Report by Mike Smith & Scott Gamble - Sri Lanka

Wednesday 19th January 2005 saw BMI send a small team to Sri Lanka partly in response to one of the worlds worst natural disasters. Tony lead the way again, joined by last minute volunteers Mike Smith and Scott Gamble, who as it is the way, found they had much in common and the jigsaw puzzle was begun.

The first visit was to the church of pastor Rodney Perreira, where we met his wife, Jean and some of the young people. Rodney was on a crusade at the time in the Tamil area. A letter of thanks was noted for their delivery of funds, medical supplies and sent to the disaster areas of their country. A visit to the Colombo Bible Society saw wonderful staff on fire for the Lord and an impressive stock of Christian literature from well known international authors and much of which had been published at a good price in India. Many Bibles and books were purchased here for distribution by the mission.

Back at the hotel beach a deal was made on buying garments from a married couple. Subadra and Perrera that we might pray for them as part of the deal. They responded with an invitation to their home for us to pray for their seriously ill mother. Each time there was a sense of the Holy Spirit beginning to move- This was the first example of many where there was a mixed Christian and Buddhist family, all of whom were keen to hear and received the gospel.

A day out to the Buddhist town of Kandy, where we heard later that Christians were often run out of town, saw our intrepid trio at a herbal and spice garden where the tables were fumed on a Buddhist owner and his employees. Here Tony took the platform and preached to the man and his assistants. This was quickly followed by prayer and a request for Bibles from the men for their whole village.

In Kandy the country's second largest prison, housing some 2,500 prisons of all categories was spotted- Already a door had been wonderfully 'opened' to the main prison at Colombo but left apparently 'closed'. This time Scot and the team lead an assault on the prison gates armed only with a box of Bibles. Absolutely unbelievably we ended up with our translator, for whom this was becoming an increasingly unusual tour, inside the prison grounds having tea with the governor again followed by an open time of prayer, a gift of Bibles and photographs with the governor and his senior officer, (as you do!) Truly another contact introduced by the Lord and another friendship with a remarkable man.

We returned to pastor Rodney's church with another delivery of Bibles although sadly he was not able to meet with us. However, with Tony again taking the platform to preach we were able to minister along with the young men of the church who lead worship to a catholic friend of our guide. More Bibles were left at the church and sweets for the children.

The following day we returned to the Bible Society for more supplies in the languages of English, Singhalese and Tamil and discovered, in the taxi en route to Kandy, another way of spreading light with smiles. Using the gifts of cuddly toys from our families and friends, a teddy wearing sunglasses, furry animals appearing at the windows and Tony's developed techniques of leaning out and suddenly producing a toy rabbit to an unsuspecting local lady travelling in an open air taxi, brought wonderful smiles and laughter in the busy streets of Colombo and the villages of Sri Lanka.

A return visit to the Prison in Kandy to see our hilarious host, brought another great time with the governor and prison officers when we presented to him the Bible he requested and then another for the prison inmates.

The initial conversation with the governor was a request to remove a dead body! Needless to say we could not help him. We explained our desire for Bibles to be allowed in and he agreed to a second visit. He told us there were no books in the prison but a library would lend the prisoners books but which he described as worn out and of very poor quality.

Although we had often mentioned to our interpreter, and now our friend, a desire to go to the tsunami hit disaster areas, we were in agreement that it felt neither right nor appropriate to do so. The Lord had other plans for us. But that night in Kandy we listened to horrific and harrowing tales from local people who had narrowly escaped the tragedy, although their friends and colleagues had not. The scale of suffering and brokenness of the people of Sri Lanka was now hitting us.

Again we prayed for these hurting men and Bibles were gratefully received. God willing we would return soon to this beautiful land with its wonderful people, although a country in crisis.

The following morning started with he author receiving a scripture from God. Psalm 34: 18 -"The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit". Poignantly to day was the anniversary of the first month since the tsunami hit.

We finally found an orphanage as suggested by our catholic driver friend who was to send others into our path. A home primarily for abandoned physically and mentally disabled children and babies, run by the Sisters of Mother Teresa. Some 14 staff tending to 35 children and many more severely disabled adults. We spent time there, we distributed the cuddly toys, the sweets and the gifts from our friends and their own children back home in England. Only for this reason were we permitted to take photographs. The excitement and joy of those children on receiving the gifts was truly immense and long lasting. The experience was very moving, humbling and unforgettable.

I asked the sister for some guidance and advice. She thought long and hard and her reply was simply "John 15". "It's all about love. God is love. Love people, let Him love people through you" she said. The fitting finale for the rest of that day was back at the spice garden leading the owner and 8 others, whom we had previously prayed for to the Lord. More Bibles and Christian literature for his village for those who want to hear the gospel. Then back to the hotel beach where our friends, Subadra and Perrera now wanted to give their lives to the Lord along with several of their beach seller friends, right there and then on the beach on the ground prepared by the Lord. Scott went on to their home and continued to minister to the rest of the family and see new converts for the Kingdom. To God be the glory. We all felt the prayer support of our friends and pastor back home. We almost sensed the prayers of the saints from all around the world for this land.

Everywhere we went we heard gratitude expressed for the aid and help sent out from the rest of the world to this place. We were thanked personally for coming to see them and to see and feel their need. It was an exploratory trip. We realised that for all the lost there was a vast number in grief and mourning. We were lead here by our man with the broken heart to a people who are broken-hearted. We would like to return. It was our Buddhist interpreter and friend who said that many, many people had lost loved ones and, for many, had literally lost everything. They now need Hope. He said that they need Bibles. They all need Bibles.

Throughout the week every meal was piled high with prawns as they are plentiful, and at the airport, again, the menu was prawns with everything - authors comments, we were starting to feel like prawn again Christians.