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Notes
from Dr. E.J. Rethinasamy, Pastor-Mission Developer
South Asian Ministries, Atlantic District- Lutheran Church Missouri
Synod
Thursday, Jan 6
Dear Friends:
1. Yesterday morning, I called Nagapattinam (Tsunami Famous Coastal Town in Tamilnadu, India). There I learned about Parameswaran, whom I know since late 1990’s as an individual risked his life before some religious fanatics for the new faith he found and the free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. I heard he lost his three children along with his seven relatives to the Tsunami. I understand that his house is very close to the shores and his children were playing near the ‘new beach’ area in Nagapattinam. Please uphold him and his wife in your prayers. May the Lord’s comfort be with the family and to the extended families. I am trying to reach him and waiting for the phone number to contact him. I will update in detail as soon as I receive more info.
2. Andaman and Nicobar Islands which belongs to India, is still experiencing ‘little earthquakes’ here and there. Death toll in still on the rise and so far the media says it is10,000+. Many mission societies were operating on the Islands with many missionaries to the newly attractive and developing Island. Many mission agencies claim some of their missionaries (Mostly indigenous) are missing. One Missionary who belongs to Shiloh Mission based in Madras, who survived the Tsunami said that his two children were grabbed from his hands by the killer Tsunami and taken into waters. (My sister shared this story with me) . Many churches and believers in the region are unaccounted for. I would encourage our world mission to consider this place for rebuilding not only the communities but souls also.
3. There are lots of responses about Jeevanandham's case. I will update if anything comes up positively.
EJ Rethinasamy
Tuesday, Jan 4
Dear Friends:
Please read this story and advice me what can be done in re-uniting this family: Feel free to forward this message to person you may know.
James Arulnesan Jeevanandham is a native of Jaffna, Sri Lanka presently living in Queens,
New York. He is living in US since 2001 and has applied for political asylum whose case has been on appeal and waiting for a decision since 2001! While he is here, his wife Manjula Jeevanandham (39)and their two sons Samuel (14)and Solomon (10) were living in Sri Lanka.
On 12/26, his wife and children along with some extended family were traveling in the train which was swallowed by Tsunami . His wife Manjula , her sister, her father, her mother and another nephew were taken into the waters. Still their bodies are unable to be found. I am told the wagon itself was taken underwater. (FYI. This is the same train where Rev. Eardly Mendis’ wife Tamara and their daughter were traveling. Some of you might have known Pastor Mendis is an ELCA pastor. His Tamara also died in this fatal disaster.)
Fortunately, both of Jeevanandham’s sons Samuel and Solomon survived the wave and swam to the shore! Now, loosing their mother, grand parents, aunt and cousin they are presently under the care of an Uncle, who himself lost his wife and a son. Unlike anytime, now, Jeevanandham’s children and Jeevananadham himself are desperately in need of being reunited as family in this situation. Jeevanandham cannot go to Sri Lanka now, but, his sons can come if Jeeva is granted asylum ASAP. So far, it has been eight years for Jeevananadham seeing his family. Now, as I spoke to him today, I could hear his agony which broke into tears. Is there any way we can help him? Please advice me and I will connect him with right services in bringing the Kids over here.
Last Sunday, (01/02/2005) Jeevanandham came to our Church where we had a service of Hope and Healing to the community. He gave a bold witness about his faith in Jesus and said “Jesus
is the only source, strength and comfort for me to carry through this great pain in my life”. His faith encouraged many in ourcongregation who go through similar situations in their own contexts in India and other parts of Sri Lanka with their relatives.
Along with Jeeva, Joseph Dinakar from Nagapattinam, India; Alphonse Bernard of Kanyakumari; David Kandiah and George Ratnarjah of Jaffna shared these kinds of stories at our healing service whatever they heard about their dear and near ones.
For the past one week, whoever I talk to in the community in India, Sri Lanka, US and Canada knows at least some one who are missing or lost due to this disaster.
“Comfort, Comfort my people”, says your God. Isaiah 40:1
E.J Rethinasamy
Tuesday, Dec 27
Dear Friends:
By this time you might have known about the deadly devastation
by tsunami aka tidal wave in the South East Asian region .
As a South Asian ministry here in New York, we are very much shocked
and speechless about the present situation in our regions, particularly
Tamilnadu State in India, Sri Lanka and Maldives. Since yesterday
morning, I have been in phone contact with my relatives in India
and with some of our church members whose immediate and extended
families are in Sri Lanka. Herewith I am giving some news for
you to remember us in your prayers.
- My aunt (My mom’s younger sister) and
uncle’s town Nagapattinam is the highest affected in town
in India. So far, the death toll is 2500 people and countless
people who were taken over by the water. My aunt Gnanam and
Uncle Dhanraj were inside the church service on 26th around
8:40 a.m. The church is located approximately 2 miles from the
seashore. The water rushed inside the church and it was almost
7 or 8 meters high. Somehow every one from the church survived
by running into one nearby high-rise apartment building. They
both managed to escape to the nearby town and still feeling
hard to come out of the shock of seeing some children and women
taken over by the water currents.
- My mother –in-law experienced a shake
in her apartment in Madras and is still in shock.
- Tranquebar, the Lutheran headquarters of 17th
century Asia and its nearby fishermen neighborhood totally devastated
and surrounded by seawaters. I try to call my former colleagues
but could not get their connection. I hope they might have moved
to safe places.
- One church building in the District of Kanchipuram
in Tamilnadu was collapsed in the middle of the service and
40 people died inside the sanctuary itself.
- Veilankanni - a seashore Catholic shrine and
a tourist attraction - also was hit and the death toll is nearing
1,000 and most of them were tourist who came for Christmas celebrations.
- Srilankan families of our church could not
get communication with their loved ones in Srilanka who live
in the affected areas of Trincomolle and Batticola.
- All over the affected regions in Asia (Indonesia,Thailand,India,Srilanka,Maldives,
and Malaysia), the death toll is 21,000 according to CNN news,
as I am writing this mail.
- Officials have advised fishermen not to go
to sea for two more days. "There is no guarantee that the
tidal waves will not appear again," said K. Kaushalya of
the National Geophysical Laboratories inHyderabad, the capital
of Andhra Pradesh.
- Death toll is still on the rise and the mass
burials are being conducted in many areas of the affected areas.
- As I was watching the Tamil TV network here,
hearing the cries of the affected families, and seeing the affected
places where I have traveled and walked in most of those regions
now look like mountains of human bodies in and around those
towns and villages. It is emotionally challenging me with lots
of tears. However, the faith we have in Jesus, urges me, to
look upon Him who silenced the noisy sea in the middle of doubts,
fears, chaos and life threatening situations.
Immanuel: God with us. Amen!
-- Dr. E.J. Rethinasamy
Pastor-Mission Developer
South Asian Ministries
Atlantic District- Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
O: 516-742-5858 C: 917-553-9379
E.Mail: pastorejr@att.netpastorejr@att.net
www.christiantamils.org
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