Myanmar Update – 5/19/08
On Sunday, May 18, Dr. Paul Maxfield, Children of Promise Executive Director, and Linda Mason, Children of Promise Associate Director, met for a second time with representatives of the Myanmar Church of God and Children of Promise program. The meeting was informative, encouraging, and disturbing at the same time. Highlights of the conversation are:
Myanmar continues to be cut off from the rest of the world as Internet access and email is closed down, and aid workers have not been allowed in the country.
Even before the cyclone hit, the people associated with Children of Promise have experienced high prices for food and household supplies. They have used public transportation as no one is able to purchase a car or the gasoline it requires.
As the death toll estimates reach as high as 133,000 people, water-borne illnesses are beginning to take lives. The critically vulnerable are the children who are rapidly being orphaned.
Some aid relief is making its way directly to the people; however, a good amount of aid relief is finding its way into the marketplace where aid items are being sold.
Myanmar church leaders predict that rebuilding will take place over an extended period of time as supplies become available.
Many families have lost their homes. Children of Promise, Church of God Ministries, and Women of the Church of God are assisting in the rebuilding of these homes in addition to the church-related properties. Additional assistance is being provided for families of sponsored children by Children of Promise.
Once homes are rebuilt, most families will be able to grow vegetables again in their small yards. For the moment, this is not possible due to flooding and the results of the storm.
If you would like to help by making a donation to Children of Promise (Emergency Fund) for Myanmar, you may do so in the following ways:
- *Give by credit card through our website at www.echildrenofpromise.org (click on Sponsor/Support, then click on “give here to the emergency fund”).
- Call our office (800-848-2464 ext. 2190) and make a credit card donation over the phone.
- Mail your contribution to Children of Promise, P. O. Box 2316, Anderson, IN 46018. Checks should be written to Children of Promise.
- Church of God Ministries (www.chog.org) and Women of the Church (www.womenofthechurchofgod.org) are also taking contributions for aid relief to Myanmar (phone 800-848-2464). Call or check their websites.
Thank you for the wonderful outpouring of support for our brothers and sisters in Myanmar.