When the earthquake and tsunami hit South Asia December 26, 2004, many members of the HKBP congregation in Banda Aceh (Indonesia) died and most of the congregation's buildings were destroyed. Of the four buildings in the compound (two homes for church staff, an educational/meeting building, and the sanctuary/worship building) only the sanctuary remained standing; even this building sustained significant structural damage and may need to be replaced or reinforced eventually.

The congregation began worshipping together again in this building in late January (after extensive clean-up that still continues). The congregation has now formed a reconstruction committee to begin assessing what needs to be done and then do it, to rebuild their lives and individuals and as a congregation.

In early March Pastor Paul Harder, member of the I-K Synod's Global Mission Committee, visited Banda Aceh on behalf of the synod. At the invitation of I-K Synod leadership, Pastor Bimen Limbong, a native of Indonesia and former pastor of the HKBP who now serves as a pastor of the ELCA for a congregation in Alaska, accompanied Paul. Pastor Harder brought with him a small financial gift for the congregation. This gift came from a congregation of our synod and was given to the Banda Aceh congregation on behalf of the entire synod as a token of our companionship with the HKBP in their post-tsunami journey toward resurrection.

The following letter of thanks was recently received from the leadership of the congregation in Banda Aceh. (Please keep in mind that the letter was written in English by folks whose primary language is Indonesian and its content has been edited slightly.)

To our Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

May the peace of our God Jesus Christ be with you all.

We, as the Christian Church of HKBP Resort Banda Aceh, really appreciated you all for sending Rev. Paul Harder and Rev. Bimen Limbong to visit us; they enjoyed Sunday Service with us and encouraged us to face the suffering after the Tsunami tragedy. Also we would like to thank you for the donation that you gave to us by Rev. Paul Harder from our sisters and brothers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
May God bless you, our sisters and brothers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, so that all of you can be the salt and the light of the world as our Christ Jesus asked us to be.
Finally, we would like to close our letter with the Word of God which is written in Galatians 6:2: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

Sincerely love, on behalf of our sisters and brothers at HKBP Banda Aceh,

Elder Mangapul Tambunan
Elder Oslen Rajagukguk
Pastor Elisa Tambunan

(Note: "Elders" are similar to church council leaders. Pastor Elisa Tambunan is the pastor about whom it was reported shortly after the tsunami that his entire family of 15 had died while he was away on educational leave. He is a member of the congregation, but not its called pastor; he has taken a break from his educational leave to remain in Banda Aceh for a time to assist with reconstruction.)