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.
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