Partners International sends aid for earthquake victims in Nepal

 

Partners International, a ministry with headquarters in Spokane, is mobilizing to assist its ministries in Nepal, contacting those unaccounted for since the magnitude 7.9 earthquake April 25. 

Its two partners in Nepal, Reaching the Himalayas Center (RHC) and National Church Foundation Nepal (NCFN), have both suffered losses.

Prem James, South Asia area director, said many people are injured, buildings are in rubble and the need for relief is dire.

“We have confirmed that leaders of both partners are safe, but dozens of believers they have been teaching were killed,” said Scott Steinloski, director of marketing and communications in the Spokane office. “Other workers remain unaccounted for. Many people are sleeping in the streets as aftershocks continue to threaten buildings that remain standing”

 In places he visited, Buddah, a staff member for NCFN in Kathmadu, found crowds of people—men, women, children, pregnant women, sick people with their newborns to older children in the streets. Immediate needs are for safe drinking water, sanitation, personal hygiene, shelter and sufficient food.

In the wake of the disaster, Partners International has sent an initial $10,000 for relief for its partner ministries.

Prem is meeting with Chinese and Indian partners in India so they can begin assisting in Nepal.

Partners International is also part of the International Disaster Response Network, a group that coordinates relief efforts, to assist in larger-scale efforts.

“Our partners are trained to assist relief organizations on the ground with distribution of supplies and translation,” said Scott.

Partners International’s President and CEO Larry Andrews visited Nepal last week, leaving just three days before the quake struck. Before he left, he prayed for several church planters who were setting out on a 16-day trek from Kathmadu to remote villages in the Himalayas. He said it was surreal to hear that many monuments and buildings he had visited are now rubble and new friends he just met “are in the thick of it.”

“I was devastated and it broke my heart. Nepal faces so many challenges spiritually, socially, politically and economically,” Larry said. “This earthquake on top of that is a real tragedy.  We have the opportunity to share God’s love in a practical way—by responding.

“We ask the American church to help our partners rebuild and serve the population they minister to in Nepal long after initial relief efforts have concluded,” he added.

Prem shared immediate needs:

• Rations and daily essentials to partners and their workers;

• A computer to replace computers that have been destroyed;

• Relief so partners can serve their neighbors;

• Assistance to missionaries who are unaccounted for in the earthquake area—PI also needs to provide for their families.

“Nepal needs our prayers for Jesus’ love and passionate care,” Larry said. “Many will seek God in their need. They also need our help to provide basic living needs and people who will love them and give them hope.”

The Nepalese ministries’ network of more than 1,000 local churches have medical, child education and family-training projects in communities.  Now they will gear up to help with earthquake relief.

The Reaching Himalayas Center ministers to ethnic Tibetans living in the Himalayas. 

The National Churches Fellowship of Nepal unites scattered believers for fellowship, prayer and encouragement. It is the largest coalition of indigenous churches in the country, Steven said.

PI works to build the church among the least reached, least resourced nations on earth, partnering with 39 indigenous ministries to provide training, guidance and financial resources.

It funds both short-term relief work and long-term ministry recovery after most relief efforts have subsided, he said.

For information, call 343-4021 or visit https://www.partnersintl.org/give-to-nepal.






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