Tsunami/Earthquake Relief Tremendous Success in Indonesia

January 29, 2006

When the Tsunami hit the island of Nias, Indonesia, 300 people lost their lives and villages suffered much material loss. However, when two months later a massive earthquake tipped the island nearly four feet, raising one side and lowering the other, every town and village suffered major damage and more then 1800 people died. Many houses sank into the sea when the island tipped, raising the tide on one side of the Island and leaving beach front homes 200 yards from the beach on the other side. Seldom in modern history has such a natural phenomena occurred and one must see it to believe it. An Island 75 miles long by 25 miles wide tipped like a soup bowl falling from the table and landing on its side.

Thirty three of our brethren's forty-seven church buildings suffered damage and more then 1200 denominational church buildings were damaged. Most schools were destroyed and or severely damaged and the majority of the homes of the 700,000 residents were either gone, destroyed beyond repair or severely damaged.

Providing immediate humanitarian relief, food water, medicine, was the easy task but as an Indonesian Governmental representative told me last week, "A year later the work is just barely underway." Basic infrastructures of water, sewage, roads and communications are still not repaired. School children are attending classes in condemned, some dangerous, buildings, or tents as they wait for their school buildings to be repaired and or rebuilt.

Missionary Dennis Cady and the local Christians have done a marvelous job and people across the Island told me when I was there last week, that the churches of Christ had helped the people in practical ways as much or more then any other organization. Our brethren have built fifteen elementary schools and a high school office building putting an estimated 2000 children back in classes. Each school was also provided with new furniture and the children received new uniforms, which are required to attend school.

They have rebuilt 33 church buildings, started 10 new congregations and baptized more then 800 people in the last year as an indirect result of our relief efforts. A congregation was started in the capital city, where there had never been one, and it is thriving. Village church leaders are now coming together, 12 at a time, for a ten day seminar to increase their Bible knowledge and ability to communicate the gospel.

Your contributions made this possible. Through Partners In Progress, you and others have provided more then 90% of $300,000 that has be used to make this happen and we have committed to continue to help as they build more village schools and plant more congregations.

Pictured below are the BEFORE pictures of a damaged school and the AFTER picture of the repaired school with new furniture.

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Please send your contributions to Partners in Progress, P.O. Box 150, Little Rock, AR 72203 and mark them Asian Tsunami. You will receive a receipt and regular updated reports in response to your tax deductible gift. You may also click on the button below to make a donation by credit card. 100% of your gift goes directly toward relief. All administrative costs are assumed by the 6th & Izard church of Christ (Now known as WindSong church of Christ).

By working together the Lord is using all of us to accomplish much good in Indonesia. Thank you again for being a vital part of this Tsunami Relief effort that will continue to impact Indonesia for generations to come and peoples lives throughout eternity.

Yours for sharing the gospel with all while there is yet time,

William E. "Bill" McDonough, Director
Partners In Progress

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