| I was deeply saddened by the earthquake
which so damaged Gunungsitoli, the principal town on the island of
Nias. This Easter devastation followed on from the Christmas tsunami
which killed at least 3,000 people on the island, and wrecked an already
fragile economy, especially on the West of this Island made up principally
of Christians. Nearly a thousand people are known to have died in
the town itself
I visited Nias in middle February, and we met the representatives
of the Protestant Church there called the BNKP, and Bishop Geya.
We met near the principal church building on the island, and drove
often along the main street and visited some of the restaurants
there, and a village not far to the South. There is a sense this
earthquake brings home the devastation to me more than in Banda
Aceh because I know the people there and know their town. Most of
the two story homes are gone, the main Church and other Churches
flattened, and the main road into town is the place where rescue
efforts continue hoping to free people alive from beneath the masonry.
Far less were killed than the 200,000 killed in Banda Aceh, but
it is another tragedy that calls out for help from us, sister Churches
to the Churches in Nias.
Updated reports are available from the UIM web site, documenting
ways that congregations and individuals can help. We had already
determined a course of action prior to the earthquake, but now,
since Gunungsitoli has been hit, the communications nerve centre
for the island no longer is functional. We are sending people to
visit there and doing all we can to make contact again, and find
the best way to add to our previous plans to provide assistance.
Already money has been sent to the church for emergency purposes.
Please pray for the Christians and Muslims in Nias, and the surrounding
islands, and encourage your communities to continue giving.
Grace and Peace
Rev Dr Dean Drayton
President of the Uniting Church in Australia.
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