Amidst high waters, with no electricity, complying with local regulations, and calming sometimes hostile aid recipients, OM Pakistan has been responding to the needs of flood victims in their home country. They have currently fed nearly 5000 families, supplied medical relief, and distributed everything from clean clothes to dry shoes to tents.

Initially the flood looked like a localized incident where the greatest need would be getting food to stranded families. OM Pakistan began their relief efforts focusing on 500 families. Overnight, that number doubled as a second OM team traveled farther north to reach another 500 families. Within days, it became clear that this tragedy was beyond the resources of their small team. But they continued, partnering with local churches and other volunteers, getting dry goods food packages to more and more waiting families.

Soon the OM team realized they would have to deliver prepared meals in addition to the dry goods. Firewood was wet and cooking utensils had been washed away. The team recruited a local cook trained in preparing meals for large crowds.

While delivering food to a hospital, the team was shocked by the number of people awaiting treatment. So a clinic was started for immediate needs including snakebite, snakebite, fever, stomach ailments, and skin infections. The medical team has since delivered two babies.

The response among Muslims and Hindus has been mostly gracious and kind. One Muslim lady wanted to give what little she had to those who had less, and said to the OM team, “When I heard you were talking to the shop keeper about your relief work, my heart said they are the right people to hand over my contribution. When I discovered from your talk that you are Christian I am even more confident that now my gifts will reach to the right people.”

While visiting an Islamic seminary, a team leader recalls, "We asked the chief Mullah if they needed food. They said they were very hungry and had not eaten in the last two days. We asked if they would like to take food from Christians. They said, 'We think you are better than our Muslim who is selling food with very high price.' They accepted food packets from our team and were very happy."

As encouraging as these reports are, the team has also met with some resistance. Crowds displaced by the floods are desperate for food and have made meal delivery dangerous. OM team members have been attacked personally and aid recipients have had food stolen from them. Under such tension, the team has had to enlist the help of local trained guards. The military and police are already stretched beyond capacity and the need for security is ongoing. So with their new team members and ever-shifting distribution techniques, the OM team has been able to continue helping their neighbors.

Nearly the entire month of August was filled with relief work for OM Pakistan. But the team was serving people there long before the floods, offering correspondence courses, summer camps, and a recent World Cup outreach. The OM team is continually adapting their ministry and already has many ideas for helping rebuild their communities as short-term relief turns into long-term development.

For now, OM Pakistan needs your prayers. Temperatures remain hot and OM team members are fighting fatigue and sickness. They ask for your prayers for strength and wisdom as they make the transition to the next phase of rebuilding. Your gifts to OM Pakistan Flood Relief will enable the team to keep serving their Muslim and Hindu neighbors. Thanks for your help.