Much of Cambodia is still reeling from the recent floods and now Danang has been a direct hit of one of the largest Typhoons since 2006!
It is still early but GIBTK is ready to respond. It is our home! Mine and Dorothea home (at least second home) Six of our homes are located in Danang as well as the majority of our programs.
Fortunately our team was ready to prepare ahead of time. Our kid's homes were stocked with essentials like rice and clean water. First reports is that our project new hope homes in Danang did not suffer any "major" damage. All our kids are safe as well as the GIBTK team.
We need help in the form of funds. The reports are beginning to come in of villages underwater. Tam is downstairs getting details and putting the GIBTK team at the ready to reach out and provide emergency help this afternoon (you're getting this the following morning)
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| Dragon Bridge near the hotel Mercure we stay at normally |
It is still raining and thunderstorms are predicated for the next couple days.
I asked some of our team to "jot" downs some thoughts and feelings as they weathered out this typhoon. Below is a couple of their writings'
Dear Robert,
This is how I felt during the typhoon.
""Da Nang night of 14th Oct, 2013.
In Central Viet Nam, we have a song that goes like this: the Central is known for floods and typhoons. We stay up through the night when the water goes up...
Central Viet Nam is where I grew up. However, I escaped the typhoons and floods in my hometown by moving to Da Nang in 2005, when I started college. However, even in Da Nang the typhoons sometimes hit hard as it is close to the ocean.
As I write this, the sound of the roaring wind and objects flying and crashing outside cause my heart to beat fast and leave me with a sense of dread. I'm picturing my family and the people in my village trying to survive the inevitable flooding after this typhoon.
There is a hydroelectric dam located close to my village. Every flood for the last three years, releasing water from the dam has caused flooding to be more dread-filled than ever. Last month, 10 houses were washed away due to the increased flooding caused by the water release of the hydroelectric dam. Luckily, the residents had been evacuated.
I'm thinking of my 85 year old grandfather, when the water comes, he is trembling with cold, tries to pile up the belongings above the water. This plays over and over every winter.
I just called my family to see how they were surviving the storm. My sister, who lives close to the ocean and where the typhoon is especially bad; her house is wet as the wind broke the door and allowed water to invade. The wind feels angry and destructive. There is no electricity. I cringe once hearing objects falling down the ground and it is too dark to see what's happened and too dangerous to go outside.
I think about our kids in our homes in Da Nang. Thanks God, they are safe so far. I am happy for the families that GIBTK built homes for and I pray that having a strong structure around them is bringing them peace during this frightening time. As I sit here afraid of the uncertainty ahead, I comfort myself with prayers that the storm will soon be over....."
Thao.""
"Although the typhoon had a pretty name Nari, it was a strongest and long-lasting one I have experienced in my life. I could not sleep the whole night as I was so scary. I was afraid that my house's roof would be blown away and we could not know where we would go and stay? Around 10.30 pm, power off!
At 2am , I heard something strange and got up. Stepping down from the bed, I was shocked when touching water on the floor. My house looked like flooded as the water came from the tiny holes of windows. I had to clean the floor and finished around 3am. I went to bed again and couldn't sleep anymore because of the sound of bloody wind and heavy rain. The sound of the wind was terrible and it made my heart ache ;(!
I thought that our iron roof would be blown away. However, that night passed and I thought that everything would be ok. Unexpectedly, the next morning, the wind still blow so strong and may be the iron roof of my sitting room couldn't stand anymore and it was gone and the cover beneath the roof (la-phong) was collapsed. I was shocked! We had to use raincoat to cover things and stayed in another room instead. Today, my roof will be fixed.
My mom's garden and all trees even big trees were blown down, the road was blocked because of the trees. The power around my village is still cut off. I pray the power will come back by the end of this weekend. It may take time because some of electrical poles were collapsed and it will take time to fix all things.
What a nightmare typhoon!
Anh
This is written by 2 GIBTK staffers who are moms with kids under 5.
Some have already helped and thank you but if you are able to help with emergency relief. Please do so.
Please also pray for our GIBTK team's safety and for wisdom to do the most effective relief possible under these circumstances
Donations can be done safely at www.gibtk.org please put relief in the comments section or you can mail checks to GIBTK 10112 Stonybrook Dr. HB, Calif. 92646
ALL donations help. We can and will do a lot with even what might seems like the least amounts.
Pray for SE Asia please?
Robert Kalatschan
www.gibtk.org
Giving It Back To Kids
