Update on CRWRC’s Work in Pakistan
In a letter sent to Christian Reformed World Relief Committee supporters and constituents, Wayne de Jong, director of CRWRC Disaster Response & Rehabilitation, recently described the work CRWRC has done and some of the challenges it has faced in the last several months in Pakistan, where devastating floods hit this year.
He speaks of the blessing of being able to help in the aftermath of the floods and of those who have worked together with CRWRC in bringing aid to the people and areas impacted by the disaster.
Here is his letter:
CRWRC is committed to serving humanity by sharing the love of God with people who are in need, irrespective of religion, race, ethnic and gender considerations. CRWRC’s disaster response program is a ministry of urgent necessity, tremendous challenges and wonderful opportunities.
What a blessing it is to have the ability and the opportunity to shine God’s light in this time of affliction and provide assistance to people who are suffering. In Pakistan, whose population is 97% Muslim, we are working in a particularly troubled corner of the world where people who were affected by massive flooding are also besieged by minority extremist elements within their own country and religion - a religion where the majority of its followers want peace.
Most people want to know and believe that there is a God - a God who loves them. They want peace, security, stability and a future for their children, just like we do. They are so grateful to know or discover that when disasters and poverty drag them down there are people in other countries who love them and care about them, and who desire that they too might experience life in all its fullness.
When CRWRC responds to a disaster, we work quickly to meet basic human needs like food, shelter, clothing, seeds and tools so that families can survive until the next harvest, or through the winter, or until the economy recovers and there are renewed prospects for jobs, business and agriculture. At the same time, the disaster response project is an opportunity to work to prevent or reduce the impact of the next disaster. These are the practical, urgent steps carried out by Christian and secular organizations and governments alike.
As a Christian organization, we are also called to be a witness to Gods’ love, and to amplify the voices of justice and peace. Disaster response activities offer opportunities to organize people and communities who are marginalized, disenfranchised, poorly represented, powerless and without hope. In Pakistan, our partner the Inter Faith League Against Poverty (I-LAP) is working to form community-based organizations which will give people a forum to meet, talk, work together on common development goals, save and lend each other money, and generally improve their own lives and that of their communities. Such groups are a place to share values and beliefs, learn about human rights, justice, peace, reconciliation, religious tolerance, harmony and diversity. Here we can plant seeds of thought that one day will grow and yield a harvest of change.
In predominantly Muslim countries we may have limited opportunities to share our faith openly. But people are very observant – they see our actions and wonder what motivates us. They recognize that Christians from far away have contributed resources and have come to help them and work with them as equal fellow human beings. This is where we can shine, by our deeds and by our example, and demonstrate that we are friends, not foes – we are people with families just like theirs, who have the same needs and aspirations.
We are people who serve a God who loves all mankind. In this work we are privileged to show and share God’s love, and then stand back and let God’s grace enter and do the rest.
Eventually, we will complete our disaster response work and move on. In some cases CRWRC’s development arm – where present – will continue where we left off. In other cases our partners like I-LAP will continue the work. But in all cases, we leave behind hundreds or thousands of people who were impacted, in ways we might never even know, by the love of strangers.
In many cases, we will also leave behind thriving community-based organizations who will continue to meet and work together to change their community, their country, and the world. We will never forget them, and they will never forget who came alongside them in their hour of need – and many will never forget why.
