After a catastrophic flash flood and landslide occurred near the Nepal-China border on Aug. 26, Texans on Mission volunteers deployed to the area to bring help and comfort to the hurt and devastated Nepali people — physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Thousands are dead and thousands more are still missing, but in the midst of this terrifying time, volunteers worked hard to bring hope by distributing hygiene kits and water filters to those in need.
A group of volunteers deployed quickly after the flash flood and began serving in Nepal on Sept. 3. Robert Watson, who has lived in Nepal for decades working in hospitals and planting churches, led the volunteer group on this deployment. The group assisted in disaster relief efforts through Sept. 12.
For Watson, who has lived among the people and established a love for the country, the physical devastation and loss was especially difficult to comprehend.
“It’s really hard to see a disaster like this here,” he said. “They literally have nothing. There’s not even a foundation left for some of their houses. Some people are buried under eight feet of mud. They’ll never be found.”
Watson said it was also heartbreaking to know the percentage of believers in Nepal sits at only about 3%.
Joe Crutchfield, a volunteer who also served in Nepal following a previous disaster, said the scene that unfolded upon their arrival was gruesome.
“When we got there, the problem was a lot greater than what you see in the media,” Crutchfield said. While Nepal experiences disasters regularly, he said, “the magnitude of this one was a lot greater.”
Before distributing supplies, the team met with government officials to identify the most pressing needs.
“We asked where the gaps were, and the disparity in services they asked about were hygiene kits,” Watson said.
In response, the team assembled 500 hygiene kits and brought water filtration devices for distribution. The team transported the water filters in suitcases, and purchased hygiene-kit supplies after arriving in Kathmandu, the nation’s capital.
The hygiene kits distributed to residents included several necessities meant to replace items lost in the disaster. These include bed sheets, metal utensils and cups for eating and drinking, bath soap, laundry soap, electrolytes for hydration, insect repellent, toothbrushes, toothpaste and cookies.
The team’s work in Nepal also allowed them to establish and build on relationships with local organizations and spark spiritual conversations with residents, Watson said.
Both Watson and Crutchfield also met with additional volunteers from a ministry partner based in Hungary, which has significant experience in search and rescue as well as disaster response management, leadership and coordination. The pairing magnified the impact only one team could have in the region.
Meeting people’s immediate needs was also a way to connect, allowing their acts of service and compassion to speak to their faith in Christ. Then, curiosity often turned to questions from those they served.
“Nepali people hear best with their eyes, and when they see Christ at work, then they start asking the questions, and you can share the Gospel in that relational way, not from a crusade,” Watson said.
That same idea has shaped one of the ministries volunteers partnered with in Nepal, which provides opportunities for healthcare, quality education, sustainable agriculture, vocational training and leadership development. The native Nepalese founders of this ministry — whose entity and names are withheld for security purposes — have seen firsthand how meeting practical needs can create relationships and opportunities to share the Gospel.
“The beauty of our organization is we mobilize the locals,” one of the founders said. “So when you help, the locals are the ones who later on share the Gospel because a relationship is being built.”
These ministry partners said Nepal’s recovery needs extend beyond the initial disaster response. Food, hygiene supplies, clothing and sanitary products remain important, while long-term recovery, counseling and opportunities for families to rebuild livelihoods can become increasingly critical after the initial wave of outside assistance and media attention fades.
“If it is a big disaster, what we have found is everybody pours in the money early on, but later forgets about it,” a founder said.
Even though our volunteers are no longer in Nepal, TXM is making sure our work continues to help the Nepali people and is planning to return. The systems TXM helped establish are still meeting needs through local churches, while future teams may return to begin laying the groundwork for longer-term rebuilding and recovery.
“Some of those upcoming trips are going to include training sessions,” said TXM Chief Strategy Officer Rand Jenkins. “We’re trying to build the capacity until more reinforcements come in.”
Support Nepal in the wake of disaster
There are still many searching for missing loved ones in Nepal. Others are mourning family and friends. Please pray for healing for survivors, for strength for volunteers serving and local officials and hope for all affected by this disaster.
You can help TXM continue serving communities in Nepal by making a donation today. Your support will help prepare for ongoing relief and recovery efforts as we plan to return to Nepal.