What To/Not To Bring

Bring:
-sleeping bag
-one week's worth of clothes
-work gloves
-passport
-3 photo copies of your passport
-extra money
-rain jacket
-toiletries (very few)
-batteries (very few, if any)
-two pairs of shoes (one pair of heavy shoes and one pair of sandals )
-females: one full length skirt

Do Not Bring:
-unnessesary electronics
-make-up
-more than you can carry


Last Updated 1/23/05

Traveler's Shot List

Shot List for those going to Sri Lanka:

disclaimer: Though shots are are strongly recommended, none of them are required for access to the country.

VERY IMPORTANT
Hepatitis A & B
Regular 10 year booster (DTP, diphtheria, tetanus, Polio)

RECOMMENDED FOR INLAND TRAVEL
(These shots can only be acquired at a Travel Health Clinic)
Typhoid
Japanese B encephalitis
*Malaria

*Instead of getting a Malaria vaccination, one option is to buy Doxycycline 100mg tablets and take them daily. These are available in Sri Lanka or America for about $4.00 a week.

News 1 Update

Sri Lanka
Outreach Team Update: Feb. 1, 2005
Mobile in Sri Lanka +94-077-698-2124; www.srilankaoutreach.com

Dear Friends:

It has been almost three weeks since our team
arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to assist with the tsunami recovery efforts. I cannot easily tell you all that we have seen, the tears that we have shared, or the destruction that we have encountered already. We have toured as much of the country as possible; travelling south along the coast, and east through the mountains. The damage is great, and the help is too few and far between.


In our fist week, we connected with a Non-government Organization (NGO) called Sarvodaya, and have spent the last week and a half unloading a 40ft. container of food and supplies into a Methodist church, organizing it, and redistributing it to non-government based camps around the country. Now that this load is coming to an end, our team is taking a more personal route.

Vegas and I plan to be the mediators for volunteers in the United States to organized efforts here in Sri Lanka. We have set up a base of operations in Colombo, where we can house volunteers. Through the connections that we have made with USAID, the Methodist Churches, Assemblies of God, Sarvodaya, and other such organizations, we can welcome volunteers and help them get started, show them the ropes, get them the proper transportation, etc.

Tomorrow Vegas and I travel to Kaluthara to clean rubble and dig toilet and well holes. From February 8th-16th our team will be in Komari, cooking food and helping rebuild a housing development. We plan to do this sort of “grunt work,” as much as possible. At this moment, our visas expire April 15. If we can get them extended, we will.

How you can help:
We need prayer and financial support (in that order). Our cost of living is about $600 a month. This includes food, phone, travel to and from camps, lodging, etc. If you can support us financially, please directly deposit money into Wells Fargo account #3977701774 or mail a check made out to Sarah Turner to Attn: Sri Lanka Outreach, 1100 Wyoming Ave., Reno, NV 89503.

DOs and DON'Ts in Sri Lanka (weather and background too!)

Today I was able to talk to a man who is originally from Sri Lanka but has moved to the States in the last few years. I took the opportunity to ask this man about some of the cultural do's and don'ts of Sri Lanka, and in return he also told me a little bit of background about the area as well.

He said that there are two native languages in Sri Lanka. The language in the north is called Tamil and the language in the south is call Sinhalese. There is tension between these two areas but not enough that it results in violence. The North area of Sri Lanka is separated from the South by nearly 150 miles of land (and some mountains) but because of limited and slow development of transportation, the trip takes nearly 8 hours.

The climate is tropical, which translates to hot and muggy, so light clothes are recommended. The coldest area of Sri Lanka is 60 miles inland from Galle in the mountains. At its lowest, the temperature can get between 40 and 50 degrees in the winter.

He said that Galle (South Sri Lanka) is primarily a Buddhist area, though there are some Catholics from Portuguese influence. He said that though the Catholics are allowed to practice their beliefs, they are not allowed to practice "conversions." Buddhists see conversion to Christianity as an un-sacred event, and they do not stand for it. This sometimes results in violence.

Just because the landscaping of the country has changed, doesn't mean that the religion has changed. In the Sri Lanka newspaper today, there was an article regarding all of the Christians who have entered the country to help aid the people into recovery. They are lowering their guard enough to let us help, but they will not tolerate our preaching.

Being that we are to respect these people, and will bear witness by our actions more than our words, we are asking those who go with us to chose your battles carefully, listen for the voice of God, respect others before yourself, and do not answer without being asked. As a wise man said, "People don't care that you know, until they know that you care."

DO'S:
-DO bow when greeting someone
-DO dress modestly (women, no tank tops or shorts)
-DO speak slowly, as English is not their first language
-DO dress nicely when attending church (women, no pants)
-DO respect the traditions of the Buddhist religion, even though you may choose not to follow them

DON'Ts:
-DON'T hug anyone until they hug you
-DON'T say or do anything that would be offensive in America (it's offensive there too)
-DON'T flirt
-DON'T push your beliefs on anyone (and that's not just for Sri Lanka)

If I find out more I will let you know. The women in Sri Lanka still dress and act very modestly. Because of tourism, local people are used to Western dress and are not easily offended by it. It is good to show respect for a people's culture, however, as much as possible while you are in their community.


More to come, keep us in your prayers:
Sarah Turner

Sending Helpers to Sri Lanka

Dear Friends:
Since personally having felt the CALL to GO and serve in Sri Lanka, a few others and myself have seen an outcry from the community that begs to join and help.

There are many who have responded already in both prayer and support. Now, our plans and hopes to serve have come together. We are departing this coming Tuesday, January 11th, 2005 at 8 pm. We will arrive in Columbo, Sri Lanka on Thursday morning, after about 22 hours of flight .

Sarah and myself plan to stay in Sri Lanka and provide cleaning and building assistance to the churches that were destroyed. Please pray for these churches and for us.

Our group visa applications have been approved. We will send out our address when we have it.

If you or someone you know is avalable for a trip later in month or upcoming months, I must share with you that nothing more than a servants heart and a passport is required. We are raising our own support and we are sure that if you feel called to such an action- money, fear and friends can not stop you.

If you feel better about visiting India or other places than Sri Lanka I want to encourage you that as the UN takes presence more field opportunities will be available.

I write you this thank you for your continued prayers and support. As the holiday has come to and end and church staff are now up and around, please consider having one of our team come and speak to your staff or church about needs and opportunites to see help provided to those who have none.

Specifically we want send special thanks to Rebel Christian Fellowship, Rock n' Java Cafe, Air 1 Radio, Central and my employer David for the guidance helping us understand what this calling means and help spread this message. If I can answer any questions please don't hesitate to give me a call or email me back.

In Christ,
Vegas Brian Thornton
011-94-077-698-2124
Las Vegas Sri Lanka Strike Team
srilankamissions.blogspot.com

DISCLAIMER: Though we are members of an on-campus InterVarsity group, InterVarsity is not sending, supporting, or endorsing this trip in any way. If you have questions, please refrain from calling InterVarsity Headquarters and call Vegas at 702-856-6065 or Sarah at 775-544-5601 instead.

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Thanks,
The Sri Lanka Strik and Outreah Team

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