More Earthquake Thoughts

Its been a couple of weeks since the earthquake in our neighboring province, and while the return to somewhat-normalcy has been nice, the disaster is still very much present in our hearts and minds. While I still feel overwhelmed when I think of the suffering and the enormity of the issues in the quake zone, this past week or so has also brought with it some really amazingly encouraging stories.

Last Sunday at the International Fellowship that David and I attend here in our city (its legal so I can write about it), a doctor shared about the time he and a team of doctors spent working in a camp of survivors near the epicenter. He said that since they arrived 5 days after the quake, most of the serious injuries had already been treated, so the work they spent the most time doing was simply dressing minor wounds and such things. However, they found the work to be incredibly meaningful for 2 reasons--they were so glad to be able to give some rest to the military doctors who had been working at this location for literally 5 days straight without a break. They said it meant a lot to them to be working side by side with these doctors with a common goal (this doesn't often happen here--foreigners and the military being on the same side).

The other reason actually involves very non-medical work they ended up doing. Something I have heard from several sources working up there is that one of the major needs is for volunteers to go to these camps of survivors and organize games and activities to entertain the children. This doctor said after the first day when they noticed dozens of kids just wandering around aimlessly, some of the doctors decided to put together a little arts and crafts center for the kids. By the end of their time there, they had 40 or so kids coming daily to spend the day coloring or making crafts, as well as smiling and laughing. The laughter of these kids soon spread to the adults around them, and it felt like hope and encouragement was returning to this camp!

Another friend who is very actively involved in the relief efforts said this in a recent email:

"If you were asked to guess the earthquake survivors’ two most sought-after items, would you say water and medical supplies? Food and blankets?

Would you believe…tents and soccer balls?? Several teams would attest from their experience that the need for fun and laughter is as great as basic survival needs.

One group of athletic minded college guys were inspired to bring a bunch of sports equipment so the refugee camp’s children could have the chance to feel like kids again. Imagine their surprise when the adults gathered around and their faces lit up at the sound of lighthearted laughter at play!

Another surprise was how their games somehow freed the children up to share their traumatic experiences that up until that time they hadn’t shared with anyone else. Lin had been in the camp with the other children for at least a week before the roving soccer camp arrived. As a result of this “soccer therapy” she was able to reveal that she had lost a sister in the earthquake, something she had not told anyone before that.

It is evidence that the necessities of the soul such as connecting with others and the promise of tomorrow - as seen in the laughter of children - can help soften the blow of losing loved ones, homes and material possessions. It serves as a reminder that life will indeed hold something to look forward to again, as long as there are children and soccer balls."

These two separate stories really encouraged and humbled me. In my pride, I often think that if God will use me, it will be through some really big, really significant thing. But it was really good to be reminded that doctors can find significance in acting like camp counselors, and that sometimes the most important thing you could do in a given day is organize a game of soccer.

Back to Blogging

Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't posted many things these past few weeks. First it was simply busyness, and recently with the earthquake and all, it's simply been due to weariness and really being unsure what to write. Its been kind of a heavy time, but God is really good. David and I have had many meaningful and significant conversations with people this past week about God's comfort in the midst of suffering, and those very truths have been what has brought me strength and hope as well.

This afternoon a friend sat in my living room and shared how his parent's and grandparent's and relative's homes had all been destroyed, tears running down his face as he spoke. Thankfully, his family had all survived the earthquake unharmed, but he worried that since his family doesn't live in one of the 4 counties nearest the epicenter of the quake, he is not sure much aid will arrive to his hometown. He said currently his family members do not even have tents to sleep in at night, but sleep in the open. It was heartbreaking to hear about, but this friend's family's situation is ten times better than so many who lost relatives in the earthquake! So we do our best to mourn with the brothers and sisters who are mourning around us.

On the other hand, it has been so encouraging to hear about how people nearer the quake zone are really pulling together to do everything they can to help! Some good friends of ours, Josh and Danielle (read more on their blog here) traveled to the area of the quake, and they said they were amazed not only by the destruction they saw, but by the thousands of people driving their personal cars full of food and supplies up into the mountains to help the victims of the quake. As outsiders to the culture I live in, it is often a temptation to judge my surrounding culture and feel superior, and I admit I have done this in the past, saying to myself, "At least Americans are compassionate, unlike these people . . ." But I am moved and humbled by all I have heard over the past week. And inspired to do as much as I can with the limited resources and time I have.

So, yeah, a roller coaster of emotions. But God is so good in the midst, and I know that he not only has plans to use David and I in this situation, but also to grow our faith and reliance on him. So I am thankful.

In any case, I will try to do better on updating my blog. Oh, and you should congratulate me on my first serious post! And let me know what you think of the new background and layout and all. God bless!

Earthquake Update

Hi Everyone! Just wanted to let you know David and I are fine and were completely unaffected by the earthquake yesterday afternoon. The epicenter is a few hundred miles north of us. Some of my friends said they felt it yesterday afternoon, but neither David nor I nor several other folks we know felt anything. We had to learn about it from news on the internet! It seems most of the people who were killed or injured lived in poorer, rural areas where the buildings were shoddily constructed and collapsed. There is absolutely no damage where we are, but in a city nearer to the epicenter where several of our friends live we hear there are power and water outages. So we ask your prayers in particular for the villages nearer to the epicenter where people were most affected. Also, pray for us as we try to explain to friends how our loving Father can allow natural disasters such as this and the hurricane in Myanmar to happen. Thanks so much!

My Current Hero

My friend April Klaussen is my current hero. Why? Well, I checked out her blog this morning, and it turns out she is trying something new every week in 2008. Her latest blog is about how she tried a trapeze class while she was in New York recently. Basically, if you know anything about me, you know that I am adventurous, but ONLY at things I have a pretty good idea I will be good at ahead of time--athletic things, or anything else I have a good chance at failing at, I DO NOT DO. I like success, and I am nearly paralyzed by a fear of failure and/or embarassing myself. So, keep that in mind and check out my friend April's blog--she might just be your current hero too!

Tang Dynasty Glamour Shots

In August last year, I received 2 gift certificate to a local photography studio specializing in Tang Dynasty Glamour Shots. Oh yes. We're talking ancient Asian style hair and dress (about 1000 A.D.) and a makeover. Who could resist? So, finally last week I went to have them done. (For some examples of Tang Dynasty costumes, go here.)
I really never thought it would me more than just a fun, funny experience, but when I arrived to the studio, I was impressed by how fancy the decor was (red velvet curtains, and red and gold carpets, etc.) Above you can see the selection of dresses you can choose to have your picture taken in.
Above shows a case of jewelry you can choose to wear to compliment your costume.
These are the makeup stations where you receive your makeover. The package I chose included 2 outfits, 2 makeovers (they re-do your hair for each outfit) and 2 photo sessions. The most interesting part by far for me was the hair! In the first set of pictures, I chose a pink and purple dress that was very soft and feminine. For my hair, the stylist used 4 different hair pieces to create a very elaborate hairstyle, which was topped off by two chopsticks with sparkly things dangling from them, 8 bobby pins with glittery butterflies, and a gigantic pink flower. When we were taking the photos, I kept having to take breaks because my head weighed so much that my neck would get tired. In the 2nd set of photos, I chose a regal gold dress with red trim, so they decided to do me up like an empress. This time I had 6 different hairpieces, a golden crown, a large red flower, 8 gold butterfly bobby pins, and a set of dangly gold earrings hanging from my hair! The whole thing took around 4 1/2 hours, and I was completely exhausted by the end, although I must say it was an amazingly fun experience. I should get the photos back soon, and I will definitely post them here for all to see!

This might prove advertising really is evil.

At first I thought this might simply be an image that people in the culture I live in might find cute or appealing (I have reasons for this--a recent heard of small children I saw running around with red, light-up devil horn head-bands on), but my teacher explained what the advertisement meant and cleared things up. She said this is actually available ad space--a billboard which is currently unrented. The sign says something like, "You can sell anything here, you can even sell your soul." Clever, but slightly disturbing . . .

Driving Distraction?

A couple of weeks ago, David and I went to a nearby, wealthier city for the weekend. Many of their "modern" taxi cabs include this:

The reason is that the little TV runs advertisements aimed at the passengers in the cabs, and the drivers recieve money for installing them in their cabs. But is this a valid way for drivers to supplement their income, or just a safety concern? I have seen drivers play movies on these things, and "listen" to them as they drive. Maybe its just me, but seems like a bad idea. :)