Second
MARCH Mission to Sri Lanka
Beloved
brethren and family,
We arrived safely in Colombo last april 8 at about 5 am,
and by the time we were settled and ready for bed it was
630 am, phil. time (4:30 am SL). before I slept, I called
Tess and told her we were safe and that Imiss her.
Our day in Colombo was a time to meet with Chaminda, the
Dehiwala COC minister, and Bro Leo Gnanasundaram, the owner
of the hotel. our two doctors conducted a mini-medical clinic
for Leo and the hotel staff. After a hearty lunch of fried
rice and some veggies, we got ready for our 4 hour trip
to Galle. But not till we dropped by the Dehiwala Church
building and met the church workers, and promising them
that on our way back we would conduct a medical clinic for
them, too.
Time seems to stand still in Sri Lanka. people are not in
a ruch, unless they're on the highway crisscrossing the
roads. I have to constantly remind myself that their body
clock and mine are not the same, and so ineed to adjust
and slow down a bit.
W ell, thanks to the crazy, crisscrossing driving, we were
in Ambalangoda by 6 pm, ahead of schedule by at least 20
minutes. We made the Akurala relief camp our first stop
and we were surprised to see that the banner we left behind
still hung in place. We also chanced upon Larry Buck and
an elder from the Richland hills COC, Bro Bill. After greeting
our old friends and seeing that their needs were well taken
cared of by Larry's group, we said goodbye promising to
return on our way back.
During our stay in Colombo, we made preliminary plans to
raise funds for a medical clinic in Colombo similar to what
we started in Galle. according to the brethren, there are
about 4000 tsunami victims living in various camps within
a 1 kilometer radius of the Dehiwala Church building. if
we put up a clinic at the Church building, and send out
a roving team to promote the clinic, this would also be
a good opportunity to befriend their people and build up
their prospects. the brethren said that among this 4000,
60-70% belong to "christian" groups. This is very
exciting and a great opportunity that we will explore with
the help of our supporters and brethren who want to be part
of this effort to send a tsunami of hope and salvation in
Christ to this country.
We arrived in Galle 45 minutes later, and after searching
for a hotel, we decided to house our team at the old Dutch
house located at the Galle fort. This is right beside the
pepole's bank and the military camp. It is located inside
the fort and is on a hill---no threats of tsunami here.
We got a good rate and it is a very clean place run by muslims.Gigie
and the team with her, will be traveling straight from the
Colombo airport upon their arrival and this should not be
hard to find. Gie, since no one is meeting you from Dehiwala,
just get a van at the airport, for $50, drop off rate to
Galle.
Our work is moving well at the moment. Our first working
day was last Saturday. We opened our clinic at the new church
meeting place at temple street, Galle. it is a located surrounded
by a Catholic Church, school and convent. there are also
some homes for the elders in the area. The surrounding neighborhood
is composed of middle class houses, and from the contacts
we have with them from our doorknocking and flyer distribution,
they are open and do not discriminate against Christians.
Iguess it helps that they are near the Catholic Church.
Our patients are coming in, and just on our first day, we
had a study with a Buddhist, a lady who has been studying
with the Jehovah's Witness, and a Catholic Septuagenarian.
our team composed of docs Gerry and Lori, Renato and myself,
are on fire and look forward to the doors that the Lord
will open for us through the clinic. today, we have Bible
studies set at 3pm for some ladies and young people. while
we do not have the vbs study materials yet, i prepared last
night a series of lessons for this first studies. Gigie's
team is now getting ready with their flip charts and illustrations
for the adult and children's vbs they will start on the
16th.
Yesterday, the Lord's day, was the first ever worship of
the Galle Church in their new meeting place. It is not very
big place, but it should have enough space for at least
60 adults when it is fully maximized. it has a kitchen and
a 4x4 m. room that doubles as a study room and children's
classroom. There were only about 10 people at worship, but
i preached the sermon as if i was preaching to an audience
of 100 people.
Perhaps this week we will also go to Matara, where we have
been told there is a small congregation of the coc. keep
all of the above in your prayers. we miss home, but are
comforted by the fellowshp and warmth of the brethren and
the friends we make daily. your prayers continue to sustain
us and God continues to fill our hearts.
We have also started cooking our own meals. The Sri Lankan
food is a bit too oily and spicy for us. Yesterday we bought
a stove, pans, pots, etc. Lori cooked our first breakfst
of steamed rice, hotdogs and eggs. I should go now and see
if lunch is ready. We were having sinigang na baboy (pork
stew), fish and steamed rice.
Thank you for all your prayers and support. Our thanks most
especially for Lynda wee and her husband, Roland, of Pasir
Panjang, singapore, for her graciousness and her very warm
and efficient hospitality. She went out of her way to make
our stop over in Singapore meaningful and restful. patrick
ong, too, for touring us to mt. faber and taking us to lunch.
Moi Chee was a most pleasant visitor during our rest at
Lynda's home and the curry puffs she brought were very delicious.
It is such a blessing to be in the Lord's church and to
belong to such a great body of believers. We are not strangers
wherever we go!
our love to you all,
Chito, Gerry, Renato and Lori---T he trailblazing team <grin>
April 11, 2005
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