You can make an impact all over the world without leaving the state! Here's a news excerpt about Water Missions International, our partners in Charleston. If you are interested in going on a Charleston missions trip in June, contact Mike Fiedler at 803-279-1555 or mikef@truenorthchurch.com.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Missions relief organization brings safe water and hope for China earthquake survivors
By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA (ANS) -- A team of water resource engineers and technicians has arrived in Chengdu, China with water purification systems for survivors of the devastating earthquake in that country.
The team was accompanied by Andre Merganthaler, International Project Director of Water Missions International (WMI). Their mission is to install and operate 12 water purification systems.
Six water purification systems, requested by Samaritan's Purse (SP), were included in SP's chartered Boeing 747 carrying $1 million in relief supplies, airlifted from Charlotte, North Caolina to Chengdu, China today (May 23).
Six more systems will be sent from the WMI Headquarters in Charleston, South Carolina to Chengdu, China early next week. This airlift is made possible by FedEX.
A media release from WMI says that each water system is assembled by volunteer labor, provides a continuous supply of approximately 10,000 gallons per day, and can be rapidly deployed and installed in only a few hours. The systems purify available surface and contaminated well water sources in disaster areas.
A deadly, 7.8-magnitude earthquake shook China's Sichuan province on Monday, May 12, affecting millions of people. To date, the quake and its aftershocks have claimed more than 55,000 lives and left more than a quarter of a million people injured. The latest reports estimate that another 25,000 people are still missing and could be buried beneath the rubble.
One week after the disaster, 4.8 million people are homeless and in desperate need of food, shelter, and clean, safe water.
At the Samaritan's Purse Press Conference this morning, Zhang Ping, of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China thanked Jerry Miner, WMI VP Disaster Response, for the water treatment systems that will provide much needed assistance.
Water Missions International (WMI) is a nonprofit, Christian engineering organization based in Charleston, South Carolina.
WMI's mission is to provide sustainable access to safe water and an opportunity to hear the "Living Water" message in developing countries and disaster areas.
Assistance is provided regardless of age, sex, race, or faith. To date, WMI has deployed a total of 574 water systems in 35 countries worldwide and two U.S. states, making safe water available to more than one million people. Visit us at www.watermissions.org .
Still waiting on your passport? Then Second Saturday is waiting for you. Listen to what others had to say....
I attend the Columbia County campus of TrueNorth. A few weeks ago, I participated in my first Second Saturday. We spread mulch at the Augusta Prep school. I had a lot of fun getting to know people better, as we served side by side. It is a great feeling when you have the opportunity to serve the community. And I am glad that there was a specific project for the people of our campus to give back to the school where we worship every Sunday. I can't wait till next month, and the opportunity to serve again!
Columbia County's first Second Saturday was held on May 10th. We had a great time serving and giving back to Augusta Prep as we spread the seemingly unending mounds of mulch around the flower beds of Augusta Prep. I made some new friends and learned that shoveling mulch is a lot easier with a pitchfork. I'll remember that next time.
It's early Saturday morning and the Sheppard Blood Mobile is already parked outside our office. Tents up and coffee served as our church family comes together to serve. I love Second Saturday because its one of our volunteer opportunities to serve with our kids. As I watched Betsy Tanner (as Walt would put it -"ready to land the alien at any moment"), it made me think of the birth of Second Saturday, Link'd Up and Adopt- A - Block. I have had the honor to be a small part of each from birth. The growth of them is as tender to watch as the growth of a newborn. Each step has been a milestone. So manned with our new Local Impact T-shirts, off went the teams to give back to God his first fruits. It was TNC at it's best -not talking about God's word but LIVING it.
This was my first "official" Second Saturday experience and I look forward to many more. I love that TNC is proactive in the area of service. I think the "doing" part is missing in the Christian walk and I think it's awesome that TNC makes it a point to go and do for others. As a church, it's a great example to set forth for each of us as individuals to put into practice. I should pray for the needs of others, but when I am able, I should also meet those needs. Get up and go! What could be simpler than that? It helps me to remember how much God has done for me and that service for others should flow out naturally when we consider all God has done and still does for us.
Whichever campus you attend, however many in your family, there is always room for you at Second Saturday. See you on June 14th!
TNC Missions
We're all back on American soil! Everybody was glad to get back to family but thankful for the experiences in SE Asia!
Intense, eye-opening, hot (temperature), gratifying and exhausting were a few words used to describe the time by different team members. Anger at injustices seen and at the poverty - some extreme - was also expressed. There was also an amazement at the joy of many of the people expressed in spite of and in the midst of the poverty. How the simple things we did made a difference, brought pleasure and built relationships. We pray these relationships can be continued for eternity! There were several new doors opened for the team working in country. They are encouraged and thankful we came. They are also looking forward to the next teams coming later this year. Got your passport yet?
Judy and I are very grateful to be a part of this - Danny A
We're tired and did not have internet connections for the last several days. See everyone soon! The time here has been amazing. Emotional times! Many impressions! We leave for Singapore transit in a few hours. Danny
The biggest problem with "the ends of the earth"? No internet. Our intrepid SE Asia team is doing well, despite the lack of Oreos and E-access. Please continue to pray for them and that lives will be changed by their obedience to God. They should be home Sunday night, our time.
TNC Missions
Tomorrow morning we are off to our next destination. We had a ticket mixup sooooo we're going over a bit earlier than planned. We're all just trusting the Lord in this and believing He has a plan and purpose. Our next posting may be done on a dialup connection. Keep prayin'! Danny
One of the things you notice in a place like Singapore is that there are always languages around you that you don't understand. Here there are many "dialects" of Chinese - Hokkein, Hakka, Teochew, to name a few, and of course, Mandarin. You also hear Tamil, Hindi and Urdu from India and other Indian languages then you have Malay as another common language. These are just some of the major languages you hear all around you in the course of a day of getting around in the city.
As I was thinking about this it occurred to me that Singaporeans also deal with this language issue on a daily basis as well. Although most Singaporeans speak multiple languages none of them speak all of the languages around them. Most of us as Americans have difficulty understanding this kind of situation but it's reality in much of the rest of the world.
Till,
Danny
We just got back from the shopping in Singapore at the market and eating amazing Indian food. I was trying to talk to the locals here in Spanish haha. I have to keep reminding myself that we aren't in Costa Rica.
For those of you who don't know, we will be unable to share the gospel openly when we arrive at our final destination. That was bothering me a lot before we left and would tell people, "I just want to tell those kids about Jesus!" A good friend smacked me around a little bit and said, "If you focus on what you can't do for God, you won't see what you can do for Him!" (thanks Katie!) During our first flight, I whipped out my Bible and found Psalm 19:1-4, "The heavens tell the glory of God. The skies display His marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known. They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies; yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world."
This was obviously God speaking very clearly to me. Christ's love and grace is displayed in creation every moment of every day. Our silence will speak louder than any preaching we can do! So remember, wherever you are right now, living for Christ speaks louder than anything any us could ever say!
Gotta run; we are going to the night safari! woot woot!! -Jenn
The twelve hour flight from Minneapolis to Tokyo was absolutely insane. I'm not used to sitting and being confined for so long. However, on our flight from Tokyo to Singapore it's like God opened up the Heavens and smiled because I had two seats to myself!!! Now if you have never been on a plane for more than 7 hours, you have no clue what this means, but I was able to stretch out and sleep!! It was amazing and a huge blessing from God. Trying not to think about Cole and Anna too much so I don't get homesick! We're finally here and getting ready to see as much as Singapore as we can. I love you guys. And thanks for all the prayers. Our flights could not have gone any more perfect!!! - Bethany
"The faithful prayers of a righteous man availeth much." God's grace was with us in our flight. Everything ran smoothly. Can't wait to see what God will do today! - Sandra.
WOW! What a long flight!!!! What a wonderful relief to finally be here..Slept really good last night listening to an awesome thunderstorm. Already miss Jay and Trey But I will be ok. Looking forward to seeing Singapore, talk to ya later.-Andra
The ladies arrived last night in Singapore! The connections went good for them and flights were good. More later from me.
Danny
