02 May 2009

"Noah’s Ark" afloat anew

Exactly one year after Cyclone Nargis took more than 150 thousand lives and devastated homes and properties of 2.4 million people in the delta region of Myanmar, the Aung Gone Seventh-day Adventist Church, one of the five churches destroyed, is again standing as a lighthouse in this thickly populated region of the country.

The big waves of May 2-3, 2008 sent more than 300 people from their homes to a small nearby church which they later called the Noah’s Ark, where they sought cover from the deadly storm. All of them were spared from death despite evidences of the storm’s fury on the physical structure that made the Aung Gone Church unusable for some months.

The dedication ceremony of the reconstructed Aung Gone Church on Sabbath, May 2, was a scene of mixed emotions—sorrow and jubilation. Sorrow for thousands of people who lost their lives, including scores of church members on the same day a year back and joyful because these church members have regained their composure, inspiring them to rededicate this rebuilt church.

The community has also organized the anniversary and memorial services for the Cyclone Nargis victims that were attended by Pastor Muller Kyaw, president of the Church in Myanmar, and his party from the church headquarters.

“It is interesting to note that my father was here among the 300 saved on this church when the cyclone came rushing that destroyed thousands of lives and properties,” said Saw See Lar, church pastor. “And my father was 106 years old at that time!”

“We praise the Lord for His mercies that enabled us to live and see Aung Gone Church stands again,” said church members. [Myo Chan]