Calvary Baptist Church on Saipan | | Operation Renewed Hope is always thankful for people willing to help those in need. Ken Keith and Harvest Baptist Church of Guam have assumed that stance regarding Typhoon Sinlaku. They are helping ORH with planning and delivery of aid to those who have suffered great loss. | | |
There is no complete answer to the needs of the people in Saipan, Tinian, and Chuuk that is equal to the needs of the people. Typhoon Sinlaku was a monster that literally ate through the islands leaving behind people forced to cope with loss of homes, churches, and workplaces. Below is an assessment of the storm from EUCON, a Christian university on Saipan. Dr. Christian Wei is the founder of the university.
"Typhoon Sinlaku formed on April 9 and became the strongest storm of 2026, with sustained winds reaching 278 km/h (173 mph). On April 14, the typhoon made landfall simultaneously over both Tinian and Saipan with sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a central pressure of 920 mb, its enormous eye engulfing both islands at once.
| | Agape Christian School, Sapan | Weak steering currents kept the storm over or near the southern CNMI for hours, prolonging destructive winds, torrential rain, and coastal storm surge impacts across populated islands. The National Weather Service forecast total rainfall of 15–25 inches over Tinian and Saipan, seas of 20–30 feet, and storm surge of 5–8 feet." | | "When the wind came, the earth shook, and everything trembled. Saipan Mayor Ramon Camacho described the storm as "hitting us hard," saying, "It's so difficult for us to respond with this heavy rain and heavy wind to rescue people — objects are just flying left and right." | | Calvary Baptist Church, Saipan | | "The only hospital in Saipan suffered severe flooding, roads across the island were blocked by debris, and power and water were cut off island-wide. Officials warned that some hard-hit areas could be without power and water for weeks. As of April 16, no fatalities had been confirmed — and in the aftermath of such a storm, that is perhaps the most profound reason for gratitude." | | |
While all of these ministries will require long-term support, they are currently focused on cleanup and immediate recovery needs. I will continue to keep you updated as the situation develops, and any help you are able to offer would be deeply appreciated. I am still waiting to hear back from Chuuk."
ORH has sent $1000 each to Agape, Calvary, and EUCON for items they initially requested through Ken and Harvest Baptist. Please pray for the continued work by ORH with the people of Saipan. Pray for the ministries recovering.
| | "We praise God for all that was accomplished in the mountains of Badulla. Hundreds of families were helped and shown the Love of the Lord Jesus." - Missionary Stephen Sorrell (see video above) | | |
The floods created by the cyclone that struck Sri Lanka were very destructive. Brother Stephen Sorrell, our contact missionary, wrote to ORH about the way funds were used.
"Pastor Roshan has sent us photos and receipts of the food items purchased and of the water project that restored running water to the homes of the landslide victims. This water project was also a great blessing in that it rebuilt the irrigation system for their crops. This irrigation system was destroyed in the landslides, and having it restored will enable them to replant and begin to once again feed and support their families." (picture of piping)
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Brother Sorrell further wrote of the needs.
"You had mentioned the possibility of another $3000 that may be available. We are praising God and absolutely thrilled at all that you all have already done. Already, the blessing you have been to the needy here has been overwhelming. If you still feel led of the Lord to provide another disbursement, we would like to bring another matter to your attention.
Theris a small town in the northern part of Sri Lanka named Mannar. Many areas in Mannar are at or below sea level, so houses flood annually there during the rainy season.
It is normal for hundreds of families in Mannar to live several weeks each year with two or three feet of water in the home. They sleep on tables and wade in and out to go to the store. This is a normal living condition for many people there.
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Mannar also happens to be the place where God planted a church back in 2018. This is the Church that our son, Nick Sorrell, commissioned in 2018.
The cyclone this year caused the normal flooding in Mannar to be exceedingly abundantly above all that it has ever been. Many homes were completely destroyed.
Because of this, the government of Sri Lanka gave many homeowners in that area concrete so they could rebuild their homes. Eleven of these homes belong to families that are members of the church in Mannar.
Sister Helen, the pastor's wife in Mannar (and the first person saved after we arrived in Sri Lanka in 2001), shared with Jill that the government had given the affected families concrete to rebuild their homes. The problem is that to be used correctly, the concrete needs to be mixed with sand. The people in question can barely afford to eat each day. There is no possible way for them to purchase sand. I spoke with Pastor Anton yesterday. He advised me that if they had the proper amount of sand, they could build up the foundations on these 11 homes to the point that, in future years, the houses would be safe from the normal flooding. Pastor Anton sent me an estimate for the needed sand.
The cost to permanently eliminate the threat of floods from these 11 houses is 1,925,000 Sri Lankan Rupees. This is approximately $6,200. We currently have $2,500 from other churches designated for flood victims. If you have peace about this third disbursement of $3000 and utilizing the funds in this way, we trust the Lord Jesus to send in the remaining $700 and we will start this project immediately.
Thank you, Operation Renewed Hope! You have certainly helped to renew hope for the victims of this disaster in Sri Lanka."
| | ORH has sent the funds for the sand and elevation of the homes. Brother Sorrell said he would send word if more money is needed for the village, ORH is working on many projects at this time. Please pray for all that is being done for Christ. | |
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Watch ORH-produced videos and learn more about our ministry here:
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God bless you,
The Operation Renewed Hope Family Around the World!
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P.O. Box 43242
Fayetteville, NC 28309-3242
Phone: (910) 987-5072
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