Herb Hoefer
Update
February 17, 2007
Family and Friends,
Before I left Sri Lanka, I went with one of the Lanka Lutheran Church
pastors and with the LCMS World Relief Sri Lanka director to meet the people
with whom the LLC pastor is working in the tsunami relief camps near Colombo
It's been two years since the tsunami hit,
and they are still in makeshift houses and tents. The LLC pastor has a
strong relationship with the people both through his spiritual work and
through the practical aid that was provided by Lutheran Hour Ministries.
As we discussed with the people, it was interesting that the leaders
insisted that any help should be done in a way that everyone benefits. They
were thrown into this disaster together, and they are surviving it together,
and they want programs that will keep their unity in tact. That is their
strength to endure. One program I suggested to the LCMS World Relief
director is an after-school tutoring program, as the people are really
concerned for their children's future through all this.
We had a gathering for worship, and about 100 turned up, most of them
non-Christians. I spoke about how different religions answer the question of
why such an event would take place. I then spoke of how our Christian faith
does not provide intellectual answers, but practical service to those in
need.
I'd ask you to keep the President of the Lanka Lutheran Church in your
prayers, Rev. Michael Sivalingam. A Pentecostal congregation has taken over
the property that the LLC has in Colombo, and their tack seems to be to wear
down our resolve to try to evict them by forcing Rev. Micchael into
frivolous court suits. It's an all-day, rigorous journey from the tea
plantations to Colombo, and they are forcing
him to make this trip over and over again, including a serious criminal
charge that he is trying to kill the invading pastor. It totally wears Pres.
Sivalingam out physically and emotionally. I'm thinking we should just sell
it so that we can get on with the real work of our Lord.
Upon arrival back in India, I went on another of the 8-hour trips bouncing
and swerving into the hinterlands. In this case, it was to the tea
plantations begun by the British in the mountains of South India. About 80%
of the plantations closed 5 years ago, and the people have been suffering
with no income. A donor has come forward to give cows for 100 church
members.
Our Asia facilitator for human care, Ms. Michelle Hoeppner, was here a few
months back to meet with the people and develop the relief plan. They
decided on the cows, as there are some grassy areas developing now amidst
the plantations. There are three IELC pastorates in the region, and they did
a distribution of 55 cows earlier, and we did 25 more yesterday. They will
do the third pastorate later with 20 more cows.
Once again, the program had to be worked out that everyone was served. In
one congregation, at Bomani, there are several families that have other
employment, so they did not need to be included, only the unemployed tea
workers. Within the budget, the church could give $75 to the families for
purchasing a cow. With that amount, they could purchase a young cow that
would be mature enough to have offspring and give milk in about two years.
Some took out a loan and added to the $75 so they could get a mature cow
right away.
A striking event in the trip was the laying of a cornerstone for a new
church building at Bomani. The congregation has outgrown the old building,
even with all the people leaving for work elsewhere, and the old building
also is collapsing. In all their desperation, their faith is what gives them
hope and resolve. The employed members have already donated half of the
amount they need to build the chapel, and
they will go around asking local leaders for help with the rest. The IELC
Trust Association also will give support. It just amazes and inspires me to
see how strong and central their faith in God is.
I was talking with the headmaster of one of our schools. He said that there
is a new Central Gov't. policy that no student should be kept behind through
9th grade. They have also greatly reduced the difficulty of the final high
school exams, so that more students will pass. It's how they are trying to
lessen the number of disaffected half-educated, dropout youths.
God bless.
Herb