[RC] Andamans Tsunami Update

[Dr.Ernie Prabhakar]

Hi all,

Not exactly on topic, but Billy asked about this so I wanted to pass it 
along to the rest of you...

The tsunami did reach as far east as Chennai, where much of my family 
lives, but it only affected the shoreline regions.  By the grace of God 
none of our extended family were directly affected.   However, my uncle 
ran a missions organization serving Inda's Andaman and Nicobar islands, 
which were pretty much destroyed by the waves.   Estimates are that 
one- to two-thirds of the islands 30K inhabitants are believed dead 
(i.e., perhaps 10% of the global death toll) and the rest are 
apparently being evacuated.

Though this is a non-sectarian forum, I would nonetheless encourage 
those who can to pray for the victims and aid workers, as much of the 
region is still quite unstable (both geologically and politically).   
I'm sure most of you are already deluged with appeals for aid, but if 
you are interested in contributing to my uncle's resetllement efforts 
there's details at the very end of this letter from my father.

Blessings,
Ernie P.

Andamans news & relief updates

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/974810.cms
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/110427111933.htm

Begin forwarded message:

Tsunami Update
							December 31, 2004

Dear prayer partners,

	We thank God for every one of you and your concern for conditions in 
India. I have been in touch with my brother, Vasanth Edward in Chennai, 
India. We want to tell  you that God has answered our prayers and they 
are doing fine. I have mostly good news to share with you regarding the 
missionaries in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
All Missionaries accounted for:
	In this terrible tragedy, where thousands of people were killed by the 
deadly Tsunami tidal waves, God, in His infinite mercy, spared the 
lives of all the missionaries of Shiloh Evangelistic Mission. Vasanth 
has heard from all the missionaries. Most of them are still in the 
Islands. Pandian and family walked in, while the congregation in Shiloh 
Church in mainland India, was tearfully praying for them. It was an 
emotional reunion.
James Raj and family safe:
	Pastor James Raj who is being supported by India Christian Evangelical 
Free Church in Chicago has finally called Port Blair. He and his family 
are safe, but again, the church, buildings and all their belongings are 
lost. They are waiting to be evacuated from their island.
Miraculous Escape.
	On Sunday morning, Shiloh missionaries, Annamma and Jeeva Mani, went 
on a bus 30 km from their home to conduct worship services. Soon after 
they got off the bus, they  saw the tidal wave coming, ran to higher 
ground and escaped. But the bus was engulfed in the rushing waters and 
everyone inside perished.
	The coast guard ship could not get close to the shore of Little 
Andaman island. So they sent small boats to evacuate the women and 
children. As Mary, wife of Moses and their children got on the boat and 
were ferried towards the ship, they saw crocodiles watching, waiting 
and following the boats. They reached the ship and Port Blair safely.
Some Sad News.
  Some of the children in the Shiloh Home have lost their parents. Irene 
who was brought up by Vasanth and Elizabeth in the eighties in their 
house and who had returned to the islands, lost her life in the 
tragedy.
Prayer Concerns.
1. A volcano in the Andaman Island group has erupted producing 
earthquakes upto 5.0 on the Richter scale. Tremors are felt almost 
every half hour in Port Blair and other places. Pray for safety of the 
inhabitants.
2. In addition to the 6 missionaries who are in Chennai, only Pandian’s 
family has come back to the mainland. Many have reached Port Blair. 
But, others are still in their islands awaiting evacuation. Pray that 
all of them will reach Chennai safely and quickly.
3. Pray for food and other supplies to reach those who are stranded in 
the outlying islands. Although their lives are spared, they have lost 
all their belongings and fresh water and food are scarce.
4. Pray for people who are organizing relief efforts that they will 
keep safe and healthy.
5. Pray for peace and comfort those who have lost their loved ones.
	Thank you for your partnership in praying for our mission family. Feel 
free to contact us with any questions by e mail or phone ( 815 562 8996 
) Thanks again.

		Have a blessed New year 2005

								Sincerely in Christ
								John Prabhakar

Original message:

Disaster in Asia: Tsunami hits close to home!

	Christmas week end was a disastrous one for several countries in Asia 
who are reeling from the devastation caused by a record setting 
earthquake. Furious Tsunami tidal waves  affected countries from 
Sumatra to Somalia, almost 6000 miles span. Sri Lanka and India are 
among the most affected areas. In India the worst damage was along the 
coast of Tamilnadu (formerly Madras) as well as the Island chain of 
Andaman and Nicobar. Our own immediate family are all safe though a 
cousin said water came two blocks of his house!
	Andaman /  Nicobar islands belong to India, but are nearer to 
Malaysia. During British rule of India, political prisoners were sent 
there. The population is about 300,000. There are several tribes live 
there along with people from the mainland. Located in the Bay of 
Bengal, these group of 572 islands are 1255 Km from Calcutta. Only 36 
islands are inhabited. The capital is Port Blair, situated in the South 
Andaman Island.
	 As many of you know, Vasanth Edward and his wife Elizabeth Lavanya ( 
Kamali's sister)  lived in Rochelle in the seventies. After completing 
theological training in the US they went back  to India and established 
Shiloh Evangelistic Mission. This organization has 40 missionaries in 
Andaman and Nicobar islands. Most of the tribe of Nicobaris are 
Christian. Because the educational facilities in Nicobar are not 
adequate, Shiloh Ministries have brought children to the mainland and 
are educating them in Chennai in a Christian school. The children live 
in a home within the Shiloh Evangelistic Mission campus.
	When the tidal waves, about three stories high sped westward, the 
Nicobar Islands were directly in their path. Some of the islands were 
completely submerged under water and remain so. Communication between 
these islands and the mainland were completely cut off. No word has 
been heard of the families of the Nicobari children of Shiloh 
children’s home. The children are awaiting news for their parents 
anxiously.

Vasanth and family Safe
Although Rev. Edward and his family as well as the Shiloh Church in 
Chennai were not directly affected by this catastrophe, their lives are 
forever changed because of what happened to those who are near and  
dear to them. The closest call to them was when the Kalpakkam atomic 
plant near them was flooded. But they shut down the plant, evacuated 
the personnel and there was no radiation leak.

Car Nicobar Island : Pandians Alive.
Shiloh Evangelistic Mission has a missionary couple Pandians living in 
Car Nicobar with a population of 30,000. 20,000 people died as a result 
of these waves. There was no word about Pandians for two days. Vasanth 
and his congregation were praying earnestly for their safety. Finally 
missionary Pandian called on Tuesday, using a Police wireless phone and 
informed them he and his family are safe. They have lost everything, 
their church, home, buildings and all their possessions. Although they 
had literally only their clothes on their back, they were rejoicing and 
praising God. They are waiting to be evacuated by helicopter/ ship or 
plane. This may be a slow process with about 10,000 people waiting!

Little Anadamans. Moses flees to safety.
Moses has been with Shiloh Evangelistic mission for over 20 years. He 
and his wife had built a church and have been ministering to some of 
the tribal people also. When the tidal wave came they were one of the 
fortunate ones to run to safety while several others were washed away. 
Again the church, home and property are completely gone.

Missionaries Deena and Menmozhi are spared.
The small island Havelock is in the middle of the Nicobar group of 
islands in the south. Deena and Menmozhi have been Shiloh missionaries 
there and have been working with women. They had come to the capital 
city of Port Blair to celebrate Christmas. Their own island was 
swallowed up by the tsunami tidal wave and now is completely under 
water.

Port Blair waterlogged
Port Blair is the capital of Andaman - Nicobar islands. The citizens of 
the capital city  felt the tremor from the earthquake on Sunday 
morning. Pastor. Johnson, a Shiloh missionary, was finishing his 
prayers when the tidal wave hit the island and they were inundated with 
water. Although the sea swept all their belongings away and destroyed 
their church building, there were no deaths in their area. Most of the 
casualties were near the coast and beaches. The Johnsons were literally 
left standing on the street. But his main concern was for the other 
missionaries . He did not hear from many of them for quite a while. 
especially he feared for the lives of the missionaries in the Nicobar 
group of Islands. The news was not encouraging at first as they were 
told that the whole chain of islands were lost. It took two days to 
restore communication, even then it was sketchy and sporadic. He was 
overjoyed to get news about Pandian and Moses and their families. He 
still has not heard from 10 missionaries, but they are from the 
Northern group and those were only minimally affected. Missionary James 
Raj, who is sponsored by the Indian Christian Evangelical Free Church 
of Chicago is one of them.

Aftermath.
Now the survivors are faced with diseases like cholera and dysentery 
which may become  epidemic proportions. Dead bodies present a great 
health threat in land and water. Recurring tremors add to the level of 
anxiety. The Government of India has ordered evacuation of all the 
people from the islands. That is going to be a Herculean task with only 
a few people could be airlifted at a time and there are only a few 
ships that sail to that area.

Needs.
In the islands  as well as in India, the  major needs are for 
medicines, food and clothing. Establishing communication as well as 
planned orderly evacuation are also of high priority. When the people 
are evacuated to the mainland, it is difficult to imagine where they 
could go and what they could do. Shiloh Organization is gearing up for 
the return of not only their missionaries, but the  Church members and 
others from the islands and the parents and families of the Nicobari 
children. It may be difficult to rely on Government assistance alone, 
even though the Government of India has allocated Rs. 5000,000 for the 
relief effort. Then there is the need to rebuild in those islands and 
resettle.

How can we help?
When John asked his brother that question, Rev Edward answered without 
hesitation, Please keep praying for us. Prayer is something everyone 
can do. Although medicines, food and clothing are needed, it would be 
better to send money and have them buy those things over there. They 
are less expensive there and the dollar goes a long way. We don’t have 
to pay for transporting those goods. It will save time also.

Numerous organizations are pouring in help. The US Government is 
rushing supplies and aid. United Nations, Red Cross, Lutheran World 
Relief, Samaritan’s Purse and World Vision are gathering funds to send 
to all the countries that have been devastated by this enormous 
tragedy. If you want to help the efforts of Shiloh Evangelistic mission 
  you can contact the Prabhakars by calling (815) 562-8996, or E-mailing 
them prabhakar at rochelle.net  Checks can be made to Shiloh Evangelistic 
Mission and sent to Rev. Vasanth Edward. 7 Ali Khan Rd. Alandur. 
Chennai. Tamil Nadu. India 60017 or if tax deduction is needed, make 
check to Faith Lutheran Church and send it to Dr.  John Prabhakar,  212 
Drake,. Rochelle. IL 0 61068. Thanks so much.

Prabhu and Kamali

							Dr. John and Esther Prabhakar
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