We Remember...

A few short weeks ago I had the unfortunate opportunity to see a small glimpse of the fear and panic our people must have felt when the 2004 tsunami struck our coastlines. There is now a warning system here designed to send out alerts if there is ever a threat of another tsunami. The other week, one of the alarms went off sending our city into absolute panic.
I wish I could put into words for you the hopeless fear I saw in the eyes of my neighbors and friends as people ran out into the streets shouting and gathering their things while some literally ran towards the mountains. Some people left town for days and I am still hearing rumors of other tsunamis that are "sure to come" in the next few days.
Though a few years have passed now since the tsunami, there are still images scattered across town that remind us of the loss and destruction that took place here among our people. In light of this recent reminder, I thought I should share some photos with you and ask you again to lift up the people here who have suffered so much and who still mourn so deeply those they lost in the tsunami. There isn't a week that goes by that we don't come in contact with someone who, whether we ask or not, pours out their story of suffering and loss. It truly breaks my heart knowing that these are the ones who mourn like those who have no hope...



This is a VERY LARGE barge the wave carried about 4 miles inland. It was set down in the middle of a community crushing the houses and people beneath it. It remains there to this day with no plans of ever being moved.


What was once a lighthouse, is now just a tower that sits on the coastline of one of our communities. The wave was so high, it came up and over the structure removing the upper portion of the tower. I am standing at the bottom of the tower to show you just how high the structure is.


There are actually people still liveing in this house


This is a mass grave. It is one of several found throughout this area. It is reported that there are between 40 to 60 thousand people buried here at this one site. It is considered to be one of the smaller graves.

There's a new Hut in town ;o)

Pizza Hut has arrived!!!! I can hardly believe it!! They're having the big opening this weekend so we thought we'd treat ourselves on this fine Sunday afternoon to some good 'ol pizza! It's just like home!!! Well, so long as you don't get the seafood special which has no telling what all on it!!! My roommate M and I think we'd make great delivery girls!!! Check out those rides!!!



I just had my folks send me some hats from home because, so far, this is the only "hat" I've found in the city permissible for women to wear!!! Good for working in the garden...which we have...but maybe not for anything else but a fun photo!

~AND~

I had to get a picture of this! Every week we take the volunteer teams we have here in our vol. house out souvenir shopping! There are 2-3 shops we go to every time we have teams...we give them business, they give us discounts. Today, I saw this for the first time....A BUTT RUG!!!!! Ha! No kidding!!! It's actually a pr. rug but the brand just so happens to be "Butt" ;o) I couldn't keep myself from very discretely snapping a quick pic of the all too funny butt rug ;o) Hope you enjoy it too!!!