New Year's - no one said Happy New Year, we didn't know what to say. I sat quietly in my room and prayed.
Brave volunteers, Thai and "falangs" (foreigners) donned masks, gowns, boots, gloves, caps and lots of tiger balm (for the smells) and made themselves go in and work among the dead, helping, carrying, photographing personal effects, tattoos, picking up trash, moving bodies. The tropical climate is hell on decomposition. I helped. I lasted about 6 or 7 hours until I saw something that was too much. I stopped and got help. I called my Dad. He helped more.
We've got counseling for the volunteers, thank God.
The Thai's and professionals now took over; no more of our volunteers work with the dead. Thank God for that too.
Translators, hospital visitors, distributors of information, food, supplies; truck loaders, data base creators and compilers, hand holders, listeners, counselors, volunteer directors, coordinators of every kind, all these and more the volunteers do daily.
Bangkok - a falang came to create a childrens' home for the newly orphaned
Bulgarian embalmers gave me their card.. 'we're going to our hotel to rest, call us and we'll come right back'
Denmark - a special forces trooper formed a team and flew to a remote island to help a distressed family search for loved ones for two days.
America - A flight attendant from California took leave and flew here, just to help.
Hungary - Zoldt, a big beautiful man, one day in the temple, next with an embassy, next creating a data base in Hungarian...wow
Mike - origins unknown, leading a cleanup effort in a remote town
Amy - American living in Thailand going to villages, assessing needs for food, clothes, cooking utensils, bare basics, then gets and delivers them. Her friends pour money into her bank account, she pours it into the villagers.
Japan, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Holland, England, Canada, Mexico, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Poland the list goes on - each pouring their light into this dark time.
Sadly, many survivors work tirelessly, driving themselves. We offer counseling. They just work. It helps them for now. Their stories stagger me.
There is too much to tell, but this gives a snapshot of the foreigner's efforts.
You cannot imagine the numbers and efforts of the Thais themselves. Its amazing.
Here there is a tidal wave of human kindness, strength, determination and selfless giving.
I'm am blessed and humbled to work with all of them.
Please forgive the writing, I've no time to polish it tonight. Time for a shower and sleep.
Good night.
love,
bill