Al and his two friends made it to Phang Nga around lunch hour today and were sent to work at one of the five hospitals there. One of YWAM's top leaders was already on site trying to organize the 80 or so volunteers into different teams. Al said the place is just pure chaos. This Thai town has never experienced a disaster (especially of this magnitude) and seems to be at a loss with how to deal with it all. Patient lists are outdated, no one knows what anyone is doing, and it is hard work just to find the right person to talk to. Al was saying that patients are everywhere, even in meeting rooms, sometimes up to 25 together. Most are European, and all are badly scratched up and bruised, like they've been beaten up. Many have lost everything -- passports, money, even family members.

 

Al told me two quick stories I thought I'd share with you.

 

A French man saw "francais" posted on Al's shirt and showed him photos of his 33-year-old wife and 6-month-old baby and asked if Al had seen them. He has been trying to locate them everywhere. Al took him to one of the officials who identified the name of one last hospital the man had not yet been to. They then gave him a list of the temples who had received the bodies of the dead. Al is afraid he may need to help other foreigners identify their relatives at one of the temples later on during the week. So heartbreaking.

 

On a happier note, Al found a Finnish doctor and his wife who were vacationing in the area and had volunteered to help with the relief efforts. They asked to be connected to Finnish patients. After combing the hospital, they finally found one lady who was apparently Finnish -- however, they could not confirm it since she was sleeping. Al said that the doctor's wife placed her hand on the lady's arm and said something in Finnish. As soon as the patient heard those words, she woke up and her face lit up with a look as though she was finally at home.

 

The stories coming out of this disaster are just overwhelming. Please continue to

pray for this region and for all those who have lost so much. Pray that order

would replace the existing chaos.

 

Joane and the kids