Cyclone Pam 3/25

Good things happening on Efate today...

We started the day with another water run to Etas Village. Michael Gray and Titus are quickly becoming old hands at the task! We will head out again tomorrow with a truck load, and will stick around awhile to show them pictures of their loved ones in Tanna - they were grateful to hear news of my trip today, and are now anxious to see pics.

I met with church leaders in Etas and Epau today, getting an update on where they are and what they need. I'm trying my best to listen and hear what they need, rather than putting my ideas into their heads. I think we are headed in the right direction as to how to best assist them.

The first installment of NDMO (Natural Disaster Management Office) food rations were delivered to Epau today. Allowances are to include 5kg rice, 2 tinned fish, 2 tinned beef, and 2 packets of Ramen noodles ... per person, every 15 days. Seems fairly meager, but I think it is really designed to supplement what little they are able to gather from their gardens. The distribution centers in town were basically mobs of people anxious to get food (more because it was free than because they were desperate, IMO), but I think the village drop-offs were a little more tame. Overall, it's probably as good a system as there can be. I'm grateful that the food is starting to flow, and pray that tensions don't rise as the weeks go on.

In Epau, I also learned that an aid organization had dropped off gravity-fed water filtering units (no instructions, no training, which will likely equal no use), and another had dropped off tool packets (machete, hand saw, hammer, nails, tie wire, etc.) to each household. It was also GREAT news that the water supply is back online in Epau (an average of one outdoor tap per household). One of the Christians there, Bob, is head of the village water committee, and I was proud of his hard work. Running water is such a blessing, and you don't tend to realize it until you don't have it. Since Epau now has food and water coming in, we will slowly turn our efforts to rebuilding there, as materials and funds allow. We are still collecting money via www.gofundme.com/oz6e9c or via check to:
Perkins Church of Christ
PO Box 128
Perkins, OK 74059

If you need further details, don't hesitate to ask. Thanks so much for your continued thoughts and prayers!! We'll provide more details as they become available... ~E