Indonesia (MNN) ― May marks the one-year anniversary of a deadly earthquake in Java, Indonesia.
The 6.2 magnitude temblor hit the island, decimated 250,000 homes, injured approximately 30,000 people, and left another 6,000 dead.
Among the damaged structures, Universitas Kristen Immanuel (Immanuel Christian University or UKRIM) in Yogyakarta. UKRIM sustained severe damage from the earthquake, with two dorms nearly destroyed and the roofs of several other buildings unstable.
Wycliffe Associates' Bruce Smith says supporters have given funds to reconstruct earthquake-resistant facilities at the school. Their students represent hundreds of potential national translators who could work all over this vital region of Indonesia. "We're mobilizing a team to continue ministering in this particular area to be specifically impacting this Christian University. Many of the students are thinking about, or are planning to be involved in Bible translation in various ways. It's a great way to sort of 'link arms' in this sort of a task."
Their purpose is two-fold: 1. help with relief work and 2. develop long term relations between Wycliffe Associates and Indonesian ministries that are engaged in evangelism and who support Bible translation.
What makes this team unique is that Wycliffe wants college students ministering to college students. "It just boils down to people opening their hearts and minds to the possibility of God using them in a unique way this summer. This particular team is going to be focused on college-aged students. It's a great opportunity to see what God is doing in other parts of the world to complement their own college studies, here in the United States, and have a clearer sense of where God is leading them in their own walk of faith."
Wycliffe Associates has begun a campaign to raise additional funds to rebuild the 20 churches, the two dorms and hundreds of homes destroyed by this earthquake, requiring over $1 million and thousands of volunteer hours.
Wycliffe Associates plans to send more than 1,500 volunteers to 40 different countries this year to build and renovate facilities, construct roads and airstrips, teach Vacation Bible School, help with language development and office work, oversee projects, use their computer skills, and much more.
Click here for more details on how you can help.
