Second Quake Adds Urgency to Indy-based Group's Nepal Trip

A representative from Indianapolis-based ServLife, a church organization that works with communities in Nepal, is on his way to Kathmandu to help with relief efforts. On Monday night, the board of ServLife voted to send assistant director Tim Kurth to Nepal to help in the aftermath of the April 25 earthquake that left more than 8,000 people dead.

Kurth booked his ticket Monday night, then woke Tuesday morning to news that a 7.3 magnitude earthquake had struck the country, killing at least 40 people and injuring at least 1,100 others – including one of the 70 pastors who works with his organization.

"I was just in Kathmandu two months ago for pastor’s conferences. These pastors we're now trying to reach hiked out of villages and spent as much as two weeks to get to a three-day conference, even in the best of circumstances, if that gives you any indication of how difficult it will be to get to them once we get over there," Kurth said.

He said his agency expects to spend about $2 million to provide immediate relief to ServLife’s churches and communities. The group is accepting donations through its ServLife Disaster Relief Fund. Kurth said he also plans to post photographs and updates on the organization's website.