wfn.org | S. Asia Trip, Weblog Jan. 7-19 Probes Tsunami-Related Faith Qs

["Carol Fouke" <cfouke@ncccusa.org>]

S. Asia Trip, Weblog Jan. 7-19 Probes Tsunami-Related Faith Qs

Visit www.faithfulamerica.blogspot.com daily beginning Jan. 7 for reports
from Dr. Premawardhana and Mr. Isner, audioclips and photos.

For more information on ecumenical response following the earthquake and
tsunami, visit www.councilofchurches.org 

January 5, 2004, NEW YORK CITY -- How do survivors of December's devastating
earthquake and tsunami in Southern Asia find meaning amidst that tragedy? 
What needs can the U.S. faith community meet - and how can the world's
current outpouring of concern be sustained after the television cameras
leave?

These are among questions that the Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhana, Interfaith
Relations Director for the National Council of Churches USA, will be asking
religious leaders and survivors during travels in Sri Lanka Jan. 7-13 and
Sumatra, Indonesia, Jan. 14-19.

The December earthquake and tsunami left as many as five million people
homeless in 12 nations of Southern Asia, and the United Nations estimated the
death toll at 150,000 and still climbing. Torrential rains hampered relief
efforts over the New Year's weekend, with safe drinking water and sanitation
at a premium. 

Leaving today (Jan. 5), Dr. Premawardhana of New York City, a native of Sri
Lanka and former Chicago Alliance of Baptists pastor, will be accompanied by
Vince Isner, a United Methodist of Fairfax, Va., Director of the NCC's Web
ministry, FaithfulAmerica.org.	

They will seek to express the concern of the U.S. faith community for people
of all religious communities in the affected region, including Christians,
Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus.	Dr. Premawardhana has strong relationships
with Christians and Buddhists in Sri Lanka, and U.S. Muslim colleagues have
given him Muslim contacts in both Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

FaithfulAmerica.org already is engaged in the effort to provide relief to the
stricken region by offering its members the opportunity to contribute toward
the multi-faceted, ecumenical emergency response work of the international
humanitarian agency Church World Service, a cooperative ministry of the NCC's
36 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican member churches.  As of Jan. 5,
FaithfulAmerica.org, through its "Hands Across the Waters" campaign, had
raised more than $60,000 for CWS, and fundraising efforts continue.

"We recognize that the rebuilding and healing in these countries will require
more than food, water, and clothing," Mr. Isner said.  "Joining hands across
the waters between faith communities is vital to long-term recovery and
healing. We already know from many of our e-mails that FaithfulAmerica
members want to roll up their sleeves and get involved. We will do our best
to make that happen."

Communicating what they see and hear will be an important part of the trip
for Dr. Premawardhana and Mr. Isner.  They will be posting articles,
audioclips and photos on a Web log - www.faithfulamerica.blogspot.com - and
will return with video documenting their encounters and visits to affected
areas.

"We particularly are interested in questions of faith," Dr. Premawardhana
said.  "Every time I talk with anyone in Sri Lanka since the tragedy, people
want to know, 'Where is God?'  Ultimately the faith community will provide
meaning for them."  

In their meetings with denominational and ecumenical leaders in Sri Lanka
(especially the National Council of Churches in Sri Lanka) and Indonesia
(especially the Communion of Churches in Indonesia), they will explore ways
to keep the U.S. faith community engaged in long-term response.  Among their
ideas: work camps to rebuild schools and homes, and establishment of "sister
cities" and "sister churches."

Dr. Premawardhana also plans to touch base with friends and relatives in Sri
Lanka.	He said his brother, aunts, uncles and other relatives there all are
safe, but that a close family friend was killed.

The friend, Tamara Mendis, 55, of Chicago, had gone to Sri Lanka to spend the
Christmas holidays with her daughter, Eranthie Mendis, 25, who was spending a
year in their native Sri Lanka after graduating from St. Olaf College in
Minnesota.  Their husband/father, the Rev. Eardly Mendis, an Anglican, serves
a Lutheran South Asian ministry in Chicago.

Tamara and Eranthie were on their way by train from Sri Lanka's capital city
of Colombo to the beach-resort town of Hikkaduwa when the tsunami hit. 
Tamara Mendis died when giant waves overturned the train into a marsh. 
Eranthie Mendis survived.

"Eranthie's story is a powerful story of faith," Dr. Premawardhana said. 
"After she was rescued, she tried to help rescue her mother, but by the time
her mother was pulled out, it was too late.  Eranthie prayed over her mother,
offering her mother's soul to God."

-end-

National Council of Churches USA
475 Riverside Drive, Suite 880
New York, NY 10115 USA

Media Contact: Carol Fouke-Mpoyo
212-870-2252/646-258-8896
www.councilofchurches.org