Most of the professionals in Sichuan will be ill-equipped to help the Chinese military who have mobilised tens of thousands of personnel. However, in the second and third phase of disaster relief, OMF workers will be able to provide bereavement and psychological counselling, to serve in reconstruction projects, OMF is sending disaster response teams from Hong Kong. This includes medics and nurses. They will be living in tents they will have to bring themselves. Normally, only Hong Kong citizens can get visas at the Chinese embassy in Hong Kong. Please pray that the government can waive this at this time.

Please pray for their safety: aftershocks are still occurring. One Chinese Christian Doctor travelling to the scene to provide help has himself been taken to hospital after his jeep was caught in a landslide caused by a 6.0 aftershock.

Many students in universities, even in Chengdu, are reluctant to go back into their dormitories. They are frightened and scared. Prayer for OMF workers as they share anxiety and grief, but also try to support and comfort students and friends.

Offers from help are coming in from all over the world. Coordinating this is not easy. Remember our teams on the ground, personally overwhelmed, but also working overtime.

We can channel gifts to organisations in China so that they can provide relief, buy building materials and give love gifts to Chinese agencies, friends and the Red Cross. Follow this link if you would like to help.