English Reformed Church, Amsterdam

Dear friends,
It was recently a great privilege for me to be a part of the tsunami relief effort on the island of Sri Lanka. Months ago friends and I planned a vacation to the southern coastal city of Matara, but after the tsunami our travel plans changed to India. My itinerary, however, still had me in Sri Lanka before flying to meet my companions in Madras. I loaded up on bottled water on my way to Schiphol airport and arrived in Colombo the evening of january 6, not knowing what to expect, but eager to help. My short stay did not permit me to join any of the relief teams I had met on the flight, so I moved out alone. I hired a taxi and in darkness drove south along the coast, catching glimpses of the devastation from headlights, arriving late in the village of Ambulangota 40 minutes north of Galle. Daylight required a numbing of the emotions as I could clearly see what had occurred; homes, businesses, schools, boats, lives and livelihoods washed away by the waters force.
I located two shelters for displaced families and was pleased to learn food, clean water and medical visits were in place there. At one shelter my presence was warmly received by a large group of children who gathered around in awe of this tall Caucasian. There were bright smiles and laughter and I was much moved, feeling I had given just a little to help relieve their losses. I drove on as far south as Galle and turned back toward Colombo, handing out bottled water along the way, momentarily frustrated that I did not have more time or experience, and that I was not part of an organized effort. In my last hours before leaving to India, Providence had it that I was to meet a traveler who had briefly volunteered with an Irish Non Government Organization (NGO) named GOAL. I left with their number and address in my wallet.

For a few days the sights, smells and sounds of India kept me distracted from what I had seen and felt in Sri Lanka, but eventually I was moved by my higher self to leave my companions and return. On arriving back in Colombo I went directly to GOAL headquarters in Mt. Lavinia. Within minutes of meeting with two coordinators I was given an assignment. At dawn the next day I drove to the International cargo building to supervise the the loading and delivery of building material to a GOAL team in the southern coastal village of Ambulantota. After a long day loading three trucks, clearing Customs and military checkpoints at the airport, and a 9 hour drive with engine trouble, we arrived after midnight with 300 rolls of plastic sheeting to be used in the construction of temporary homes. The Ambulantota team had years of experience in humanitarian aid in Bosnia, the Congo, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Sudan and many other lands. This helped my schooling considerably as I learned quickly how to operate in relief and recovery work. Thinking out of the hat and taking initiative are key ingredients, however, careful planning and consideration of the long term affects are equally required.
I was directed to check out a Buddhist temple that had been hit. On investigating this temple I discovered another one kilometer away, and for the remainder of my stay focused my efforts primarily on these two temples. Each temple had permanent residents, (the conversations with the monks are especially memorable), and both were sites of great importance to the locals; a place of worship, study, peace and community spirit - all the more vital at this time. Through a "cash for work" project to clean up the temples I employed 31 local men and women who had lost their livelihoods, fishing and rice farming. These "cash for work" projects are instrumental by NGOs in supplying immediate economic aid to those affected while boosting morale and helping with the clean up work and civil engineering projects so greatly needed. Interviewing as many villagers as I was able in affected areas and assessing their losses was another important task for me there. This information was collected that it may be best determined how energy and funds are to be used.

The temporary housing project was another priority focus and the day before I flew home to Amsterdam our team was constructing the first unit on a nearby site for local government officials to see and, hopefully, approve. Heading back for my return flight I drove west and north from Humbantota, through the hardest hit areas along the coast, once more taking in the immensity of the task which lies ahead of the beautiful Sri Lankan people. The hope, laughter and hard work I witnessed there leads me to believe they will certainly recover and repair their hearts and homes.
This has been only a brief summary of events. The moments there have left a deep impression. Including the first days before my brief stay in India, I spent a total of 11 days in Sri Lanka and if it were not for commitments back here in Amsterdam I would have stayed longer. I never planned or expected this experience, which is undoubtedly what has made it so rewarding. I did, however, long ago ask that I may be of service in whatever way God may see fit. This prayer continues to be answered.
A warm thank you to all who have helped guide me before and during this recent adventure. I am deeply grateful for the experience and God willing hope to do more humanitarian aid work in the future.

Peace and Love,

Hiram

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14-02-2006

Dear friends,
It was recently a great privilege for me to be a part of the tsunami relief effort on the island of Sri Lanka. Months ago friends and I planned a vacation to the southern coastal city of Matara, but after the tsunami our travel plans changed to India. My itinerary, however, still had me in Sri Lanka before flying to meet my companions in Madras. I loaded up on bottled water on my way to Schiphol airport and arrived in Colombo the evening of january 6, not knowing what to expect, but eager to help. My short stay did not permit me to join any of the relief teams I had met on the flight, so I moved out alone. I hired a taxi and in darkness drove south along the coast, catching glimpses of the devastation from headlights, arriving late in the village of Ambulangota 40 minutes north of Galle. Daylight required a numbing of the emotions as I could clearly see what had occurred; homes, businesses, schools, boats, lives and livelihoods washed away by the waters force.
I located two shelters for displaced families and was pleased to learn food, clean water and medical visits were in place there. At one shelter my presence was warmly received by a large group of children who gathered around in awe of this tall Caucasian. There were bright smiles and laughter and I was much moved, feeling I had given just a little to help relieve their losses. I drove on as far south as Galle and turned back toward Colombo, handing out bottled water along the way, momentarily frustrated that I did not have more time or experience, and that I was not part of an organized effort. In my last hours before leaving to India, Providence had it that I was to meet a traveler who had briefly volunteered with an Irish Non Government Organization (NGO) named GOAL. I left with their number and address in my wallet.
	For a few days the sights, smells and sounds of India kept me distracted from what I had seen and felt in Sri Lanka, but eventually I was moved by my higher self to leave my companions and return. On arriving back in Colombo I went directly to GOAL headquarters in Mt. Lavinia. Within minutes of meeting with two coordinators I was given an assignment. At dawn the next day I drove to the International cargo building to supervise the the loading and delivery of building material to a GOAL team in the southern coastal village of Ambulantota. After a long day loading three trucks, clearing Customs and military checkpoints at the airport, and a 9 hour drive with engine trouble, we arrived after midnight with 300 rolls of plastic sheeting to be used in the construction of temporary homes. The Ambulantota team had years of experience in humanitarian aid in Bosnia, the Congo, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Sudan and many other lands. This helped my schooling considerably as I learned quickly how to operate in relief and recovery work. Thinking out of the hat and taking initiative are key ingredients, however, careful planning and consideration of the long term affects are equally required.
I was directed to check out a Buddhist temple that had been hit. On investigating this temple I discovered another one kilometer away, and for the remainder of my stay focused my efforts primarily on these two temples. Each temple had permanent residents, (the conversations with the monks are especially memorable), and both were sites of great importance to the locals; a place of worship, study, peace and community spirit - all the more vital at this time. Through a "cash for work" project to clean up the temples I employed 31 local men and women who had lost their livelihoods, fishing and rice farming. These "cash for work" projects are instrumental by NGOs in supplying immediate economic aid to those affected while boosting morale and helping with the clean up work and civil engineering projects so greatly needed. Interviewing as many villagers as I was able in affected areas and assessing their losses was another important task for me there. This information was collected that it may be best determined how energy and funds are to be used.
	The temporary housing project was another priority focus and the day before I flew home to Amsterdam our team was constructing the first unit on a nearby site for local government officials to see and, hopefully, approve. Heading back for my return flight I drove west and north from Humbantota, through the hardest hit areas along the coast, once more taking in the immensity of the task which lies ahead of the beautiful Sri Lankan people. The hope, laughter and hard work I witnessed there leads me to believe they will certainly recover and repair their hearts and homes.
This has been only a brief summary of events. The moments there have left a deep impression. Including the first days before my brief stay in India, I spent a total of 11 days in Sri Lanka and if it were not for commitments back here in Amsterdam I would have stayed longer. I never planned or expected this experience, which is undoubtedly what has made it so rewarding. I did, however, long ago ask that I may be of service in whatever way God may see fit. This prayer continues to be answered.
	A warm thank you to all who have helped guide me before and during this recent adventure. I am deeply grateful for the experience and God willing hope to do more humanitarian aid work in the future. Peace and Love, Hiram