Ministry On Site During Indonesian Quake Promises Long Haul Assistance
by Allie Martin
April 1, 2005
(AgapePress) - An official with Food for the Hungry was in Indonesia when a major earthquake hit the region earlier this week. The situation in that country, while tense, has afforded the Phoenix, Arizona-based relief ministry some opportunities for outreach.Food for the Hungry Indonesia Field Coordinator Peter Howard was sleeping in Meulaboh when the quake his on Monday. He says people immediately began panicking as startled residents recalled the disaster that devastated the area three months ago. As the ground began shaking, he says many people were afraid another killer tsunami was headed their way.
"People started coming out of their homes, carrying what they had and moving to higher ground," he says. "The earthquake shook for about two minutes." However, he says the ministry staffers remained deliberately calm. "We purposely didn't run. We stayed put," he recalls, "and actually, the people in our neighborhood stayed with us. It was kind of a choice -- we knew if we ran, they would have run as well."
The Food for the Hungry spokesman says his hope is that the Indonesians were able to see the commitment and compassion of the ministry staffers, and that the indigenous people will continue to see the gospel in the foreign Christian workers' ongoing presence. "Of course, we're respectful of the customs here and we are careful about what we do say," he notes, "but we do have individual relationships building with the people here, and there is an openness to learn more about who we are and why we are the way we are."
The Indian Ocean tsunami that swept through Southern Asia last December claimed more than 200,000 lives. Now with that tragedy compounded by the devastation of the March earthquake, Howard says the physical needs in Indonesia are enormous. Therefore, he says Food for the Hungry is assisting in the relief and recovery effort "through small business rehabilitation, agriculture rehabilitation, education, and just working with the locals incarnationally -- being here one on one, helping people individually and then helping whole communities."
Food for the Hungry is cooperating with other aid and government organizations to assess needs in the wake of the earthquake and respond accordingly. Howard says the ministry is "committed to being here for the long haul and to helping rebuild lives" in Indonesia, even as its workers build relationships with the people and bridges for the gospel through compassionate service.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
