In an effort to save the lives of as many as possible, Partners In Progress is adopting five villages. We are providing the basic needs of two of these villages and will soon begin helping them to reclaim their rice paddies that were swamped with salty sea water.

The reclamation process requires they pump fresh water onto the fields and basically rinse them again and again in attempt to dissolve and wash away the salt that was deposited there. The monsoon season is currently dropping lots of water there, so that is helping as well. We will provide diesel for the existing pumps and purchase more pumps to help in this process that can later be used for irrigation as well. All of this is beyond the economic means of the farmers who before the cyclone just eked out a meager existence.

School supplies and building materials to repair damaged school buildings will also be provided. Our team of brethren that are able to go into that area will bring back another report at the end of this week on the most urgent needs.

To all who help through donations, we express the gratitude of the 500 families (3000 people) that we are assisting.

If you do not get our printed reports and would like the forthcoming report on the relief work in Myanmar, please send your postal address to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and it will be sent you.

Report received from PIP Project coordinator to Myanmar, Phillip Gardner

Sat 14 June 8:45 a.m. Yangoon, Myanmar

Our Burmese Christian co-workers arrived back in Yangoon early this morning and met with me here at the hotel. Their mission was very successful. They visited 298 Buddhist families in four villages (Ka Ngyin Ta Pin, Tai Chaung, Rakhjaine Gome, and Tai Gome) where they provided a 26 kg bag of rice, 1 liter of cooking oil, 1 kg of potatoes, 1 kg of onions, 2 blankets, and 2 longyis (native dress) to most families. (When they reached the 4th village they had supplies for 111 families. This village has 138 families. Therefore, each family received a smaller quantity.) They also provided four gallons of diesel fuel to the 1st village and a 5th village (Daung Chaung) which the villagers will use to pump the salt water out of ponds they use for drinking and cooking. Now that rain is frequent these ponds will fill up quickly with fresh water. In all 5 villages our brothers and sister were received with much thankfulness and expressions of appreciation.

They also took advantage of the opportunity to return to the 3 villages visited last week to check on the well being of these new friends. They did not distribute any additional suppliers nor did the residents expect anything considering the generosity shown them last week. They explained that the residents were very happy to receive them and again expressed their gratefulness for what they have received. They explained to all that they were demonstrating the love of God.

For future consideration some of the local teachers explained that they need school supplies in the worst way.

The brethren again made a record of the names of each of the 298 families and what each received. He has given me a record of expenditures and receipts. I will give you a complete accounting of the money spent and what is currently on hand.

From: Phillip Gardner, PIP Project Director Myanmar

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Partners In Progress continues to provide aid to more then 800 families in the Irrawaddy Delta region that was hardest hit by the recent cyclone.

News Media are reporting that more then 1.3 million people died in the storm and another million were left homeless.