Tragedy in Phnom Penh

Dear Friends:

Thanks for your prayers for Cambodia as you heard of the tragedy that
happened in Phnom Penh last night. There was a stampede of people on
a narrow bridge during the annual
water festival. Current local reports are that about 350 died and 550
were injured.

I have called all our Phnom Penh based Alliance missionaries and none
of them were there. I have also called the Phnom Penh KEC church
pastors and the KEC national church president. As of now, about 22
hours after the accident, they are not aware of anyone from the KEC or
NewHope churches who was affected.

I drove past a hospital about a half mile from our house. As you can
imagine, the situation was quite chaotic. Pictures of the dead and
injured were put on a large billboard so that people could identify
them... there were many very sad and grieving people and people
trying to get into the hospital but they were refused because it was
already too full. We saw one man try to climb a 10 foot high fence
over sharp spikes to try to get in to see his family.

In the midst of this it has been encouraging to watch the broader
Cambodian response to this tragedy. Many Cambodians are making
significant donations to help... Tonight they are having a telethon
to support the families of the dead and injured... Hospitals are
giving free medical care... The government is helping with
transportation of both bodies and for the other needs of the
survivors. The Cambodian Christian community is also joining in with
help. This kind of broad-based response throughout the land is
unprecedented in our 15 years in Cambodia.

In the midst of this great tragedy, pray the Lord would somehow work
in the hearts and lives of the survivors and the country as a whole.
They so need Him and the Hope that only He can give.

In Christ, Dave and Chris