BY LAURA CHEN DAVIES, a copy editor for the Detroit Free Press and a member of the South Flint, Michigan, Adventist Church
wo couples from Michigan and California recently joined ADRA's tsunami relief effort in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Dr. Jeff Davies and his wife, Laura Chen, both of Michigan's Detroit area, and Dr. Craig Chaya and his wife, Michelle, a nurse, of Culver City, California, traveled for 46 hours to reach Medan, Indonesia, where they met with 14 others from Sumatra, Indonesia's, Bandar Lampung Adventist Hospital. The team tended to more than 3,000 patients during its seven days in Aceh. The following are excerpts from Laura's journal.
December 31, 2004
We have decided to travel to Indonesia to help with the tsunami relief effort. It's amazing how everything for the trip has come together in just 48 hours.
I've always wondered what the voice of the Holy Spirit sounds like. I don't have to wonder anymore, because I heard it the other day. Jeff and I both felt called to help.
We leave Detroit tomorrow. We'll fly into Los Angeles, where we'll meet up with Craig and Michelle. From there, the four of us will fly to Tokyo, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and finally Medan, Indonesia. We'll meet with the rest of the group in Medan and then drive the rest of the way to Aceh.
I told Jeff that I feel slightly like Jonah on his trip to Nineveh. This isn't a tropical vacation; this is a disaster zone. We are afraid of what we're about to face, but we are going willingly-so hopefully there will be no whales involved.
January 5, 2005
WHAT DID HE SAY? Sinar Simbolon (center) of Bandra Lampung translates for Dr. Jeff Davies (right) of Michigan and 4-month-old Mutiarra's father, who seeks help from the ADRA medical clinic. [Photo credit: Laura Chen Davies] |
We arrived in Medan yesterday and were greeted by Medan Adventist Hospital president Dr. Reuben Supit, who is heading the ADRA effort in Indonesia. The rest of the team from Indonesia arrived from Bandar Lampung Adventist Hospital today.
The group now consists of four doctors, 10 nurses, two medical technicians, a pastor, and me. ADRA has provided a truckload of supplies, including medicines, food, and water. Tonight we make the 14-hour bus journey to Banda Aceh.
January 6
God has been so good to us. Since the moment we began planning for this trip, we've faced many obstacles that have been miraculously solved.
Just getting here was a miracle. On the drive from Medan, our bus was stopped at a military checkpoint. A soldier told the driver he wanted everyone to get out and go through a search. The bus driver told them, "They're all sleeping, and I don't want to wake them up." So the soldier let us through, which is just amazing.
When we arrived in Aceh, we were devastated to learn that the tents ADRA had provided were not in the truck. Thankfully, some Indonesian soldiers came and set up canopies outside our clinic so we will be protected from the baking sun in the morning and the pouring rain in the afternoon.
January 7
Word that we are here has spread. People began lining up for treatment at about 8:00 a.m. Many are tsunami survivors. They are people with infections, wounds, gastric problems, and respiratory ailments.
We set up a check-in area, doctor's offices (which are actually just two chairs facing each other), and a pharmacy (a bookshelf with medicines on it). This is all out on the street, of course.
We have seen a 13-year-old boy with a gash on his leg that goes all the way down to the bone. We've seen a 19-year-old man with a gash that goes from his left shoulder all the way to his right scapula. We've seen a 56-year-old man whose toe is almost completely severed and has no feeling in it whatsoever.
With what little we have, I am wondering how these people are supposed to get better.
January 8
MEETING THE PEOPLE: Michelle Chaya of California greets an Indonesian child at a survivor camp in Banda Aceh. [Photo credit: Craig Chaya] |
Right before lunch, a man brought his 4-month-old baby to us. She was severely dehydrated and malnourished. The father said his wife and two sons-the baby's mother and brothers-died in the tsunami. Since then, he has had no milk for the baby, so he has been giving her water. Jeff started the baby on an IV and began giving her antibiotics. Michelle and I mashed up a banana we hope the father can feed to her. She's very sick.
Many of the wound patients from yesterday came back so the doctors could repack their wounds. Despite the enormous amount of pain they're in, they still smile and say "thank you." I'm in awe of how strong and brave they are.
January 10
A 77-year-old woman came to see us and told us she has lost both her children and about 100 other relatives in the tsunami. She said, "I have no more tears." My heart swells with grief for them. Each has a terrible story, usually involving the loss of not one or two loved ones, but dozens or hundreds.
Later in the day, a 20-year-old man came and saw Jeff. He said, "I can't tell you how thankful I am that you are here. That so many people have come from all over the world to help Indonesia. I don't know the words I can use to say 'thank you.' " He had tears in his eyes. I think Jeff did, too.
January 11
Today we went into downtown Banda Aceh to see the major wreckage. I couldn't believe it when I saw all the miles and miles of destruction. It stretches as far as the eye can see-and then keeps going. How in the world can they possibly rebuild all this? Dump trucks are carrying away debris, but where do they put it?
We saw people picking through the rubble, looking for something to salvage. I can't believe that there is anything worth salvaging in the mess out there. But these people have so little that everything, no matter how damaged or spoiled, has some value.
Craig commented on how resilient the people are. He was expecting them to be depressed and inconsolable, but was surprised to find them smiling and so appreciative of our help. They don't complain or whine. They just keep fighting, and their determination and perseverance are so admirable. I will be ashamed of myself if I ever complain about my life again.
January 12
CAMPSITE: The survivor camp, set up at a mosque down the street from the ADRA medical clinic, housed hundreds of people in crowded, flooded tents. [Photo credit: Craig Chaya] |
We are leaving tomorrow. Thankfully, ADRA is sending another medical team to replace us. But I'm worried about the people who survived the tsunami-worried about whether they will receive the medical treatment they need from the new team.
They are living in tents that become flooded when it rains-which is daily. They have no soap for their clothes or bodies. Many don't own a single pair of shoes. How can we leave and feel that we have done enough?
January 13
In the afternoon, we took all the candy, clothes, and vitamins to the survivor camp down the road. The kids swarmed around asking for candy, and the adults were grabbing clothes right out of our hands. Everything was gone in less than 10 minutes.
We are now ready to head back to Medan. This is a bittersweet feeling. I am happy to be going home, but I am brokenhearted that we will be leaving our new Adventist friends and also that we will not be able to follow up on the patients we've seen.
There is something special and rare about coming together with other Christians to better the world. I don't know if this experience would have been so positive had we not been traveling with others who share our faith. In spite of the destruction we've seen, we have hope for the future because we know that God will soon put an end to all the suffering and take His children home. We feel privileged to have done His work here.
For more about the group's experience, visit http://www.freep.com/voices/sunday/davies23e_20050123.htm.
