Upon arriving in any villager's home, one of the first experiences is the demonstration of the waterline on the walls where the tsunami flooded their home. This is for homes that are standing, as many of the two-room block houses have been knocked down and the thatched huts washed away. Some of the huts have been rebuilt and some families are simply living under tarps on the site of their destroyed home. In Dhamu's village, Srinivasapurum, the villagers remain.
Another village we visited, Muttukadu, has been relocated to a "tent village" away from the threat of another tsunami. The devastation is beyond comprehension.
Besides fish, which is now unavailable, the staple food for them is rice. They have been given rice from their government, but we have been told that it is not good for them and hurts their stomachs. In the other village the rice was spoiled by sand and is causing other problems for them. We have already undertaken a campaign to provide more rice. Yesterday we purchased eight 25kg bags of good rice and delivered it to some of the villagers we have been providing treatments to, knowing that food is one of the most critical first medicines. Mitta has sent out a plea for more money to buy rice. We know that ultimately truckloads of rice are needed, but we are doing what we can to comfort those suffering with some good food.
When we visited the other village we were also asked to help provide school slates for the young school children. We have purchase some for this village and will deliver them today along with spinning tops for the boys and jump ropes for the girls. Play, too, is a critical need to alleviate suffering and I have already donned my red nose to entertain some of the children and plan to do more.
We have been meeting with various individuals to help reduce their physical and emotional suffering. We have developed a method whereby we give massage and hands-on treatments as Dhamu interprets our instructions for relaxation, calm, comfort, release of sorrow and visualization for strength and hope. Dhamu has also assembled a team of friends who facilitate the work and all of them are learning our methods. Yesterday we stepped into a courtyard to provide treatment for a gentleman and a woman. We set up two chairs and Mitta and I began our work as Dhamu guided each in turn through our instructions. Soon other villagers arrived and we found ourselves conducting a full-blown clinic long into the darkness of night. We lost track of how many treatments we provided and sadly had to turn some away with the promise that we would return to offer more help. The high point of the clinic day was when some of the villagers, having observed our method, stepped in to give instruction in their language as we worked. We soon had not only clients, but several assistants. In a spontaneous moment I saw my vision for this mission unfold.
Today we will embark on a four-day journey down the coast to conduct the same services at six other villages. We are encouraged by our success yesterday and have seen a model in action that we can now implement in these other sites. This "project" was the idea of Dhamodharan, who has impressed me beyond belief at his compassion, insight and foresight.
Please continue to keep me, Mitta, Dhamu and our team, as well as all of the people here affected in your prayers. Pray for our safety and success in this journey. I will give another report upon my return, as well as photos when I can access the technology here to post. Thank you for your support. Each day I am strengthened by the knowledge of all those whose hearts are behind this effort.
Vanakam Nanthree (God Bless you and thank you in Tamil)
Timothy
Report #2
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