Greetings for Christmas Season
from HCC
Report from Kashmir 2005-12-23
 
Rev. Shekhar Singh, Mr. Philip Nadvi and myself visited Jammu and Kashmir Earthquake relief work from 19th of December till 22nd of December. 

The relief work is progressing well and at present 13 volunteers are working there.  The work is very hard and challenging. We need a lot of dedication, sacrifice, boldness and God's grace to work in that region which is difficult and terrorist prone region.  These volunteers will continue their work till 15th of January, but hopefully the work will be over by 10th of January.
 
As we were visiting some of the villages, we were touched by the living testimony of one 13yr old girl, named Ameena. One day our volunteers were involved in the construction work.  As it is our practice that three members are divided in each group for the construction. These three volunteers were working on the construction site and this young girl came to meet them. She asked them this question, "Why only three of you are working, where is the fourth person who was working with you yesterday?" The volunteers were surprised and said: "We are only three working in this village for more than one and half month but there is not fourth person about whom you are talking." But this little girl insisted that there was fourth person yesterday with you and he was having white shining clothes and shining face but I don't see that person today with you. The volunteers were in great awe and shock and they came back and reported to other volunteers. In the evening during prayer time they shared this experience with others. They praised God together for what God has done just like in the life of Daniel in the Old Testament. When three of them were throne into the fire, they experienced that there was a fourth person who was protecting them from big furnace. Our volunteers praised God together because they knew that the fourth person was no one but Jesus Christ himself helping them in their work. The Lord is visible to others through the work of our volunteers.
 
As we were there the temperature was - 7 degree. There was a snowfall in few places. We had climbed 9000ft the mountains where our volunteers stay there is no warmness at all and there is no such heater with them which will help them to protect themselves from the severe cold. They get up early in the morning and start the construction work of the temporary shelters together with the local volunteers, and they are working three in one team and altogether they have five teams. They have to climb 4 to 5 kms high on the mountains. But everybody is staying happily and working with whole heart to fulfill the requirement of the earthquake affected people, they are working spontaneously and during the Christmas time also they are ready to stay there and work. They will have worship in the midnight of 24th December together with the people in Kashmir who have started listening about Jesus Christ. This people are special they are called mountainous people. They say that they are pure Kasmirian and they don't want people from Srinagar in their areas and they don't mix up with them at all.
 
The most important thing is that they should have medical facilities which is not available properly.  Because of the hard life their life span is only 50 to 55yrs.  They get their drinking water from the springs.
 
HCC is the only organization in the area, whose volunteers are staying and helping them in the construction of the temporary houses. Our volunteers are dedicated to the work even in the midst of risking their lives. The paths are very narrow and even slight fall may destroy their life as they live and work above 9000 to 10000ft above the sea level. We admire their commitment to the task.
 
Our volunteers are constantly providing care and trauma counseling to the earthquake affected people.  As they visit village to village the people share their grief and sorrow to our volunteers. Apart from temporary shelter construction, our volunteers spend lot of time in providing trauma counseling to the affected people.  One such case is of Hamid who lost his one year child in the earthquake. He is still mourning for his child.  When we met him he broke down in tears remembering the lost of his child. There are scores of people just like Hamid who need special trauma counseling. 
 
Our teams have very good cooperation with the local people as well as army people. The army trucks are helping our volunteers for transportation and other support. The local people have to carry the construction material from Kamalkot to distant villages.
 
In this Christmas time, the people of Kashmir are able to experience the sacrificial love of Christ in their lives also.  The above experience of the little girl is the reality of the Christmas because Christ is present in our lives and in our work. We need to experience this living Christ in our lives today and make Him the Lord and Saviour of our lives and share the good news to others. Now there are many young people like Sahil, Faiyaz who are open to listen to the Good News. 
 
We are planning for disaster preparedness and mitigation training program for the people who have been affected by earthquake.  This will take place in 1st week of January.
 
The HCC is also organizing a program on the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean to remember those victims who have lost their lives during the Tsunami last year in December. Our coordinator Mr. S.Kobalkar is organizing peace marches in Portblair, Mayabunder, Hutbay and MithaKhadi.
 
We wish you a Merry Christmas and Joyous and Happy New Year.
 
Thanking you. With Kind Regards
 
Rev. Steven David
Hindustani Covenant Church

Mr. Philip Navdi and Rev. Shekar-singh visiting earthquack affected
area in Kashmir.


Pastor Asher Wasker cooks.


HCC volunteer teaching in the mountains of Kashmir.


HCC volunteers in Maidan.


Inside a temporary shelter.





A destroyed house in Maidan.