Pakistan calls

Newsflash: Joan and I have signed up to join CREST in a medical mission trip to Balakot, Pakistan for the earthquake relief efforts. We are going from 26 November till 10 December 2005.

Since the earthquake in October, many communities in the mountain ranges around Balakot have been left homeless to fend for themselves against the cold. The death-toll stands above 80,000 and threatens to rise in the winter. Water-borne diseases, skin infection, and psychological trauma are the commonest medical problems apart from the need for shelter and warmth.



We have been informed that we will fly into Islamabad or Peshawar, and proceed to our base camp at Mushafarrabad at the foothills. We will make daily trips into the mountains, part by road and part on foothills to go into villages where we setup medical camps. After our ‘virgin entry’ into these villages, most of which have not had any aid, much less encounters with Christians, other teams may follow up with shelter and reconstruction work. From reports of a team gone before us, the needs are overwhelming but the people are highly receptive. Apart from landslides and the occasional aftershock, our safety seems to be quite assured as the Pakistani have high regard for Chinese and the military is very protective of aid workers. Praise God for that.

We ask for your prayer support for the entire mission team, our safety and wisdom in interacting with the people. Please pray also for our parents, who we know will be very anxious. If you would like to commit yourself to being a prayer partner for this mission trip, please do reply to us as we will be much encouraged to know of the people praying for us while we are up there.

I hope to bring back lots of photos/videos, and information on how we can contribute if you are interested. There is an adoption program also where sponsors can adopt families and sponsor their rehabilitation.