Our Prayers With China in This Difficult Time

Nearly 70 dams scarred by the force of China's most powerful earthquake in three decades were in danger of bursting, the government said Sunday, while looming rains added to worries about relief efforts for millions of homeless survivors.

The confirmed death toll from the May 12 quake rose to 62,664, with another 23,775 people missing, Cabinet spokesman Guo Weimin said. Premier Wen Jiabao has said the number of dead could surpass 80,000.

The Earthquake and How To Help

Massive earthquake shakes China

Chengdu, China

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

More than 22,000 people have died in a massive earthquake that rocked southwestern China on May 12. The 7.9 magnitude quake hit shortly before 2:30 P.M. (local time) on Monday. The epicenter was 93 kilometers (50 miles) from Chengdu (population: 2 million) and 260 kilometers (162 miles) from Chongqing (30 million). The quake was felt in cities across Southeast Asia including Bangkok, Thailand, which is more than 1,800 kilometers (1,118 miles) from the epicenter.

The death toll is expected to rise dramatically with at least 10,000 people buried in Mianzhu City in the Sichuan province alone. Up to 5,000 people died in Beichuan, where 80 percent of the area’s buildings collapsed. In just one school, Juyuan Middle School, up to 900 students were buried alive. Currently, 50,000 of the nation’s military have been mobilized to assist in relief and rescue efforts.

The quake damaged the area’s major infrastructure components, including telecommunications, roads, and transportation, thus making communication to the area difficult. However, a distressed China Daily blogger expressed the fear and desperation of many: “I saw so many people staying overnight in the park ... I went to sleep last night at 12 P.M. and cannot fell (sic) asleep and then suddenly at 4 A.M., the house was shaking again—everybody was screming (sic). When this gonna be an end (sic) ... My heart broken ... I want to cry for those people who died in this earthquake ... This is horrible.”

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries will take action through their partner relationships as they seek the generous support of local congregations around the world.

Please pray for those affected by this disaster, including the families of children still buried in collapsed school buildings and those who lost loved ones in the aftermath of the quake. Pray also for NCM as they seek opportunities to offer support to those who are suffering.

Persons wishing to contribute to the relief efforts can mark their checks “China Earthquake Relief ACM1451” and send them to Global Treasury Services, 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131. In Canada, checks should be made payable and sent to the Church of the Nazarene Canada, 20 Regan Road, Unit 9, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3. Online donations may be made at ncm.org

China's People Are Wonderful

I found the Chinese people to be very courteous and kind. Here we are just arriving in Chang Chun, Lucy's city. I had never seen this part of her family up until about 4 minutes before this picture was taken. Later that night I was told by her brother and brother-in-law that I am their brother. They proved their words the whole time we were there.

Let's Dig To China!

When we were kids growing up in Bellmore, here on Long Island, we used to dig holes. My dad put up a row of currant bushes and said, "The area behind the bushes is for you guys. Dig all you want there." It was an area of about 10' by 40' of that 40' by 100' piece of property in the suburbs but it was ours! We went to town digging. We dreamed of digging all the way to China. We thought we'd pop out of a hole we had dug and find ourselves right in the middle of that land!

I remember when my feet actually did touch that land 2 1/2 years ago. Wow! It was thrilling. For all the years I had read about China, prayed for the church there, and loved its people, now I was there. When I came back I left part of my heart there.

I am connected to China and am so privileged to be.
Now grab and shovel and dig with me!
You are going to love it there!

Dr. Nelson Bell, Billy Graham's Father-In-Law

Dr. Nelson Bell, Ruth Graham's father, was a medical missionary to China. He, like many others, could have been a world famous surgeon here in the United States, but he chose God's will and God's work. Better to be well known in heaven- better by far!

He had an enormous influence on Billy Graham. 50 years before Nelson Bell went to China, another doctor, James Hudson Taylor was there serving. What a legacy he left! It is still apparent in China today

I thank God for the influence of all three of these men in my life.

They are part of my China Connection.

Beijing

Tiennamen Square,
the center of Beijing,
China's Capital

The Flu and My Blogs

I got hit pretty hard with the flu a few weeks ago and am still recovering. Therefore I haven't kept up with my blogging. Hopefully I'll be back to normal before too long.