Earthquake Stories

Because of the nature of certain efforts, detailed reports about earthquake relief are hard to come by. But here are a few stories we here from our friends who live nearby and are enabled to help in specific ways, written by Nancy Beverly.

On Tents and Soccer Balls
If you were asked to guess the earthquake survivors’ two most sought-after items, would you say water and medical supplies? Food and blankets?

Would you believe…tents and soccer balls?? Several teams would attest from their experience that the need for fun and laughter is as great as basic survival needs.

One group of athletic minded college guys were inspired to bring a bunch of sports equipment so the refugee camp’s children could have the chance to feel like kids again. Imagine their surprise when the adults gathered around and their faces lit up at the sound of lighthearted laughter at play!

Another surprise was how their games somehow freed the children up to share their traumatic experiences that up until that time they hadn’t shared with anyone else. Lin had been in the camp with the other children for at least a week before the roving soccer camp arrived. As a result of this “soccer therapy” she was able to reveal that she had lost a sister in the earthquake, something she had not told anyone before that.

It is evidence that the necessities of the soul such as connecting with others and the promise of tomorrow - as seen in the laughter of children - can help soften the blow of losing loved ones, homes and material possessions. It serves as a reminder that life will indeed hold something to look forward to again, as long as there are children and soccer balls.

The Teflon-Handed Matron
“I kept giving her stuff, then I’d turn around and she’d be empty handed again.” Finally he realized this woman was giving the supplies away as quickly as she received them – nothing seemed to stick, it just slipped into someone’s else’s needy hands.

This was somewhat typical, and Doug was touched by the people’s not grabbing things and sharing with each other. One blind woman was just lying on the side of the road, dusty and weak and unable to move or see what was happening. But it appeared that the community looked after her, even though she didn’t seem to have any family there.

Their biggest frustration was knowing they didn’t have enough tarp for everyone and wondering how to decide who gets it and who doesn’t. At one point they sadly had to just drive away from a waiting crowd, rather than give tarps to a small fraction of the group and risk being mobbed. When they pumped up and distributed soccer balls, they were very enthusiastically received and shared.

Having gone as a team of two men and two home-schooled sons, it was a lesson unlike any you’d ever find in a textbook: generosity in the midst of need, contentment, and gratitude.