Samuel Stephens is exhausted. Fresh from a gruelling tour of Sri Lanka visiting people made homeless after Boxing Day's tsunami, the only part of him that is not shaken is his faith in Jesus.
Mr Stephens, an ordained minister, is the Director of the India Gospel League, an evangelical agency supported by the Archbishop of Sydney's Overseas Relief and Aid Fund (ORAF).
He is currently in the United States visiting supporters to update them on IGL's response to the tragedy, and will arrive in Sydney next week. Back home his team of volunteers and staff are busy rebuilding villages wiped out by the deadly waves, providing legal advice, trauma counselling and food.
"The sights of utter disaster that I experienced during my tour of the affected areas have etched an indelible impression upon my heart," Mr Stephens said.
"My experiences seem so unreal. I have visited war-ravaged areas. I have seen regions affected by floods and earthquakes. But I have never seen anything like this."
Very few have been spared from the disaster that struck coastal regions of South Asia three weeks ago. IGL itself lost five pastors and another 16 are still missing. Churches and whole congregations have been washed away.
Fifty ministers that survived are staying relief camps, having lost everything, including family members. IGL will sustain them for two years to help rebuild their ministry.
Mr Stephens said he was "very encouraged" to see the faith of the believers and the zeal and commitment of the leaders despite their loss. But it is the individual stories that are hardest to forget.
"It was heart-rending to see the displaced people in the camps and to listen to their stories. One woman in a camp narrated how 11 members of her immediate and extended family were washed away. They were celebrating the first birthday of their first granddaughter, on 26th December. Family had come from other places for the celebration. None of them returned."
THE Archbishop of Sydney’s Overseas Relief and Aid Fund (ORAF) is working with the India Gospel League in India and Sri Lanka and has sent funds to buy fishing boats and nets so fisherman can provide for their families. Three fishing cooperatives of five families have been formed in villages in Tamil Nadu and the first set of boats is expected to go out to sea in the next two weeks.
Mr Stephens said donations are being used to provide food, medical supplies, cooking utensils, boats and nets, clothes, blankets, lanterns, suitcases and health drinks for babies and children.
In the midst of the devastation, there are small signs of hope.
"The survivors have gotten over the initial shock of the incident, personal tragedies and loss," Mr Stephens said. "They are able to talk about it with more openness and describe the situation. It was encouraging to see children laughing and playing around."
