A flooded playground in Bangkok
(Photo: © Robinsons/CMS)As residents of Bangkok awaited potential inundation on Friday, CMS mission partners Gillian and John Robinson and their family joined thousands of others on the roads out of the city.
The government had issued a recommendation that residents leave the city if possible.
In the event, Bangkok escaped the worst that could have happened, as a high tide met flood waters flowing south from the plains.
However, since July the floods have killed more than 370 people.
"The current flood crisis in Thailand seems to pan out in slow motion, said the Rev Yee Ching Wah, Dean of Thailand, on 27 October. The north of Bangkok had been on alert for three weeks.
"Many members have moved away from Bangkok," said the dean. "We have prepared Christ Church Ban Chang as a temporary shelter for Bangkok members who have not found a shelter yet.
"Two church vans are on stand by to take members on the two-hour journey to Ban Chang. "
The Robinson family
(Photo: © Robinsons/CMS)
The Robinson family, who are involved in prison ministry and a new outreach centre called Place of Grace, followed the government advice and headed to a Christian guest house on the coast.
One report suggested more than a million people had fled the city. The Robinsons certainly experienced huge traffic jams on the highway.
Although the Robinsons would have been safe in their home as they live in a four story house, there was no drinking water available for purchase and boiling water is also inadvisable.
Many supermarkets were already empty of basic provisions and there was a strong possibility of loss of electricity and phone signals.
Dean Yee Ching Wah said "Teams of four to five each will be formed, to visit churches that are totally inundated by the flood in places like Ayutthaya, in order to carry out restoration work after water has subsided. This includes helping to lead and preach in these churches during the first few Sundays, prepare a cooked meal for the members, distribute clothing and dry food."
Teams will also visit church members to help clean and restore homes.
Please pray for the Robinson family as well as the people of Bangkok and affected areas, as well as the government authorities as they handle the crisis.
Pray too for Christ Church Bangkok which was reinforced with sandbags and is serving a shelter for local people affected by the floods.
Pray too for the Dean Yee Ching Wah and the Rev Peter Cook, a Crosslinks mission partner, who is vicar of Christ Church Bangkok. Pray also for Prison Fellowship with whom John Robinson is working.