Sitting down and writing your thoughts and feelings on life
and situations around you seems simple… until you try to do it. I don’t think I
have the knack for blogs. Sometimes you just don’t feel like you have anything
significant to say. Or at least, that’s how I feel about it.
Each week is a busy one. After a couple of long days in the
office a couple of weeks ago, I finally wrapped some tasks up that had been
keeping me in the office instead of out in the field. With that taken care of
on Tuesday, I spent the rest of the week out with the programs. (This means out
with the people.)
One day, I was out with the shelter team while they were
distributing kits. I've been to shelter kit distributions before, and they are
always bustling with activity and generally exciting. This distribution was
different though, and it really struck a new chord with me. My focus is typically on rebuilding and it is exciting. These families are receiving shelters, and
long awaited supplies at that. I usually think of these distributions as such a
big step forward. But at this distribution, there was an ever present reminder
of devastation.
The distribution took place on a road that had been blocked
off for repair. So, it was a very active area with people and vehicles swirling
around at every turn. In the split of the road there was a little median area.
I had noticed previously that there were graves there. It reminded me of St.
Kitts, an island in the Caribbean where I went on my first international
mission trip. I was young, and it was my first experience out of the United
States. I had never seen a graveyard in the middle of the road before then. So,
when I saw the graves here, I didn't think much of it.
During the distribution, one of our staff commented on the
graves, and I learned that these graves were all people who had died because of
Yolanda.
That hit me.
I walk streets of damage. I see destruction every day. I've gotten used to it. I know there is loss involved. I hear the stories of our staff
who talk about loss and pain. I see the tears shed when they share about their
experiences. A part of working here is learning what to focus on. The Philippine
people have shown an amazing ability to move forward and not be crippled by the
pain and the loss they have suffered. But, while they are not broken by their
experience, they are still affected. There is still emotion and recovery going
on inside of each person, just like there is still recovery going on with
rebuilding homes and livelihoods.
As new people arrive to the Philippines, I hear comments on
how they see so much damage-more evidence of destruction than they were
expecting. In general, the international community has forgotten about the Typhoon. There have been many more disasters and international incidents since November to take attention away form the Philippines. Hearing the reactions of those who are new to Leyte reminds me, just like seeing the distribution by the
graves, of the environment in which I am working. I cannot do my job well if I walk around
emotional all of the time. I also cannot do my job well or take advantage of
opportunities around me if I do not have any emotional connection at all.
My prayer for myself and my team is that while we work hard
to meet physical needs here, we will also stay sensitive to the ways in which
we can also assist in the emotional and Spiritual healing that is taking place
all around us.
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