BeFC

Shajid told us that he was unable to open up and share his pain with other locals in the area. “When anyone asks me about my loss, I tell them to return to work”, he says.

Whilst Shajid shared with is what he had, in terms of food and hospitality, some of the team played a game with the local children. The reaction of the children was one of great delight. It was probably one of the only times that they had been able to ‘let go’ and play as children are supposed to play. They all seem so resilient.

Into the Earthquake Zone.... Continued.

Having constructed a shelter, we would ask the locals if we could pray in the name of Isa Masih (Jesus Christ) for the people’s fortunes to be restored at every level and for healing to take place in the lives of those who had lost partners, children and extended family members. This was I believe the ‘capstone’ to each if the 59 constructions. They were very happy for us to pray to Jesus Christ – he is a prophet in Islam, but not their ‘priest and King’.

Many shed tears with us as we prayed into the pain that affected us all. It is raw and everywhere.

Our goals out there were at a number of levels. I have of course mentioned that the main visual goal was to build shelters – we did that successfully, building 59 of them. We also, as Christians, wished to enter the situation at a deeper level and be part of the healing process, as we were able. Prayer was behind all that we were about. Before I left for Pakistan, I mentioned to many friends that I felt that I was ‘the helpless one ministering to the helpless’. Believe me when I say that I know that the living and true God was at work in such devastation. We tried to show Christ-like compassion and grieve with those who grieved.

In one sense, all this seemed a little odd to us as we knew that we had left the security and comfort of our homes in the west for a mere 17 day ‘adventure’ to Pakistan in the knowledge that we would return home again – not much of a ‘cost to us’ really?

I would be very happy to come and speak to any small group that was interested in finding out more or helping the people of Northern Pakistan. Call me on 01302-719021.

David Flanagan

One of the lasting and most memorable elements of the trip for me, was the knowledge that word of our work had got to family members still in hospitals with injuries right across Pakistan. Local people told us that “they were very happy to know someone had thought of them” and they were returning to some sort of life. Old men did culturally unusual things like give us a back-slapping hug of appreciation for our work. Some had tears as they thank us. We could only surmise what they were feeling and what exactly their personal loss had been, and meant to them.

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