Dear Jim and Angela,

 

It is so good to know that other people are praying for this embattled Island.  This problem has been going on since  1977.  But it really intensified in 1983.  Since that time many minority Tamils have been forced to flee this paradise Island.  Progressively the situation deteriorated to such and extend that it was impossible for us to lead a normal life and we left in 1988.  Only once did I go back in ’98, but travelling from the airport to the city is fraught with danger and difficulty, if you happen to be the minority, which I am.

 

Since the civil war began, more than 70,000 + lives have been lost on both sides, the figure being more on the minority side.  There is so much brutality practised by both sides.  The LTTE who fight for a separate homeland is labelled as terrorists by the world body, and there is no support for the minority and the whole world stands and looks at this situation without aiding.  There are always 2 sides to every story, but unfortunately the Govt manages to present only the side they want the world to believe.  The whole of Northern Peninsular is a grave yard - mine fields,  ruins and deserted buildings.  You can just imagine when people go for fishing and they haul out human skulls instead of fish out of the sea!!  Added to this misery, in Dec 2004, the people were hard hit by the Tsunami and although both sides suffered damages, the minority expatriates who were abroad tried to send aid to their people back home, as they were completely neglected by the Govt.  But even the donated aid were  exorbitantly taxed and aid workers were systematically bumped off.  Actually there is a genocide going on, but starting with the UN no one wants to acknowledge the truth.  This country has a couple of strategic harbours, and being positioned strategically in the Indian Ocean, this civil war serves everyone’s purpose I guess. One of the harbour is in the hands of the minority and they are refusing to hand it over to foreign bodies, and the solutions seems to be genocide. it is so heart rending and tragic to see such a beautiful island ravaged and torn by this war.

 

I guess we are paying for the sins of not turning to the Truth.  The Portuguese, the Dutch and the English brought Christianity in different forms, but except a small percentage the rest stuck to their Buddhism and Hinduism.  We built more and more idols and temples and I guess there comes a time when the Lord’s patience and grace turns to wrath and He has allowed man against man to fight and decimate the country.  I too turned to the Lord only 15 years ago, it took us so long to see the Light.  I understand in this last days many are turning to the Lord in Sir Lanka, especially after the Tsunami.  Here too are impediments thrown in the path of those who want to turn to Christianity.  In fact, the Government just to appease the Buddhist majority and also to placate the Hindu minority, has introduced Anti-Conversion Laws and with strict penalty for those who try to convert people to Christianity.  Christians are being persecuted and the Govt is turning a blind eye to this matter. So there is not much freedom for the people to turn to the Truth.  Only the Lord can touch their hearts and open a way for the people to come to the Light.

 

Thank you for your prayers for this embattled Island, and also praying for my operation.  I am progressing well; I have to see the surgeon once more at the end of the month before I go for some extensive dental work with orthodontist.  It is so good to know that there are people praying for you, for I know I could not have healed so quickly without all your prayers- even the surgeon was surprised. Yes as you pointed out the Christians are being tested for our faith before the Last Trumpet call I believe.  But at least we have something to hope for!

 

Thank you once again.

 

God bless you all.

 

YSIC

Shanthi