After the Flood

The Reach the Nations team in Sindh has been busy delivering food packages and other aid to those who have lost much, including food sources, in the record-breaking monsoon flooding in Pakistan.

The first challenge was getting to these villages. The video below, which Shakeel has provided for us, shows the travel conditions:

Shakeel and Shazaib went to Korki where they preached an encouraging sermon from Matthew 6:

In Khairpur Shakeel and Rustam led a time of worship where the people gave thanks to God for sparing their lives during the devastating floods:

You may recognize the Khairpur building above where Rustam pastors a church. It was flooded but now is cleaned and dried and the people are able to gather there again.

Shakeel had to stay spend a night on the road on this trip. Here is his "room at the inn":

Mosquitoes are a big problem due to the vast areas of standing water. Because they often carry malaria, the mosquito nets are a must.

Setharja is one of the villages in which Shahzaib ministers, and it was severely damaged by the monsoon flooding. You can see that in the video below:

In the areas of most need, the men delivered food packages and offered the help they could give. They also encouraged people in Jesus' name and prayed with them.

Please keep praying that, in this time of need, those who walk with God will sense his presence and care, and that those who have yet to follow Christ, will turn their hearts toward him. May God be glorified in this moment.

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - Colossians 3:17

A Visitor to the Literacy Class

Manzoor Masih leads the Reach the Nations team in Pakistan and also is a member of the National Commission for Human Rights for the government of Pakistan. He has many responsibilities, but took time last week to visit the literacy class presently underway at Prayer Tower Church in Islamabad.

He is pictured above with Zarish (left), who teaches the class, and a student who is receiving literacy materials.

Though they are only a few weeks into the six-month course, the students are already being able to sound out words as this woman demonstrates.

The woman above, a graduate from our very first literacy course, is reading from her large-print Urdu Bible.

Please pray for these students as they enjoy the opportunity, for the first time in their lives, to learn to read. Pray, too, for their teacher, Zarish, who gives of her time and skill faithfully to lead this class.

“This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; but you shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.” - Joshua 1:8

Helping Where We Can

We have told you about Shahzaib, (on the left in the photo above) the newest member of the Reach the Nations team. He lives in the town of Sanghar where he ministers to a small congregation that is beginning to grow.

The massive flooding in Pakistan has hit hard in Sanghar. Shahzaib, his wife, and baby daughter had to move out of their home due to flooding. Thankfully, they are living with relatives until they can return to their own home.

Shakeel and Shahzaib worked together to assess the needs in this area, especially among the families with whom Shahzaib is working directly. There discovered 15 families in dire need until longer-term aid is able to reach them.

So Shahzaib and Shakeel (on the right in the photo above) went a few days ago to deliver emergency food, plus tarps (red packages) for temporary protection, and mosquito nets (blue packages) to protect from mosquitos while they sleep. The nets are important because, the mosquito population is growing with all the standing water, and these insects carry malaria.

The men report that the rains have stopped, but the water is only gradually receding. The future looks bleak at this point as all the crops in the area have been lost in the floods, so there is no work for the day laborers, and there is very little food.

Most of the families who evacuated are back in their homes, though many have damaged ceilings and walls, and there is mud to contend with.

Shakeel expressed concern for people all over Pakistan as he anticipates food shortages and, therefore, very high food prices.

Please pray with us that God will provide through efforts of Christian organizations, but also through international relief agencies, and the Pakistani government. God has a plan for his people.

If you would like to help with the emergency help being offered through Reach the Nations, you can donate here: https://www.rtnministries.com/support. Thank you!

"Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2