Update from the Searles

The message below was received today (5-12-08) from Doug and Liz Searles, missionary partners with the Upper Midwest Region. They recently completed a seven year term of service with Global Ministries, in Sichuan Province, China, the site of today's earthquake.


As we're all learning today, the 7.9 earthquake in Sichuan province has devasted schools--some of them in areas where our former students now teach. Wenchuan, in Beiyuan county, has been hard hit. We have visited there many times and are very concerned about events.

Of course it's not possible to get through on the internet or phone at
present. Further, it can be thoughtless to ask friends in the area to
give us a report. News is carefully handled and people who report it
may suffer consequences.

So we're doing the best we can learning from the news reports and on the internet.

Please continue to hold up in prayer the many many communities that are suffering today throughout the world - - in Sihuan province, in Tibet, in Myanmar, in Gaza, in Lebanon, and in the southern and southwest U.S.

Disaster relief is always slow in coming, but it's slower where money is tight or governments are reluctant to help.

Our hearts were heavy with the news of troubles in the Tibetan areas
west of where we were stationed. This recent natural disaster compounds the difficulties this very poor province must face.

On a personal note, thank you, friends, for your faithfulness and continuing relationship with us. We are leaving the U.S. August 1 to begin our new assignment serving a three year term with the Evangelical Reformed Church in Lodz, Poland. This is a joint appointment of the Common Global Ministries Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ, and the Presbyterian Church (USA). We will serve as mission workers for church growth and outreach.

As you might imagine, we have lots of logistics, language study, church visits in the NW, and family visits between now and then.

Your prayers are the most important gift you can give us at the moment.

Peace in the midst of all storms!

Liz & Doug Searles
(enroute to Lodz, Poland)