North Korean citizens left distraught and despondent by the grips of starvation

Dear Friends,

Hana had already helplessly watched her parents slowly succumb to starvation. Shortly after they died, Hana’s husband also slipped into eternity for lack of food. Now she was left alone with her younger sister, and they both knew it was just a matter of time for them. Both were malnourished and hungry and on the brink of starvation.

As starvation took its toll, Hana’s sister became very ill and frail. Hana searched frantically to find any food that could save her sister’s life. She succeeded in finding one small loaf of bread and rushed home. But she was too late. As Hana gently placed a small piece into her sister’s mouth, she silently passed away.

Hana, now all alone, knew her own death was imminent. Her fear, bitterness, and grief were overshadowed only by her hatred for the North Korean government for its failed policies and for withholding foreign aid during a famine. Thousands of North Korean citizens had died of starvation.

Hope in the Midst of North Korean Starvation

Thankfully, one of our partners, Mrs. L., along with other underground North Korean church leaders, found Hana and reached out to her before starvation could take her life. They provided Hana with food that was smuggled into North Korean territory, in part, because of gifts to Heaven’s Family’s North Korean Christians Fund. They also shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with her. Hana’s heart was softened and she gave her life to the Lord.

Thank you so much for your compassion. Because of your gifts, Hana and others like her are not only receiving bread to eat, but also the Bread of Life.

Elisabeth Kirkwood

A Khampa woman from Yushu, in Tibet

Dear Friends,

God has done it again. Through the Yushu earthquake, He’s opened a door for the gospel in a few seconds where missionaries haven’t been able to break through for centuries. On April 14th, the Yushu earthquake rocked Qinghai Province in China. Heaven’s Family joined with indigenous Christian relief ministries in that key moment to help take advantage of an open door.

We helped initially with $3,000 in relief to provide emergency food, clothing, blankets, and other relief supplies for 30 of the neediest families, and through your compassion following our appeal for help in April we’ve assisted more by sending an additional $2,000 in relief for those most impacted by the earthquake in Yushu.

These supplies are providing much more than physical relief, however.

The Yushu earthquake took place at the heart of a completely unreached people group, the Northern Khampa Tibetans. They are one of the most difficult groups to reach anywhere in the world because of the geographical, cultural, linguistic, and spiritual barriers that have prevented them from hearing the gospel for centuries. Although professing to be Buddhists, the Khampa actually worship demons that must be placated by constant offerings. They also worship Yama, the god of death. The Yushu earthquake not only caused buildings to crumble, but it’s causing many of the barriers to the gospel to crumble and fall as well.

Chinese Christian relief workers have traveled to Yushu—because of the earthquake—in the past several weeks and are boldly sharing the gospel. As the Khampas see love from believers demonstrated to them in the midst of their tragedy, some are repenting and turning to Jesus. Thank you for your partnership in this long-overdue harvest! Your gifts to the Disaster Relief Fund are continuing to reap eternal rewards.

Affected by the Yushu earthquake, Khampa people can now hear the gospel for the first time, thanks to Christian relief workers

After the Yushu earthquake: a Khampa family living in a tent city, thankful for any relief

Help Spread the Word About Ongoing Yushu Earthquake Relief

Do you know others who have compassion for those struggling through times of disaster, such as this earthquake? Please forward this email to them, along with your recommendation of Heaven’s Family, so that we can continue to send relief and meet urgent needs in places like Tibet, Chile, Haiti, and wherever God sovereignly opens the next door.

Because of Him,

Jeff Trotter

Director, Disaster Relief Fund