Sri Lanka was not prominent in many of our minds during Christmas of 2004. Many of us drink tea from Ceylon, but it was just an exotic place name with little definition. Was it in Asia? Off the coast of Africa? No, Sri Lanka is off the tip of India in the Bay of Bengal.
When the great Tsunami struck that day after Christmas, Sri Lanka leapt into our consciousness as a place where great suffering had taken place. We saw the moving images of people fleeing the tidal wave and the destroyed houses and wrecked boats. Disasters happen all the time, but this one boggled the mind. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed, millions left homeless, and fear seemingly all that was left in the wake of the receding waters.
Myers Park United Methodist Church might never have done much to care for the victims of this tragedy were it not for the perseverance of a pastor in Sri Lanka, the Rev. Don Fernando. Ten years before, he had a chance encounter on a train platform with American author, Davis Bunn who was a member of the Davidson United Methodist Church. They had corresponded over the years and kept the relationship alive. When the waters receded, Don contacted his old friend with a simple message: "Can you help us?" (Acts 16:9)
Davis Bunn contacted James Howell and we began to organize the church to respond to the tragedy. Donations began to accelerate. Through Pastor Fernando we connected with the Rev. Rohitha de Silva of the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka. He invited us to send a representative to Sri Lanka to coordinate a program to help the people of the island recover.
So we traveled to Sri Lanka and found there a vibrant Methodist Church, dating back to 1814 which was well equipped in every way but money to respond to the needs of victims. As we traveled to the disaster areas, we found in every case devoted pastors who had opened their homes and their churches as shelter for victims. Some had hosted dozens of families for weeks at a time all while continuing to serve their churches. Their inspiring devotion and love created many opportunities to help.
When Steve James returned from the three week trip, the congregation rallied in a massive way to the needs presented. In just three weeks over a half-million dollars was donated and pledged and a program came together to build homes for victims in partnership with the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka.
Now two and a half years later, thirty-five homes have been completed and occupied. We have learned much about the faith of our brothers and sisters in the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka. Our team of Steve James, Charlie Rivens and Roy Dunaway is on the beautiful Island for a review of the progress and to celebrate the dedication of the reconstructed sanctuary for the Methodist Church in Rawathwatte. What we have found among the people is rich thankfulness to God who loved them enough to send help all the way from the other side of this blue earth.
We didn't know Sri Lanka in 2004, but now we have a vital partnership with a vibrant church that inspires and challenges us. Out of the tragedy a legacy has been created of well-worn bridges across two oceans, a deep and lasting partnership and hope for the poorest of the poor.
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