India
(MNN) — About a month after fire destroyed a village in Bihar, India,
families are still trying to recover.
A
typical Indian home is very small and often
constructed with readily-available, yet highly -flammable materials like thatch
or dried branches. Some homes are made
from mud and grass. If one catches fire, the destruction can be quick and absolute.
Gospel For Asia's KP Yohanan says that on March
25, "Fire broke out in this small village. Over 100 huts were all burned down. In that village, we had our center for the
children's education, and that also was destroyed."
The Gospel for Asia Bridge of Hope Center lost all of its
school supplies that are provided by Bridge
of Hope sponsors. Authorities say the blaze was accidental, but
it destroyed the homes of 100 families. Many suffered serious burns and other injuries and lost everything they
had, including their livestock.
At least 10 of the homes belonged
to Christians affiliated with the local GFA-related Believers
Church. One of the homes
destroyed in the blaze was being used as a place to meet for worship, since the
small congregation does not yet have its own church building.
Yohanan says their Compassion Services teams are working to
provide temporary shelter and emergency relief for the fire's survivors. While
there were no deaths, the team is tending to emotional and spiritual wounds.
GFA missionaries in
the area ask for prayer for the families devastated by these fires. "Our
people mostly do what they can praying for them, counseling them,
encouraging them, and also helping them–doing normal things that people usually
after any disaster like that, which also
opens the door for us to share continually about Christ's love."
