LOVE, HOPE AND DETERMINATION GUIDE WOMEN TO A BETTER FUTURE AFTER THE TSUNAMI
Since the December 2004 tsunami, Lutheran World Relief, a member of Action by Churches Together (ACT) International, has supported relief and recovery projects implemented by other ACT members in the region. This story is one of a series of occasional updates from our partner agencies in ACT.
West Aceh, Indonesia, March 15, 2006—On March 8, commemorated around the world as International Women’s Day, a group of women sat on a mat outside a tent, talking and joking. Laughter punctuated their conversation. Amid the enormous challenges they have faced since the December 26, 2004, tsunami, the women are rediscovering friendship and love.
As the women sat and talked, their hands busily prepared “Ranup Lampuan,” a traditional offering made from various kinds of leaves, shoots of the areca nut tree and buds from banana trees. Everybody seemed to be doing what they did best, their hands quickly transforming pieces of the material into lovely decorations.
This occasion was just one of many that has brought these women together. The loss of more than 500 people in their village to the tsunami, an unspeakable and traumatic event in their lives, brought them closer together than ever before.
That afternoon’s gathering, however, was a special one. “This evening, my nephew, Lukman, will ask his girlfriend to marry him. What we are making is to be presented to the girl’s family,” said Irayani, 34, a resident of a camp in Meurebo, West Aceh for people who lost their homes in the tsunami. She added that Lukman, 25, will be at least the 12th person to get married since they have lived in the camp.
Love, once nearly forgotten in their broken hearts, is now gleefully welcomed.
Yunasri, 46, another one of the women, lost her husband and three children in the tsunami. Yet she found comfort and affection in her neighbors. “I live alone in this camp, and all I have is my friends here. I have them to share my love with,” she said, with smiles and pats on the shoulder coming from the other women. Some of the women have been receiving assistance from Church World Service (CWS) Indonesia, a member of ACT, since the emergency phase immediately following the tsunami.
When asked what love means to them, the women answered, “Love is something that you can't describe. It is something that you can only feel.”
“We are happy for our friends who have found new husbands or wives,” said Latifah, 61, the oldest in the group, who lost her husband in the tsunami. “But for those who have not, we are still blessed as we still have each other.”
Royani, 31, also a resident in a camp, has just re-married. “We have just been married for two months. It was rather quick - we knew each other for less than a month and got married, but we are happy,” she said with a broad smile. She met her new husband, Basri, 45, a tailor, when she took her son’s pants to be repaired at his shop.
Royani, who lost her first husband in the tsunami, said she never expected to feel this happy again.
Her new husband is a big support to Royani and her 12-year-old son, Misriyanto. “The most important thing is he treats my son as his own,” said Royani, who added that Basri’s children are grown and have their own families.
Starting all over again has not been easy for the couple. Royani is currently working as a part-time maid and making artificial bait to be sold in the market (assisted by CWS-ACT), and Basri continues as a tailor, but they are looking at starting their own tailor business for their new family.
Surviving the tsunami also means struggling toward the future. Despite all the overshadowing sorrow and grief, these women have shown love, hope and determination.
The women are not only experiencing care and support from each other and their families, but know that it comes from outside their circle as well. “We also would like to express our gratitude for everyone who has been helping us, showing us that you care,” said Royani.
Submitted by Vivi Roselim, information officer for Church World Service Indonesia, a member of Action by Churches Together (ACT) International
WHO IS LWR? Lutheran World Relief, an international nonprofit organization, works to end poverty and injustice by empowering some of the world's most impoverished communities to help themselves. With partners in 35 countries, LWR seeks to promote sustainable development with justice and dignity by helping communities bring about change for healthy, safe and secure lives; engage in Fair Trade; promote peace and reconciliation; and respond to emergencies. LWR is headquartered in Baltimore, Md. and has worked in international development and relief since 1945.
Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), individuals and parish groups in international relief, development, advocacy and social responsibility.
For more information contact Emily Sollie at esollie@lwr.org or 410-230-2802.
