Hope Spot 49 – … and flooding rains

I hope you enjoyed seeing in my last HOPE Spot the canal in Ethiopia our ALWS family helped complete …

Seeing your love come to life in stones and mortar and strong structure like this, with the people you support working so hard …

… I hope you’re encouraged that when we face challenges, together amazing things can be achieved:

While your work in Ethiopia on this 635 metre canal system will provide year-round reliable water to 223 farm families …

… sadly, other families, this time in Nepal, face the opposite problem. Too much water. In fact, more than 300mm in 24 hours in late September. The result? This …

Landslides and flooding. More than 200 lives lost, and thousands of homes destroyed.

The Lutheran-supported team you partner through ALWS in Nepal was on the ground in 24 hours, providing emergency aid.

Kishor, one of the survivors shared his heartbreak:

“The children ask when we can go back home.
 

That question breaks my heart every time.
I want to answer them,
but right now I can’t. 

We’re still waiting and hoping.”

As you know, the media cycle moves on very quickly, and the needs of the people hurt by natural disaster soon fall from the headlines, and their crisis forgotten.

Except by people like you, through ALWS.

ALWS will step out in faith to provide $50,000 of support
for the recovery effort over the next 12 months.

The aim is to help at least 2,000 people. The focus is on those in most danger – the sick, the elderly, pregnant and lactating mums, people with and schoolchildren.

Below you will see details of the 7 Action Recovery Plan already underway.

You are most welcome to donate if you wish as an extra Christmas Action gift, or simply use this information to broaden your knowledge of your ALWS ministry to the poor.

ACTION 1: Family Recovery Pack

• Men’s and ladies clothing
• Floor mat
• Woollen blanket
• Cooking and Serving pots
• Cutlery
• Needed:125
• Unit Cost: $266

ACTION 2: Dignity Kit

• Undergarments
• Sanitary cloth
• Gown & Petticoat
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Bathing and laundry soap
• Comb and nail-clippers
• Solar light – torch
• Needed: 100
• Unit Cost: $58

ACTION 3: Emergency Shelter

• Tarpaulin
• Flexible Frame
• Meet Sphere standard
• Needed: 250
• Unit Cost: $112

ACTION 4: Disability Support

• Wheelchair
• White stick
• Commode Chair
• Needed: 25
• Unit Cost: $112

ACTION 5: Return-to-School Supplies

• Exercise books
• Pen, pencil, eraser
• School bag
• School uniform
• Needed: 250
• Unit Cost: $85

ACTION 6: Temporary Shelter + Latrine

• CGI sheeting
• Iron / timber poles & beams
• Binding materials
• Salvaged materials
• Mobilise local unskilled labour
• Delivered via Cash Grants
• Needed: 75
• Unit Cost: $1,033

ACTION 7: Village Water System

• Protect against cholera and diarrhoea
• Renovate or Construct
• Carried out by local community
• Delivered via Cash Grants
• Needed: 3
• Unit Cost: $12,898

Tragically, at the same time as this Christmas Flood Crisis in Nepal, our team in South Sudan report the communities we serve there have also been affected by flooding.

ALWS has committed $50,000 for that emergency response as well.

Here in Australia we suffer our fair share of extreme weather events and the natural disasters they can cause.

The challenge for the people you help through ALWS is that they don’t have the support systems we do. They are already the poorest of the poor. They have little or no savings. Many are subsistence farmers, so the loss of a harvest is literally life and death.

It’s thanks to the kindness and compassion of people like you that ALWS can respond quickly to these emergencies, and give the help that is needed, as soon as it is needed.

That’s why you are a blessing – ALWayS. Thank you!

PS: BONEGILLA MEMORIES?

Did you, or any of your extended family, have a connection to Bonegilla Migrant Centre, near Albury / Wodonga?

This is where ALWS started 75 years ago, and we’d like to collect stories from anyone who had a personal connection – like Lutheran Pastor, Ernie Kiss.

Simply reply to this email or call us on 1300 763 407. We’d love a chat! When I think about ‘donkey work’, I take heart knowing it was a donkey that carried Mary to Bethlehem for the birth we celebrate at Christmas!

Photos: LWF Ethiopia, LWF Nepal, ALWS