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A letter from Bernie and Farsijana
Risakotta-Adeney |
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May 29, 2006
Dear Family and Friends,
It is Monday, 5:00 a.m. I’ve just been watching the fiery
lava running down Mount Merapi, north of Yogyakarta. A massive
6.2 earthquake opened the swelling peak, allowing the lava to
flow. The earthquake struck at 5:55 a.m. on Saturday. Farsijana
was out running, and I was drinking coffee upstairs. The whole
world was shaking, as if a giant picked up a baby and shook us
as hard as it could. Most things were thrown from our walls and
our floor-to-ceiling bookcases toppled. I made it out to the street
where all our neighbors were gathered. Farsijana said she heard
a deep groaning noise from the earth, and the earthquake seemed
to go on and on for 20 minutes. Time is distorted. Many people
were in a state of panic. Soon there were motorcycles passing
with their riders screaming, “The water is coming! The water
is coming! Tsunami!” I tried to reassure our neighbors that
a tsunami could not reach Yogya, 40 kilometers from the south
coast of Java. Even in Aceh, the Christmas 2004 tsunami reached
only a few kilometers inland. Farsijana sent our neighbor to ask
for official information. He came back with a report that the
water had already reached the edge of Yogya. Still, we convinced
our neighbors not to join the mass exodus of people fleeing towards
the volcano. Out of the frying pan into the fire. It’s hard
to get information with no electricity or telephones. It’s
hard even to think straight when the earth is no longer firm beneath
your feet. |
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Destruction caused by the earthquake that occured near Yogyakarta
on Saturday morning, May 26, at 5:55 a.m.
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I had a cold coming on and was exhausted from
a week-long seminar, so I went inside to read a book. But after
a couple minutes I knew I could not escape that way. At 8:00 a.m.
I left on my motorcycle to find out the real situation. I rode around
the city, seeing many collapsed buildings, wounded people, and a
few corpses. However, the tight social structures of the Javanese
were also apparent. |
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Most people were in groups, caring
for each other. I headed south to see if our friends in a village
on the coast were still alive. The further south, the worse the
damage. As I neared the coast, a farmer said the village was totally
destroyed, and our bungalow on the cliffs had collapsed. To my amazement,
our house was undamaged, guarded by a family of monkeys. A huge
boulder blocked the road to the village, but I squeezed by on my
motorcycle. Amazingly, the coastal village was still standing. Our
good friend Tumijo’s new house, just finished after 10 years
of saving and hard work, was severely damaged, but no one died.
I left them my meager supplies of water, bread, and emergency lantern.
Everyone was outside, trying to find shade. Everyone wanted to talk
to me. The houses were not safe. Aftershocks continued, and a rumor
claimed that another big quake was coming. I returned safely to
our house, exhausted, at about 2:00 p.m., with bad sunburn. |
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Sunday morning we attended the 6:30
worship at our church and were reminded to give thanks in the midst
of tragedy. At home, with the help of two friends, we cooked from
8:30 a.m. till 2:30 p.m., wrapping up over 100 meals of rice, vegetables,
and eggs. The food was seasoned with our sweat in the hot kitchen.
I finally found an open gas station and after a long line, filled
our tank. The main road to the South was clogged with emergency
vehicles and people trying to bring help. The rain began to fall.
As we sat in the traffic, looking into the faces of many people
with injuries, I wondered if we were mistaken in joining this mad
throng. Our destination was a remote village with a home for children
with disabilities that we heard was in bad shape and needed help. |
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The day after the earthquake, Bernie and Farsijana prepared 100
meals to a remote village with a home for children with disabilities.
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We finally reached them. They were
so happy to receive the food, water, and medicines we brought. All
the houses in the village had collapsed. Fifteen people died and
many are injured. They had no food. The rain poured down as they
huddled under plastic sheets next to the ruins of their homes. As
a parting hunch, I gave them my favorite umbrella. They were delighted.
It was the only umbrella in the village. |
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Farsijana and a friend preparing meals for earthquake victims.
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When we finally got home, we found puddles of
water all over the house. Most of our clay roof tiles were displaced
by the earthquake and no longer keep out the rain. Still, we are
so thankful. Our neighborhood was spared serious damage. None of
our friends were seriously hurt. But not far from us, thousands
have died and many more are without homes. Our village is now mobilizing
food and supplies for other areas. |
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Christian and Muslim students
are seeking donations of rice and supplies for villages that have
not been reached. Today we hope to take food to Prambanan, the
famous, thousand-year-old temple site, where Farsijana’s
relatives live and many buildings collapsed.
If you would like to help, please send a donation to Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.), Central Receiving Service, 100 Witherspoon Street,
Louisville, KY 40202-1396. Put this Disaster Relief number on
the subject line of your check: DR000146.
To give online, click on the "give" button below.
Thanks to all of you who called or sent emails. We are so grateful
for your loving thoughts and prayers. Indeed we count on them.
God’s Peace be with you,
Bernie and Farsijana Adeney-Risakotta
The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 129 |
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