Fred & Margie Stock
Reports from the Earthquake Stricken Area of Pakistan
Date:
Tue, 24 Oct 2005 07:08:44 +0500 Subject:
Earthquake Tragedies
From:
Fred Stock <fred_stock@kastanet.org>
Dear
Friends,
We are now at Bach Hospital run by TEAM Mission right in the midst of the
earthquake area. In fact we had four shakes of 5.8, 5.4, 5.3 and 5.2 on the
Richter scale the first day we were here. Almost
every day we have some aftershocks. Since this hospital was built sturdily and
suffered no structural damage during the 7.6 earthquake on Oct. 8th, we don't
even try to run outside when another one comes. But the patients who have had
terrible experiences from that first earthquake are very jittery and run outside
immediately if they can walk. We
have come primarily to listen to patients as they pour out their stories of pain
and tragedy, to mourn with them, to pray and to share whenever an opportunity
arises. We believe this is an essential part of healing for them as they
verbalize what happened, how they felt, and try to face the future once again.
We have been greatly encouraged by many who have written us expressing a
desire to help financially with the earthquake relief effort. It is desperately
needed both immediately and for some months to come. We give the following two
suggestions as to where funds can be sent so that they will be used properly and
reach those who really need it.
A.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Designate
gifts for account DR000038 for Pakistan Earthquake.
To make a gift by credit card, call PresbyTel at (800) 872-3283 or visit
the Web site: www.pcusa.org/pda/donate/accounts.htm.
Checks payable to the PC(USA) can be mailed to: Presbyterian Church
(USA), Individual Remittance Processing, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA
15264-3700. Be sure to mention Account DR000038 Pakistan earthquake.
Immediately after the earthquake $60,000 was sent from this fund to help
with earthquake relief. They are working through Church World Service in
Pakistan which is a reliable Christian organization.
CWS sent food to the hardest-hit areas of Pakistan - Azad Kashmir and
North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The food items included wheat flour, rice,
sugar, cooking oil, tea and salt.
Matchboxes and soap also were provided to evacuee families. Health camps
are being set up to serve 50,000 to 100,000 people. Norwegian Church Aid (NCA)
has sent a team to assist with water and sanitation problems.
They are providing immediate relief to survivors while preparing for a
major organized response to meet the long term needs of these people.
B.
For those who have little connection with the Presbyterian Church, you
may want to send funds payable to TEAM (The Evangelical Alliance Mission), which
is the mission working nearest to the earthquake area and is most involved in
direct relief. Through Bach Hospital in Qalandarabad, Pakistan, they are
treating injured earthquake victims free, and providing basic food stuff and
cooking equipment, bedding, clothing, a tent and a small sum of money to help
patients get started when they are discharged from the hospital.
They also plan to be involved later in reconstruction.
These funds should be marked Pakistan Earthquake Emergency Fund and be
sent to: P.O. Box 969, Wheaton, IL
60189. For more information
contact TEAM at 800-343-33144 or their website www.TEAMworld.org.
Thank you for sacrificially giving to show the love of Jesus to those in
desperate need. The death toll is now over 54,000 and those injured and homeless
are more than double that amount. With snowfall a few weeks away and remote
areas still unreached with food supplies, there is sure to be even greater loss
of life. It is a disaster beyond
imagination! But we trust the Lord will use this opportunity to open hearts in a
new way if we faithfully show His love in practical ways. Blessings on you for
helping.
In Christ, Fred and
Margie Stock
