May 10, 2008 1:02 pm US/Eastern
Rising Sun Members Lift Their Voices For Myanmar
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
More rain is on the way to cyclone-ravaged Myanmar, but so is more aid, and Marylanders are eager to help.
Dennis Edwards reports almost two million people are in need of food, shelter and medication.
A Baltimore County church choir sang to raise money for victims of Cyclone Nargis Friday night while the world tries to find a way to deliver help.
They lifted their voices in power and praise on Joy Night singing songs of faith to help raise money for more than 100,000 victims of a devastating cyclone in Myanmar.
In one selection, the youth choir of Rising Sun First Baptist Church was led by 15-year-old Jade Wills.
"Hopefully build new houses, new schools for kids, food. Help kids that are over there," said one teen.
The children and teens are hoping to lend a hand to their counterparts in a country once known as Burma. Hard line military leaders are frustrating the world community by refusing U.S. cargo shipments and confiscating a plane carrying 38 tons of emergency relief supplies.
Rising Sun's pastor the Reverend Emmitt Burns hopes his church can avoid the political obstacles by contributing to the Baptist World Alliance.
"The Baptist World Alliance doesn't represent the government, it represents Christian organizations. So I suspect these kinds of organizations will get in before the government does," said Burns.
Volunteers are standing by ready to go to Myanmar at a moment's notice, but many of them haven't gotten their vaccinations because they can't get in.
Fran Lessans runs Passport Health is a company that specializes in vaccinating international travelers, including relief and medical personnel who so far aren't able to go to Myanmar.
"People are calling already. People are asking what they need. I've already made phone calls to try and get some oral rehydration because cholera is already bad," said Lessans.
But those people and supplies are on hold until help is allowed. Members of Rising Sun First Baptist are urging other churches to follow their lead praying for and raising money for cyclone victims.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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