God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble – Psalm 46:1
Imagine what it would be like to have your home and livelihood destroyed by a natural disaster. This is what happened to the people in the Indian states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh when their homes were destroyed by Cyclone Phailin, one of the biggest natural disasters of 2013.
Jyotiranjan and his family were evacuated to a nearby school building where they waited for Cyclone Phailin to sweep through their village in Odisha. Jyotiranjan recalls, “That night we did not sleep. The whole night we watched and wondered when the cyclone would be over. When it stopped at 3 a.m., we went back to our house and found that it was destroyed and everything was lost.”
Officials estimated that the cyclone would cause extensive damage to the homes. More than 800,000 homes were destroyed. Jibu and his family lost their home and all of their belongings. How devastating it is to lose your home and all of your possessions. When I watched news on natural disasters, it is heartbreaking to see the people crying because their homes which held so many precious memories were reduced to rubble. They had lost a big chunk of their lives and they feel helpless and hopeless.
We can only imagine how Jihu must have felt when he lost his home and how thankful he was when he and his family received a home as part of Gospel for Asia’s Phailin Housing Project. He was moved to tears. “We are a very poor family. No one was there to help us when we lost everything during Phailin,” he said. Even our own relatives did not help us. But I am so happy that GFA helped me. I am so grateful to the church.”
Gospel for Asia had provided homes for Jyotiranjan and 140 other people. “We never expected a house to be rebuilt for us,” he said. “Really, I am very glad, and I want to express my gratitude to God.”
Kalei lost her small cottage after Cyclone Phailin ravaged her village. Thanks to the help of Compassion Service teams and those who provide relief, she was able to receive food. She has since been able to rebuild her life in a new home. “We were not able to rebuild a house (for ourselves, especially one) made of bricks and cement,” she said. God, through GFA Compassion Services, blessed her with a new home.
Kalei stands in front of her new home with her daughter and grandson.
In addition to rebuilding homes, Gospel for Asia provided some of the survivors with sewing machines, carpentry tools and tin roof sheets so that they could earn a livelihood since their belongings were washed away. Having new homes and earning a living has helped many of these families to experience firsthand, God’s love and mercy. They survived Cyclone Phailin and now they were rebuilding their lives with His help.
I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works – Psalm 9:1
It is encouraging to see how God’s people shine like lights in the darkest hours. Through acts of love and compassion, they bring hope and comfort to many. Through their actions, they reflect the love of Jesus.
If you would like to help Gospel for Asia in their work to reconstruct homes for those still in need, click here. Together we can help to rebuild lives. Together we can make a difference.
Sources: Gospel for Asia; BBC News
