Franklin Graham Update | October

Dear Friend,

The images of flooding along the Nepal-Tibet border shocked the world. A terrifying wall of water rushed down through deep river gorges in the Himalayas at speeds over 100 mph.

The torrent, heavy with mud, ice, and debris, wiped away multistory buildings and continued to destroy village homes for many miles downstream. More than 1,400 people are confirmed dead, with thousands still unaccounted for. It is heartbreaking.

We quickly sent an airlift to Kathmandu with nearly 85,000 pounds of relief, including heavy-duty shelter tarp, solar lights, blankets, hygiene kits, household water filters, and more. These emergency items, along with food and kitchen kits, were distributed by our trusted Christian partners on the ground, among them churches we worked with after the devastating 2015 earthquake in the same region. More than 3,000 families received assistance after the recent flooding.

Maya lives in Nuwakot, a town in central Nepal right in the path of the disaster. Nine of her family members died, including six grandchildren swept away when the Trishuli River crashed through their school. Maya was grateful to receive urgently needed relief from Samaritan's Purse as she must now start over after losing nearly everything.

Farther downstream, Rameswori lost two relatives in the flood and her home was destroyed. "It's hard for me to get through this suffering," she said. Rameswori thanked Samaritan's Purse for the emergency supplies provided to her. "The support I received today has given us hope."

The Gospel call is urgent. Among those who perished in Nepal were people from all over the world, including the United States. Many had come to see massive Mount Kailash, which Hindus, Buddhists, and others consider the home of gods. These men and women, waiting to enter Tibet, were swept off the face of this earth in a few seconds.

As our Christian partners distribute life-saving aid, they have opportunities to share about the one true God. People need to know the Gospel: that their sins can be forgiven, and they can have everlasting life. Jesus' death and resurrection give us hope for this life and beyond the grave.

Salvation is found only in Him. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:31). Please pray for those recovering in Nepal and for churches there to boldly proclaim the Good News.

It's Time for Operation Christmas Child!

Nepal is just one of more than 100 countries where Samaritan's Purse is at work through Operation Christmas Child. This project is all about Jesus, and each shoebox is an opportunity to share the Good News that Jesus Christ died on the cross to take away our sins and then God raised Him from the dead as Lord and Savior. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Operation Christmas Child has been at work in Nepal for many years. In partnership with local churches and Christian groups, Samaritan's Purse has given out more than 500,000 shoeboxes to children across the South Asian nation since 2003. Nearly 70,000 Nepali boys and girls have been discipled over those years, with 7,500 children enrolled last season in The Greatest Journey, our 12-lesson follow-up program. The Christian church in Nepal is growing, but there are still so many people who need to hear the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ for the very first time.

Our ministry has distributed more than 244 million shoebox gifts worldwide since 1993 and discipled more than 52 million children. We praise God that each year millions of children around the globe are coming to faith in Jesus Christ.

Angelita is just one of these. A teenager in Guatemala, she received a shoebox a couple years ago, and that kicked off a dramatic change in her life.

Before receiving her gift, she said she felt worthless and struggled with both drugs and alcohol. She also was tormented by terrifying nightmares. When her mother and pastor learned the depths of her distress, they began praying and invited her to an outreach event at the church. As she opened her shoebox filled with a notebook, sewing kit, colorful bracelets, and more, she thought, "Maybe God does love me." Then she began attending The Greatest Journey and learned the full story of all the Lord has done for us. She gave her life to Him. "I now never feel alone," she said. "Jesus saved me from many things. He is the One who can fill any void."

Will you lift up this season's Operation Christmas Child outreach? Please pack shoeboxes and bring them to a drop-off location during NATIONAL COLLECTION WEEK, NOV. 16-23. We are praying for over 12 million shoeboxes this year—each one a Gospel opportunity!

Thank you for your support of Samaritan's Purse. May God bless you.

Sincerely,
Franklin Graham