We are in need of boats

The team and I have been making trips by boat to the outlying areas off the mainland of the Irrawaddy Delta reaching survivors and families that have not been reached by others. The few trips we have made by hired boat have been extremely dangerous as these boats are the few still afloat but they are unsafe. We are in urgent need of 12 boats (about US$5,000 each) to enable myself, the ATM team, and all our medical team to reach those completely isolated, spanning out in several different places.

When speaking with survivors in this remotely isolated area, I asked how they have survived thus far. Their reply was "we have been eating mud crabs". They are eating crabs that have been feeding off corpses, but that is all they have.

As each day goes by, my heart breaks, the stench of the deceased is so overpowering and is penetrating even our clothing. Everywhere our eyes turn there are dead bodies in the sea and in the rice fields - thousands and thousands of men, women, children and animals.

The dead cannot be buried. Many have been put out to sea, the salt in the water preserving them somewhat. The horror is not going away. The relatives and families who have lost their loved ones are all in a state of shock and traumatic stress. It is like a living hell.

Please pray that we can minister to the people who are in so much need emotionally, physically and spiritually.

What is needed most in aid is canned goods and ready to eat foods which are in compatible to their usual diet: such as canned sardines, canned meats, dried fish and dried meats. Baked beans and canned vegetables as found in western countries would not be suitable as the change of diet would only pose more problems for them such as diahorrea and possible allergies.

Continue to pray for us as we are facing the same challenges and health risks as the ones we are helping.

In closing, thank you so much for all your efforts and prayers. We are your hands and your feet as we give all we can to these hurting and destitute people.

Photos and video footage will be made available next week. We will be sending them out to you promptly.

Sincerely,

Pastor Timothy