Safe After the Shake

Peter Scarborough reported that the recent powerful earthquake did not result in any loss of life to his knowledge. The shake was felt at our medical base in North Maluku. The ground rolled and trees swayed for a short time. We have built the structures on our base to withstand most of these shakes. We have done our best to reinforce our structures. It helps to have structural engineers on our team.

We are thankful to report the minimal damage to structures in the region, no loss of life and no tsunami. Tsunamis are feared and for good reason. Indonesia knows all to well following the huge loss during the Christmas eve tsunami in Banda Aceh. There are thousands of islands and hundreds of villages on these shorelines. They live there because they survive off the sea and its abundance. It can put them in the way of the destructive power of those very waters that provide their daily food. The ocean remained calm and these hundreds of villages were safe.

7.6 Earthquake

I just got the news that there was a powerful earthquake that rocked the region we are working. I only have a little direct information about this quake. It was centered 55 miles from Manado and 75 miles from Ternate in the Molucca Sea.

Peter Scarborough reported that our base was fine and there were no injuries there. They did feel the quake. We are the only medical option for the poor in the region. If there are injuries we will be working 24/7 to treat their injuries.

I will share updates as I get them.

Extravagance

I was in one of the villages near our medical base and was served some coffee. It was one of the best cups of coffee I have ever had. I asked where did they get this coffee--an old woman smiled and told us it was from her tree. She told us that all of the fruit tree and coffee trees had been destroyed in the crisis. She got this twinkle in her eye and said, " My coffee is from a few branches that survived." I asked her if she had more and she raised her eyebrows. This is the same as nodding affirmatively for us. I wanted to buy some of her coffee to take home with me. She agreed to sell me some of her coffee.

We walked down the road to her home. The front of her home was just a huge hole where bombs had found their target. She walked in and went thru another door. A few minuted later she comes with about five ounces of coffee. She told me it was all she had left. It was a small amount but it was also an opportunity to bless this old woman. I looked into my wallet and I had a 5,000 Rupiah (55 cents) and 100,000 Rupiah ($ 11 USD.) and I had a choice to make. She offered to just give me the coffee. There was no way I was going to miss the chance to shock her with a big gift. I rolled up the 100,000 bill and put it into her hand. I took my coffee beans and started to walk down the road.

I felt great knowing she was getting more than she expected. She was a surviver who had excaped with her life from the years of the conflict. She and her coffee had that in common. As I walked down the road I heard her excited shouts to the woman across the road. She was saying, "You cannot believe what that crazy white man gave me for my coffee." She got more for this small amount of coffee than most workers get in a week of hard work. She had reason to shout. This was a day when extravagance came to her door.

The coffee was wonderful. I had it roasted and enjoyed every sip. It was also especially nice knowing a small amount of the bitterness of life had been removed from this old woman's life.

We are now growing 200 coffee trees on our base. These trees were started from seeds from this village. These beans came from the branches that survived the conflict. The trees are now 10-12 feet tall and are just full of coffee beans--our hope is to market the coffee in the future.

Keys To the Future

The conflict (1999-2003) left this region devastated. There are ruins almost everywhere you look. This was a difficult time for those who survived the conflict. It is now a season of rebuilding their homes and lives.

This photo seems to illustrate the status of this region. The portion of the ruins of a church is still standing next to the new church under construction. This is a place that is between the dark past and their future.

Our hope is to be a part of a positive future for those who are rebuilding their lives. Villages and businesses are being rebuilt and the economic outlook is much better. The markets and stores are very busy. There are smiles and it seems the future could be bright. I am hopeful but cautious--there has to be real forgiveness and restoration as a foundation to the future. The evidence of a peaceful future is not necessarily new roads and buildings--it is inner healing from the sorrows of this region. Forgiveness and reconciliation are the keys to the future.