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• Women in seven churches of the Lengua Evangelical Mennonite Conference are asking for help and prayers for their project to build two houses to carry out their activities, which include teaching children, Bible courses, meetings, Sunday school retreats, etc. (Walter Ortiz, Paraguayan Chaco)
• While India was ready to celebrate its 52nd Republic Day, a strong earthquake hit the Gujarat State in the western part of India. The intensity was 7.9 in the Richter scale. In the area of Bhuj in Gujarat, about 90% of houses were affected and about 10% were completely destroyed. The Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches are mostly in the eastern part of India and therefore we did not feel even the tremor. Though we are glad that we are not affected, we grieve with the people in Gujarat that experienced such heavy loss. (Bishop Shant S. Kunjam, Mennonite Church of India Dhamtari, Madhya Pradesh)
• A second major earthquake hit El Salvador, Central America, February 13, killing nearly 200, injuring several thousand others and damaging homes, weakened by January's earthquake that also killed hundreds. Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is working with a local partner agency to deliver emergency relief Mennonite churches in El Salvador are also working to gather supplies for earthquake victims. Deanna Durham, who with her husband directs MCC work in that country said, "Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated as most people, including us, have had just about enough." (MCC News Services)
• A group of Vietnamese Mennonites led by Pastor Trung and his wife Bich, traveled up the Mekong River on January 14, 2001, to offer relief supplies and encouragement to the victims of the area's most extensive flooding in 40 years. The goods were provided through Eastern Mennonite Missions, USA, and MCC.
       The group gave out rice and small gifts of money to 250 families. They also visited two schools and gave out writing books and pencils to 200 students. Five doctors, along with nurses and pharmacists, set up a temporary clinic, where they examined and provided medicines for 450 patients from the same village. Additionally, the group visited two evangelical churches to offer prayers for support to the Christians. (EMM worker Gerry Keener)
• "Our hope remains strong in God, who alone knows the future of this country," wrote Shimatu Kapia, Executive Secretary of the National Inter-Mennonite Committee. "We have just returned from a long trip to the eastern part of the country which took us as far as Bukavu, where the three Mennonite conferences of the Congo have a joint project. The Great Lakes Project is an effort to plant Mennonite churches in this region.
       "We were afraid but the Lord protected us as we traveled via Nairobi and Kigali. Our delegation returned safely on January 25. We think that the future of this church is hopeful and that we were able to help bring peace and reconciliation among the members. Your prayers for this are of great importance.
       "The big news for the Mennonite conferences of the Congo is a forum scheduled for June 2001. For the first time all our church leaders from across the country will be together for training and future orientation.
       "We would like to ask the Mennonite churches around the world to support us through prayer. We believe that your moral support, even though you may be far away geographically, will be of help to us.
       "I believe also that through your prayers the political transition of power will take place peacefully, above all pray for our brothers and sisters who live in the occupied regions." (From a letter to Larry Miller, MWC Executive Secretary)
• Colombian Mennonite pastor Islandes Losada A. is working under death threats. Lately he has been traveling to different parts of the country in order not to stay too long at the community where he ministers. However, he doesn't want to leave the country and he continues with his pastoral ministry.
       His congregation is trying to establish new meeting points, particularly in two areas where armed groups are in control -- one of them of paramilitaries and the other one of guerrillas. "In these places we are trying to be present as the church," wrote Losada. "Several people have converted to the gospel of peace. This is helpful to confront our attackers, as the brothers and sisters that meet there are a clear witness to our peace stance and our intention to bring social relief to needy people in the area of activity of the church," he added.
       Losada explained that threats are coming as a reaction to the fact that at the Bogotá church where he is a pastor, he welcomes persons that desert guerrilla groups to come under the protection of the churches' program of peace sanctuaries. Here, many decide to join the church in their peace and reconciliation efforts.
       "It is certainly not easy to live under threats," recognizes Losada. "However," he adds, "a meeting is under way with some of these opponents as a step to conciliation. Your prayers have been an important source of strength. Please continue to pray for us. May God bless you all for your support!"