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News Item: Letter from President and Sister Jensen
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| Letter from President and Sister Jensen | 11 Jun 2006 |
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Dear Family and Friends, It has been a very busy two weeks as you can imagine. Since the earthquake hit Yogyakarta on Saturday May 27 we have been almost non-stop. Within minutes after the disaster we were making contact with our Area Office in Hong Kong requesting emergency funds to purchase food for the victims. Fortunately, we had been in Yogyakarta just days before the earthquake assisting with the emergency kits for the homeless from the volcano, Mt. Merapi. As a result, the local leaders were ready to act quickly. I'm sure you have read the reports that have been printed in the "Church News" and other papers. It has truly been a miraculous chain of events that have happened to allow the Church to play a major part in this relief effort. The partnership of the Church with Islamic Relief Worldwide, the Department of Health and the Media Group (owners of Metro TV, several newspapers and hotels) has provided an opportunity for millions of people to see the Church in action in times of disaster to help the victims and those who suffer. We were able to welcome the 747 Cargo jet when it arrived in Jakarta on June 1 and participate in the news conference. We were even on the front page of the newspaper the next morning and many people have said they saw us on TV. Elder Subandriyo has been a champion in organizing the relief effort and coordinating this monumental effort. The pilot of the 747 Cargo jet said that he had been involved in many deliveries of relief supplies but ours was the most organized effort he had ever experienced. From the time the plane landed in Jakarta it was unloaded within a few hours. It took 12 large trucks to transport the supplies to our chapel in Yogyakarta. The entire front parking lot of the church was filled with boxes stacked 8 feet high, as well as the sidewalks and downstairs classrooms. We word went out fast that we had supplies and within a couple of days we had requests from about 80 different groups for relief supplies. Bishop Edgley and his wife along with Terry Oakes from the Hong Kong office arrived on Wednesday morning. We also had Elder and Sister Welch, the Hong Kong Medial doctor with us to provide assistance. We visited the homes of several members that lost their homes and held a zone conference at the Yogyakarta chapel with all our missionaries that serve in the central Java zone. The missionaries have spent many hours in assisting with the relief effort. A few nights they were up past midnight helping with unloading the many trucks that arrived. We were fortunate to have Bishop Edgley and his wife speak to the missionaries in a special meeting and then have them conduct a fireside for the local members in Solo. We are grateful for each of you who are praying for us here in Indonesia. Like I have always said, "Things are never so bad that they can't get a whole lot worse." We are still not out of the woods, because Mt. Merapi is still threatening to explode and who knows what may happen with the Bird flu? Regardless, our missionaries are prepared. They each have a 30 day supply of food and water and medical supplies. We have a very good mission emergency plan in place but more than all that I feel they are spiritually prepared. I feel we are making a difference. It is really not a hazard to serve the Lord here in Indonesia - It is an honor! May the Lord bless each of you in your own lives as you try to surmount the challenges and unforeseen adversities of life. Hormat kami, Dean and Jean Jensen |
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