Ministry Update 7/20/10

Update from Understand The Times on the Myanmar Relief Fund

On May 2, 2008 a devastating cyclone (Nargis) struck Yangon and area. For several days we were unable to communicate with any of our contacts in Yangon. As media reports from around the world the area began to televise the terrible loss of life and devastation of property, we were more and more concerned for our people each day that followed the disaster.

Finally, about one week after the cyclone hit, word came from one of leaders that all the children and leaders of the four Bryce Lodges that we have in Yangon had survived.  Although shaken, they were not harmed. We thank God for His protection over them.

Following the disaster, the news media informed the world that sending aid to the people in this part of the world was essentially impossible because of reasons I will not discuss in this report. While thousands had perished, those who survived were without shelter and food. Many were left helpless, homeless and without any hope.

As soon as we found out that our contacts in Yangon had survived and were OK, we decided to establish a Relief Fund that they could minister to the people in the disaster area. As foreigners were not welcome in the country to distribute relief, it seemed that God had placed us in a strategic place at a strategic time so that we could reach out to the needy through the Christians we were already working with. Thus the establishment of the Understand The Times Myanmar Relief Fund which was supported by people from around the world through funds sent by mail and online giving.

Following the disaster, several of my friends and board members (on their own expense) traveled to Myanmar as tourists to deliver some of the funds that were received. As time passed, additional funds were deposited to the Myanmar Relief Fund which we have also been able to transfer to our contacts for distribution.

During the month of January, 2009, I was able to travel to Yangon and spend several days with our leaders. This was the first time that I was able to go and meet our leaders  in person since the disaster. They showed me many photographs that visually depict the results of the disaster. Other photos show our teams ministering relief in the disaster areas and show the distribution of food and basic living needs. In every case, our representatives shared the love of Jesus Christ, not only in a physical way, but they also shared the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Based on the situation in Myanmar, and the great concern that I have for our people, I am not able to mention specific places or specific names. Please know that this effort would not have been possible without your support and the dedicated and unselfish devotion that our UTT representatives exhibited in distribution of resources to very poor people in need – physically, financially and spiritually.

The task of trying to report the scope of what was accomplished by the funds that were designated to the UTT Myanmar Relief Program is a difficult to do in words. Therefore, I am going to post a number of photographs that were given to me so that you can see with your own eyes. These photographs will be under the following headings:

·         Destruction to property and land

·         Traveling to the devastated areas

·         Distribution of physical aid – food and finance

·         Rebuilding shelters

·         Proclaiming the gospel

I hope and pray that these photos will help tell the story of how the Myanmar Relief funds have been spent. Now that the disaster is behind, there is still much that we want to do.

When I met with the leaders who were responsible for distribution of the resources, I asked them what they thought would be the best way to continue to work in the devastated areas where they had gone and taken their teams. All four leaders I met with agreed the best way to continue our outreach to the areas where they had gone would be to sponsor four full time missionaries who would live among the people (primarily Buddhist population) and share the gosple in the midst of darkness on an ongoing basis.

This would require funds to build a shelter that would cost approximately $500. Second, the support required to support a missionary would be approximately $100 a month or $1200.00 a year. In this way the UTT Relief Program with continue on an ongoing basis as funds are provided by sponsors.

Please pray with us regarding the support for these four missionaries.

Photographs That Tell The Story

Destruction to property and land

Traveling To The Devastated Areas

Distribution Of Physical Aid - Food And Financial Support

Rebuilding Shelters

Proclaiming The Gospel

Funds For Ongoing Relief Missionary Program:

Missionary One

a)    Shelter - $500

b)   One year missionary support - $1200

            Missionary Two

a)    Shelter - $500

b)   One year missionary support - $1200

            Missionary Three

a)    Shelter - $500

b)   One year missionary support - $1200

           Missionary Four

a)    Shelter - $500

b)   One year missionary support - $1200

Click Here to sponsor a missionary or Fund a shelter

Archived Ministry Updates

Understand The Times is an independent non-profit organization in Canada and the United States.
Understand The Times is not affiliated or dependent upon any other organization or denomination.
Understand The Times is accountable to a board of directors in the United States and Canada
and accountable, first of all, to Jesus Christ and His word.

Fair Use Notice

Home | Contact The Ministry | Goals And Objectives | Statement Of Faith
 Tract Booklets | Books | DVDs | Commentary By Roger Oakland
Internet Bible School |  Let There Be Light | Creation Gallery
Bryce Homes Myanmar | Bryce Homes Kenya | Bryce Homes Philippines | Bryce Homes South Africa
Bryce Homes Mexico | Exposing The Emerging Church | Support Bryce Homes | Support UTT
Bryce Homes International | Internet Church | God's Word For Today |  Search This Site
 | UTT Spanish Site