Time to Up the Prayer, Giving, Demanding.

The devastation of the cyclone in Burma / Myanmar is made worse each day that outside relief is hampered by a government  that is itself devastated by its isolation from a world of people willing to come to the aid of the suffering. Pray for the people and leadership of Myanmar and the Church in Burma, and give for relief of the suffering. We can give in a wide variety of ways, of course. Episcopalians and anyone else can give through Episcopal Relief and Development. See the ENS article HERE.  There are those who want to give through the Anglican Relief and Development Fund, believing somehow that ERD is part of something in which they or their partners will not participate.  See the ARDF article HERE. I find the need for ARDF sad, but in the context of the great need that is out there look at the proposals and prospects for service and get the funds to the Church in Burma and to relief agencies working there by any means possible.

Meanwhile, we ought to join the Presiding Bishop, the Archbishops of Canterbury, York and Cape Town, in calling for a resolution of the political and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. Read the ENS article HERE.  Readers may recall the passion of the Archbishop of York concerning the rogue presidency of Mugabe and his protest on English TV. See it HERE.

We need to take the Presiding Bishop's call for action and prayer seriously.

It is time to hold the Government of Zimbabwe accountable and the Military Government in Myanmar to the test of service to the people.  But we must also do more: we must pray and give and work for the restoration of civil society and peace and for healing and relief.

Now. Here are some links for relief, from the Anglican Communion News Service:

Myanmar Cyclone – Emergency Appeals

Myanmar was struck by Cyclone Nargis over the weekend and it has been reported that approximately 22,500 people are dead, with 40-50,000 missing without food, water and shelter. The extent of damage is still being assessed and communications in the area is still difficult.  (Note: This number has been raised significantly in the past day...the number is not at as many as 100,000 dead.)

Below are some of the Christian Relief Agencies responding to help the people of Myanmar.

USA: Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD): 
http://www.er-d.org/newsroom_96874_ENG_HTM.htm

Canada: The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund
http://www.pwrdf.org/stories/all-stories/stories/?tx_ttnews[year]=2008&tx_ttnews[month]=05&tx_ttnews[day]=06&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=416&tx_ttnews[backPid]=1&cHash=9e1216ce40

Church World Services (CWS) and Anglican Missions (Anglican Missions Board of the Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia) Emergency Appeal:
http://www.churchworldservice.org/Emergencies/international/2008/myanmarcyclone.html

UK: Christian Aid: 
http://www.christian-aid.org.uk/emergencies/current/burma_cyclone/index.aspx