Rocky and impossible mountains, cut by water cascading down sharp rocks. Flying above, the only thing in view is endless jungle with a rare glimpse of thatched roof huts, clustered together in lonely huddles. To say villages in Papua New Guinea are remote is an understatement. They are becoming connected to the rest of the world through smart phones, but they are still disconnected physically. Small footpaths cutting through treacherous land is a common means of transportation. It can take days for people to get to a road, and then long hours to get to an urban center.

When the earthquake hit, it didn’t hit the news. It took a long time, and the truth of what’s going on is still painfully unreliable and sparse. Whole villages gone, thousands without homes, and the airstrips that would make access “easier” ripped asunder. Aid groups trying to do what they can, the government signing away massive sums towards relief, but how do you get it to the people who need it? It’s not an easy task and people are going without food, water, and shelter waiting for help. Any help.

It’s hard to be so close, and yet so far away. We are located on the north coast in Madang. The earthquake epicenter was in the border region of Southern Highlands Province and Hela Province. We felt it, but it did nothing more than wake us up. We were blessed. There are thousands, not just in the immediate area of the epicenter, but farther up the north coast who are facing the continuation of rainy season having lost everything. Every earthly possession. Their home. Their garden. Their families. And we can’t help because we don’t have the skills, means, or the access.

But others do, and they are helping.

MAF, Wycliffe/SIL, and Ethnos360 are mission organizations working alongside of us in Papua New Guinea. They have all worked for years in the areas most decimated by this earthquake and they are combining their strengths to see needs met. Money is critical when facing natural disasters, especially in a place like PNG where quick access is expensive. Though often money is poured out of Western nations into Third World countries facing tragedy, that isn’t happening here. The small and remote people groups of PNG are, once again, being lost in a byline. Money is not pouring in, but it is needed nonetheless!! But where to send it? And how? Sending money so often feels an empty and useless gesture, corruption and greed a surety in stealing it from those who need it most. Not with these mission organizations. Please consider giving to either MAF (link below) or Wycliffe/SIL (link below) in their concerted effort to minister to earthquake victims. Ethnos360 is asking people to give to MAF, and do not have a specific fund set up for earthquake relief, but they are helping in the area so pray for them. Please consider the two links below and know that any money sent will be spent directly on the people who need it most.

And pray. Pray for those searching for lost family members, those wondering why, those who had so little and lost it all. Our God sees and grieves. We know he does. Earthquakes were not a part of his perfect plan for our world, but he can and will use this to his glory.

Both options are based in Australia, and so to give you must give through their Australian branches. You can give to them from the US via credit card.

TO SUPPORT MAF IN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF CLICK HERE

TO SUPPORT WYCLIFFE/SIL IN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF CLICK HERE