According to the BBC (also visit The China Daily ) :
More than 50,000 people have died and 5 million are homeless in the devastating earthquake that hit China's Sichuan province.
Thousands more are trapped in the rubble after the 7.9 quake struck, causing landslides and razing homes, schools and whole villages. Pray for so many experiencing such devastation and loss. For more personal reports, visit www.omf.org/uk .
If you have a servant's heart, speak Mandarin and are qualified in community health disciplines, primary education teaching or other related areas, there may be a short-term service opportunity in China related to the earthquake. Please contact us .
Sichuan Earthquake Relief Funds
OMF is receiving donations for disaster relief for two groups in China, which for security reasons are designated "M" and "F." Initial funds to both groups are being used to support acute disaster rescue and relief. Based on subsequent assessments, donations will continue to be used for medical care, necessities such as water and shelter, and rehabilitation and follow up such as psychological care for victims, spiritual counseling, schooling and rebuilding.
“M” group medical teams are now working out of Mianyang, a city of 5 million where more than 18,000 were reported missing, and in two outlying counties. Additional medical teams from a neighboring province and from Taiwan and Hong Kong are arriving and serving other areas. One of the teams from Hong Kong will be of experienced counselors to begin their important work in counseling and in training local people in post-trauma counseling.
Living less than 60 miles from the epicenter when the earthquake occurred, scores of “F” group workers are now engaged with local believers in responding needs of victims. Some funds will be directed to the Red Cross, which has direct access to the hardest-hit villages and towns as well as expertise in relief work. Other funds will support local Christian organizations to mobilize their members to carry relief supplies into some of the smaller, overlooked rural areas in the quake zone. In addition, some relief funds will be given directly to individuals and families that have urgent support needs in the near term as they seek to rebuild their lives, including local friends whose family members in the quake zone have been directly impacted by the quake. During the restoration phases, we are hoping to allocate US$50,000–$100,000 to rebuilding efforts in areas where we plan to have a long-term presence. We are also expecting to train Chinese believers in counseling for trauma and other needs.
While OMF is not a relief agency, we look to support disaster relief in practical ways primarily as a means toward advancing the gospel. We often partner with local believers and churches with whom we are already engaged. We are most effective with projects designed toward long-term development, and our goal and hope is to make permanent investments in lives and communities.
Donations should be made by check and mailed to OMF International, 10 W. Dry Creek Circle, Littleton, CO 80120-4413. Please indicate your donation is for earthquake relief. Donations will be divided between groups “M” and “F” unless otherwise requested. Giving on-line by credit card will slow the process.
For questions, please contact Stewardship Ministries Director, Harry Halkowich, at 800.422.5330.
