Family Tragedy
Blog 2/20
The tsunami damage to Banda Aceh buildings, streets, bridges and infrastructure is immeasurable. More tragic however, is the irreplaceable loss and wounds in people’s lives. Dede (25) and Apit (18) are two such people. They work at the Indonesian house we live in as helpers, cooking, cleaning, washing and guarding the house.
On the morning of the 12/26, Dede was taken to work on the back of her dad’s brand new motorcycle and dropped off. Before entering the three story department store, the 4th largest earthquake ever recorded struck with viscous force cracking most of the concrete and steel structure. Fortunately, the structure did not collapse and she stayed outside.
Dede’s dad, already home, drove to check on the condition of several relatives and seeing they were okay, returned home. Living with Dede’s mom and dad were her brother Apit, her sister and brother-in-law and their two children age 1 and 3. Twenty minutes after the earthquake the ocean water started coming toward their house and they all started to run toward the Mosque. The dad didn’t want to leave and Apit grabbed him and tried to pull him away. Suddenly a large wave broke over the house and Apit lost grip of his dad and was tumbled and tossed in what he described as black water. Apit was repeatedly pulled under water and his swimming was overpowered by the violent gush. A floating board came by and he held on for his life and was carried some distance inland before coming to rest, and alive. Sadly, the father was swept to his death and his body was not found for days.
Dede’s mom, sister, and her sister’s children were also swept into eternity and never found. The brother-in-law, having lost grip of his child, was hauled away by the tumbling current. He managed to grasp the timber of a roof and held on, saving his life.
Dede and Apit lost their home, their mom and dad, and their sister and two nephews. Dede’s store is closed for an indefinite time and is out of work. We feel privileged to provide them both work and income as they pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. This story is repeated thousands of times over for the traumatized Banda Aceh people and I trust that the very small contribution God has allowed me to make will help.
(Apit's shirt name is a musical group.)
The tsunami damage to Banda Aceh buildings, streets, bridges and infrastructure is immeasurable. More tragic however, is the irreplaceable loss and wounds in people’s lives. Dede (25) and Apit (18) are two such people. They work at the Indonesian house we live in as helpers, cooking, cleaning, washing and guarding the house.
On the morning of the 12/26, Dede was taken to work on the back of her dad’s brand new motorcycle and dropped off. Before entering the three story department store, the 4th largest earthquake ever recorded struck with viscous force cracking most of the concrete and steel structure. Fortunately, the structure did not collapse and she stayed outside.
Dede’s dad, already home, drove to check on the condition of several relatives and seeing they were okay, returned home. Living with Dede’s mom and dad were her brother Apit, her sister and brother-in-law and their two children age 1 and 3. Twenty minutes after the earthquake the ocean water started coming toward their house and they all started to run toward the Mosque. The dad didn’t want to leave and Apit grabbed him and tried to pull him away. Suddenly a large wave broke over the house and Apit lost grip of his dad and was tumbled and tossed in what he described as black water. Apit was repeatedly pulled under water and his swimming was overpowered by the violent gush. A floating board came by and he held on for his life and was carried some distance inland before coming to rest, and alive. Sadly, the father was swept to his death and his body was not found for days.
Dede’s mom, sister, and her sister’s children were also swept into eternity and never found. The brother-in-law, having lost grip of his child, was hauled away by the tumbling current. He managed to grasp the timber of a roof and held on, saving his life.
Dede and Apit lost their home, their mom and dad, and their sister and two nephews. Dede’s store is closed for an indefinite time and is out of work. We feel privileged to provide them both work and income as they pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. This story is repeated thousands of times over for the traumatized Banda Aceh people and I trust that the very small contribution God has allowed me to make will help.
(Apit's shirt name is a musical group.)
posted by Dave Ketcham at 7:47 PM
1 Comments:
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