Nepal flash flood disaster: Missionary thanks readers after raising £7,500 to help devastated school recover
A Co Down missionary has thanked News Letter readers after they helped raise some £7,500 to help people impacted by the flood disaster in Nepal.
Colin Tinsley, of Hope for Youth Ministries near Dromara, visited Nepal in 2014 and ever since has supported his friend Pastor Amos, providing aid, food and Bibles to Christians in his congregation.
Amos has been struggling to help his community after a flash flood on the Nepal-Tibet border last week claimed at least 1000 lives.
More than 3,900 people remain missing - of whom more than 600 are workers believed to be trapped in a vast network of mud-filled tunnels at hydropower sites along Trishuli River.
Amos lives in Lalitpur district, Jawalekhel town, about 112 miles from Kathmandu.
A collapsed glacier caused the huge flood wave, local officials have said. The surge tore through houses and roads, and destroyed a border crossing.
Last week Colin started up a fundraiser to support the work of Pastor Amos. Initially aiming to raise £1000, he was pleased to raise £2,500.
However after giving an interview to the News Letter, his gofundme page has now reached over £10,000.
"I would just like to say thanks very much to the News Letter readers for helping to raise the profile of this work,” he said.
"The fundraising has been wonderful with over £10,000 being raised so far. With gofundme it takes two to five working days to arrive so the money should start arriving tomorrow (Wednesday).
" We have guaranteed Amos £10k to start earmarking projects.”
His first project is to help a school of 400 children get back on its feet.
Photographs show the bench seats and desks and schoolbags covered in inches of mud with educational materials scattered around the classrooms.
“We were really surprised how much we raised thanks to the News Letter readers,” he added.
"Our initial target was only £1000.”
Further items on Pastor Amos’ shopping list are tents, rice and other foods, and school books.
Most of his congregation are located in more mountainous areas, which have not been directly impacted by the flood, he says.
However he is keen to help alleviate the suffering among the community that have been impacted by the flood.
• Support the appeal at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/nepal-needs-our-help