Sara Sywulka from the Relief Unit arrived in Chengdu on Saturday. She joined the FH team for their first worship service at the International Fellowship since the earthquake. The service was a real blessing and a breath of fresh air for everyone who lived through the quake.

 

On Monday, Sara and the FH team participated in an all day strategy/planning meeting with FH's Chinese partner organization and a couple other organizations. Part of the meeting was dedicated to planning how to spend Tuesday and Wednesday with about 40 church leaders from the affected areas with whom we relationships.

 

A delegation from Phoenix also arrived on Monday, composed of Mark Kyle, Peggy Bilsten, and pastors from Greater Phoenix Christian Church and Southland Church in Lexington, KY.

 

Tuesday afternoon the whole FH-associated team participated in the meeting with various partners. The leaders told stories of their experiences with the earthquake and how the local churches were responding. The relief "experts" provided a brief training on things to keep in mind during emergency responses. And the rest of the time was used to brainstorm where to go from there, based on what the church leaders see for their own congregations and communities, both in the immediate future and the mid-term.