Michael Heinz, SVD

I am immeasurably grateful to the Society for this opportunity to go and do our mite for the Tsunami victims. When we, Jovita Triwiludjeng, called Lulut, and I embarked on this long awaited trip we had no idea what awaited us or what we would be doing. The words of the hymn at the sending forth prayer the previous evening was in our hearts as we made our way to Medan.

I left for Medan on Sumatra Island (about 2 hours by flight from Jakarta) with Lulut on the 2^nd of March. We arrived at the house of the Fransiscan Capuchins, which was to be our base. The community comprises about 12 post novices and four priests. The office of JARKAS (Humanitarian Volunteer Network for Aceh and Sumatra) is located on the same premises. We were assigned our responsibilities. Lulut would be joining a group of volunteers namely a KSFL (Franciscan) sister and 22 Capuchin postulants to Meulaboh and I was to help out at the office with secretarial work. So on the next afternoon I bid goodbye to the group with a heavy heart.  Alas, I was not able to join this group due to my language handicap. I was assigned a laptop and given a few project proposals to work on.

Well, frankly speaking I had no previous experience whatsoever about this work, but I was learning fast. Actually the proposals were written by Fr Benyamin the person in charge of Jarkas.  My contribution involved refining the projects in terms of English and clarity.  This work has given me a lot of insight into the intricracies involved in this type of work. These proposals were to be submitted to German Caritas. We had one meeting with their representitive in Medan during my stay there. Of course, there were quite a few details to be clarified and worked out. This experience has also given me a lot of background information about Simeuleu, Meulaboh and Lawe Diske.

We had worked on about five projects. Three for Simeleu, the island where fortunately there have been minimal loss of life thanks to the oral tradition handed down from generations about a previous Tsunami in the year 1908, thus they were able to recognize the warning signals and escape to the higher areas. The three projects for Simeuleu are for housing, textbooks for the children and the last for fishermen. The project for Lawe Diske (which was not really hit by the Tsunami, but is on the outskirts of Aceh) is to upgrade the present school, which is in a bad shape and in need of Funds. The proposal seems huge with the intention to build a boarding school and to enhance the staff, etc. The last project involves maintaining contact with the people of Meulaboh where Jarkas has been working since 13^th January and where Lulut was with the group. However the nature of this involvement had not been clearly worked out when I left.

I had the opportunity to visit Meulaboh for a day.   The Capuchins have been working is the more remote and rural areas where Government intervention is minimal. There are quite a few IDP (Internally Displaced People) here and there is a crying need for help. All through my stay in Medan the name of our probation “Passion for Christ and Passion for Humanity” had been echoing in my heart. I was well aware that I wasn’t alone, my whole Probation group, Kin and Luty were with me in spirit. I had been sent to this mission with a lot of Passion. The question that I kept asking myself was how could we make our internationality good news for the poor in this situation. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to be this minute link in the chain of Solidarity, however I am well aware that this is in no way enough. A lot remains to be done which is especially difficult given the constraints of personnel here in the Indonesian Area and the many limitations in the infrastructures here. Of course, the distance further complicates matters. The recent earthquake and the resultant devastation have further pained my heart. I can barely imagine what impact this must have had on the already fragile morale of the people. There is an urgent need to reach out and I end with sincere prayer that God guide and inspire our ongoing involvement with these people.

All in all, despite the smallness and the pain I experienced for the victims, I experienced powerfully the Pasionate Love of the Lord for me, which still continues to amaze me. The words of Josh Gorbans’ song “You raise me up to more than I can be” keep echoing in my heart.
When we returned to Community we had a beautiful Holy week retreat for 7 Indonesian girls. I request all of you to pray very specially for more and strong vocation for the Indonesian area.

Patricia D’Souza rscj
Province of India, currently serving in Indonesia