May Love and Peace with Iraq

Posted on by 施達基金會

Samira Said, 27, fled Tikrit with her 20-day old baby for an agricultural shelter area next to the Baharka camp 5km north of Erbil, the capital of the northern semi-autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq, after the militant group ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) took control of Iraq’s second largest city, Mosul.

Our hearts are breaking at the atrocities taking place in Iraq. In the last two months a staggering 850,000 people have fled their homes in terror as Islamic State (IS) fighters have swept across the north of the country. An estimated 10,000 people have lost their lives, most of whom are civilians.

Religious and ethnic minority groups, such as Yazidis (a Kurdish-speaking ethno-religious group), Christians and Turkmen, have been particularly targeted, and many have been subjected to unspeakable brutalities. It’s estimated that one-fourth of Iraq’s Christians have now fled, threatened by IS at best with fines, at worst with forced conversion or death.

Thousands of Iraqis, mainly from the Yazidi community, are currently trapped on Mount Sinjar in northern Iraq by IS fighters after facing similar threats. They are in desperate need of food, water and medical care, and symbolise the plight of so many more Iraqis who are the innocent victims of this crisis.

Between January to July 2014, an estimation of 1.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) were seeking shelter in Northern Iraq. They are now suffering from significant secondary displacement due to fierce fightings near IDP locations in Ninewa and Dahuk Provinces. In addition to the current IDP crisis, the government of Kurdistan is also hosting 230,000 refugees from Syria.

Since 2012, Integral Alliance (IA), a global alliance comprising of 19 Christian relief and development agencies, has been providing relief materials, food parcel, medical care and psychosocial care to Syrian refugees. CEDAR is one of the member agencies of Integral Alliance. A member agency of IA is now forming a working team, going to Northern Iraq to assess the situation particularly the need of the suffered communities.

We know that God is a God of love, compassion, power and justice, who is ‘mighty to save’ (Isaiah 63:1). As we struggle to find words to respond in the face of such horror, remember Paul’s words in Romans: ‘We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.’ (Romans 8:26).  [Tearfund, Integral Alliance]

Pray for the suffering Iraq people:

  • Ask God to stop the hand of those set on violence, bloodshed and intimidation in Iraq. Pray for the establishment of a lasting peace that all people groups will be accepted and protected.
  • Pray for all those who have fled their homes and are living in fear and uncertainty.
  • Ask God to keep them safe, provide for their needs and pour out his comfort and healing on all who are grieving.
  • Thank God that thousands of Yazidis were able to escape from Mount Sinjar during last weekend, aided by Kurdish forces, and pray for protection, provision and a rapid rescue for those who remain.
  • Lift up leaders in Iraq and around the world, praying that God will give them wisdom as they seek a solution to the crisis.

Mainland Churches Actively Respond to Zhaotong Quake Relief

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[Update on Zhaotong Quake]

After the 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit Ludian County in Zhaotong, churches in Mainland China have swiftly responded to the need. Sichuan Luzhou Gospel Hospital and Zhaotong City Christian Council have dispatched their teams to Yinchang Village in Huodehong township, Ludian, delivering mineral water, instant noodles, quilts, rice and single sized shelters to the victims.

There are 924 households totalled 3,872 people in Yinchang Village. The quake damaged or collapsed over 90% of the houses. Bodies of water created by the blocked River Niulan submerged two blocks of households. Shelters, quilts, folding-beds, rice and cooking oil are most needed in the quake area.

“A village head from Yiliang, whose village was one of the beneficiaries of CEDAR’s emergency food supply after Yiliang Quake in 2012, led over 30 villagers to take part in the relief work in Ludian County. In spite of the danger of aftershocks, the group bravely went to the epicenter area and assisted by rescuing the injured and digging out the bodies. Their action is arisen from empathy as they have experienced the same trauma before. I am deeply moved by their active and unselfish response. Our former beneficiaries are now giving their helping hands to others in need!” said Lorraine, CEDAR’s staff in Yunnan.

‘When one party suffers, thousands come and help.’ Praise the Lord! Churches in Zhejiang province have already raised RMB 250,000 to support the Zhaotong City Christian Council in carrying out their relief work. CEDAR’s staff are now on their way to the quake affected region and will assess the needs and collaborate with the local churches, in formulating a working plan of quake relief, community rehabilitation and disaster management work.

Emergency and Relief Donation

Please make cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’

(Please mark “Yunnan Zhaotong Earthquake Relief”)

[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details.
[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.

Contact Method

Tel>23819627
Fax>23922777
Email>sharing@cedarfund.org
Add>G.P.O. Box 3212 Hong Kong

CEDAR’s Relief and Rehabilitation Work in Past: http://eng.cedarfund.org/relief/
CEDAR Approach on Relief and Rehabilitation: http://eng.cedarfund.org/relief-approach/

CEDAR Closely Monitor the Updated Situation of Zhaotong Quake, Yunnan

Posted on by 施達基金會

map-yunnan

On 3 August, 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit Ludian County in Zhaotong, resulting in  over 380 death and 1,800 injured. It is the highest scale of earthquake hitting Yunnan in the past 18 years. Tens of hundreds of houses collapsed, included several schools.

CEDAR’s Yunnan office contacted Yunnan Christian Council (YNCC) and Zhaotong City Christian Council (ZTCCC) immediately after the quake to find out the updated situation. Staff from Zhaotong Church told us that the quake affected areas are still restricted from access. A heavy rain in the first night after the quake caused serious landslide. Relief materials such as shelters, quilts, dried food, drinking water and medicines are the most needed. In the coming week, CEDAR’s staff will head to the quake affected region to assess the situation and map out a concrete relief and rehabilitation response plan.

There are many ethnic minority groups, such as Huis (the Muslim) and Miao, living in Zhaotong, Yunnan. Most of them live by farming under desperate condition. In 2012, CEDAR worked with Yunnan Christian Council to deliver one-month food supply to 6,000 families in Yiliang County, Zhaotong, (a 5.7-magnitude quake hit this area on 7 September 2012).

Please earnestly pray for the situation in Zhaotong, Yunnan:

  • Pray that the trapped victims will be rescued very soon;
  • Pray that God will heal the injured and comfort those who lost their beloved one;
  • Pray for the safety of relief workers and for smooth operation of the first stage of rescue and relief work;
  • Pray for God’s guidance on the communication and cooperation between CEDAR, YNCC and ZTCCC. Also pray that those churches located near the affected areas will take part in the coming relief response.

Emergency and Relief Donation

Please make cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’

(Please mark “Yunnan Zhaotong Earthquake Relief”)

[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details.
[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.

Contact Method

Tel>23819627
Fax>23922777
Email>sharing@cedarfund.org
Add>G.P.O. Box 3212 Hong Kong

CEDAR’s Relief and Rehabilitation Work in Past: http://eng.cedarfund.org/relief/
CEDAR Approach on Relief and Rehabilitation: http://eng.cedarfund.org/relief-approach/

After-quake Development in Yaan, Sichuan

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[ePrayer – Pray for the After-quake Development in Yaan Sichuan]

Since April 2013, CEDAR has been responding to the need of quake affected areas in Yaan Sichuan, from dispatching relief materials during the initial stage of emergency relief, to the third phase of post-quake rebuilding that is happening currently. In this May, CEDAR’s staff travelled once again to the quake areas – Chengdu, Yaan, Lushan and Tianquan – to re-assess the need and to follow up on the progress of after-quake development project. Although one full-year has passed, the frontline aid workers continue to serve the quake victims faithfully and with the same enthusiasm. Their heart is not shaken even though the rebuilding seems far to complete.

Uncle Yan and his wife are among the first volunteers in Yuxi village. They have been taking part in the relief work since the very early stage. They live their lives with the victims, helping them to pluck tea leaves and repair their houses. They do all these things without any external help. They share with us, ‘We have gained so much in the last 12 months.’ What Uncle Yan treasures most is the relationship with the villagers that is cultivated with sweat and tears.

The after-quake lives are full of difficulties. The victims need to face many problems, such as repaying the loan for rebuilding their houses, the education need of their children, and the shortage of medical services in the quake areas. The gradual withdrawal of the emergency relief agencies makes things even worse. CEDAR’s partner Genuine Love (Zheng Xuan Gong Yi, ZXGY) is one of the NGOs still rendering service in the quake areas, providing trauma counseling and education service, setting up parents’ self-help groups, taking care of the left-behind children, and visiting sponsored orphans and widows and poor households. Genuine Love aims and prays that not only physical infrastructure is re-built, but the victims regain their hope and faith, eventually restoring the relations with all people around.

In the quake areas, many victims incur a heavy loan in order to rebuild their houses. Unfortunately there are many elderly who are so poor and not qualified for a loan, so reluctantly living with their houses not repaired. They could only use plastic colored sheets or bamboo battens to cover up or support the damages, making them extremely pitiful. The volunteers of Genuine Love have visited them and given them some food, but many of their basic living needs are still unmet and will need close follow-up.

Pray for After-quake Development in Yaan Sichuan:

    1. More human and development resources are needed during the current rehabilitation stage, especially in those places without water, such as Weita, Shifeng and Cizhupo, where further assessments are waiting to be done. May our God provide in His way.
    2. The difficult terrain of Shuangshi Town hinders the rebuilding process and progressof poor households is extremely slow. Pray that God will specially take care of the left-behind elderly and provide for their basic needs.
    3. May God provide and train up more local people to take part in the after-quake development for being self-reliant.
    4. Pray that the school aid project will help many students and youth in continuing their education.

Relief Donation

  • Cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
  • Deposit to HSBC A/C No. 600-385678-001, enclosing with the Pay-in slip
  • Visa/ Master Card (Download donation form)
  • Online donation

(Please mark “Sichuan Yaan Earthquake Relief”)

[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details.
[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.

Contact Method

Tel>23819627
Fax>23922777
Email>sharing@cedarfund.org
Add>G.P.O. Box 3212Hong Kong

CEDAR’s Relief and Rehabilitation Work in Past: http://eng.cedarfund.org/relief/
CEDAR Approach on Relief and Rehabilitation: http://cedarfundeng.wordpresss.com/relief-approach/

 

Half a Year has Gone but Philippines Typhoon Victims See Little Signs of Rebuilding

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for the Typhoon Victims in Philippines]

In this January, CEDAR’s staff travelled to Philippines to support Food for the Hungry (FH), also an Integral Alliance member, helping out in releasing relief materials.[1] Our staff spoke to Hon, a 10 years old boy living in Basey. He said, ‘I wish that there is no typhoon in the world. I wish that there will be no more deaths….’ This is because Hon experienced the power of Super Typhoon Haiyan last November. Now whenever someone asked him to describe how he escaped from the Typhoon, he still exhibits great fear in his heart and cannot control his body from involuntary shaking. Rehabilitation phase has been started in the devastated areas however more manpower and materials are needed to fulfill the needs in basic living, health and safety. Helping those suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome is also an urgent task.

FH’s staffs have been working very hard in the past six months to provide relief assistance to the typhoon-affected communities in Marabut and Basey. Flor, a mother of two kids attending primary education, serves in FH to help the disadvantaged communities in Philippines.. Moved by God’s love, she immediately headed to the affected areas from Manila after Super Typhoon Haiyan left Philippines. She may look tough on the outside but inside having a gentle heart. ‘In the stricken regions, it is very difficult for us to implement relief work with limited support from the government and shortage of resources. Apart from tackling the problems and limitations in the disaster areas, I still need to handle my emotions from not living with my family members…. In fact, I feel very sad every time my children call me. They always ask “Mom, we miss you very much. When will you come home?”’ Flor is not able to return to her home due to her involvement in rebuilding the disaster area. The typhoon victims are also awaiting to see their homes rebuilt. They are both anxiously looking forward to their “home return date”.

The Super Typhoon Haiyan hit Philippines on 7 Novermber 2013 and victimized over 13 millions people. CEDAR reacted immediately and supported the local partner Philrads and local churches in Leyte and Samar, delivering about 100,000 food bags and over 8,500 sets of shelter repair kits to the affected families, and also providing trauma care and medical service. CEDAR later received a HK$1.24 million relief grant from HKSAR Government to further provide 3,600 food bags, 1,200 sets of relief materials (in which there are blanket, mosquito net, mat and cutlery) and 450 sets of hygiene kits in Marabut and Basey through Integral Alliance and FH.

[1] CEDAR Typhoon Relief︰http://bit.ly/cedar-philippines-typhoon-relief-2013-video-chi

Meditation on Scriptures
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46: 1)
The typhoon victims lost their homes and families overnight, but have to endure endless of unsettling nights. How can they escape from such pain and unrest? The shelter promised by our God is one that no one can destroy. It is solid and firm. May God be their ever-present help in trouble, leading them to find peace on earth and in their hearts.

Pray for the Typhoon Victims in Philippines:

    1. FH helps over 5,000 affected children through the ‘Child Friendly Space’ project, providing them public hygiene facilities and hygiene education. Hope that this project can really help to improve the local hygiene conditions and reduce the threat of epidemic and spread of germs in disaster areas.
    2. FH has introduced the ‘Cash for Work’ project, so victims can earn living by cleaning up the disaster areas. Give thanks to God’s provision! Many of the victims now have basic fishing tools and also seeds for farming. Pray that God will continue to provide for their needs and the victims will soon become self-sufficient.
    3. Pray that Philippines government and the NGOs will have a comprehensive planning on rebuilding the houses and communities. Pray that God will provide solid shelters to the victims, help in rebuilding of the victims’ homes, and strengthen the frontline aid workers for taking part in the disaster rehabilitation work.
    4. The new typhoon season is coming. Pray for total recovery of the affected communities and from pain in people’s hearts; and for strength given to the victims in facing their new living and coming challenge.

Relief Donation

  • Cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
  • Deposit to HSBC A/C No. 600-385678-001, enclosing with the Pay-in slip
  • Visa/ Master Card (Download donation form)
  • Online donation

(Please mark “Philippines Typhoon Relief”)

[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details.
[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.

Contact Method

Tel>23819627
Fax>23922777
Email>sharing@cedarfund.org
Add>G.P.O. Box 3212Hong Kong

CEDAR’s Relief and Rehabilitation Work in Past: http://eng.cedarfund.org/relief/
CEDAR Approach on Relief and Rehabilitation: http://cedarfundeng.wordpresss.com/relief-approach/

 

Walk with Myanmar Students Being in Storms

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for Children Ministry in Myanmar]

Hot summer is soon approaching. The children living in the compound of CEDAR’s partner Full Moon were excited one day and expressed their wish to their teacher: ‘We really want to go and play in Chung Thar Beach…’ The teacher is puzzled because it’s a long way journey from Full Moon to Chung Thar Beach and accommodation will be required on the way. Full Moon is operating on tight financial resources and who can afford to pay for all these expenses?

Though the dream of these children cannot be realized, those in grade 8 to 11 will have the opportunity to learn English from the Bible stories during this summer vacation. They will also learn how to grow Roselle, green beans and corns in farms. Part of the harvest will serve as food, and the rest be sold in market. The children will learn how to make a living with their own hands, and also enjoy the fun in farming.

Teachers in Full Moon told us, ‘Each student here has his/her own story that touches people’s hearts…’ The three children in the photo are brothers and sisters of one single family, and are the cyclone victims in 2008. They lost contact with their family and have stayed in Full Moon Compound for six years since then. Only recently that they learnt that their mother is still alive and our partner’s staff is now making all the necessary arrangements so they can see each other at the end of this April. However the mother works in farms and can barely support herself. She is also in the recovery phase of her mental health issues. Thus the 3 children will continue to stay in the compound until fully grown up.

Full Moon experiences God’s providence in spite of their financial constraints all these years. The children in Full Moon Compound also experience God’s healing and comfort in spite of their suffering during childhood. Are you willing to walk with them and experience God’s amazing work together?

‘He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.’ (Deuteronomy 10:18-19) God summoned the Israelites to care for the poor communities with empathy. This is because the Israelites should understand how the poor feel since they were once foreigners in Egypt and thus should know how to walk with the poor. May we learn from them and be willing to walk with those in less advantage than us, give them more of our love and pray harder for them.

CEDAR’s local partner Full Moon, founded in 1997, looks after children and orphans from conflict areas, as well as committed to giving them training so they can become church leaders after grown up and effect changes in their communities. Today many of these children have become teachers, nurses, skilled farmers, technicians and community workers, contributing to the societies using their skills given by their Heavenly Father. 

Pray for Children Ministry in Myanmar:

  • May God provide the hostel with enough uniforms, water-resistance materials and cabinets since there is an increase in the number of students when the new school term starts;
  • Pray for the erection of a door or protection wall in front of the hostel’s library as the library is always badly affected when there are torrential rains;
  • All those volunteers in Full Moon have served for over 15 years and may our Lord continue to strengthen them in the coming days so their commitment will not die off. Also pray for more volunteers in Full Moon so the team will be more resourceful in serving the increasing needs.

Donate Now! Click here.

Other Methods of Payment

  1. Cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
  2. Deposit to HSBC A/C No. 600-385678-001, enclosing with the Pay-in slip
  3. Autopay (only applicable to regular fixed donations), enclosing with a completed Autopay Authorisation Form (Download: WORD or PDF)
  4. Visa/ Master Card

Download Donation Form

Please send a completed Donation Form, enclosing with cheque or pay-in slip, to CEDAR FUND, G.P.O. BOX 3212, HONG KONG.

Donation Form: WORD or PDF

[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details.
[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.