UPDATE
Feb 23, 2005

Dear Saints:

In my last update, I promised to send you photographs of the commissioning of the 40 fishing boats (we are, with your assistance, building another 20 more), the laying of the foundation stones for the two churches we are building and the plan for the churches.

Let me also give you an update of Viktor the burnt 14-year old who was brought out of Nias and Medan to Singapore for treatment. The Singapore Red Cross has very kindly made his treatment possible. Here is an update of his condition:

On Friday the 18th, I visited Viktor with Dr Derek Allen who heads our medical relief work. Viktor is progressing slowly in the critical care of the Burns Unit at Singapore General Hospital . He has been released from critical care status but is kept under an isolation regimen due to the infections which are continuing in his burn areas. He no longer requires oxygen but is on constant pain relief for the excruciating burns.

Viktor continues on an accelerated feeding programme through a tube going directly to his stomach. He is able to move his head about more freely but still has almost no movement in his arms and legs. The intravenous protein supplementation continues.

Derek was able to talk to the Clinical Director of the Burns/ Plastics Unit, Mr. Colin Song. Although his progress is not as rapid as everyone had hoped, Mr Song has now changed his original plan and will be skin grafting Viktor sooner to stabilize him. Viktor is now talking more freely and eating and drinking alongside his special feeds.

Derek is now in New Zealand to recruit teams of medical volunteers to man our proposed mobile clinics for the Nias Island , Meulaboh and Banda Aceh. Taking the condition of the victims of Tsunami and the relief work that is being offered by the relief organisations, we feel that the best way to meet their needs is to bring medical help to where they are. Even though the capital and operating costs are high, we consider this to be the most effective method of helping the victims, bringing medical attention to them. Towards this end, we have formed a division within our legal entity called INTERNATIONAL CRISIS MISSION. We will share more with you when we have finalised the budget for this program. We are also awaiting news from several foundations who have expressed interest to contribute towards the acquisition costs of these vehicles.

Once again, on behalf of ICM, I thank you for your prayers and financial support. Let me share with you a hymn written by Charles Swindoll and sung to the tune of "Home on the Range"

O give me a church where folks are in lurch
Are encouraged and healed from above;
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the truth is modeled in love.  

Every blessing
Khoo Hin Hiong
Founder/President
International Christian Mission