Tsunami Relief in Sri Lanka

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Tsunami Relief in Sri Lanka
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The Survey Team

• Debra and David Wesche, former medical
  missionaries to Nigeria and Papua New Guinea, Ann
  Arbor, MI
• Michelle Hoeppner, rural development missionary
  to China
• Rev. Rudge Pereira, Lutheran harbor chaplain
• Rev. Herb Hoefer, Team Leader, LCMS Area Director
  for India and Sri Lanka

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A joyful, optimistic people
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Even the beggars are cheerful
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The Event
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The moment life stopped
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Tsunami Height
40
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New Lake Created
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Devastation over Half Mile Inland
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Fishing Industry Destroyed
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The Devastation
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Colombo
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12 Wave South of Colombo
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South of Colombo
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Rail Line all along coast
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Over 1600 people died when this train was
over- whelmed by the wave, including a
Lutheran pastor
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New House Only Foundation Left
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Homes and livelihood gone
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As far as the eye can see
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These were well- settled families
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Where do you start?
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Betticalao
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The tragic irony
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All that is left of the housing scheme
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A middle class neighborhood
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The power of the water
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Everything in the path flattened
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Mass Graves
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The Refugees
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This is all I have left.
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What I lost
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The good were taken. Only the bad are left. . .
. I must be one of the bad. . . . I am left here
to suffer. Response God loves you.
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One of five women fated to deliver their baby in
this school refugee camp
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What is an orphan? She lost both her parents.
Who is going to arrange her marriage?
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Come inside and see what is left of our nice
home.
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Lutheran pastors family in refugee camp. Rev.
Shantakumar had gone to get his eldest
daughters death certificate. Home,
chapel, and daughter lost.
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Cheerful even in tragedy
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The unrelenting optimism of youth
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The Helpers
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Buddhist monk in charge of refugee camp
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,Mr. Azeez, Disaster Management Organization
Director, Maruthamunai
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Self-help in overwhelming devastation
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Local Imam, Maruthamunai
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Muslim Councils Theological Explanation of the
Disaster

• God has shown that He is in charge.
• The Quran warned that God would punish sins with
  fire and water.
• This land has been sinning in many ways. This is
  a warning to follow Gods commandments.
• These events were already decided by God from
  eternity.
• Those who died are in heaven if they believed in
  God.

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World Vision relief worker
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53 relatives now reside where a family of 3
had previously
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Sinhalese nurses trying to help in Tamil
refugee camp
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Lutheran pastor Rev. Puvanendrans
orphanage was flooded. All the girls were
in church, so none was hurt.
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Of the 27 girls, 15 now stay in the
Puvanendrans home
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Canadian soldiers Were trying to figure
out what we should do.
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Canadian army water purification truck
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Govt. district administrator efficient
bureaucracy
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Govt. District Agent office with NGO
assignments Phase One Emergency Relief
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Chinese govt.-provided permanent
shelters Phase Two Permanent Shelters
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Moving refugees out of the schools into
permanent shelters
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Daily NGOs meeting Preparing for Phase Three
Permanent housing, rehabilitation
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Some of the NGO vehicles outside the meeting
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Meeting with Rev. Michael Sivalingam,
President of LCMS partner church, Lanka
Lutheran Church
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LTTE Territory
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Lanka Lutheran Church Program

• NGOs not going to LTTE (Tamil Tigers) controlled
  areas along northeast coast
• LLC made three emergency relief deliveries to
  LTTE territory
• Locals invited LLC to establish Lutheran
  Village in the area

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The Ministry
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Rev. Rudge praying for Buddhist family
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Debra inquiring of women refugees, Rev.
Rudge translating
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Im so sorry for you.
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Thank you so much for caring, Michelle.
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Muslim Driver You people are different. You
really seem to care.
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Tell us your story.
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Bonds of friendship sealed in tragedy
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40 of the dead were children. Dave But,
thank God, not this one.
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Herb interviewed by PBS reporter from
Religion and Ethics show
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What is your motivation for coming here to
help?Response Its one of those things
you cant not do. As a Christian, I know that
God loves all people, and we want to bring that
love to people who need it so desperately.
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Singing a Tamil song with the children
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Praying for the children
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LCMS World Relief gift for the orphanage
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Thanks-for-coming meal at drivers home
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Final spiritual renewal in Lutheran Pastor
Rajahs home
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Hindu Gateman at World Food Program office

• You people have such joy and peace. You relate
  to each other and others differently.
• Response We are Christians

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Your life goes on. What are you doing with it?