{"id":75871,"date":"2017-04-21T11:15:16","date_gmt":"2017-04-21T15:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samaritanspurse.org\/?p=75871"},"modified":"2018-05-01T12:37:14","modified_gmt":"2018-05-01T16:37:14","slug":"nepal-earthquake-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samaritanspurse.org\/es\/disaster\/nepal-earthquake-update\/","title":{"rendered":"Nepal Earthquake Update"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Rebuilding in Nepal<\/h1>\r\n
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Two Years Later: Rebuilding Nepal After Devastating Earthquakes<\/h2>\r\n

Samaritan\u2019s Purse continues assisting Nepalis in remote, rural villages.<\/p>\r\n \r\n \r\n

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As Pastor Iman closed in prayer, the ground started to shake. Confusion quickly gave way to panic as pastor and congregation fled the church building to wait out the most agonizing moments of their lives.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cWe went outside and were praying to God together,\u201d Iman said.<\/p> \r\n\r\n

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Pastor Iman\u2019s home, like most in his village, was destroyed in the earthquake.<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n

Iman\u2019s family and about 10 others had just enjoyed a morning of worship in their remote Nepali village. Although few compared to the overwhelming number of Hindu families, these Christians are faithful to gather together.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Once the earth ceased trembling, and the mighty Himalayas were once again quiet and still, the congregation scattered throughout the mountainous community.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

They were anxious to get home, yet fearful of what could be waiting to greet them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Half a Million Homes Destroyed<\/h3> \r\n\r\n

A second wave of terror came May 12 when another earthquake<\/a> hit Nepal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Ghyalsang grew up in Langtang, where more than 300 people died in a quake-sparked avalanche. Samaritan\u2019s Purse rebuilt his home.<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n

The death toll from back-to-back earthquakes ultimately surpassed 8,000. Some villages, such as Langtang Valley<\/a>, were completely wiped out. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Samaritan\u2019s Purse immediately responded<\/a> in the hardest-hit areas by distributing desperately needed relief supplies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

In the past two years Samaritan\u2019s Purse has transitioned from emergency relief to long-term recovery in Nepal. Our staff is bringing physical relief and spiritual comfort through efforts such as rebuilding homes and schools; water, sanitation, and hygiene projects; and livelihood skills development<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

New Homes Rise from the Rubble<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

Iman and his family were one of the first to move into a home built by Samaritan\u2019s Purse. The 34-year-old pastor, his wife, and three sons live in the home with Iman\u2019s parents.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

They all lived in a temporary shelter for nearly a year after the earthquake.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\u201cThe shelter was small and cramped,\u201d said Iman\u2019s father, Shanti. \u201cI give thanks to Samaritan\u2019s Purse for building us a house. I feel blessed.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Shanti became a Christian several years after Iman came to faith in Jesus.<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n

Shanti, 75, wasn\u2019t happy when his son decided to follow Jesus 13 years ago. Iman was living in India at the time and felt a burden to know God. \u201cI received a Bible and I read more and more,\u201d he said. \u201cI received Christ.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n

After a few years, Iman returned home, continued praying for his parents, and, eventually, they also came to faith.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\u201cI felt bad for Iman,\u201d Shanti said, \u201cbut now I\u2019m a Christian and I\u2019m very happy for him.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Samaritan\u2019s Purse is rebuilding 150 homes in Shanti and Iman\u2019s district, and throughout Nepal we\u2019re rebuilding hundreds of houses for earthquake survivors.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Offering Clean Water<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

Before the earthquake, it was not unusual in Nepal for women and children to walk hours every day to fill water jugs and haul the heavy jugs home in overwhelmingly large baskets on their backs. When the earthquake destroyed water sources in areas where water was already scarce, desperation increased among earthquake survivors.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Samaritan\u2019s Purse is providing clean water in a number of earthquake-affected communities.<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n

Samaritan\u2019s Purse is providing clean, accessible water in earthquake-affected communities. In one village, our team built a collection tank around a natural spring.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\u201cThe tank is an enclosed chamber and is cleaner and safer for the people. Their health has been improved,\u201d explained Nikita, a Samaritan\u2019s Purse engineer in Nepal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The new water system serves about 60 families and not only provides clean drinking water, but also eases the burden of routine tasks such as washing clothes and cooking.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Building Back Better Schools<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

Some children walk two hours every day to attend the school where Chandra is principal. Chandra has worked more than 25 years in education and served at this school in Sindhupalchowk District two years.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Samaritan\u2019s Purse is rebuilding schools in remote, rural villages hardest-hit by the deadly quakes.<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n

\u201cAs a child, I wanted to be a teacher,\u201d he said. \u201cI love working with children.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The school is the only one in the area for 80 families. Classes immediately halted when the earthquake destroyed the school building because teachers and students had nowhere to meet.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Thousands of schools throughout Nepal were damaged or destroyed during the earthquake. Samaritan\u2019s Purse rebuilt Chandra\u2019s school, and we\u2019re rebuilding others in areas where teachers are still leading classes outside or in cramped, temporary shelters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Investing in Community<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

In a village in Gorkha District, one of the closest districts to the earthquake epicenter, Samaritan\u2019s Purse recently built a house to host a community women's group. The women want their village to be known for healthy families and safe, loving homes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Alcoholism hounds the village, as does family conflict. The earthquake became the push these women needed to renew their resolve to fight for their village.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\u201cWe are more active now,\u201d said Kali, group chairperson. \u201cWe want to make changes for our village.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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The Gorkha women\u2019s group was thankful to receive a house from Samaritan\u2019s Purse.<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n

For these women, their new meeting space is more than a physical structure. It\u2019s a place to create memories, bond with neighbors, foster healing, and encourage community. Samaritan's Purse plans to continue working with them on projects such as hygiene training.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

In another area of Nepal, our staff are working to provide goats<\/a> to marginalized men and women, so that they can use them to support themselves and contribute to the local economy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Please pray for the millions of Nepalis affected by the 2015 earthquakes. Pray also for our staff in Nepal as they not only rebuild homes and schools, but also strengthen entire communities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n

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