 745 people during 16 clinics, Moss said.

Angie Partin, associate pastor of Kenansville Baptist Church in Kenansville and a member of the medical team that worked through the IMB, said the loss and devastation were overwhelming. "The stories were heartbreaking - not just the loss of one family member, but many lost their entire families. There was so much hurt and loss there," she said.

"As I walked on the beach of devastation, I saw broken pieces of lives scattered all around - so much rubble of things representing the people," Partin said.

"As I looked around, I found some shells that were unbroken. The beauty of these shells, in the midst of destruction, reminded me of the true source of hope and healing that can be spread through showing the love of Christ while helping these people," she said.

Two N.C. Baptists from Wilmington were among the first relief workers in India. They worked there with a CBF medical team.

More than 200,000 people are reported dead from the tsunamis that hit the region Dec. 26. Some fear the total could eventually near 300,000. Millions of homes were destroyed or damaged.

Anyone interested in helping with relief efforts should contact Moss by e-mail at gmoss@bscnc.org.

Anyone who would like to contribute to relief efforts in Southeast Asia can make a check out to NCBM - Tsunami Disaster and mail it to NCBM, P.O. Box 1107, Cary, N.C. 27512.

N.C. Baptist Men are also working with Samaritan's Purse to provide temporary and permanent housing for tsunami victims.

Samaritan's Purse is providing Emergency Response Shelter Kits, which each contain a blue tarp, cooking pots, eating utensils, a one-burner gas stove and a gas lantern. A gift of $50 can provide an emergency kit for a family.

N.C. Baptist Men and Samaritan's Purse are also working together to provide permanent housing for families in the region. For about $2,500 a church can provide building materials to build a small house for a family whose home was destroyed by the tsunami.

Individuals or churches wishing to support either of these projects should mail a check to N.C. Baptist Men, P.O. Box 1107, Cary, N.C. 27512. The check should be designated for "Housing for Tsunami victims."

Moss said N.C. Baptists have contributed about $200,000 for the projects.