to read more... - New Horizons Foundation
Transcription
to read more... - New Horizons Foundation
NEPAL MISSIONS EARTHQUAKE REPORT A major earthquake (magnitude 7.8) struck Nepal on Saturday, April 25, 2015 rocking the capital city of Kathmandu, but also badly damaging rural areas outside the city. News reports indicate the death toll at 4000 is still rising with many more injured. Foreign aid is beginning to pour into Kathmandu—but what about the people in surrounding villages? Local Woodland Park resident, Ruth Parajuli, is from the village of Lamosangu, 50 miles east of Kathmandu, and her family there tells a story of destruction in an area that has suffered many aftershocks. She moved to Colorado 12 years ago to raise a family, but has been sending money back through her charity—Nepal Missions—to help poor and disabled people in the villages since 2002. Ruth: “With power and phone service interrupted, it has been difficult to reach family. I have talked with my brother in Kathmandu and he has talked with our dad in Lamosangu. According to my dad and through social media posts, our village of Lamosangu was severely damaged. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake stuck just as Pastor Ramos was beginning to deliver his sermon at our local church. The church building collapsed and at least Ruth giving a goat to a needy disabled woman 100 people in the church building died. My mom and one of my disabled sisters were able to escape without injury, but my other disabled sister was trapped by the collapsing building. She was knocked unconscious, and pulled from the rubble with a serious head injury. I am very worried about her condition. Fortunately, my dad had a meeting in a village and he was walking outside when the earthquake struck. So he also is safe. Destruction in Lamosangu, 50 miles east of Kathmandu My brother says that my parent’s house—built little over two years ago—is the one of the only house without serious damage in this village!” Ruth: “My heart cries out for my family, friends and church family. Everything is gone! My heart is breaking—so much death and destruction!” In just 2 weeks, Ruth was planning to leave for Nepal with several others from her church. Ruth: “We were planning to bring food, clothes, livestock, and other gifts to the needy people in the surrounding villages. We were also going to sponsor a four day conference for church leaders at my parent’s church in Lamosangu. But now the church lies in rubble with many dead.” Ruth’s brother—Ramkaji Parajuli—lives in Kathmandu with his family where he runs a factory that makes trail mix for trekkers. Ramkaji has been a critical link along with her parents in Lamosangu in delivering aid to the poor and disabled. His family, like most residents of Kathmandu, has been sleeping under a tarp in the city square in case more aftershocks bring down additional damaged buildings. But his concern is larger than just his own needs. Ramkaji: “Now our focus must quickly shift to bringing aid to the many affected by this terrible earthquake.” Ramkaji’s family resting in a square in Kathmandu Ramkaji set out yesterday (April 27) to go to Lamosangu and bring back his sister so that she could be treated in the hospital. There is no medical facility in their village. Ruth and Ramkaji are thankful for many organizations such as Samaritan’s Purse and World Vision that are already mobilizing relief aid for Nepal. Ruth: “But we don’t know how much of that aid will reach the rural villages. Over 2000 people live in my village of Lamosangu and probably close to 20,000 in the nearby area. Under the umbrella of New Horizons Foundation, Nepal Missions has set up a special emergency fund: “Nepal Missions: Earthquake Relief 2015” that will be used to help the people in the area around my home village of Lamosangu. People can donate to this 501c3 charity by visiting our website on www.nepalmission.org.” Your help and prayers are critically needed at this time. Please give generously. Ruth Parajuli for Nepal Missions