ADRA RESPONDS TO FLOOD cRISES page 9 - RECORD.net.au

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NEWSfor Pacific IslandsOutreach (PIO)ALL SignS to the Pacific aresponsored. Thousandsmore are needed.SignS currently go to 20 destinations:ADRA shop—Kiribati MissionPAU prison outreach, Lae Tech—PNGChurch—Pitcairn IslandBible study groups—Torres StraitChurch outreach—FijiBible worker—TokelauPacific Yacht Ministries—VanuatuMedisonship clinic—SolomonsBible challenge adventure for studentsNewcastle, New South WalesAn exciting program thatmotivates young people to readBible stories has been launchedat Macquarie College.The “409 Bible AdventureChallenge” encourages studentsto partner with their mum anddad to read through the entire409 Bible stories contained inArthur Maxwell’s The Bible Storyseries.Some of the students taking part in the challenge.Students work toward gettingstamps in their 409 AdventurePassports and the occasional prize as they read through the stories athome.College chaplain Brad Rea said the program “ticks a lot of boxes” that theChurch’s education system strives to achieve: it assists children in learningto read; it encourages parents to spend time with their children; it helpsform the habit of family devotional time; and it teaches Bible stories to bothchildren and parents.There has been an almost 100 per cent takeupof the books, and there is currently a waitinglist for them as the school has more childrenthan Bible Story copies. The children taking partin the program are excited about having their“passports” stamped and receive a trophy at thecompletion of the challenge.Mr Rea notes that the Adventist “population”at the school is around 15 per cent of the college’senrolment. “This means around 85 per centof students reading this series aren’t Adventistsand are getting stuck into reading the Bible,” hesaid.—Brad Rea/Adele NashTo support SignSPacific Islands Outreach*or to subscribe for yourself, phone:1800 035 542 (Australia)0800 770 565 (New Zealand)Monday to Thursday 9 am–5 pm AESTor subscribe online atwww.signsofthetimes.org.auOpinion? Comment? Send a letter to .*PIO special price: $A20 ($NZ24) per subscription
NEWS FEATUREADRA respondsto flood crisesby Braden BlydeFiji flood crisisFollowing severe flooding, and the continued threat ofcyclone activity in the Western district of Fiji, the AdventistDevelopment and Relief Agency (ADRA) is distributingemergency food supplies to the most severely affectedfamilies.ADRA is the only agency distributing food rations to theflood victims. Fiji Red Cross and Rotary, along with Caritasand Save the Children and a small number of other aidorganisations, are also assisting those affected through thedistribution of water and non-food items.The floods have severely restricted access to food, whilealso destroying food producing crops. In response, ADRA isdistributing emergency food packs, water and hygiene kits.In total, more than 12,000 people will be assisted.“ADRA, through the assistance of the New Zealand Aidprogram, has pre-positioned 600 water containers, foodpacks and hygiene kits in flood-affected areas,” ADRA Fijidirector Save Cavalevu said.“The food pack contains food items intended to complementfood supplies for a family of five for at least oneweek. The water survival bags are designed to filter untreatedwater for drinking and it’s particularly handy duringemergencies when drinking water is limited.”ADRA Australia’s director of Emergency Management,Chris Olafson, said, “The flooding is worse than that of2009, yet the disaster has received little internationalattention.”Australian flood crisisAt the same time, ADRA Australia has been dealing witha crisis much closer to home. With major roads blockedand large areas of New South Wales’ north cut off by risingflood waters, ADRA volunteers have been flown into Moreeon a specially chartered flight to assist those affected.“Three volunteers from Tamworth and Gunnedah flewinto Moree,” Mr Olafson said. “Getting to the area by roadis impossible, so a small Adventist Aviation plane wasscrambled to get them to the hard hit area. They are nowworking to ensure any affected families have a dry andwarm place to stay.”ADRA Australia holds formal agreements to provideemergency accommodation during times of disasterin NSW, in addition to the Australian Capital Territory,Queensland and Western Australia, with more than 2000volunteers ready to help when disasters strike.“Our volunteers are trained to work efficiently in timesof stress and, along with the other responding agencies,ensure families who are either isolated or whose homeshave been flooded receive the support they need,” MrOlafson said.ADRA volunteers assisted NSW Ministry for Police andEmergency Services find accommodation for more than300 workers over the weekend. The volunteers workedaround the clock in the Moree PCYC, which was establishedas an evacuation centre. Finding accommodationwas a difficult task, not only because of the flood, but theinflux of emergency service staff who came to the area toassist.However, ADRA’s connections with the local counciland accommodation providers ensured all in need receivedshelter.“I was truly blessed to be part of ADRA’s response tothe recent floods in Moree,” said ADRA volunteer DavidFletcher. “To be able to minister to those who were truly indesperate need was indeed a privilege and a blessing.“We received overwhelming support from the MoreeSeventh-day Adventist Church—some of whom had sufferedflooding of their own homes and properties. In themidst of this great personal toll, they banded together tosupport our work for ADRA.”In addition to responses in Moree, ADRA volunteershave assisted flood victims in Kingscliff, Grafton and Kempseyin NSW, and the Moreton Bay area in Queensland.Braden Blyde is communication officer for ADRA Australia.You can help support ADRA’s work in Fiji, and other disaster affected areas around the world,through donations to ADRA Australia’s Disaster Preparedness and Response Fund. To giveyour support, call 1800 24 ADRA or donate online at .record.net.au • March 3, 2012 9
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Page 14 and 15: LayingdowntheLawby Anthony MacPhers
Page 16 and 17: ness—including sacred Scripture,
Page 18: Opinion*Huston FordAWR ANNUAL OFFER
Page 21 and 22: NOTICE BOARDappreciationCernik. Ann
Page 23: NOTICE BOARDSands (Auckland). Tofi

ADRA RESPONDS TO FLOOD cRISES page 9 - RECORD.net.au

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