Indonesia (MNN) — Villages buried in landslides triggered
by last week's earthquake in Indonesia
may be declared mass graves. Hundreds
are still missing and feared dead, and the focus now is on the living and
on keeping them alive.
Scott Aminov with
Food For The Hungry (FH) spoke to us from the
heart of the quake zone in Padang, Sumatra. "Food For The Hungry is reaching out to two of those predominantly-Muslim areas. We've set up a food kitchen, and we're feeding over 700 people daily."
The team
targeted a group of people who fled into
the mountains, fearful of a repeat of 2004's tsunami. FH set up the feeding
site at the base of the mountain in the hope that their presence would encourage the people to
return.
It's the first step in meeting physical needs. Aminov says they've mobilized believers to
respond because "I think this is a
prime opportunity for the local church to move into action and to be the light
that God has called us to be."
In the longer term, FH is targeting two sub-districts of Pariaman where few others are
operating. "We have also been working to address some of the other needs
such as safe water, shelter and long-term development. We're actively
partnering with the local church to accomplish all of those goals."
FH is
mobilizing the local churches and partners together with OBI (Ober Berkat Indonesia)
to organize workers in cleaning up the debris so that homes/buildings can be
rebuilt.
Two engineers
from Engineering Ministries International also assisted with the assessment and
will likely help set up and monitor water and sanitation initiatives.
Keep praying for the children and families who are injured,
displaced and grieving. Pray that Food for the Hungry can continue to provide
care and relief supplies. If you can
help, click here.
