HAPPENINGS AROUND THE WORLD n HAPPENINGS AROUND THE WORLD n HAPPENINGS AROUND THE WORLD n HAPPENINGS AROU John Narayan, coordinator of the NBCC Disaster Response

team, told the BWA that he, his family and other Baptist Christians were “also experiencing life under the tent here in Nepal.” Narayan was referring to the tent that they established in Kathmandu, in collaboration with Hungarian Baptist Aid Rescue 24, to offer immediate relief to earthquake victims. Other areas that received assistance from the NBBC included

Sankhu, Manikhel, Bukhel, Chaughare, Chhampi and Sanogaun, all of Lalitpur district. Several

hundred tents were distributed by Baptists to

earthquake victims while hundreds of persons received medical attention. The earthquake occurred on a Saturday, a day when Christians normally gather for worship. Some reports put the number of

on trauma management for the NBCC. Approximately 40 NBBC staff, pastors and volunteers attended the seminar. Chhangte said most participants “had experienced trauma and were able to get a better understanding of trauma and how to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress-related trauma and how to cope and help others.” The BWAid director observed that life was returning to normal

in the sections of Kathmandu where the damage was minimal. While parts of the capital were devastated, “most of the damage is in the rural areas,” Chhangte said. However, in Kathmandu, “the price of rent has increased significantly after the earthquake as there is a shortage of housing and office space.”

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Left: Baptists delivering tarpaulins, tents and other needs to earthquake victims

Below: Members of the Hungarian Baptist Aid Rescue 24 team arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal, just days after the earthquake, which occurred on April 25

Christians who died at approximately 500 in the predominantly Hindu country. The violent tremor killed more than 8,800 people and injured more than 23,000. Hundreds of thousands were made homeless with entire villages flattened. A number of Christian church buildings were destroyed or

severely damaged. At least eight of these were Baptist church buildings.

Continued aftershocks occurred throughout Nepal at 15-20

minute intervals after the quake. A major aftershock of magnitude 7.3 occurred on May 12. More than 200 people were killed and more than 2,500 were injured by this aftershock. Baptist World Aid director Rothangliani Chhangte traveled to

Nepal in late May to assess the damage and the Baptist response, and the needs that exist. She also conducted a training seminar

away from buildings and other structures. Many buildings had fallen or were badly damaged. MCDS, a registered nongovernment

organization in Nepal, led the recovery efforts on the behalf of Nepali Baptists, but it took three days for the recovery to fully get going. Communication was challenging as both telephone and Internet services were down. It was difficult knowing what was happening, especial in villages outside Kathmandu.

The quake led to hard questions posed

to Christians in Nepal. According to Rai, others in the predominantly Hindu country questioned the Christian God, in light of

the fact that so many Christian places of worship – more than 100 according to Rai – were damaged or destroyed. Why, he said other Nepalese ask, did not your God protect your churches? Baptists and other Christians responded to questions and criticisms by offering assistance such as tarpaulins, food, a medical mobile clinic, water filters and blankets, as well as trauma counseling. He specially commended the seminar on trauma management led by Baptist World Aid Director Rothangliani Chhangte in May.

“It was very helpful,” he said. “We were all affected people helping affected

JULY/SEPTEMBER 2015 23

people, because we were all living under the tent while at the same time moving around to help the people and we were having all kinds of trauma. We thank the BWA for standing in solidarity with the Nepali Baptist community.” The long term aim, Rai told the

BWA, was to continue to offer support to overcome trauma, to build permanent shelter for those who lost their homes, and to provide them with livelihood through income generation projects. Baptists, he said, will continue to provide these needs, as “We continue to pray for the recovery.”