india (cont.)

pastor r (standing, right) was persecuted for his christian faith by radical hindus in his village. they beat him, and tried to drown them. when the tsunami hit in 2004, he asked a missionary to bring help to his village, even to those who had tried to kill him. now he has several ministries in the neighborhood, and a good relationship with the hindu leaders.
here, he prays for a hindu woman who tried to commit suicide after her husband and son abused her.

india (cont.)

a man in a village on the coast

people love you the most for the things you hate
and hate you for loving the things that you cannot keep straight
people judge you on a curve
and tell you you’re getting what you deserve
this too shall be made right

children cannot learn when children cannot eat
stack them like lumber when children cannot sleep
children dream of wishing wells
whose waters quench all the fires of Hell
this too shall be made right

the earth and the sky and the sea are all holding their breath
wars and abuses have nature groaning with death
we say we’re just trying to stay alive
but it looks so much more like a way to die
this too shall be made right

there’s a time for peace and there is a time for war
a time to forgive and a time to settle the score
a time for babies to lose their lives
a time for hunger and genocide
this too shall be made right

I don’t know the suffering of people outside my front door
I join the oppressors of those who i choose to ignore
I’m trading comfort for human life
and that’s not just murder it’s suicide
this too shall be made right

(about once a year, i rediscover derek webb. he sings truth. if youve not heard, you can download his album the ringing bell for free on noisetrade.com)

india (cont.)

tsumani relief gave a small fellowship voice in their community and increased their church from 12 members to over 100.

india (cont.)

five years after the tsunami, families are still living in temporary housing. the livelihoods of the men in this small fishing village are now threatened by a resort being built nearby which will block their access to the ocean.

india

a small fishing village on the southern coast of india was destroyed by the 2004 tsunami. the destruction can still be seen along the beach almost five years later.

andaman islands, india

a young boy is blessed by a priest during puja, a hindu ritual, in a temple in the andaman islands.