Cyclone Nargis: Our response #15OM International Seven staff and volunteers travelled to the Delta villages by boat, taking building materials for ten houses, as well as rice and a generator for one well. This time the team distributed rice to three additional villages. Many people are still in need of rice, oil, and other food items. Five other villages sent people to ask the team for help in their areas. The people are still very much in need, as many other organisations have already stopped working there, but the needs of the people are still immense.
The following week seven staff and volunteers travelled back to the area by boat, taking more building materials for ten houses, 50 bags of rice, and cooking oil. However, the donated rice seed is not growing well, and it needs to, because it is an important crop to provide food for the villagers as well as give them some rice to sell. A few weeks ago, the team rebuilt two schools in this area, but because of the cyclone, they no longer had teachers. The team provided two teachers to live and work in the villages. These teachers are believers who hope to share their lives and faith with the villagers. Two students have been challenged to move to the area to live and share their faith with the villagers there, where there are currently no known believers. During that week, staff and volunteers also distributed rice, onions, oil, and materials for three wells, giving 40 bags of rice to 400 families, and giving to each family one bottle of oil. The rice distribution continues in the townships: At another church where ten-week Bible training is taking place for 70 participants, the team gave 10 bags of rice. Those attending will distribute some of the rice to needy families in the area. In another township, the team gave out rice to 67 families; and three bags of rice to an orphanage. In yet another township, twenty bags of rice are given out weekly to more than 200 families. The need remains unassuaged. The team building project has begun in this area. So far, five houses and one bridge have been completed. Three of the houses were for widows; the other two families were unable to rebuild their houses and so needed new homes. The bridge gives people access to the village from a remote area in the township, and enables people to cross without wading through the muddy stream. A Hindu widow wanted to show thanks to one worker by bowing down before him, but he told her to give thanks to the Maker, not the man. The people said, “We will never forget you in all our life for helping us when we are in trouble. We really thank you for your compassion and loving care even when we are not the same religion.”
Credit: OM International
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