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CHRISTINE KUMAR
UMCONNECTION STAFF

It was a year ago when her daughter was swept away by the destructive wave.

Mrs. Jegatheeswary, a widow, lost almost everything to the tsunami in Sri Lanka. Her home was destroyed, her fishing nets gone.

Today she counts her blessings. She was one of the many tsunami victims to receive immediate assistance from Emory UMC in Gaithersburg.

With this assistance, she was able to return to her livelihood of fishing and run a business from home in order to provide for her remaining daughter.

The vicious storm began when an undersea earthquake that measured 9.0 on the Richter scale took the world by surprise, Dec. 26, 2004. It shook the earth?s crust for eight minutes, causing the destructive tsunami that struck 11 nations from South Asia to East Africa.

It is estimated that more than 200,000 people died and millions were left without food, shelter and loved ones.

Relief efforts from all over the world began immediately. United Methodists took the discipleship adventure deeper, wider, and further by donating money to this much needed cause. According to the Baltimore-Washington Conference treasurer, Pier McPayten, 'The conference contributed more than $800,000 to aid those struck by this violent storm.'

Emory UMC alone collected $49,586 (almost a half million in Sri Lankan rupees) from other churches, members of their church and organizations. More than half of the funds collected came from Emory?s outreach program, the Youth Hope Fund.

The Rev. Paul Benjamin, pastor of Emory UMC, and his wife Saroja flew to their native homeland of Sri Lanka a few weeks after the tsunami to offer relief assistance.

They carried 60,000 rupees in a backpack to distribute to those who needed immediate assistance, medical supplies, school supplies and clothing. They paid for their own airfare and expenses.

When they arrived, they found people were living in tents in one of the towns they visited. The people had built a community center out of coconut leaves and used lanterns at night in order to worship God.

'Most places (we visited) were places where I was a pastor and to see them without a home, that was when I felt the urgency to bring hope and help,' Benjamin said.

His daughter, Esther Benjamin, president and the main fund raiser of Emory?s outreach program, the Youth Hope Fund, joined her parents a month later.

They visited the national office of the Methodist Church in Colombo, the capital city, then traveled north to Point Pedro. They met with the Rev. Anthony Sathish who coordinated the relief work in that area and gave $12,530 to 42 families who needed to establish businesses such as fisheries.

The also distributed money to a day care center, to 16 orphans who had received no assistance, widows and women who were encouraged to create small-scale businesses, home-based businesses, sewing projects and poultry farms.

They contributed to computers and supplies for schools, and support for to build a new home for a family through the Foundation of Goodness, a faith-based organization serving a variety of community needs.

In the town of Kalkudah, the Benjamins provided financial assistance to the families where 50 costal homes were wiped out.

Rev. Jebaranee Peter, pastor of a nearby Methodist Church and Benjamin?s niece, began relief efforts immediately. She housed and fed nearly 1,000 homeless people in her home and yard. She also counseled many families and identified the dead.

The town of Tirukovil also received assistance. The Emory team provided money for 41 needy families.

The Rev. Thayanithi, pastor of Tirukovil Methodist Church, which Benjamin served in the early 1970s, swam out and rescued people immediately after the waves hit. Later, he carried out an interfaith ministry in his town which included Christians and Hindus and helped organize interfaith memorial services for those who died.

Even as the effects of the tsunami remain in the hearts of those who were struck by this tragedy, there is still much work to be done.

'I am happy with what?s been achieved by us, we were able to give out immediate assistance,' Benjamin said. 'People were grieving, but there were signs of hope.'

Multiplying Hope

For more information on donating to The United Methodist Church to help victims of natural disasters, visit www.gbgm-umc.org/umcor.

Churches that contributed

Baltimore/Hartford District Disaster Relief Committee
Back River UMC
Bel Air UMC
Cheverly UMC
Cowenton UMC
Darlington UMC
Deer Creek UMC/Circle Group
Dublin UMC/ Frog Camp and Friendship Circle
Fulton-Siemers Memorial/ Christ Church of the Deaf UMC
Magothy UMC
Mount Vernon UMC
Piney Grove UMC
West Hill UMC

Emory would also like to thank its major contributors - The U.S. Japan Foundation, which contributed $5,000 and Bel Air UMC with a contribution of $5,451.