Merry Christmas.....for Some

Christmas is a week away and for many of us just the thought of this season brings us great comfort and joy. In Sri Lanka there are many rejoicing as well because of their new found freedom from the refugee camps that once held them against their will. In fact the camps are quickly becoming deserted which has me thanking God for answering so many prayers. Yet having said that my fear is that people will now forget these people; when in fact now is when they need others more than ever.
Try to imagine being released from one of these camps where you just spent a year of your life living in a tent and now you are told that your free to leave only to find out there is little to return to. Your home was destroyed, your livelihood no longer exists, your recently united family has all sorts of medical needs, and by the way your flat broke. I wish this image was a rarity but in fact it is a common story among tens of thousands right now.
Please don't stop praying, and give if your led, because these people need others to love on them in ways most of us can only imagine.
I pray we are used to make it a 'Merry Christmas' for all!
Kurt

Praise God!

It appears that the first big step to freedom has arrived for those living in the war refugee camps in Sri Lanka. The government has announced that by the end of January the camps will be closed and the last of the detained Tamils will be released. It should be noted that these do not include the rehabilitation camps (war prisons) where many are still held. http://features.csmonitor.com/globalnews/2009/11/22/sri-lanka-tamil-camps-why-were-they-closed/ . This is an answer to prayers from around the world and a call to each of us to praise our Holy Father.
The next big step will be the resettlement process as these people attempt to rebuild their lives. There will be an overwhelming need for housing, food, clothing and in many cases artificial limbs to take care of the physical needs of these victims of war. Supplying these things will be an important building block in order to tackle the greater issue of ones wholeness; by which I mean the spiritual and mental well being of these people. It will take years and the Spirit of God to make this possible, but without going this route there will be no peace for these people or for their country.
Today let us give praise, and tomorrow let us roll up our sleeves and continue the good work before us.
-Kurt

Night of Stories

This past Sunday night was one of those times that gave Cari and me a great sense of encouragement. We had put out an invitation for some friends to come over to our home for a night of stories centered on our trip to Sri Lanka, thinking we would be fortunate if a handful of people responded to the invitation, but our friends overwhelmed us and our house was packed.
The evening consisted of several desserts and a hundred “hellos” before we gathered for a short video and then personal stories from the trip by Dave Eller the president of World Concern as well as Cari and me. I really got the impression people were very interested and that they cared deeply. It was this caring that really makes us stop and praise God for the friends he has allowed us to partner in life with.
For all those who have prayed and walked with us through this journey I wish to say ‘thank you’, because it really helps push us forward.
-Kurt & Cari

Sri Lanka Brief Overview

On Oct 25th Cari and I left Seattle for Sri Lanka. Our flight took us through San Francisco and Dubai before landing some 30 hour later in Colombo, Sri Lanka at 8:30 AM. It was there that we joined the rest of the World Concern team that was visiting from the states and Thailand. This team consisted of Dave Eller (president of World Concern), Bob Lonac (president of CRISTA Ministries), Mike Murphy (donor), and Richard (Asia director for World Concern). This group along with our host Selina Prem, who is the country manager, took us on a 7 hour car ride to the NE region of Trinco were World Concern does the majority of their work. It was here that we had 3 slammed packed days viewing the amazing work done by a dedicated team of people who showed me what it really means to wake up every day serving others. During these 3 days we met and heard story after story of those who came out of the war zone during the last 4 months of the war. We saw the homes that had been built for those who had survived the Tsunami a few years back, and we visited several dairy chilling stations that dramatically help the lively hoods of entire villages. Of course the biggest and most heart wrenching day was visiting 2 of the camps were the people displaced by the war live. Walking among these people and hearing their stories was an emotional overload that will take weeks for us to process.

On the 5th day we drove to Kandy; which is situated in the middle of the country up in the highlands. It was here that we witnessed how World Concern brings selected villagers from the outlying areas of Sri Lanka together for dairy training, human rights awareness and peace and reconciliation training. This was their 11th such gathering which lasts 5 days and has shown great results throughout the country.

Day 6 was filled with a viewing of the sacred Buddha tooth (yes, tooth) temple. The temple was quite impressive and it was very interesting to see the flocks of devout Buddhists that came to visit this shrine. Our team then left Kandy for our 6 hour drive through traffic back to Colombo where most of us said our goodbyes.

Day 7 was spent meeting up with Godfrey who I had met on my last visit and then spending some quality time with Selina who is just one of those rare people that gives you an amazing hope for all that is good in this world.

Day 8 and then some was spent flying home which was flat out miserable and makes me never want to get on a plane again (thank goodness for short memories).

We came home last night and were greeted by our 3 children with hugs that made us feel like the most fortunate parents in the world.

-Kurt

Sir, Can You Help Me

"Sir, can you help me" will forever be the words that will push me forward in fighting for the rights of others. These words were spoken to me by a blind women in one of the camps who had just told her recent story of despair of how 21 days earlier in the middle of the night her blind husband was taken from her along with roughly 200 other men. The soldiers were once again rounding up anyone who could possibly have been a rebel supporter and dragging them off to what they call a rehabilitation camp. This young women pleaded with the soldiers not to take her husband, but to no avail.

As I listened to her story I grew angry at the evil of man. Why would a blind man be considered a threat? Why would a women stuck in a barbed wire camp, living in a tent, be denied her husband? Why was I so incapable of answering her request for help? It was one of those times that my heart broke and all that was good seemed to fade in despair.

This women's ask for help will not go unanswered. I will seek the help of others and rely on Jesus to make this terrible injustice right. This has made me more aware of how desperately I need the Holy Spirit working in my life to help bring justice and mercy to a fallen world.

-Kurt

Shaken

There is no way at this time to convey the stories told by those we have visited while here in Sri Lanka. My words cannot begin to describe the loss so many have suffered and the conditions they now face and even if I was the world’s greatest writer I would still need to hold back in fear for the safety of these vulnerable people.
It takes no time at all to realize that the pain and suffering endured by these people is so overwhelming that it will take only God himself to bring healing and wholeness to these people. Of course as always God’s favorite instrument of His love is us. In the midst of all this hopelessness there is a hope we have witnessed in those working in the camps. It is their love for these people that makes us believe that if more people join in giving this same sacrificial love for others then there is a chance for a life worth living for those who have seemed to have lost everything.

The picture shows the people who have raised their hands when asked "who of you have children living in the rehabilitation camps". These are camps/prisons that the government holds suspected rebel supporters who are often selected just because of their age.

We hope that many of you will seek us out in the hope of hearing the stories that have shaken us to a point of never being the same.

As always I ask that you pray and rejoice for the courage of those here helping to bring hope to the forgotten.

-Kurt

Today & Tomorrow with Your Prayers

As one would expect today is a lot about preparing for tomorrow's 34 hour trip to Sri Lanka. I will be picking up my mother-in-law at the airport this afternoon so our kids are assured of being spoiled rotten while we are away. This is such a blessing for Cari and I to have parents that are always so willing and enthusiastic to spend time with our children.
The biggest part of the day will be about spending some quality time with each of the kids today and making sure our to-do lists are completed so that family and employees are taken care of while we are away.
Cari and I would ask that you join us in prayer for the following:

• The people in the camps of Sri Lanka would be loved and released
• Our children would be protected
• Cari would be free of back pain and blood clots
• That we would be in step with the Holy Spirit

Thank you once again for being on the journey with us. We hope to update the blog while we are in Sri Lanka if possible.

For more information please go to http://www.campbellnelsoncares.com

-Kurt

Campbell Nelson Cares Kickoff

Today I am excited to share that our new website http://www.campbellnelsoncares.com/ is up and running. This is the first piece of a larger puzzle to help bring awareness and funds to those people that work to alleviate the suffering of others. I hope you will take a few minutes to review this website and give me any feedback to make it better.
What really has me excited is the opportunity for our employees and customers to get involved. Our first spotlight is 'Hope for Sri Lanka' and we feel blessed to offer a matching gift on the first $20,000 that comes in by the 31st of December, 2009.
Please spread the word to help bring hope to those living in the camps of Sri Lanka.
With Hope,
Kurt

2 Tickets

I am excited to share that Cari and I will be heading to Sri Lanka October 25th if all goes as planned. Our tickets have been purchased and Cari is already reading the Lonely Planet travel guide of which I am sure she will have memorized before we take off.
We hope you will continue to join us in prayer for the people living in the camps as well as for those who are trying to help. I would also ask that you remember Cari in your prayers concerning her back. She has had considerable pain almost daily for the past 30 days and the course of action right now is therapy with the hopes of avoiding surgery. Needless to say an upcoming 30 hour trip to Sri Lanka is not the part of the trip Cari is looking forward to the most.
Stay tuned......
-Kurt

What Now?

Having left Sri Lanka a little over 2 months ago I have often asked God "what now?” So far the answer to that question has been stay the course and keep the people in the refugee camps in the hearts and minds of others.
Just recently I sat down with my brother and business partner Craig and we came up with an idea to raise some much needed attention and money to this cause. We are currently working with World Concern and our marketing partner Destination Marketing to create a campaign that will raise awareness, dollars and hopefully keep us selling cars. Please pray in regards to this venture. Pray we bring glory to God and help to those in need.
The next big step, God willing, is to take my wife Cari to Sri Lanka the end of October. She often has such great wisdom to offer and for me to see things through her eyes will truly be a blessing. This is something we feel we need to share together which will most likely repeat the question "what next?”
Almost everyday I read the latest news regarding the situation in the camps and correspond with those on the ground and those elsewhere who share a common passion to help. Amongst all the anguish there have been rays of hope as many of the elderly and some of the children have been freed from the camps recently and in some cases entire families have begun the relocation process back to their homes, for those fortunate to still have a home.
Now the feared flooding from the monsoon rains has begun causing unbearable living conditions for the roughly 270,000 still remaining http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/world/asia/16lanka.html . I find it hard to imagine the suffering that takes place day in and day out for these people trapped in these camps. Through all this I know God loves his children when I witness the work of people like the staff of World Concern who give of themselves everyday.
Pray, Give and Believe,
-Kurt

Sri Lanka Recap

What a strange trip. I traveled to the other side of the world and met with complete strangers that gave voice to the lives of those who make up the people of Sri Lanka. I heard of government victories and war crimes, of freedoms lost and hope of unification, and of course the cost of war for those 289,000 people living in the IDP (internally displaced people) camps. These conversations with church leaders and government officials revolved around humanitarian aid and reconciliation. Even though these conversations left me with more questions than answers I do realize that one of the greatest roles our delegation (World Evangelical Alliance) could bring was encouragement to the Church, and I believe that in some small way was accomplished.

Day 4 and 5 was where the rubber hit the road. Selina the acting country director for World Concern picked me and two new friends from Tearfund New Zealand up in the capital city of Colombo for our 7 hour journey to Trincomalee where World Concern has been working since the Tsunami. It was here that my heart would be broken and I would find maybe the greatest living answer to how peace and reconciliation can take hold.

During these two days we visited two IDP camps, a hospital (clinic), and a third IDP camp for those to disabled, wounded, and sick to be taken to the other camps. These places housed some 9,000 people of whom World Concern took the lead in providing food and clothing for. All of these places were surrounded by barbed wire and ran by the military because the fear of the government is that some of those within the camps are of the LTTE, their enemy.

When we entered the first camp I witnessed immediately what these people starved for the most was news of loved ones whom they had been separated from during the course of fleeing the war zones. Such news unfortunately was near impossible to come by. This particular camp had been a school for 700 students and was now home for 2,500 people who had little space and very limited sanitation facilities. It was here that I first started hanging out with the children in the camps. By the grace of God I was able to bring laughter and fun into some incredibly resilient children. Children that have seen the worst of man and now through people like Selina were seeing the love of Jesus. These kids represent the hope of Sri Lanka and I pray soon they will be given the opportunity for a better life.

As I walked through the hospital I was reminded that Mother Teresa saw great value in touching the untouchable. I say this because my first instinct when I saw those without limbs was to keep my head low and to remove myself from the stares of these patients, but through the strength of the Lord I began shaking hands and giving a warm smile that to my surprise seemed to lighten the load of these hurting people. I cannot begin to count how many hands I held, but I can say that the power of touch backed by a caring heart has the ability to bring healing to the soul.

Our last stop of the day was by far the hardest. It was here in an old garment factory that hundreds of recovering medical patients stayed with what remained of their families under armed guard. The conditions were poor, with flies and sweltering heat causing further torment to already hurting people. Somehow I remained composed until I came across two elderly people that were lying on the floor. At first I thought they were dead, but then I noticed the flies moving off their lips as they breathed ever so faintly. They were all skin and bones and I am sure they would most likely not make it another day. All I could think was that these people had lived so long and seen so much and now they were taking their final breathes on a concrete floor covered in flies. Only 4 beds down my heart would again be broken as I came a cross two young children. As I was to learn they were brother and sister around the age of 5 and 3 who had recently lost their parents in the war and had no other known family. The boy’s right leg was completely bandaged from shrapnel and his younger sister had lost 4 fingers on her right hand and had shrapnel as well removed from her right leg. It was with this girl that my smile and touch seemed to do nothing. She just stared blankly at her surrounding. I cannot begin to tell you how desperately I wanted to sweep this girl and her brother off the bed and somehow fix the terrible injustices they have faced. Selina will be trying her best to keep me informed of their situation in the days a head. Somehow I pray that I will follow their lives to a better place.

So how does God bring peace and reconciliation to the people of Sri Lanka? The answer shown to me was found in people like Selina who have chosen to love everyone as a child of God. This is no easy feat considering she is a Tamil that has witnessed to0 much suffering of the Tamil people under the Singhalese majority government, but she has put the love of Jesus first and in return she and her staff have been granted access into camps that few are allowed. Watching the staff of World Concern work and maneuver under such restrictive conditions had me in awe and thankful for people who lay their life down for their love for others.

The rest of my stories can be told over coffee with those who care to hear more. I can only hope God will use me and many others to bring healing to the people of Sri Lanka.

I wish to thank many of you for your prayers and for your financial gifts to World Concern. Gifts that I can assure you are literally saving lives.

With Hope,

Kurt

Quick update..

Due to lack of Internet time and for security reasons I am not going to be giving out to much information on this blog. Let's just say things are not always as they appear in this country. The last 2 days have been non stop meetings with political, civic and religious leaders throughout the capital city of Colombo. The stories I have heard make me want to cry and yet there is a sense of hope. I will elaborate at another time.
What I need now is prayer, because American passport holders are now being told that they will not be allowed into the IDP camps where close to 300,000 people now live in very difficult circumstances. Please pray for my access as well as some of my restricted team members.
Today the country celebrates 'Victory Day' while some of the minorities groups mourn.
More later.

Off to Sri Lanka with Your Prayers

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30388835/displaymode/1247/

Tomorrow I leave for Sri Lanka with some anxiety. Anxiety I am sure that comes from me not being in control of this trip which I am certain is right where God wants me to be.

I will be arriving in the capital city of Colombo at 4:30 AM Sunday morning. From there I will take a taxi to my hotel to join the others that are flying in from around the world to give encouragement and support to those working to better the lives of those devastated by nearly 30 years of war.

The following are my words to God that I hope you will join me in praying:
-We praise you Lord for a recent end to the war
-Please strengthen your children to give beyond themselves to help those who have so little
-We praise you for never leaving us alone and involving us in your desire to love one another
-We ask for clean water, good food, medicine, and sanitation for the 300,000 living in the camps
-We look to you for healing and reconciliation between the people of this country.
-We ask for you to open the doors this week for our group to reach into places you desire to us to be
To you be the glory. Amen

Trying to Understand

To help understand more of the situation in Sri Lanka I would recommend going to the following web page and then clicking on the links under 'Focus: Sri Lanka. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/05/2009513222013221256.html

I have been amazed in the way God has brought so many people alongside me. People who I would never have met and insight into things I never could never have discovered on my own. Everyday my heart breaks more for the people of Sri Lanka and the need to make this journey is stronger than ever.

As Always I would ask that you take time each day to pray for all those who's lives have been touched by death and destruction in this country.

The following is a letter written from the Secretary General of the Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka and I believe it will help explain the general idea of why such a trip to Sri lanka is of value.

Rev. Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe
Executive Director
World Evangelical Alliance (WEA)

Dear Dr. Tunnicliffe,

I write with deep concern for peace in our beloved country Sri Lanka which has been ravaged by war and terror for over 20 years, bringing death, destruction and displacement of thousands of men, women and children. The human tragedy is horrific.

The Church has not escaped the horrors of war. Over 10 pastors have lost their lives due to war; 5 of them within the past 3 months. Thousands of church members are displaced and living in crowded makeshift refugee camps. Yet others are trapped in the midst of fighting. Some have paid the ultimate price and lost their lives while trying to flee from bullets and bombs.

We would like to invite you and a delegation from the WEA to undertake a good will mission to our country as peacemakers to demonstrate solidarity with the suffering church and to encourage the church during this very difficult time.

It will be an opportunity for WEA to engage in a fact finding mission and mobilize awareness and much needed prayer.

A visit will also allow the wider church family all over the world to experience first‐hand and identify with the suffering church and also a great opportunity for WEA to meet with the leaders of the Sri Lankan government, advocate for peace and justice and explore possibilities of engaging in peacemaking.

Although the Protestant Christians population in Sri Lanka number less than 1 percent, we believe that we are called to a prophetic role to be peacemakers, bringing together both Sinhalese and Tamil ethnic groups and restoring relationships and healing between communities and individuals in our bruised and bleeding nation.

It will also offer an opportunity for the global church to minister to and assist with the
humanitarian efforts of the local church and partner in rebuilding lives and churches.

Looking forward to your favorable response.

In Christ,

Godfrey Yogarajah
General Secretary ‐ NCEASL

Why Sri Lanka?

The escalating Sri Lanka civil war was introduced to me through the work of World Concern only a couple months ago. The information I received as a World Concern board member seemed to tighten its grip on my heart to the point that I realized this was something that I could not look away from. Not knowing what to do my wife Cari and I began to pray and then we were led to support those who were working in the hospitals that cared for the hundreds of injured coming out of the war zone almost daily.
On Easter Sunday as I sang songs celebrating our risen Lord it struck me that few songs of thanksgiving were being sung in Sri Lanka. It was at that time I felt that I needed to pray about heading to Sri Lanka.
My first call was to World Concern and to my surprise God shut the door with a no-go for various reasons. Well I thought that was the end of me heading to Sri Lanka anytime soon, but a week later a friend, Brian O'connell (REACT Services), stopped in for a visit and preceded to share with me an opportunity to hook up with a small delegation of international leaders representing the World Evangelical Alliance that will be arriving in Sri Lanka June 1st.
After several confirmations I find myself holding tickets to leave for Sri Lanka. I am in awe of how God works, His timing, and even more so His inclusion of us in His plans.
May 30th, God willing, I will begin the longest day of travel in my life as I head to the country of Sri Lanka off the S.E. coast of India. The obvious question that has been asked is "what do you think God has planned for you"? My answer is "I have no idea, but He does and that's good enough for me".