Lesson For Sunday, May25

This week we will be continuing our study from last week!!! I am looking forward to seeing you all this week. I have a special prayer request from yasm:

not sure how much you guys heard about the earthquake that happened on Monday, but China is definitely hurting. Right now over 30,000 people are confirmed dead, but the number will be much, much higher once the debris is cleared and the missing are found.

Here is a link to some pics from this week in Sichuan, the province at the epicenter (some are graphic, just a warning) http://www.zonaeuropa.com/20080513_1.htm

Although Beijing is far away, there were still tremors and many high-rise buildings were evacuated as a precaution. I am ok, and things are going as well as can be expected, it has been hard on my students who are from that area, some have still not been able to get in contact with friends in their hometowns. Even though they are hurting, they have shown their support my donating blood, money, and clothing for the victims and organzing fundraisers on campus.

I am writing to ask that YASM remember China this Sunday. There are several specific requests that many groups in China are lifting up as recovery begins.

Requests:

1) that rescue efforts will continue and more survivors be found. 5 days later, they were still finding survivors.

2) that rescue workers will continue to have strength as they work constantly to sift through debris for signs of life.

3) for the cities of Sichuan (Suh-schwan) and Chengdu (Chung Do), the remaining people have been moved into temporary shelters and people are getting worn down from the ordeal.

4) for the children left without parents- there are now hundreds of orphans that are hurting and trying to recover from losing everything.

5) for the parents left without a child- because of China's one-child policy, thousands of parents are left w/o children. whole schools were destroyed- many of this year's graduating classes in that province were wiped out, because all children were in school when disaster hit.

6) that our family members in these cities will be a light to those around them and that those in despair can find the hope that lives in us.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and support.

A friend of Yasm in China