|
Earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria are receiving urgently needed help this week. SCA Communications Director, Belinda Thacker, is serving communities hit by the earthquake in Turkey with long-time relief partner CRI. The team is meeting urgent needs by delivering food boxes, hygiene packs, and toys for kids, as well as building small, prefabricated homes designed for long-term shelter.
In one of her reports, Belinda wrote:
“We just finished three days of distributing food boxes to 300 families in Turkey, along with hygiene packs, toys, and treats for the kids.
“We met a woman who pulled 10 people out of a collapsed apartment building; some of them died on the way to the hospital, others died at the hospital, which was operating out of tents because it had collapsed.
“We met a worship leader who was picking up his wife at the airport two hours away when the quake hit. They went immediately to check on a church member whose wife just died of cancer six months ago and found his house was leveled. They heard one of his children calling for help and rescued their friend and two of his children out of the rubble. His 7-year-old daughter had already died. These pastors are worn out.
“We also met a woman who lost 56 family members: children, grandchildren, extended family.
“Please continue to pray for these people and the churches of Turkey who are serving out of their own need.”
While there, Belinda also learned of the need for mattresses, as many people are living in tents and sleeping on the ground or on the floor in other people’s homes. Our faithful giving partners enabled us to provide 100 mattresses to survivors in the area. The team delivered the first mattresses to a family who had taken in their son, daughter-in-law, and grandchild who lost their home in the quake (see photo above).
And as survivors leave the devastated areas, we are partnering with churches throughout Turkey to help those with no support system resettle in new communities. By providing groceries, aiding with rent for new apartments, and offering prayer and counsel, we are letting them know Somebody Cares and His name is Jesus.
Just last week, two Afghan refugee families put their faith in Christ because of the love they felt and aid they received from churches when they were uprooted once again by the earthquake.
Resources and supplies are also being transported into Syria every week by church partners in Lebanon. These deliveries are a lifeline to families who have received little if any assistance because they are outside of Syrian government controlled areas.
With your help, we can continue to empower our partners in Turkey and Syria like CRI, Iran Alive, and local churches to be the hands and feet of Jesus!
|
