Religion

By PATRICK BUTLER
Religion Editor

Two missionaries from Tyler with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) were in Myanmar, formerly Burma, when a cyclone hit the country two weeks ago. Grover and Carol Loughmiller had been in the country for about a month, teaching an English as a Second Language course, said their daughter Lark Montgomery.

“There is no mail and phones are difficult,” said Mrs. Montgomery last week. “E-mail through Internet cafes is the best way to communicate, though even that has to be done delicately. No criticism of the government is allowed.”

Her parents were unharmed by the cyclone that The Associated Press reports killed nearly 78,000 people. Another 56,000 remain missing.

“Dad said power is out everywhere; roofs blew off homes that were not flattened; and now cholera and dysentery is the main fear. There are so many bodies in the water and wells, that water purification equipment is in high demand.”

But getting aid to Myanmar is difficult. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon warned unless the military government of Myanmar allows more aid into the county, the death toll will rise.

Jason Holmes, U.N. Undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, will go to the country Sunday in an attempt to convince junta leaders to grant more access to U.N. relief workers and massively scale up efforts, the AP reported Friday. Lack of clean water will be “the biggest killer” in coming days, said the head of operations for the International Red Cross Thomas Gurtner.

The Loughmillers’ apartment was not harmed by the cyclone, said Mrs. Montgomery.

“My parents are not suffering, except in heart,” she said. “For my mother to see hungry children and not be able to give them what they need is hard for her. It would be hard for anyone to see.”

GROVER, CAROL LOUGHMILLER
()