AIMS China Coordinator Aids Tsunami Relief Effort in Thailand

AIMS News: Posted 4/1/2005

Editor's Note: In December, "Daniel" and his family decided to spend Christmas on an island off the west coast of Thailand. When they learned that the island had no vacancy, they decided to move their vacation to the eastern side of the country. On December 26, Daniel's family was spared from one of the greatest disasters in modern history. Thankful for God's provision, they decided to remain in Thailand to assist in relief efforts.

The following is a portion of a report from Daniel upon his return:

Our family was vacationing on the unaffected east side of Thailand when the tsunami hit. As a family, we decided to fly to Phukett, on the west coast, to bring some love and comfort to these bereaved people. When we arrived, we witnessed the massive destruction of the tsunami. It was difficult to comprehend. Smashed cars, boats, and houses were everywhere along the coast. People were congregating around small lakes watching divers and hoping to find their lost loved ones.

We visited the hospitals but found them empty. Then, we were directed to the World Vision refugee camps where we distributed bags of toothpaste, soap, shampoo, and tracts to the homeless who were living in small tents. Many of the people shared their stories with us. Nearly everyone had lost a loved one.

The Thais are in shock, not just at the tsunami, but at the outpouring of foreigners who have come to help them. Less than 1% of the 66 million people who live in Thailand are Christians. Most are Buddhists who donít even have the knowledge of heaven and hell. As I shared the Gospel with one woman, she explained that she had recently seen a sign that read "Jesus is the way." Excited, she told me, "Now, I know what that means!" She prayed with us to receive Jesus Christ. Praise God!

The few churches in the area were not really evangelistic and did not know how to respond to the tsunami disaster and the resulting infusion of arriving missionaries. The two we worked closely with had only one full time pastor, so most of the time, we were without a translator.

One of the women we worked with was a teacher from a university in China. Daily, she went into the camps with other missionaries and ministered to many people there. She led one 32-year-old woman, who lost her two sons in the tsunami, to Christ. The woman was grateful and began sharing with other grieving mothers how God had comforted her and how she would see her sons one day in heaven.

The teacher began handing out tracts with a little bit of cash to each person, because most people escaped the tsunami with only the clothes on their backs. The news spread fast. Soon, the alley was crowded with people. I shared the Gospel with them and another worker read from a Thai Bible. Fourteen people from that crowd went with us the next day to a local church in Phukett. All fourteen went forward that morning to receive Christ! The church was ecstatic. They had never seen such results.

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