A catastrophic cyclone hit Vanuatu on Saturday, March 14, 2015.
Vanuatu is located in the South Pacific and has a population of over 260,000 inhabitants.
Contact with our brethren has been limited due to damages caused to the communications infrastructure, but we have been informed that though some of our brethren lost their houses, God has spared their lives, praised be to the Lord!
We have not yet been able to assess the damages in all our churches, neither the precise needs of our brethren. For now we know that food, water and medication are the most urgent needs at this moment, and this will be taken care of by the funds available at the GC Welfare Department for world disaster emergencies. We have heard in the news that in the capital city from where it has been possible to acquire more information, 90% of the buildings have been damage. Therefore our brethren will need also urgent assistance to rebuild or restore their homes and churches as well as to start again their crops.
At this time, the GC Welfare representative for the region is working to get more information about the situation of our brethren in Vanuatu and will be going there as soon as possible to better assess the needs of our brethren and to assist them accordingly. Vanuatu is under the jurisdiction of the Australasian Union and the brethren there are already working to assist our church family in distress.
When disasters like this strike, our church family is always ready to assist our suffering brethren, and we know that many of you will extend your helping hand at this time of need.
Donations can be sent through the General Conference Treasury:
SDA Reform Movement
Att: Treasury (Vanuatu)
P. O. Box 7240
Roanoke, VA 24019, USA
Once we have more information about the situation of our brethren and churches, we will update you.
Thank you for your prayers and financial assistance.
Your brethren of the General Conference
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons