REFLECTION OF THE MISSION TRIP, 6-13 Aug 05
by Philip Lee
 

As a modern day Singapore city-dweller, I always look forward. Looking back seems anti-thetical. But the mission trip inevitably transports me back to the memories of life in the 1960s or even 1950s. Sri Lanka ? Hikkadua/Balapitiya provides that setting.  Jostled out of my comfort zone, I realized I have taken for granted many basic things in life.

Imagine life without basic electricity. No refrigerator, TV, computers. Imagine life without air-conditioning or even electric fan, without the convenience of a toilet. Imagine having to drink water from the well, bathe by the well and the long-held wish was to own a house.

Not a Condominium or a Semi-D, but a basic 350sqft 2 room house with 4 blank walls and a zinc roof over and a bare concrete floor. The kind that we read in the story of the 3 little pigs. Very basic. But that is the dream of the villagers at Balapitiya. At least the story of Mr. Janaka  Ranasinga whose village was devastated by the 26-Dec-04 Tsunami. What remains are now 56 villagers (14 families) in make-shift huts. Their properties are in rubbles, their means of livelihood an uncertainty. Janaka has a business in electronic goods. But all that was washed away. He is not a figure in despair but a spritely 30something with a wife and 3 children (8 yr and 4yr). One child has died. He showed us his house which bore the Tsunami imprint of the water level at about 9 ft high that submerged the whole village. Of the little things that work properly, he was proud to let us sit in his only chair that is still in good condition. Spartan but satisfactory.
 

But Janaka (or affectionately known as Brother 5) is not just sitting around awaiting relief. He contributes either in money (however paltry little left) or in sweat to rebuild the village. Through his own labour, he is rebuilding not just his own simple home but his mother's and his brother's.

And whilst we provided the labour to ease the workload during our stint in this village, he was the man who climbed the coconut tree to provide us fresh thirst relief against the scorching heat. Somehow when we share the coconuts, we also share the love that cuts across all boundaries.

Although our modern day technology may be arguably superior, our knowledge more vast to do things in a far better way...all that really is immaterial. The villagers have shown us that we can see life and live life simply and fully? come what may. They have enjoyed our presence, our motivation and our spirit of giving as much as we enjoyed their hospitality.

Expectations? What can we do to help the Tsunami-hit villagers?

It is not the no. of bricks you carry, the no. of houses you build that really matter? but with the Love you share, and the Hope you can inspire in them,? it allows them to experience Christ in you. These words of Fr. Charles Sim during our trip preparation left in me a deep impression throughout.

Angels Among Us, 6-13 Aug 05
By Alicia Chu

In this day and age when it seems to be every man for himself, I was reminded of God?s great power to bring people together. When I signed on for this trip, I had no idea just how much I would witness that in action. It was amazing to observe, first of all, a group of almost complete strangers get along like old friends so instantly. The warmth was apparent, the sincerity evident. I could tell that God was shining in the team. 

Being blessed with a cohesive team already made the trip highly enjoyable. Little did I expect more surprises in the form of ?honorary? team members at the job site. Not a day went by that our group of eleven wasn?t joined by Habitat for Humanity staff, house owners, two men from Kandy, and even children in the village. Hands, big and small, joined in the building of the houses, and though we did not fully complete any houses, we accomplished much more in the process of working together.
 

What warmed my heart even more was that though I felt I took away as much if not more from this experience than the people we were helping, the villagers, foreman, and helpers were more than generous with their gratitude, showering us with freshly plucked coconuts, candy, ice cream, little gifts, a thank you cake, cookies, drinks, and most touching ? words of appreciation which, though given in halting English, were more heart warming than even the most articulate speech. Never did I expect to receive so much on a trip where I was supposed to be doing the giving. Our team leader, Lorraine, called them Angels. Just like the song by Alabama, I have to believe that?s true ? that God sent these 'Angels Among Us'.