He will cover you with His feathers. And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. –Psalm 91:4
When you pass through the water, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. –Isaiah 43:2a
The recent flooding in Kerala (South India) has left a trail of devastation including hundreds of lives lost and millions left in desperate situations. Some are living in relief centers or with neighbors and many have been exposed to waterborne diseases. The cost of human suffering is immense, but the following stories reflect the mercy and faithfulness of God during this trial through ServeNow:
Srinidhi and her visually impaired husband lost all they had to the fury of the floods which swept away their house, and their crops. They live in a relief camp and she shares: “My family lost everything and I don’t know when I’ll be able to rebuild my house. Life in the relief camp is difficult for my visually impaired husband. The flooding has left us sick and we have been suffering from flu and fever. It was difficult for me to get medicine as all the shops were either closed or far away. ServeNow came to us and provided us with free medicine and medical checkups.”
“My house was totally submerged in water and my sons and I spent over a week in waist-deep water, trying to salvage whatever we could. The exposure to contaminated water has caused me to contract a skin disease. I can’t afford to see a doctor as I lost my money in the floods. This camp was sent by God to my village and today I saw the doctor and told her all my issues and even got some free medicine. Thank you for giving us a ray of hope in dark times.”
Vineetha, in her early eighties lost a big part of her house, and her village was one of the worst hit by the flooding. “My daughter and I have been having a hard time cleaning up after the floods with no men in the family to help. We are weak because of the contaminated water and I have been suffering with the flu and had no energy to see a doctor. Thank you for coming to my village so that seniors can receive treatment and medicine.” Vineetha and her daughter received special antibiotics prescribed by the government. The government has distributed this medicine to hospitals, but some cannot travel due to a lack of resources. ServeNow provided this medicine to over 300 elders like Vineetha.
When she heard about the free medical camp, Duraga walked all the way to the camp location to see the doctor, something she had wanted to do for many days. She shares, “The rains and landslides have damaged my home and I am living with relatives. After the severe monsoon this year, I had been feeling sick with a high fever but I couldn’t ask my relatives for money to see the doctor. As soon as I heard of this camp I walked half an hour and got myself checked by a lady doctor and received free medicine. Thank you!”
Ittirarichan is a frail, elderly man in his mid-eighties with diabetes. He was so frail when he came to the camp that he had to be taken by the hand for tests and consultation. “The flood has left us devastated and has washed away all our belongings. On top of that, my family and I have become ill with a strange flu due to exposure to stagnant water and walking even ten steps leaves me breathless. Thank you for coming to my village and providing me medicine and allowing me to see the doctor. I don’t know how long I would have lasted without these medicines.”
Janardhana came to ServeNow’s medical clinic with his son Mahesh from one of the villages in Kerala which had been submerged in at least four feet of water. He shares, “I was worried about my son for the past week as he had been down with the flu and no medicine seemed to be working. The news about leptospirosis spreading had me in a panic and I searched all over for the preventive drugs. ServeNow came to the rescue with the required medication and now I can go home in peace and work on rebuilding my house. Thank you ServeNow for being a life saver.”
Prameela is a widow in her early seventies who was treated at one of ServeNow’s flood relief medical camps in Kerala. She had a high fever and may have been exposed to leptospirosis in the flood-affected regions of Kerala. She shares, “It is like a dream for me that you have come and made it possible for me to see the doctor free of cost. The rains washed away all the crops and we are left with no income whatsoever. The small savings we had has been used on a makeshift shack to provide a roof over our heads. I cannot put into words how grateful my family and I are for this medicine and care.”
Shiby, pictured below with a big smile, in front of where her hut used to stand before the severe floods washed it away, was one of the many patients treated at ServeNow’s medical camp. She shares, “The floods took away everything including my house. I am now at the mercy of my neighbors but today I know for a fact that there are people who really love me. I am in my sixties, and days of cleaning up the mess has left me weak. I am so grateful that I could see a doctor in my village for free. Thank you!”
Thank you for being a part of helping us “ServeNow.” Hundreds of people are being directly touched through your generosity and support each week. As the winter months approach, there is a tremendous need for warm blankets for elderly people and winter coverings (knitted hats, fleece jackets and warm pants) for vulnerable children throughout parts of Asia were we serve. To learn more about the difference you and your friends can make, please click here: Provide Winter Blankets/Coverings.
Well done ServeNow teams. You ARE the hands & feet of our Savior’s compassion. God bless you immensely for your love to the people of Kerala….“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”
Hebrews 6:10 NIV