Sumatra Trip

During January and February I had the opportunity to work in Sumatra, Indonesia. The purpose of the trip was to assist MAF's relief and development wing in the installation and management of two VSAT Internet communication systems. These systems were for use by the NGOs who are operating in the area to provide humanitarian relief after the December 2004 tsunami. When the call for volunteers came in, I thought it would be a neat thing to do, but also thought there was no way I could go. A couple days later my Program Manager called me over to his office and told me that he thought the program could afford to let me go for a month if I was interested in volunteering. So that is how I ended up in Sumatra from 22 January to 21 February.

It certainly was an experience of a lifetime. You simply cannot comprehend the destructive power of the waves without being there. I arrived a month after the disaster, and there had hardly been a dent made in the cleanup and rebuilding efforts. Everyone I talked to had a heart-wrenching story, of lost family members, friends, homes, and businesses.

To be in a situation in which I could do something so tangible where the need is so great was gratifying, but also humbling. After making a couple visits to the main area of damage in Meulaboh, and the town to the north, I realized that my part in the relief and reconstruction effort was very minuscule. Only with all of the relief organizations working closely together

for many years to come will the survivors of Aceh province realize lives even closely resembling what they did before December 26, 2004. The relief organizations, which include two aircraft and a handful of pilots from MAF’s program in Indonesia, are able to be more effective because of these two impressive Internet cafés. Without a doubt, these are the fastest and most reliable Internet connections in Sumatra, and probably in all of Indonesia! This has been a very worthwhile and successful endeavor.

But really, this is God’s endeavor, and it’s incredible to see the way in which he is working. The following quote from friends of my parents lets me understand just a little more about how God is working in this situation.

“Beginning in 2000 with fasting and prayer walks, we see the earthquake and subsequent tsunami as a form of answer to all our prayers for the Acehnese peoples which consist of eight unreached people groups. In God’s timing, the door to Aceh which has been closed for centuries will be opened that the glory of Jesus Christ might enter. For a long time we have prayed Psalm 24:7-10 and Isaiah 62:2-4 that the Acehnese people would no longer be called the ‘front porch of Mecca’ but instead would be called the ‘front porch of the Love of God. We are receiving the answer to this prayer in faith now, although, certainly much still needs to happen for this to be a reality.”

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