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Our Mission Today
SHARING HOPE IN SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka, a country ravaged by civil war for almost two decades, has now started to take steps towards peace.
War between Tamil groups from the north and east of Sri Lanka, and the Sinhalese majority of the south, has been on and off for decades. The guerrilla rebel group, the Tamil Tigers, want autonomy, however the Sri Lankan Government refuses. The latest bout of civil war lasted eighteen years and ended in a ceasefire in 2001, which is now being maintained in Jaffna by Government forces. It is estimated hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and approximately 800,000 have fled their homes.
At the Kaithady children’s home,The Salvation Army has maintained a compassionate, Christian ministry to disadvantaged children for over 30 years. Two years ago heavy shelling and bombing forced the officers here to flee with the children. They hid in water tanks for two weeks and escaped unharmed.
Such stories of appalling violence and loss of innocent lives are common throughout Sri Lanka. Twelve-year old Sudanthei Indunesa and her six-year-old sister Dharshini watched as their parents were killed when the Sri Lankan Army bombed their house three years ago.A relative found them and brought them to The Salvation Army to be cared for.
Since the 2001 ceasefire the Tamils and the Government have held peace talks and the country is slowly beginning to find trust again. The Salvation Army is rebuilding its children’s home at Kaithady and other plans are in the pipeline, such as building a community centre at the severely damaged Jaffna Corps. God has a mission and vision for Sri Lanka and you can be a part of it.
The Salvation Army is in desperate need of money to rebuild in Jaffna. In order to offer help, support and love to the thousands of Sri Lankans affected by the war, please give generously to this year’s Self Denial Appeal.
Prayer Points
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Thank God for the opportunity that The Salvation Army has to help those in need in Sri Lanka.
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Pray for the victims of war and the dedicated Salvationists who help them.
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Pray that God may open more doors for The Salvation Army to share a message of peace in war-torn areas.
Click here to open this weeks "Self Denial" brochure in pdf format (157kb)
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