Tuesday, December 20, 2011

defining devistation

We've seen the news, read the blogs, maybe even browsed through glossy photos in a magazine. But if you're like me, you never really gave too much thought to what it means to experience a typhoon or mudslide or flooding -perhaps because it's hard to understand what really happens during these types of storms.

For those of you who have had your basement flooded, imagine all the water as mud. Now, imagine that this mudslide happened in the middle of the night so you were sleeping and only wearing pajamas. When you go to turn on your light switch, you realize there is no power. Add to that, you are unable to access water - and you are told that it may be 31 days until your neighborhood gets their water turned back on.

Since your food has spoiled (fridge can't stay cold without power) you decide to run to the store - only your neighborhood stores were also wiped out so there are no groceries to be found. Oh and by the way, your vehicle has been swept away so forget driving to the next town over. How do you clean without running water? Where do you even start?


I had my camera in hand and was prepared to take photos during the 2 days we spent in Cagayan - so I could "share the experience" with all of you. But as soon as we arrived, I was so overwhelmed. I could post 100 pictures for you to view, but it could not display for you the magnitude of this disaster, nor the stench, the dust, the look of shock and fear on so many hundreds of faces.

We (staff and kids/clients) jumped in the car Monday morning and made the 5 hour drive to Cagayan. We loaded the vans with water, rice and boxes of non-perishable items to hand out. We had no idea what to expect but it was a unanimous decision to get there and "do something". We split into 2 teams and dropped half the group off at a place called Nehemiah house (shelter for abused girls). They spent all day cleaning (well, shoveling out mud since there was no water).
I went with a group to drive to various neighborhoods and serve hot food (rice/chix porridge). Yesterday, we sorted through donations and made up bags filled with items of clothing and food items and bags of rices. It was not wise to just show up in your van, open the trunk and start handing things out - we would have been mobbed (especially when they saw me, "the foreigner").

We made up 200 tickets and spent an hour walking to homes - or what was left of them - and handed each family a ticket and told them to go to the red and black vans to receive food and clothing. EVERYONE said "thank you" and I was almost embarassed to say "your welcome". After all, I was only handing them a few articles of clothing and a small bag of food items. However, it had been 2 days since the storm hit and at that point they were desperate and so thankful to see relief coming - in any form.

I know it's so cliche and everyone is posting things now about "the true meaning of christmas" and even considering handing out fewer presents this year to help others in need. But as I stood in the midst of this devistation and looked around, I only wished I had more to hand out. All I could do is say "your welcome" and assure them that they have not been forgotten, that (more)help is coming and people are praying for them.

If you want to know more, feel free to email or skype with me. In the meantime, take the minute(s) you're reading this posting and remember how very fortunate we all really are. As for me, I'm still processing...

4 comments:

  1. I've been praying for you since I heard about the floods and didn't know what part of the Philippines you were in. I am happy to hear that you are safe and can't even imagine the images you are processing.
    Jody

    ReplyDelete
  2. oh wow.. so glad you are there to help these sweet people. I know you are bringing a smile to them as they are in the midst of pain. Just prayed for you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow...and Jesus said, when I was hungry, did you feed me? Thirsty and give me drink? In my prayers, all of you, this morning...

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm loving following your blog. Have a Merry Christmas.

    ReplyDelete