SS: The Ocean Screams

HaiXiao, 海 啸, literally means, “ocean screams”. Tsunami. How appropriate. The Dec 26, 2004 earthquake and tsunami in Banda Aceh left 120,514 dead, 114,897 missing – and presumed dead, and 403,428 displaced.

Only 3 weeks after the ocean screamed, I went to help out. I did a variety of jobs. One day, I went into one of the main hospitals, Zainoel Abidin Hospital, which was seriously damaged. Different countries took over control of each unit. One group was running the surgical ward and doing a lot of amputations, as broken bones had not been set for 3 weeks and gangrene had set in. I had hoped to teach the patients some exercises, how to walk with crutches, and stump care. The head nurse knew that this was needed, but said that they couldn’t handle that right yet. There was too much to handle, because the ocean screamed. In the tetanus ward, it was suggested that I teach the staff how to do some basic care for the very sick patients. The nurse in charge said that I should, “wait until the rest of the staff return”. Well, they didn’t return. 80% of Aceh’s healthcare workers were killed when the ocean screamed. So I took an inventory of the physio (physical therapy) department for another group, then, hung out in the pediatric ward, handing out dolls and toys that I brought. Devastation and destruction was everywhere, as the water had been 100 feet high, even 2 miles in from the coast, when the ocean screamed. It was hard to not focus on the dead, as that impact was everywhere. “Focus on the living, not the dead”.

Early one morning in my quiet time, I had a very brief vision of a man who had been beaten around and bashed up by the waves. He was smashed into buildings and fences, and today was walking around thinking he was OK. I knew that I had to treat this man. But I didn’t know where he was. That day, I helped one group move into a house that they were going to rent for a year. After lunch, I saw a man walking around wearing some bandages on his arm and leg. With the help of a translator, I heard his story. He felt the earthquake, got into his car, and went over to see if his mother was OK. He saw the water coming, got out of his car, and ran. His car was caught up by the water and bashed to pieces. Then he was caught up by the water, was beaten and bashed around by the waves, then smashed into buildings and fences. He was thrown into a side street, grabbed onto a light post, dislocating his shoulder. A young girl helped him onto the roof of the building. After the water receded, he was flown to another town where they surgically repaired his shoulder. And today, he is walking around, thinking he is OK. Those were his words, as translated to me, and were the exact words on how I described my dream. I asked if I could help with some of his aches and pains. He wanted to wait a couple of hours. When the time came, I treated his neck, head, ribs, shoulders, legs, etc., etc. Then I knew I needed to treat his heart. I placed my hand on his chest and asked if I could go deeper. The translator didn’t understand, but I told her that the man would. When he agreed, I closed my eyes, and the healing began. His heart felt like raw hamburger meat. It was full of bumps, scars and rough edges. This young man had lost his mother and four brothers the day the ocean screamed. His wife said that he had always been a quiet man, but since that day, he was even more reserved. When I finished, his heart was smooth and soft. This young man spent the next several hours smiling, even laughing, and thanking everyone for having come to help his people. His wife looked at me and asked, “What did you do to him?” I smiled, knowing that he had been touched by God, then left.

The day the ocean screamed, in Aceh alone, hundreds of thousands lost their lives, and nearly half a million lost their homes. No one was left untouched. Everyone’s life was changed that day -- the day the ocean screamed.

Comments

[Tammy]

I'm so glad you were able to help and heal. I can't even imagine this horrific event. I felt your heart in this piece and the reminder of how short life can be. XXOO

[Kamsin]

Powerful post, as always. Thank you for reminding us of the awesome power of the sea, and of those men, women and children who will never be the same because of that power.

[angel]

what an incredible story.

[tinker]

What a poignantly beautiful post, Bonnie. I'm glad you were able to help in healing some of the pain that was caused by the ocean's screaming during that sad time. Wishing you many blessings, and sending you ((hugs)) for being you, and following your calling. XO

[Kim G.]

A good reminder of the tragedy that was not so far in our past. So glad that you were able to help some of these people to get their lives back. Blessings to you!