The following is is a message sent from the GAiN DART Team, who left for Turkey on February 22:
Greetings to the GAiN family and supporters.
We are still shocked by what we see around us in the disaster zone. We just spent the night in a house surrounded by mountains of rubble. A few meters from where we parked our car, a family of six was found under the rubble earlier in the morning the day we arrived. Three of them were still living! The cities are now ghost cities with no electricity, no running water, rubble everywhere, people gathering around the fires at night… It is like nothing we have seen before.
But still we see hope. Like this neighbor we met on the street where we are staying. His name is Süheyl and he and all his family survived the earthquake, even though his house is severely damaged. He is thankful and he can’t keep from explaining how his neighbors (the family from the church here who are hosting us) have helped him a lot.
We are currently deciding further steps with our local contacts, but the churches are mobilizing in the area with resources and volunteers, and we feel thankful to be here and come alongside such a surreal human landscape around us.
Please be praying for these brave people and for those who will be helped by them, and also for us to have clear guidance on how to help best.
The aftermath of the earthquakes that shook Turkey and Syria on February 6 have continued to wreak havoc and death. This devastation comes at an already vulnerable and difficult time for both countries, with cold winter storms sweeping the region and an ongoing cholera outbreak threatening to further dishearten the people of Syria.
Sources report that over 43,885 people have lost their lives, tens of thousands have been injured across Turkey and Syria, and millions have been directly impacted. Numbers are steadily rising each day, and the need for support is growing more and more urgent.
“The needs are enormous, people are suffering and there’s no time to lose. I urge the international community to step up and fully fund this critical effort in response to one of the biggest natural disasters of our times,” said Turkey’s Secretary-General.
Along with GAiN worldwide, GAiN Canada is providing relief through our local partners in both Turkey and Syria by supplying items such as food, water, blankets, sleeping bags, tents, heaters, power suppliers (generators, power banks) and winter clothing.
GAiN Canada is also serving as the lead agent in Syria in light of our long history of working in the country. Our partner in Syria, Pastor Gamal of Damascus Evangelical Baptist Church, shared an encouraging story about how he and a team of 14 volunteers were able to distribute aid near the epicenter of the quake within days of the earthquake.
Prior to the trip, Pastor Gamal’s church hosted a service and took a love offering on behalf of people in Syria. Many congregants of the church attended, as well as people from the neighborhood who knew that volunteers were heading to Aleppo. Despite having barely any money themselves, these people generously gave a total of $1,000 US for Pastor Gamal and his team to buy materials such as blankets, clothing and food items for survivors of the earthquake.
After loading all the supplies onto a bus, the team drove seven hours to Aleppo. While there, they met up with a number of families who were displaced because of all the apartments that were destroyed in the earthquake. The team visited one apartment that was sheltering six families, as well as three schools that were hosting 600 families. They had the opportunity to visit with these families and prepare over 1600 sandwiches to feed them. Since there was no place to spend the night, the team drove seven hours back home to Damascus. We praise the Lord that in this time of exacerbated tension and destruction, He is faithful to provide for the needs of those he loves.
Among other updates, a DART team of three people travelled to Turkey this past Monday, February 13 to conduct an assessment of where GAiN’s help would be most effective. The team was able to reach the epicenter of the quake, and met with local partners to determine their needs and figure out if a GAiN DART team should come in and help.
Additionally, Pastor Gamal and a team of 16 volunteers will be travelling to another affected area tomorrow to distribute more relief. Their continual efforts demonstrate our joint commitment to supply food and non-food items to those affected in both countries.
As we remain alert and updated on the situation, we ask that all our supporters would be in constant prayer for GAiN worldwide and our partners so that we may respond swiftly and effectively to the needs of those in Turkey and Syria. Together, we put our hope and trust in the Lord and know that in his sovereign timing, healing and peace will be restored to these countries.
Sources: CNN https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/turkey-syria-earthquake-updates-2-13-23-intl/index.html
February 13
The LIFE Team had a bit of surprise this morning. The schedule had the team attending a church service with Mike preaching but no location. The surprise was that the service was at the church they helped build on Friday! On Friday, the team had commented, “Wouldn’t it be fun to join them for the first service in the new building?” But they thought they were scheduled elsewhere and did not know if the work would continue on Saturday.
What a treat to be in this community again for this special day of enjoying the start of a new chapter and celebrating God’s provision of a new meeting place.
This all started with a well, then a church plant and now a new building to serve the community. It is clear they have out grown their 15×20 ft church building!
This chapter is closing for the LIFE Team, and their trip home starts tonight. It is amazing how they come in as strangers and end up so close after just ten days together. The intensity of the experience pressed all of the team toward a significance level of transparency. Their experience has been filled with lots of common events, but each person is taking home a unique perspective based on their own personal engagement with this trip. One person commented, “My heart has changed.”
They were so incredibly thankful to God and everyone that helped support this trip to make it possible!
February 12
Today was a R&R day. The LIFE Team played tourist in the morning and went shopping in the afternoon. Their tourist experience was a guided tour of the four km Slave Road that leads from Ouidah to the ocean shore, pictured above, where over one million slaves were loaded on boats headed for Europe, North and South America.
The Slave Road consists of six main stages, including Plaza Chacha, where enslaved people who arrived were auctioned, and the “Tree of Oblivion,” which was replanted in 1992 and commemorates the tree where men went around nine times and women seven so that, in accordance with the voodoo tradition, they would forget their origin.
The “Zomai House,” where slaves waited for the arrival of the so-called slave ships and the “Memorial of Zoungbodji,” the mass grave where dead slaves were thrown.
Here is the “Tree of Return” where men and women would go around three times, in accordance with the voodoo tradition, so that their souls return to their land of origin after their death.
The route ends where the ships used to arrive, today symbolized with the artistic work “The Door of No Return”. Even though we only walked about one km of the route, it was gripping to literally walk in the steps of over one million people who faced the brutal reality of the slave trade.
Our lunch was just a short distance from “The Door of No Return” with a view of the beach where the slaves took their final steps on the soil of their homeland.
After lunch we engaged in a favorite past time of many… shopping.
February 11
The LIFE Team’s day was spent in a village where they provided their unskilled labour to the construction team of three that was building a new church. The church was planted in 2018 after a GAiN well was drilled in that same year, and has grown to 25 adults and 35 children. They have outgrown their current 15 x 20 ft building.
The new church is 25 x 50 ft. The cement pillars that will support the roof were poured on Tuesday. The team’s task for the day was to help construct rafters and if they had time, the roof of metal sheets. All the work is being done with hand tools, no power tools. The framing material is teak poles, no milled lumber. The floor will be sand and the walls will be make by the church members from the branches of palm trees. This simple structure costs about $2800 and has been sponsored by a Canadian donor.
Take a look at this shot of one of the workers. What do you notice? Bare feet and look at the tool he’s using.
The women on the LIFE Team were invited to visit in the homes of two of the church members. One of the ladies operated a small village shop out of her home. Both provided warm hospitality. This is by far the most developed village we have visited.
The team’s role was very much of “carpenter’s helpers”. They helped cut and carry poles and did a lot of observing. Maybe that was a good thing because it was 32 degrees with no wind. It was amazing to see how very creative the workers are with the material they have! The goal of getting all the framing completed for the roof was not accomplished. With one more day of work the roof will be complete. Then the church members will finish the walls and sand floor.
Monique helped a woman collect fire wood. The team trusted this new building will create space for growth for this local church.
What a satisfying experience to help and also observe the life of this community around the LIFE Team. What a great team!
February 10
It was GAiN t-shirt day. The arrival gift from GAiN Canada was a t-shirt and a hat. We looked so clean, but that didn’t last long!
The team’s morning departure was delayed because of mechanical problems with one of the cars. Once that was addressed, they headed out to observe a training session organized to equip church members in the area where they were last night. They are called Action Groups and are made up of volunteers who will provide encouragement and help to the men and women who indicated a desire to follow Jesus. Mike and Rob are very familiar with the content of the training because it is similar to resources they used with students when they served on campuses in Canada. It is so interesting to see how small children accompany their mothers and seem to be content.
Lunch was a road side experience. The LIFE Team parked beside a village church. When participants asked about the church, it was clear there was no connection but we were assured it was okay to stop and use the benches for their lunch.
The women decided to do some exploring. They said it was to check out the vegetation in the area, which may have been code for finding an appropriate spot for a bathroom break.
The next stop was the home of a pastor who helps coordinate the activity and training in this area. GAiN is doing a pilot project to help support village pastors through a “chicken project” for economic development. A Canadian chicken farmer is providing the resources for this pilot in three locations. In a short time, 100 chickens will arrive at their new home. Here is a shot of the new chicken coup and the pastor with his family.
After dinner and the team debrief from the day, the word ice cream was heard! Within minutes, a GAiN staff member volunteered to take the team to a local ice cream shop. Looks good doesn’t it? What a great way to end the day.
February 9
The GAiN office is very near the ocean. In fact, we can see it from the rooftop meeting area. Our schedule has been so full, today was the first opportunity to walk on the beach. Even that visit was cut short because of an unexpected special visitor.
The former ambassador to Canada from Benin joined the team! Rob built a relationship with Mr. Loko through his work with the Christian Embassy in Ottawa and invited him to meet the team. Mr. Loko described his engagement with GAiN Canada and his assistance in launching GAiN Benin, which included the arrival of the first drilling rig. His involvement was a huge benefit to the ministry!
The afternoon and evening might be a highlight of the trip for some team members. They travelled to a village for the commissioning of a well. The well pad was poured on February 2, and today the well was flushed through the use of high-pressure air pumped into the well casing.
Near the end of this process, the villagers were given the green light to collect water. It was such a frenzy of excitement. The team couldn’t even imagine how they were processing water shooting out of a pipe in the ground! The women and children were trying to collect as much as possible.
Inspired by the women and children, each of the team members attempted to carry a container of water on their heads to a villager’s home. This provided great entertainment and laughter for the locals. Some of the participants were not so good and got cooled off in the process.
After the flush, bleach was added to the well casing. The PVC water tube was inserted into the casing and the pump was installed. Look at the smile on the face of this first woman to test the new pump.
Following the completion of the pump installation, the GAiN team organized games for about 100 kids. Each child got some kind of special treat before the competition was over. Smiles everywhere!
The DRIME team, using a combination of mime and drama, portrayed the story of Jesus’ love and sacrifice.
The last event of the evening was the showing of the JESUS Film in the Fon language. The film is a dramatic depiction of the gospel of Luke that has been translation into over 1,000 languages. After the DRIME presentation and JESUS Film, several people indicated a decision to follow Jesus.
What a great day!
The world continues to watch in horror as news reports flood in about the enormous earthquakes that struck regions of Turkey and Syria this past Monday morning on February 6.
The number of people harmed by the earthquakes is steadily increasing, with over 36,000 dead and tens of thousands injured across Turkey and Syria.
“When I see the images and I close my eyes, my mind goes back to Haiti,” recalls Aaron Rogers, CEO and Executive Director of GAiN. “I can still smell the bodies decaying under the rubble. The only thought that goes through my mind is that we cannot do anything for those who have passed away, but we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to the survivors who are alive, hurting and grieving. We must offer them hope in what really seems like a hopeless situation.”
The earthquakes ravaged both countries at an already vulnerable and difficult time, when cold winter storms continue to sweep the region, and an ongoing cholera outbreak threatens to destabilize Syrian communities.
In response to this natural disaster, GAiN Canada, alongside our global network, provided relief through our local partners in both Turkey and Syria within days by providing items such as food, water, blankets, sleeping bags, tents, heaters, power suppliers (generators, power banks) and winter clothing.
GAiN Canada is also serving as the lead agent in Syria in light of our long history of working in the country. From March 2013 until spring of 2022, GAiN provided disaster relief to those affected by the ongoing civil war that has consumed Syria over the past decade. Bags of Blessings were given out to families who had been internally displaced (IDPs) and included food and other essential items like soap, detergent, heaters and blankets. By meeting their practical needs, GAiN sought to bring hope and a sense of comfort to people in Syria.
In this time of exacerbated tension and grief, we have been able to supply practical food and non-food items for those affected in both Syria and Turkey to ease some of the burden for those that have lost their homes and means of supporting themselves. Already we have seen the faithfulness of God move through the support of our donors, for which we are overwhelmed and incredibly thankful. Though the situation is grave and troubling to our hearts, we put our trust in the Lord to bring hope and healing to Turkey and Syria.
Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Sources: CNN https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/turkey-syria-earthquake-updates-2-13-23-intl/index.html
As you might guess, a key link in providing wells is the drilling rig and team. Today, the LIFE Team travelled to an active drilling site. It was about a two-hour drive over some roads that were more like a path than a road. It is hard to imagine how the drill rig managed the trip. Each village makes a commitment to provide housing and food for the drill team, security for the rig, and water for the drilling process. In this case, the closest water source is about 2/3 of a kilometer away.
The team, guided by some of villagers, walked to the village water source. As you can see in this picture, a 5-gallon plastic container is being filled.
They left this site and travelled to another village that was even more remote to join the GAiN work crew and help with another pump pad. The LIFE Team was far more efficient after the experience on day two. As they drove to this site, the team noticed an increased number of symbols connected to Voodoo activity.
This community also has a population of just under 400 with no existing church presence. Their current water source is three km away. The anticipation for the well may explain why the team had a constant group of spectators. Plus, in this remote area, the village may have never had foreign visitors.
The finished work gets a date stamp and a prayer of dedication.
As the team traveled to this village, they passed through rich agricultural lands with pineapple, palm groves and our first sighting of cattle. Here are a few photos:
The LIFE Team’s day started with an introduction to the GAiN Benin staff team. GAiN was launched in Benin by GAiN Canada in 2005 and has since resulted in 1,756 wells. Through the local church, GAiN has helped build 591 village churches, and in rural Benin, 25% of the of the population are drinking water from wells provided by GAiN!
It’s one thing to hear numbers and quite another to see first hand what is happening. The LIFE Team visited two villages today. The first was a village where the well was provided in 2016. This particular well was a memorial to a woman named Helena. It is significant that the legacy of this woman has provided live-giving water for the past seven years!
When the team first arrived, women were lined up to fill their large bowls with water. The team took turns pumping to help fill their bowls, and the women enjoyed watching their efforts.
It was truly amazing to watch the women leave carrying the water on their heads. They sang a song as a way to share their appreciation. An elder from the village told us that before this well they had to travel 15 km for water!
The second village had a 72 meter well with a hand pump, but the work of pumping from that depth was difficult. GAiN provided a storage tower and solar panel to serve this village.
There was steady stream of women and children coming to get water. They lingered and enjoyed conversations and questions, thanks to some translation. To express appreciation, the team was given a bag of oranges and pineapples. Benin is an agricultural country with agricultural products as their main export.
What an incredible experience to see the results of kindness and generosity of so many Canadians who have given to the work in this country. Clean water saves lives and transforms communities! Here’s one last photo.
