What a strange trip. I traveled to the other side of the world and met with complete strangers that gave voice to the lives of those who make up the people of Sri Lanka. I heard of government victories and war crimes, of freedoms lost and hope of unification, and of course the cost of war for those 289,000 people living in the IDP (internally displaced people) camps. These conversations with church leaders and government officials revolved around humanitarian aid and reconciliation. Even though these conversations left me with more questions than answers I do realize that one of the greatest roles our delegation (World Evangelical Alliance) could bring was encouragement to the Church, and I believe that in some small way was accomplished.
Day 4 and 5 was where the rubber hit the road. Selina the acting country director for World Concern picked me and two new friends from Tearfund New Zealand up in the capital city of Colombo for our 7 hour journey to Trincomalee where World Concern has been working since the Tsunami. It was here that my heart would be broken and I would find maybe the greatest living answer to how peace and reconciliation can take hold.
During these two days we visited two IDP camps, a hospital (clinic), and a third IDP camp for those to disabled, wounded, and sick to be taken to the other camps. These places housed some 9,000 people of whom World Concern took the lead in providing food and clothing for. All of these places were surrounded by barbed wire and ran by the military because the fear of the government is that some of those within the camps are of the LTTE, their enemy.
When we entered the first camp I witnessed immediately what these people starved for the most was news of loved ones whom they had been separated from during the course of fleeing the war zones. Such news unfortunately was near impossible to come by. This particular camp had been a school for 700 students and was now home for 2,500 people who had little space and very limited sanitation facilities. It was here that I first started hanging out with the children in the camps. By the grace of God I was able to bring laughter and fun into some incredibly resilient children. Children that have seen the worst of man and now through people like Selina were seeing the love of Jesus. These kids represent the hope of Sri Lanka and I pray soon they will be given the opportunity for a better life.
As I walked through the hospital I was reminded that Mother Teresa saw great value in touching the untouchable. I say this because my first instinct when I saw those without limbs was to keep my head low and to remove myself from the stares of these patients, but through the strength of the Lord I began shaking hands and giving a warm smile that to my surprise seemed to lighten the load of these hurting people. I cannot begin to count how many hands I held, but I can say that the power of touch backed by a caring heart has the ability to bring healing to the soul.
Our last stop of the day was by far the hardest. It was here in an old garment factory that hundreds of recovering medical patients stayed with what remained of their families under armed guard. The conditions were poor, with flies and sweltering heat causing further torment to already hurting people. Somehow I remained composed until I came across two elderly people that were lying on the floor. At first I thought they were dead, but then I noticed the flies moving off their lips as they breathed ever so faintly. They were all skin and bones and I am sure they would most likely not make it another day. All I could think was that these people had lived so long and seen so much and now they were taking their final breathes on a concrete floor covered in flies. Only 4 beds down my heart would again be broken as I came a cross two young children. As I was to learn they were brother and sister around the age of 5 and 3 who had recently lost their parents in the war and had no other known family. The boy’s right leg was completely bandaged from shrapnel and his younger sister had lost 4 fingers on her right hand and had shrapnel as well removed from her right leg. It was with this girl that my smile and touch seemed to do nothing. She just stared blankly at her surrounding. I cannot begin to tell you how desperately I wanted to sweep this girl and her brother off the bed and somehow fix the terrible injustices they have faced. Selina will be trying her best to keep me informed of their situation in the days a head. Somehow I pray that I will follow their lives to a better place.
So how does God bring peace and reconciliation to the people of Sri Lanka? The answer shown to me was found in people like Selina who have chosen to love everyone as a child of God. This is no easy feat considering she is a Tamil that has witnessed to0 much suffering of the Tamil people under the Singhalese majority government, but she has put the love of Jesus first and in return she and her staff have been granted access into camps that few are allowed. Watching the staff of World Concern work and maneuver under such restrictive conditions had me in awe and thankful for people who lay their life down for their love for others.
The rest of my stories can be told over coffee with those who care to hear more. I can only hope God will use me and many others to bring healing to the people of Sri Lanka.
I wish to thank many of you for your prayers and for your financial gifts to World Concern. Gifts that I can assure you are literally saving lives.
With Hope,
Kurt
