TSUNAMI
REPORT from a Filipino Doctor
--------------------------------------------------------------------
My
Sri Lanka and Indonesia trips were sad and wonderful
experiences for me. Although I treated many
patients while there, this experience healed
my struggling Christian spirit.
I
witnessed the terrible sufferings of humanity
and was encouraged by the zeal and dedication
of my co-workers in Christ. I also realized
that we are more blessed than those people who
suffered so much --- those who lost their material
things, their loved ones, and were traumatized
by the memories of such unforgettable events.
The events which I will never be able to forget
are:
-- Witnessing those children who draw pictures
of horrible stories and who went crazy running
away in different directions when somebody falsely
announced that another tsunami is coming.
-- Observing children who became fatherless
or motherless, and seeing parents who lost their
children, or had the whole a family totally
wiped out from the face of the earth.
But
as we treated those patients we still saw the
smiles on their faces, expressing a flicker
of hope, as we extended our hands of compassion
and showed to them that there is One up there
Who cares for them.
In
Sri Lanka approximately 80,000 people died.
We saw the train where 1,500 people died inside,
and the railroad workers were working hard,
still repairing the railroad.
Each
day they excavated more dead bodies, and we
each needed to wear a mask while treating patients
in the field.
I
was assigned to patients with surgical problems.
Some of them had wounds and skin diseases which
needed dressing and medication. I also had to
handle other cases like suturing of wounds,
reduction of dislocated shoulders, and cauterization.
Everyday
we went to different camps to cater to the needs
of the people; some of us were assigned to entertain
the kids, giving candies and toys which made
a difference to them.
--Psychological therapy done by the psychologist
and psychiatrist by letting them draw pictures.
--Our Dentist, Doctors, Preachers, and some
assigned regarding logistics, did their jobs
well.
Before
we started our mission, we were warned not to
evangelize or talk about Christ. We were a little
bit nervous when we wore our t-shirts marked
with "because Jesus cares"... but
God is so good that the people even allowed
us to pray for them.
We
also distributed WBS fliers to the people, and
I was even apprehended and warned by Sri Lankan
medical students afterwards, but I was determined
not to be stopped.
Everybody
was moved, even the non-Christian doctors who
joined the mission during our devotionals where
we gave testimonies and sang songs of praises
to the Lord.
The
Sri Lankan mission was a successful one, where
in our small, little way we comforted and cherished
the people affected.
We
knew that the place was extensively damaged,
but when we reached Indonesia, by comparison,
Sri Lanka had had far greater destruction and
loss of human lives.
Last
January, after the tragedy, an estimated 250,000
had died, but up to this day corpses are still
being dug up and a local estimated that almost
a million actually died during that tragedy.
The destruction reached up to 4 km. inland.
You can see where houses from coastal areas
were wiped out, cars crumpled into an unimaginable
artwork, fishing boats and a huge barge tossed
into the middle of the town. Everywhere and
anywhere you can see countless houses that were
reduced to rubble, and a big shopping store
collapsed after the earthquake which lasted
for 30 minutes and an aftershock of 5 minutes.
After
that came the killer tsunami.
Together
with the Singaporean group of mostly members
of the Churches of Christ, we were housed in
one of the hospital rooms beside the emergency
section. The ladies used the hospital beds provided,
others stayed on the floor. In that hospital
(Zainal Abidin) alone, which is located 3-4
km. from the coastal area, many patients, doctors,
and nurses died during the tsunami. The mud
was up to chest level deep.
Our
flock was led by Edwin Choy, a preacher from
Moulmein church, who conducted devotionals before
and after our work. Everyday we met for devotionals;
we met with different people, some were local,
some were foreign volunteers.
We
treated patients in the E.R., wards, OPD, and
we helped the locals in terms of logistics.
Our
mission in Indonesia was short but a memorable
one because the people appreciated our work,
especially how much we cared and how we dealt
with them in a loving, Christian way.
My
special thanks to my brother Salvador, the Singaporeans,
and all the Christian brethren who supported
me from the beginning up to the end of these
medical missions.
To
God we offer our praise.
Sam Cariaga
samcariaga@yahoo.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note:
Sam is a general surgeon and a good painter.
He said he chose surgery because it is not much
different from painting. He also has a tremendous
passion and compassion to serve others through
his profession. Besides being in most of the
27 medical missions of "MARCH for Christ"
as a volunteer doctor, he conducts his own personal
medical missions and operates on poor patients,
most often times for free. Desperate brethren
in and around Manila hound him for free service.
Last year, when I visited him, he was broke
and burned out. He enrolled as a nurse and planned
to go to the US or Canada to make ends meet
(Over 2,000 Filipino doctors go abroad every
year). Being a church planter, missionary trainer,
and opportunist that I am, I do not want to
see him do that. The church can USE him for
better purposes and like ALL dedicated Christians,
he wants to be used for the glory of God.
Sam
does not need much to continue doing what he
is doing (he has not asked me for help). With
his skills and profession, it is a matter of
time before he will make more money than most
people here and still spend most of his time
serving the poor. I heard him speak in Sri Lanka.
The volunteers were getting tired. There was
pressure from the locals against sharing the
gospel. One organizer told me in a nice but
firm way not to distribute WBS flyers of any
kind. Sam's message to the weary and fearful
team the following day was full of boldness
and conviction. I love and was proud of him
before. After hearing him that day, I was convinced
that he has to continue serving in the Philippines
as a missionary doctor and I will use whatever
means to help him do good works here.
If
you wish to help Sam continue doing medical
mission in the Philippines please let me or
him know. You can contact him at samcariaga@yahoo.com
If you wish to know more about Sam, you can
contact Chito Cusi (MARCH President) at lpcusi@yahoo.com
or Dr. Lynda Wee of Singapore at lyn_wee@yahoo.com
In
Him,
Click
for Baily's page
Dr.
JC Bailey to conduct his 5th Dental Mission
in the Philippines.
For last years' pictures of Dr. Baileys
Dental Mission team, please click
www.philippinechurchesofchrist.org/medical_missions/denpic.org
Click
the link below to go to Bailey's Yahoo! Photo
Album.
JC
Bailey's Dental Pictures
JC
Bailey's Preaching & Mentoring Sessions
Click
the URL below to see Peter's article
www.philippinechurchesofchrist.org/medical_missions/index1.htm
Report
from Sri Lanka by:
Salvador Cariaga
|
