What can I tell you about tsunami?
Dear Everyone,
I apologize for the long absence since I last wrote. Life goes forward here, but electrical shortages, email dispensing and difficulty putting my experiences on paper make for tedious times. I owe you an update now. I sit hugging a frozen bottle of water that I prepared for the occasion as the sweltering heat makes life here excruciatingly uncomfortable at times.
What can I tell you about tsunami? I'm told news coverage about this "biblical" event ended about three weeks after it occurred to make way for more interesting stories. Being here is news
worthy for me. However, it is impossible to qualify and quantify what simply cannot be described in any way. Perhaps, this is why journalists and photographers have lost interest in covering the event. Bodies more bodies and bodies are already redundant. Seen that, done that.
Next. Empty desert looking terrain is now commonplace. The barren look seems to have replaced the previous lush landscape that has now become obsolete. The once-upon-a-time lives that were once there aren't now and anyone new to the area without a frame of reference would see nothing out of the ordinary. So, what is newsworthy?
Seeing the international community organize itself to help these people is something inspiring for me. Different groups are responsible for different pieces of the puzzle and while the full picture isn't clear yet, slowly and steadily some sort of picture is emerging.
Being able to serve is the greatest joy I have in my life. I have a traveling suitcase of tools that
was entrusted to me when I went into medicine and hold it dearly. What can you offer? What skills do you have, what prayers can you offer, what blessings can you send? Try it. It feels ecstatic.
Last week, I bought a lot of art supplies and went to a camp and watched the children have fun. They weren't used to painting with their fingers, but they quickly learned this technique and enjoyed. Unanimously, they all seemed to draw images of the tsunami. The big wave with hundreds of bodies strewn about the water was the image most often drawn. What did they see and how did it affect them?
I apologize for the long absence since I last wrote. Life goes forward here, but electrical shortages, email dispensing and difficulty putting my experiences on paper make for tedious times. I owe you an update now. I sit hugging a frozen bottle of water that I prepared for the occasion as the sweltering heat makes life here excruciatingly uncomfortable at times.
What can I tell you about tsunami? I'm told news coverage about this "biblical" event ended about three weeks after it occurred to make way for more interesting stories. Being here is news
worthy for me. However, it is impossible to qualify and quantify what simply cannot be described in any way. Perhaps, this is why journalists and photographers have lost interest in covering the event. Bodies more bodies and bodies are already redundant. Seen that, done that.
Next. Empty desert looking terrain is now commonplace. The barren look seems to have replaced the previous lush landscape that has now become obsolete. The once-upon-a-time lives that were once there aren't now and anyone new to the area without a frame of reference would see nothing out of the ordinary. So, what is newsworthy?
Seeing the international community organize itself to help these people is something inspiring for me. Different groups are responsible for different pieces of the puzzle and while the full picture isn't clear yet, slowly and steadily some sort of picture is emerging.
Being able to serve is the greatest joy I have in my life. I have a traveling suitcase of tools that
was entrusted to me when I went into medicine and hold it dearly. What can you offer? What skills do you have, what prayers can you offer, what blessings can you send? Try it. It feels ecstatic.
Last week, I bought a lot of art supplies and went to a camp and watched the children have fun. They weren't used to painting with their fingers, but they quickly learned this technique and enjoyed. Unanimously, they all seemed to draw images of the tsunami. The big wave with hundreds of bodies strewn about the water was the image most often drawn. What did they see and how did it affect them?
I am helping an orphanage recover from the tsunami. I wanted to buy them more mattresses so that each child has his/her own bed, but they prefer to sleep together because they fear another tsunami will come. I must add that their fear is not unfounded. It is possible, indeed. There are many tremors here each week and some strong enough to race the heart right out of one's chest, especially when the windows start creaking. Tsuanmi again? Why not? It's happened several times over the past 100 years in this area. So, they prefer the company of their friends tightly nestled together. Maybe I'll get the children shoes to replace the ones washed away by the wave? There are unlimited possibilities for assistance. I'm considering purcharing a sewing machine and computer for the orphanage to give the children a sustainable living when they become of adult and leave the nest. Actually, not all the children are orphans as some have mothers. Often times, the father dies and leaves the mother destitute, forced to surrender her children to others to feed and educate.
Anyway, this is my life in Banda Aceh. If you wish to write me, please do so. Your company is good for me. I'll be here another 5 weeks and it would be nice to hear from you!!!
All good things,
Dr Cary
1 Comments:
Dear Cary,
It is amazing to learn about the things you have done for the people of Aceh. Though I was just there for 2 weeks(we met at Nirmala), I could feel their misery , though I must admit that I could not even begin to understand what they have been through after the tsunami as I have never been dealt with such tremendous loss before.
It has been a satisfying and enjoyable experience working with you. Keep up the good work and God bless!!
Dr Wei Seng, Law
Singapore
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