by Ken Smith

We are calling for a team to go to Pakistan in response to the humanitarian crisis there.  Due to the war between the Taliban and Pakistan army, there have been approximately 1.9 million refugees fleeing the area.  We would be leaving approximately 3-4 weeks from now.  The cost would be $3,000.  The duration can be adjusted to those going.  Please pray and ask God what he would have you do.  Below you will find an excerpt from from an email sent out to our leadership and board with additional details.

I’m sure most of you have been hearing the news about the war going on in Swat Valley between the Taliban and the Pakistani army.  This is about 10 miles from Jabbar Gali where Waheed lives and most of our work has been done.

Tonight on the national news on NBC, I saw a fairly long story on the humanitarian crisis that now exists with over 1.9 million refugees fleeing the area.  I don’t know if any of you saw the news cast, but I’ll give you some highlights.  It’s over 100 degrees and the people are suffering from dehydration and are in desperate need of food and housing.  The United States has committed millions of dollars to the relief effort.  The problem with most relief efforts is having people there to get the aid directly to the people.

Many people are unwilling to go to the tent camps that have been set up because they are too hot and crowded and peoples’ needs are not being met there.  It was very sad for me to see the people with faces of desperation.  Many talked of how they were desperate for help and no one was meeting their needs.  I saw men who seemed quite strong, yet were breaking down under the stress of trying to meet the needs of their families.

Waheed told me before he left that people from this area would be unwilling to go to the camps because they don’t intermingle with other families, and they see it as disgraceful for their women and children to be intermingling with people from different areas.  He said the schools were closed down and were completely full of refugees.  People were trying to rent homes or pieces of land where their own extended families could stay.  But they were quickly running out of money for food and other basic necessities.  There are 40 and 50 people living in a small home not knowing if they are even going to have food the next day.

I think this a is unique opportunity in an area where people were wanting Sharia Law just a few weeks ago, and now we have the opportunity to present to them Jesus “The Compassionate One”.  I think He’s given us this opportunity and we should not miss doing everything that we can to help.  I always asked myself this question: “What would the God who provides all of our needs want to provide for them?”

If you’re interested in participating or want to learn more about this opportunity, contact Ken Smith at kensmithrr@cox.net or call (402)573-2000.