Globe Trot: Grieving among the Easter celebrations

EASTER: From Bosnia to Oklahoma City, celebrating Easter around the world, in photos.

SYRIA: Christians in Homs grieved their losses on Easter.

In Aleppo, a physician who has survived and cared for thousands during three years of war, wrote this to me on Friday:

Regarding our news here for today … is so disastrous and very terrible if not horrible. Since last night and from 5 a.m. early morning, lot of fight and explosions, rockets and shells and bombs. Today morning at 8:30 a.m., 8:35 a.m., and 8:45 a.m., three major explosions by the rebels from the underground which shaked (sic) and shocked whole Aleppo as if an earthquake of 4.8-5.2 Richter.

Till now, and from three directions and axises, the rebels are trying to invade the Christian and Armenian areas and régions. So far, more than 120-130 rockets and mortars been hitting our quadrants.

No one in the streets. No shop is open, or hardly to find some. The army is controlling our areas and not allowing people to move around. No single car moves around as well. Everyone is hidden at his house or office. Everything is standstill. As if you are in a dead city.

[For more than a week] no one is allowed to come in or get out of Aleppo. Nothing in the market to buy. No fruit. No vegetables. Fuel has increased to 6 times today.

Your intercessionary prayers are highly valued and needed. Let us hope and throw all our burdens upon Him who has already taken the main.

NEPAL: Another Sherpa guide has died after Friday's Mount Everest avalanche, bringing the death toll to 13. It is the single deadliest accident on Mount Everest, officials said, as the deadliest single-day toll previously came after an accident in May 1996, when eight climbers died during a storm—their story chronicled in Jon Krakauer's bestselling Into Thin Air.

Surviving sherpas are considering a strike over the tragedy, after the Nepali government’s offer of about $408 as compensation for the families of the dead. A work stoppage could disrupt or cancel the 334 expeditions planned for the 2014 climbing season.

SOUTH KOREA: Churches where the missing are faces, not just names and numbers, are ministering to grieving families of children missing after the Sewol ferry sinking. The confirmed death toll today is 64, with 238 still missing and 174 rescued. About 300 of the passengers were students from Danwon High School.

UKRAINE: In light of Russian aggression, “the forces of global stability, led by the United States, are weakening, and prospects for the predators are rising,” writes former top U.S. diplomat, John Bolton.