People have been asking how to . . .
pray for the Islands after the tsunami |
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Here is some information to help us pray.
Samoa -
- Pray for aid to arrive quickly and to be relevant for the islander's needs.
- Pray for safe drinking water and sewage disposal to prevent disease.
- Pray for food in the months to come. Village people live subsistence lifestyles relying on small family plantations. The crops on many plantations will be destroyed and it will be a long time (sometimes years) before crops can be grown again after salt water has soured the land.
- No family is untouched. People have lost many relatives and friends. Once over the initial shock, anger can cause grieving people to blame themselves or others. Many people have the superstitious idea that disasters are God's judgment on somebody's bad behaviour.
American Samoa -
- This is a US territory and a lot of US aid is already on the ground and meeting needs. This country has the economic might of the US behind it's reconstruction. We are in contact with their local Christian station which is doing a very good job of helping and comforting their listeners.
Tonga -
- All deaths in Tonga were on one very small island close to Samoa. All buildings were destroyed and the population has been evacuated by sea.
Island people living outside the Islands -
- What must it be like to worry and wait for news about missing relatives? I know of one Pacific person who lost 14 family members in the tsunami - I cannot imagine it!
- Every expatriate Islander will be desperate to go and search for missing loved ones, and help rebuild. Families need God's wisdom to decide who to send because those who can help also have jobs earning the money that's needed.
- Overseas families will be scraping together all the money they can to send to the Islands. Many will go into debt with finance companies (at killer interest rates). They will take the responsibility of feeding and sheltering their loved ones until villages are rebuilt and gardens producing again (maybe years).
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Prayer for Christian radio
is also an effective way to help the Islands |
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Radio is a particularly powerful in the Island communities. Pacific people are big radio listeners, and God has established Christian radio to be effective in a time like this. As well as Pacific Partners radio, there is a Christian station in American Samoa and a couple of churches have radio stations in Samoa.
. Praise God for Christian radio in the Islands. People are clinging to their radios as the only means of getting information - - vital public service notices
- warnings of more earthquakes and tsunami waves
- comfort, peace and hope through Jesus Christ
Please
pray for the Christian radio stations in the Islands.
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Please remember to pray
for our Pacific neighbours who are suffering so much
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 "God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble"
(Psalm 46:1)
Let us ask the One
Who knows and loves them best
to help them in their times of trouble
May God bless you
Graham A Carter [ email me ]
President of UCB Pacific Partners
 to help us bring Christ's comfort and salvationto the people of the South Pacific Islands
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