My quick thoughts-
The death toll continues to rise. It's heavy to think it may be months before some are found. It's even heavier to consider some may never be found.
The videos remind me of Who I turn to in times of crisis. Many were crying "Allah ahkbar" and others were crying "Oh, Tuhan". I pray that those who are truly seeking God will find Him, that He will meet them in their greatest time of need during their greatest loss. He will strengthen them and give them hope for a future.
Helpers are there. Rescue efforts began before any airplanes were allowed to enter. I look at the helpers and they are regular people. Many are untrained for this type of crisis. They are regular people, grieving side by side and responding to needs around them. God, strengthen them to be Your hands.
Colleagues from various organizations were stationed in Palu and surround areas. *ALL* have been accounted for and there have been no loss of life reported to any of these organization. That is a miracle. Many colleagues both foreign and national have been safely relocated to other areas and are meeting with various leadership to debrief their experience.
Many have gone from Papua to help. They are on the ground to debrief the various teams and to evaluate what, if anything could have been done differently to help or prevent anything. This is heavy on my heart, because again these are regular people that we live and serve side by side with who are going to help in any way possible. May God strengthen them as they help carry the emotional burdens of others.
I can't help but make it personal... the what if's are creeping into my mind. Large earthquakes could happen here. Earthquakes do happen here. We have experienced several and only had to run outside of our house one time. The thoughts of who to grab, what to grab, where to go and what to do are racing through our heads. How much time do you actually have in a 7. something magnitude earthquake to get out?? These are things we think of. We are safe from a tsunami, thanks to a large mountain that stands guard over this city. But there's no doubt, if an earthquake of that size happened here there would be loss, destruction and trauma. We can try to fool ourselves with words like "that won't happen here", but it's not true. It could happen here.
No one thinks it could happen to them, but ask those who lost everything in Palu. It does.
I showed Kate a video of the wave pushing up on the shore, continuing past its regular boundary. It's an unusual phenomenon, seeing a wave cross the natural boundary set by the Creator God. She was going to bed that night and told us that she was "worried about the world". Me too, Little One. I'm worried about the world. Our kids are processing what's happening around them and are feeling the great burden of loss for those suffering.
We continue to mourn alongside our adopted country. I'm encouraged by their call to prayer for the victims. Tragedy unites Indonesians. They are strong and resilient. May God strengthen them as the rebuild.
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