India
We praise God that churches and individuals here in North America have responded generously to the appeal for funds for India, with gifts totaling almost $38,000. We have already forwarded more than $45,000 (includes an initial $10,000 from WHF reserves and $8,000 from the Canadian Conference) in three distributions to church leaders in Orissa, and a fourth distribution is being prepare as this issue of Momentum goes online.

In an email message received earlier this week, Bijoy Roul, BICWM’s South Asia coordinator, wrote:

When we received the first grant from you, we distributed food supplies (10 kg of rice, 2 kg of puffed rice, 2 kg of lentils, and 1 kg of sugar) to 900 families. With the second grant, we distributed the same things to another 1,400 families. We have received the third grant, and now we are making a survey because we would like to help the people who have lost their crops and houses. We want to supply them with seeds and fertilizer. We would also help them to fix their huts and provide some clothes to the needy families.

Thanks once again for raising the funds for the flood victims. We really thank and appreciate the love and concern of our brethren of BIC churches in North America. Continue to uphold us in your prayers.

View a short video highlighting the relief effort in India here.

Nicaragua
In early September, Hurricane Felix slammed into Nicaragua, damaging or destroying homes and wiping out crops. In response to a request from Nicaraguan BIC leaders that was communicated through Marshall Poe, BICWM regional administrator for Latin America, we forwarded $1,970 to help BIC and other families purchase seeds so they can plant their traditional second crop of beans. Beans are one of the staples of the Nicaraguan diet and the loss of the summer crop affected the population greatly. The ten communities of San Miguel de los Olivos, El Tortuguero, Waspado, Tintas Verdes, El Lagerito, Walpapina, Las Brañas, Caño Maiz, El Manguito and Wawalatina are areas where there are BIC churches.

Zambia
Based on a request from Bishop Thuma Hamukang’andu, we will shortly forward a grant to Zambia for the purpose of providing pastors, pastors’ widows, lay leaders and deacons with seed so that they can plant gardens. As Bishop Thuma explains, “many of the recipients of the funds would not be able to have the food if they are not assisted to produce food. Many of them do not receive any income at all and those who have some income find it difficult to make ends meet.” The Zambian Church hopes to help 197 families.

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