wide-tracked backhoes to Long-term Aid Helps Tsunami Victims help reconstruct the dikes around shrimp farms. Sewing along the Road to Recovery machines, looms, hand trac- By Karianne Salisbury, Church Magazines tors, and other tools were donated to encourage a t was a long process for return to self-sufficiency. Sukardi of Indonesia and “All of the first year was Ihis family to find closure focused on reestablishing and hope following the 2004 livelihood and helping indi- tsunami that devastated the viduals get back to work,” coasts of Southeast Asia. RON TAYLOR BY PHOTOGRAPH said Brett Bass, director “We thought it was the of Church Humanitarian end of the world; it was Services. “Then we looked at unbelievable,” said Sukardi, our resources, identified the looking back to December most pressing needs, and 26, 2004, the day a massive refocused our efforts on underwater earthquake permanent reconstruction.” struck off the coast of The Church’s efforts Indonesia, causing a tsunami included constructing com- that killed more than 225,000 munity centers, homes, people in 11 countries. “But schools, medical clinics, and we are alive, and we are This new community center was provided next to the local clean water systems—all together, and we are happy.” mosque as part of the Church’s tsunami recovery efforts. made possible by a tremen- Sukardi, like thousands dous outpouring of humani- of others, lost family mem- supplies, and clothing. effort, fishermen and carpen- tarian generosity by Church bers and friends, his home, Because of members’ signifi- ters were given jobs con- members from around the land, and nearly his own cant donations, the Church structing more than 130 world. life. After being washed began planning longer-term replacement fishing boats. The Church’s monumen- away with the tsunami, he relief. As part of that long-term Men were hired to use large, tal efforts in Indonesia managed to grab hold of a coconut tree and cling to it as he waited for the flood- waters to recede. Joined by family members, each with similar survival stories, Sukardi now resides in a home built with the help of Latter-day Saint Charities, an arm of Church Humanitarian Services, as part of the Church’s efforts to assist tsunami survivors. Committing to Long-Term Recovery The Church’s emergency relief efforts during the months immediately follow- ing the tragedy provided RON TAYLOR BY PHOTOGRAPH commodities such as New teachers prepare to teach at the Min Lampuuk school, one of 15 built to replace schools food, hygiene kits, medical destroyed by the tsunami in 2004. 76 teachers from his school. schools; there were few “They have been going trained teachers left,” she to a temporary building for said. “This has been a great school—a community hall contribution to the commu- where there are about 40 nities. Together we are mak- PHOTOGRAPH BY RON TAYLOR BY PHOTOGRAPH students in the room,” said ing a big difference in the Kamaruzzaman, who is now lives of the children, teach- a head schoolmaster of a ers, parents, and families.” newly built school. Each school building Providing Clean Water was furnished with desks, Fauziah, an animated and whiteboards, and libraries. smiling woman, is now a As more teachers became water operator for her small available, an emphasis was village near Bireuen in Aceh put on training and develop- Provence. In this position, ing new curriculum. she keeps records and col- Jim Greding shakes hands with Abdul Samad, who lived “The students now have lects water-usage fees from in community barracks with his children for two years after a better school that’s more those who use the commu- losing his wife and his mother. helpful to learning. They now nity’s new water system. have a more hopeful future,” In partnership with concluded in December reliable in their lives again. said Kamaruzzaman. International Relief and 2007. Major projects included “When the earthquake Herliana, an education Development, the Church building 902 homes and 3 hit and the tsunami followed, coordinator for Islamic Relief, completed 24 village water community centers, con- the first thing they did, if is proud to be a part of this projects that consisted of structing 15 schools, building they were in their house, project. “There were no renovating wells, installing 3 fully equipped health clin- was run outside,” said Jeff ics, rebuilding a hospital McMurdo from the Interna- wing, and completing 24 tional Organization for Other Aid Ongoing 2007, more than two dozen village water projects. Migration, which partnered in Indonesia humanitarian aid projects with the Church to build Though the Church has have been completed or Rebuilding Homes and Lives homes. “From the moment concluded a major under- are ongoing. Among those Abdul Samad lived in a it started, they were running. taking with its long-term projects were emergency hastily constructed commu- So when they get the keys tsunami relief projects in relief to victims of flooding nity barracks for two and a to a house, they are able to Indonesia, Humanitarian in Jakarta and Solo, of mud half years before he and his get some measure of closure Services will continue a flows in Java, and of earth- family moved into their new to the whole tragedy of the variety of ongoing aid proj- quakes in Sumatra and home. He lost his wife and tsunami experience.” ects and has no intention Bengkulu. her mother in the flood but of walking away from new Other projects include now hopes to make life bet- Establishing Schools relationships forged and donating wheelchairs and ter for his remaining family, and Hope old relationships strength- vocational training materi- three daughters and a son. The Church partnered ened during the tsunami als to the disabled, supply- Each of the 902 homes with Islamic Relief and the relief efforts. ing medical equipment built and donated is 44 Adventist Development and “We were doing humani- to a hospital, sponsoring square meters. The hundreds Relief Agency to build 15 tarian work in Indonesia a number of pediatric of recipients frequently said schools, train new teachers, before the tsunami, and surgeries, providing furni- they believe their homes and develop curriculum and we continue to do projects ture and sanitation equip- were the best homes built education support systems. in that nation today,” said ment to various schools, and that they would pass Many of the area’s Brett Bass, director of and overseeing several them on to their children teachers were killed in the Church Humanitarian projects to bring clean and grandchildren. They tsunami. Kamaruzzaman, a Services. water to villages that had expressed gratitude for hav- teacher from Banda Aceh, Since the beginning of none. ■ ing something solid and is one of just two surviving ENSIGN JUNE 2008 77 challenges and over- toward reestablishing life. whelmed by the While these efforts played opportunity,” Brother just a small part among those Hamm said. of the many individuals and This opportunity organizations that offered aid PHOTOGRAPH BY RON TAYLOR BY PHOTOGRAPH was also extended to the tsunami victims, the to Jim and Karen missionaries were able to Greding of Thousand share their love, the love of Oaks, California, USA. the members, and the pure They were called to love of Christ. oversee the comple- “We were not permitted tion of the projects to proselyte, but we were after Brother and representing the Lord and Sister Hamm’s tried to share our testimonies 18-month mission through our work by being concluded. kind and polite or simply by “We were to over- smiling,” Sister Hamm said. see the quality of the “Sometimes we had the work and to make opportunity to explain where sure the money allot- the funds came from, and we ted for projects was told about our prophet and being used properly,” how he called for a 24-hour Yards have already been enclosed around these two of the Sister Greding said. fast, with the money that more than 900 new homes built in Indonesia. Church representatives were would otherwise be spent present at every stage of the on food to be donated to storage tanks, improving clinics and the rebuilding process; that provision, com- a special fund. I think the sanitation, and upgrading of a hospital wing. bined with its funding meth- Spirit bore witness and they delivery systems. These “This is much-needed,” ods, distinguished the Church understood that there were efforts are providing clean said Syarman, a community from other organizations. individuals around the world water to 20,000 people. leader in the Bireuen district, “We regarded our finances who loved them.” “Before, it was hard to where access to medical care as sacred funds and made Evidences of the get good water and it took a previously required a 15-kilo- every effort to see these tsunami are still very much long time to go get it,” said meter walk. “Our people will funds used efficiently and not apparent, but the people Fauziah as she expressed be able to get needed med- wasted,” said Bill Reynolds, have expressed gratitude for gratitude to have access right ical assistance near their director of field operations every effort that has been outside her home. “Now our homes. It is better than for tsunami relief. “We pro- made on their behalf. children will be healthier and before, and we are grateful.” vided sequential funding that “This is simply an experi- will have a better future.” The Church also arranged relied on benchmark expecta- ence you can never forget, Bath and laundry facilities training for doctors and tions that we personally over- and anyone who travels to were also built in the villages, medical staff and provided saw.