Help Kim & Annie Rebuild
Financial needs after a devastating earthquake
"...crying out to the Lord to save us."
On September 11, 2022, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit Papua New Guinea (PNG). The epicenter was located approximately 30 miles from our organization’s center. PNG is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, and Kim & Annie have experienced many earthquakes during their years living there, but this was by far the most violent and long-lasting.
Kim was out in Malasiga village on the coast, where he experienced the biggest quake he’d ever felt. But it was not nearly as drastic as what we had here in the mountains where Annie was. The earthquake lasted at least 45-60 seconds, which is very long!
Annie specifically has had a difficult time beginning to recover from the trauma of this event.
“It started very powerfully from the beginning, so within 3-4 seconds, I was trying to make my way to the door to get out of the house. It was difficult to put the key into the deadbolt and get the door open. I ran outside, but the shaking threw me to the ground almost immediately, and I was unable to get back up. I lay in the driveway, crying out to the Lord to save us. The earth was shaking violently like you can’t imagine. The noise was horrendous, both the ground itself and the sound of my house shaking. I feared it would fall down.”
Thankfully, Kim & Annie did not sustain any physical injuries. But for Annie, part of the trauma was experiencing it alone.
Kim & Annie feel exhausted from the cleanup and emotional strain.
$11,000 needed by the end of 2022
Kim & Annie operate out of two places on the island: their “town” house and their “village” house. The earthquake has damaged not only the physical structures but also critical utilities, such as their water tanks, which are crucial to them having drinkable water.
PNG is a difficult place to live, and these things will be critical for their health and necessary to get back to their work of translating the Bible.
In addition, because of their unique tax situation, it will be important to receive the $11,000 before the end of the year. If it’s received after 2022, the costs will go up.
Donate Today
Click the link below to give toward the rebuilding needs of Kim & Annie, or, to become ongoing financial partners.
Who are Kim & Annie Colich?
Kim & Annie Colich are Grace Fellowship Church’s longest cross-cultural partners. Even before Brad Bigney became the pastor in 1995, Grace Fellowship Church supported Kim & Annie Colich as cross-cultural workers.
Kim & Annie are with Wycliffe Bible Translators and have been working in Papua New Guinea to translate the Bible into the native Tami (Tom-mee) language since 1991.
To date, they have translated significant portions of the Bible into the Tami language.
