Now that two weeks have passed, not many are hearing much about the Qing Hai earthquake on the news, both in China and also in the States.  I wondered how relief efforts were going on, especially from the Amity staff now there.  Here is the latest update which I thought we all should be aware of.  Prayers, as always, would be greatly appreciated.  Also, remember our UMCOR donations and Amity donations that can be given at any time. (Listed below the letter)

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Dear friends,

The yellow gale continued to sweep regions in Northwest China on Sunday after severe sandstorms hit Gansu province and killed three people in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region over the weekend……With wind speed reaching at least 36 meters a second, the gale also hampered rescue and relief work in quake-hit Yushu County of Qinghai Province on Sunday. (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-04/26/content_9772331.htm)

“This is probably the most devastating sandstorm I have ever experienced in my whole life,” says Ms. Tang Chuanfang, Amity’s rescue worker ,“ Yellow sand, grabbed by and mingled with the gale pressed on to the ground from the sky. Sandstorm is so strong that it’s impossible to keep our eyes open. We could only see at two or three meters distance. We get a whole mouthful of sand when eating and drinking. To cope with that, we kept our masks on all day long. Some tents are blown away, some people got injured, the already broken houses are under greater threaten. The sand smell penetrates the air. We feel like to be blown away by the gale.”

Amity’s relief work continues on in Qinghai. In Xining, Amity team finished purchasing of the 6th batch of relief resources which will be on put the way to Yushu tomorrow. Included in the materials were 12 tons of cooking oil and 375 boxes of feminine napkins.

On Sunday, April 25, a memorial service was held in Mochou Church, Nanjing in memory of the deceased in Yushu earthquake. During the service, Ms Kou Weiwei from Amity did a presentation on Amity’s relief work which has been greatly echoed by the congregation members. At the end of the service, congregation members contributed a total of 102,600 Yuan ($14,870 US) to support Amity’s relief work. Meanwhile, churches in Wuxi and Kunshan in Southern Jiangsu have also made generous donations of RMB 70,000 Yuan ($10,150 US)  in total.

She Hongyu
Assistant General Secretary
Director, Research & Development Centre

Sending Monetary Help

Those interested in giving to earthquake relief via UMCOR can do so by visiting:       http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/. 

Those wishing to be updated daily about the efforts or donate funds through the Amity Foundation are also welcome to do so by visiting:

http://www.amityfoundation.org/wordpress/?p=1199

 From Connie, in Longzhou:  Ping An!