I just returned from my trip to Southeast Asia where there has been annual flooding that has been a lot more destructive than past years. My trip started in Bangladesh where I spent 7 days traveling from the North to the south with National leader Benjamin and his associate Jacob. I flew into Dhaka airport where I waited over an hour for Benjamin’s domestic flight to arrive. His flight was delayed, but I didn’t know that, and no one spoke English. To say the least my heart was getting a bit nervous that I was going to spend the night in the airport.
The next day we took a flight to Jessore, then drove 3 hrs to Khulna where Benjamin and his family live as well as the location of the National Offices for the Foursquare.
We traveled from there south to Mongla, and Bagherat where we visited many different churches and villages that had been flooded or were currently flooded.
We were able to talk to the local Pastors, Leaders, and residents about their needs. Hear stories of how God has provided and kept them safe, as well as see the local Pastors minister to their communities. Benjamin has started over 100 churches in the last 11 years, and has many churches in this area that are in communities entirely surrounded with Muslim and Hindu people. God has given them great inroads to these communities and great fruit is being harvested.
The southern part of Bangladesh has annual flooding that they are somewhat prepared for yearly. But this year the flood waters were more severe and the water stayed months longer, destroying more homes by damaging the foundations. 13 churches and 59 believers homes need to be replaced or fixed to severe damage.
We stayed in the south 2 days traveling.
We then took a 14 hour train ride from Khulna to Sultan Pur where we stayed for 3 days. This was a great experience. We again traveled to many different churches. This area is mainly tribal communities that are cast out from Bangladesh culture and society. Going to these area, and showing we care means so much to them, and shows Gods love.
We will be focusing on this area for our relief efforts by providing clothing and blankets to these needy families. Due to the flooding, these families have lost work. They survive only by working others land. With the land flooded, they don’t hire anyone. Families barely make enough to just survive, let alone buy things like needed clothing and blankets for their families. We have already been doing food distributions to these areas, helping them with food to get by until work begins.
I will attach a short assessment and financial report after this post.
I then headed to Thailand where they are also having severe flooding for over a month now. We have been helping Burmese families and Church outside Bangkok. They are living in the area that they work. They are Migrant workers, and only have papers like a visa that allows them to work, but if they leave the area they work, they will be deported. This is modern day slavery in my mind. With factories flooded and production stopped, these Burmese families can’t work, cant leave the area to find other work, and cant provide for their families. We have been sending them food, and will continue until the factories begin again.
We have also helped in Nakon Sawan and Lopburi were we recently did a huge distribution giving over 200 families packs with
Blankets
Pans Pots
Buckets for water
Flask
Spade of frying pan
Bibles
This was done with a team from Bangkok, evangelizing and sharing Gods hope and love to the flooded people. Great ministry
Next I went to Cambodia. They had flooding about 2 weeks ago, and since I was already in the region, we wanted to check in with them to see how things were going. Foursquare Cambodia has 105 orphanages with a Church combined. They sustain their orphanages through sustainable programs like fish farming, animal farming, factories, and rice farming. Due to the long floods recently, the water has destroyed over 30% of their harvest this month. This has caused a huge lack of useable rice for their homes. Because they use this food as a staple in their diet, and so many children rely on this, we are responding with financial aid to buy rice, and then re-plant for the next years harvest. Flooding like this hasn’t happened in decades and is not regular. We will continue to keep you updated on how things are going.
I was truly blessed by visiting all these countries and seeing these Pastors and leaders reach out to their communities. We are excited for the future work here, as well as continued relief to be raised. Please pray for these countries as they work to rebuild and get back to life after the floods, and pray that they would have the resources needed to rebuild their lives, homes, and communities.
Thank you for your prayers and support during this time! Without you I would not be able to bring relief to these countries that have been destroyed by floods,
The Isenharts
