We just recently received the following email from a dear sister in the Lord:
My beloved Mike and Londa,
How are you? We are all praying for you.
I am writing this message with a sad heart. Our state and neighbor state were hit by a terrible flood this week. Two of our co-workers are living in the flooded areas. This flood hit major parts of our state and our neighbor state and left every citizen of both states in shock. Chennai is the capital of our neighbor state. This city and three districts of our state being the worst-hit areas. In that state, most of the places even big cities were hit terribly hit by the floods and the entire state has become a virtual island with the rain water. There were snakes around them in the rain water which is absolutely scaring them. Due to steady water, people are falling ill and suffering from many diseases like malaria etc. People left their living places with the clothes they were wearing when the flood started. There were small kids, infants, elder people who are in dire need of help and patients who are in urgent need of treatment. Due to rains, all the services stopped and the people lost everything and they have nothing in their hands. They are empty handed and looking for the help for their beings in these flooded areas.
Our heart goes out for them and we would like to visit those places and help them in some way. We are moved by the situation and our eyes filled with tears to see this disaster. We would like to take a kind step to help our brothers and sisters and play our part of sharing kindness that the Lord placed in our hearts by organizing a relief mission to these places to distribute supplies such as food, water, blankets, cooking material and clothes to the people affected by the disaster. Nearly 15 million people affected and more than 1 million lost all their belongings in these floods and became helpless and homeless and are on the road without any hope. Among these 1 million people, there are 700 families of our congregations. All families are poorest among the poor and live in the most damaged areas and they have nothing for themselves. Each family includes 3 to 5 family members. If we help them $100 US dollar for each family, they will be able to eat food and buy their clothes and house material.
We come in the power and the name of Jesus comforting the destitute and broken. We see God fill hope in the lives of the hopeless.
“He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated;
They will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
(Isaiah 61:1-4 NIV)”
We shared our heart with you. We humbly request you to please share with our beloved family members, friends, church members and board. Please pray for these families and if the Lord speaks to you anything about this flood, please do as the Lord inspires in your heart and help as many families as the Lord leads you to do. We will do what we can and glorify the name of the Lord by showing God’s love to our beloved friends. Your kind help will bring a difference among these broken lives and give them a hope for the future in the Lord!
We will extend the kind help you send for them and send you pictures. If they give us any message to tell you, we will send it to your kind notice.
Here i am sending you some pictures of the flood by attachment. Please see them.
Waiting for your prayerful reply
Sister Srujana