Update -- 1:39 am Thai time

 

This is Al typing from my own laptop back home with Joane and the kids. Things have been happening so quickly that I don't know where to begin to give an update.

 

I told Joane over the phone to stop sending updates since her Jan 1st one since she was becoming distressed because of the stories that I was telling her. Our complete operation as YWAM Relief and Development has moved to the Phuket Provincial Hall where representatives of the affected countries, Interpol and Thai authorities are working together with a structured system of volunteers to address the needs at this time.

 

 Because of the nature of this situation plans are made and changed several times a day and we are constantly on the move in several directions at once. The team that I am working with have put together the most complete and accurate list of survivors based on hospital lists and will be providing these lists to the official Thai government web site. We have also worked to get an onsite data centre operating where we continue to do translation, collect new missing person information and will provide access to our survivor database. Because we had people onsite at the temples to connect with the families and friends of those missing both Interpol as well as the embassies represented have requested our information.

 

I have never seen or done anything like this before. Everything is running at 10 times the pace of real life and is in a state of constant flux. Our volunteers have been also changing daily. Some must get back to work and some get overwhelmed and just can't make it back. Last night I had to calm a Thai volunteer team leader who came back from the temple where it is now becoming dangerous and was near hysterics. We have learned from onsite counselors how to listen and help as best we can those who are in shock or becoming unstable.

 

When I got home tonight all I wanted to do was hold and hug my kids for a long, long time. I tried to keep my emotions together but kept having to wipe my eyes. Everything around me seemed to remind me of the tragedy I have been surrounded with. Even when I look at my own kids my thoughts wander and I see the missing people pictures again and  start to think about moms or dads who will go to sleep tonight without their little boys and girls. Or this children who are missing the one that would normally tuck them in. I think that most of us working down there at a certain point  realized that to keep going with the work, we needed to sort of turn off our hearts continuously, focus on the tasks and keep moving.  When this is over we will all need to cry a lot. It is now really late again and I'm making pancake breakfast for this kids in less than 6 hours from now. I will try to give you more of a detailed update tomorrow.

 

Love, Al

 

PS. I will be heading back to Phuket for a day or two on Wednesday.

PSS. A couple of days ago I did a live interview on Sky News out of the UK.

PSSS. I will send a following email with some pics.