Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
The following are excerpts from unsolicited email letters I have received from volunteer members of HelpSriLanka.us and some family members, as well. I reproduce them here by permission of the senders, so that all interested can enjoy some of the experiences and impressions of those doing this great work in Sri Lanka.
My name is Scott Forbes and my wife Vicki Forbes is in group 1. Background, Vicki is an LPN in pediatrics. She went to the first meeting Sat. Jan 7, and was excited and convinced that she wanted to go. She was a little cautious and skeptical about the whole thing, and asked me to go to the second meeting with her to get my opinion. I think that second meeting was Sunday, Jan. 16, but it might have been Sat., Jan. 15. Any way I was at the entire meeting, and here is what I saw, in no particular order of importance.
Yes, the meeting was fairly unorganized and chaotic. There were about 40 people there and at any given time there were 2 to 5 conversations going while Evan was trying to conduct the meeting. People were asking and answering questions with the people beside them, near them, and across the room. Everyone was excited and craving information. Some people had been to the first meeting, some not. Some people were committed to going, some were not. Some had already paid half the money, $750, including my wife, and some had not. Evan did stress that this meeting was for those who were going or thinking about going with the first group. There was a meeting the following night for group2.
Yes,I would say that the focus and about half the time was to collect money. BUT, and I stress this, it was not for the sake of money, but to get a commitment from people on whether they were going or not. He did not pressure anyone to sign up or go with them. Many people were hesitant and did not pay him. Some weren't sure of their schedules, some questioned the money, some wanted more details, some probably questions their own commitment. Evan did not really care. He just stressed a number of times if you were going, you needed to commit and pay. He also explained two or three times why. The plan was to leave Sat. Jan 29. ONLY 13 days away. He still needed to buy the airplane tickets and make the arrangements for 30 some people from Mpls to Sri Lanka. No small task I would think. He was planning to buy the tickets on Wed. Jan. 19, only 10 days before departure. He certainly would not buy tickets for people who were not sure if they were going. He needed to buy them all at once. Monday Jan. 17 was Martin Luther King Day and the banks were closed. He needed to deposit the checks on Tuesday so the money would be available on Wed. to buy the tickets. Yes, he did ask people for the money, and if they didn't pay, when they would get the money to him. But again I stress only so he could buy the plane ticket. This all made perfect sense to me.
Evan said more that once he was not sure how much the tickets would cost. I think he said about $1200. He said about $300 was for room and board. They would provide breakfast and dinner at the orphanage and a bag lunch to take with them during the day. If you stop to think about it, any orphanage, especially one in a recently hit disaster area could probably not afford for feed 33 volunteers for 30 day. He said any extra money of the $1500 would be used for supplies. He encouraged everyone to get extra donations of supplies, materials, and money. From what I could tell it was not mandatory. Although I don't recall whether he maintained it or not, obviously local transpiration i.e. buses must also be costing quite a bit and is coming from that money.
So much for the meeting. We did not have a checkbook with us, so Vicki went down the next night before the group2 meeting to pay the balance.
As I told many of our friends who asked about this before they left. It is very much a grass roots deal, run by a man who has never done anything like this before, just feeling the need to help his family, friends, and fellow countrymen. He was obviously on a fast track putting the whole thing together in just 3 weeks. He just needed people to say yes I'm in, and show him the money, or no.
I think the best thing to do is let the people on the trip tell the story. I have only talked to Vicki once since she left, Sunday, AM, Feb 6. When I kidded her about some excitement going on her response was, " Yea, I just stayed out of it." She told me how wonderful everybody on the trip was, even Nancy.
2-1 yesterday we had classes all day where we learned common language phrases. The food has been very good. Getting used to the curry. Animals all over, frogs in bathroom to shower with us. No snakes so far. People very friendly
2-4 Visited 3 refugee camps yesterday- a very rewarding experience. Today go to another. They are not nearly as close as we had thought. Most are at least a 2 hour bus ride away.
2-5 Yesterday went to two more refugee camps. People living in tents. As medical personnel we saw maybe 150 or so. Over all I'd say things are going well and I am doing what I came here to do.
2-8 we leave at 8am and return around 830 pm. It was a very gratifying day. We helped one woman who big toe was all a mess, the interpreter said at night the mice chew on her toes. You may not hear from me for a week because my name was drawn to go with the doctor to an area called Hickadu. We leave Thursday and will not return for 1 week. It will be myself and 3 other nurses and 1 doctor. At this point I don't know where we are staying.
2-9 Have been to 4 or 5 refugee camps so far. Unbelievable. They are so needy our press did not give this place justice. We have been to the Hickaduu area where all the 1200 people on a train died in an instant. Very moving. Very much like a shrine. Taking lots of pictures. The people love to have them taken. They are appreciative of all the supplies we give them. Even if its one crayon and paper. They invite us into the their tents to show us their homes. Most have literally nothing. The priests that run this place are wonderful and very respected. Their may be a change of plans as we may go to the East where the need is even greater. They have 10,000 refugees in camps.
I had one of my best days so far. Today I got to work on the construction crew. I hauled many cinder blocks weighing 25 pounds, we were told. I counted the steps that we had to carry them and for me it was 105 steps each way. Mine are larger steps than any one else. From what other people have read on line there is going to be some bad press--don't believe it. We are working our butts of here and we see the money going into buying supplies, taking some people to medical specialists. When we visited the Mother Theresa orphanage Evan gave them money, he also gave money to the Buddhist temple to help feed them for a month. We have lots of footage that shows how hard we are working and the good we are doing for these people. Always a change in plans. Tomorrow I leave with the Dr and four other nurses but I believe we now come back Sat. night as Sunday is considered our day off. Many people are getting a little homesick here, I'm doing OK but please keep sending Emails as it brightens up my day.”
I'm sure others are getting similar stories. I feel that it is going well for Vicki, and I hope for everyone in the group. It sounds to me like she is satisfied with the logistics and the work they are doing. It is certainly an experience unlike anything she has done so far. Perhaps Nancy is angry and maybe even jealous that she missed this opportunity for whatever reasons. I certainly hope this doesn't spoil things for those on the trip and those planning to go.
Again, thanks for all of your work.
Scott Forbes
This has been a journey for all of us, in more ways than distance. For me, the plight of these people is far greater than the tsunami disaster. The poverty is shocking. They live in homes that are shanties. There is barely room to walk between some of them. I am not sure what they are eating. They are very thin. Yet they all smile back when we smile. They are most appreciative of the most basic medical care. The children absolutely love to see the teachers with their songs and games. They were singing their abc's at the tops of their little voices yesterday. I feel we are doing some very important work here. Not just meeting immediate needs, but developing relationships, and trying to develop a sense of community and responsibility within this little village of Moratuwa that was demolished by the tsunami.
Hello David, This is Susan Gerold writing. I'm using Louise Kallands e-mail.
Our mission work here is going very well. Nancy Anderson told us she tends to make emotional decisions and I believe she made one that night. We did get through some hard work that night but very important work. We asked to stay and see how things go but she was very upset.
I feel very strongly that Evan has the volunteers and Sri Lankas best interests in his plan here. He is spending money here everyday. We gave money to a refugee camp, an orphanage, purchased building supplies, are rebuilding homes, etc. People must remember we are a group of professionals here and will not stand by and let anything but good things happen. We are all working very hard now and are very happy and exhausted at the end of the days. As we left Moratuwa yesterday a group of village children sang "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". Jacqui Winkleman and probably others taught them this song. They are the stars and the reason we are here.
David,
My daughter and granddaughter are in Sri Lanka and I was not, for them going on this trip. But I am so happy they did what they felt they had to do. It has been hard on my Brittany she is home sick and only 17 yrs old, but today and yesterday I got very up e mails. My girls feel they are doing something for the people but every letter I hear how the people are doing for them. How thankful the people are that they all are there. I hear about the babies and children and how they are building a soup kitchen and how they are going to bring villages together to help each other. So much good is going to happen with helpsrilanka.us. Any one thinking about why are you going or should you go the answer is yes. My husband with bad back and arms has said he wants to go and he is 65 yrs. old. I would go just for the kids a lone. But the heat would get to me. And I am not giving my husband the ok. I would worry about his heart and things.
My girls are loving the heat. I just through I would the people who are thinking of this or who have any question as to is it a good thing I am telling you its a very good thing. Good luck. I know you will got to bed as my girls are with a lot of job.
>God Bless you all,
Maria Nichols ( Daughter is Tammy Klar Granddaughter is Brittany Klar)
Hi David:
We spent about 3/4 of a day clearing rocks off a 20" X 40" space for a playground area where we want to put up a swing set and maybe a slide. It took only a little while for the youngsters to stretch a string between two poles and start a volleyball game. It was so rewarding to see them play. Up until then there was no area where they could do that. We hope to get a swing set up next week. First we have to get a load of sand and spread that around. For our reward we get about a million smiles from some great people who have lost almost every thing, and we get the greatest cup of tea you will ever taste.
Judy Vossler
Sri Lnka