Sichuan Trip: Day Three

We headed to H2H at 7:30 AM, assembled our team, loaded supplies, and hit the road about 9:30 AM. Our interpreter for the day would be Stephen, a local with a very pleasant disposition. Our caravan this day consisted of only two cars.

Our team that day.


We traveled up to Hanwang area, and as we passed through the town of Hanwang, saw the most severe damage of a city area up to this point. Knowing that the cities were well-supplied, we headed instead to the outskirts. Our responsibilities on these trips were two-fold: Assess needs (so that further teams could be effectively allocated) and deliver supplies.

Our first stop was the remains of a small village, where the residents were now living together under a large tarp (supported by the outlying girders of a damaged factory). Having water and food, again their primary need was that of additional shelter. On the way out of Chengdu, two of our team members from Beijing had purchased some soccer and volleyballs. While some of the group decided what to leave behind, others of us played soccer with some of the kids.

Playing soccer with the kids.

In a situation such as this, it was tempting to focus on what we could do for people tangibly. But help can be given in a variety of ways. It was here we were reminded of the power of play. Sharing their grief was essential, yet equally essential was finding a way to temporarily put it out of mind. In the midst of broken glass and rubble, a small stretch of pavement served as our soccer field. Slowly, kids emerged from the crowd to fill out our circle. Now and then, I would direct a pass to an adult or child to lure them into active participation. For ten minutes we passed the ball around the circle, and then it was time to go. Maybe no lives were changed in that brief encounter, yet smiles were shared by all.

Our first stop of the day.

In the morning, we had decided to return to our last stop of the second day before heading back to Chengdu. We felt continuity would be appropriate and important in their particular situation. As we headed toward Mianyang, we made two more stops. At each stop, we listened, played, and left supplies (including a volleyball).

Playing volleyball in a cut-thru development on our way ...

Damage in the cut-thru development ...

After spending some in yesterday’s final village, we went just beyond and also distributed the supplies we had left. Then we began the long journey back to Chengdu. After arriving, we smiled sheepishly again at the clerk, re-checked in and headed to bed. Before heading to bed, we heard rumors that the government had issued a warning regarding an imminent aftershock within the next two days.

About 1:30 AM, our phone rang. Thinking it was our nightly call asking if we wanted a massage, I almost ignored it. But, thinking it was odd to receive a call this late, I picked up the receiver, prepared to slam it down in defiance if necessary. It was the front desk urging us to come to the hotel lobby because “The earthquake is coming!” The residents, who seemed to finally have settled down after the earthquake, clogged the streets either piling in their cars trying to leave town or setting up temporary shelters. The front desk, feeling a strong responsibility for our welfare, did not allow any of us to stay in bed! We ended up sleeping in the hotel restaurant on the first floor.

Streets full after the aftershock warning ...

Our nesting place for the night ...

Sichuan Trip: Day Two

We arrived at the Heart to Heart International Distribution Center at 7:30 AM ready to head out. There was certainly no shortage of volunteers. Some came from the local area, others from other countries. Everyone seemed eager to help. Organizing the teams and arranging transportation was a huge job. The H2H folks had been working all week from morning till night and were short on sleep; nevertheless, they were very patient and helpful.

Here is our group from the first day, minus the four added after the photo was taken. Gabe (front row, center), Josh (front row, second from right), and Doug (back row, third from left) were featured on ABC Nightly News for the work they did in a displaced persons camp the day after we traveled with them.

We filled out paperwork (including waivers, in case something unforeseen was to happen to us!), took group pictures, plotted our destination, and loaded up supplies before finally departing around 9:30 AM. By the time we left, our original group of five had swelled to more than ten! Our entourage included four vehicles!!

A large coloseum located in Mianyang City where approximately 10,000 displaced persons were living.

A family shelter in Mianyang City located on a sidewalk. Even though some homes were left standing after the earthquake, people still lived in temporary shelters for fear of aftershocks.

Typical of the destruction we saw while driving to villages.

The first village we visited was about two hours from the city of Chengdu and was located on the side of a mountain. Every home in this small village was either severely damaged or flattened. Our assessment was that though they had water and food, they were lacking shelter. Having already purchased construction-grade tarps before leaving Chengdu, we consulted with the village leader to learn who in his village still needed shelter.

While attempting to go beyond the village, we bumped into a Chinese Red Cross group coming down the mountain road who informed us that the villages beyond were already supplied. This was a common theme of our trip. Each place we went, with the exception of two, we saw evidence that military or Red Cross vehicles had already been there distributing supplies to the quake victims.

Photo taken while entering the first village we visited.

The second village we visited was about an hour northwest of the first village. To get there we went through a mountain pass where we saw evidence of landslides. The leader of the village informed us that up their mountain dirt road were nine villages but only the first two were able to be reached. He assured us that those who needed care had received it, but that they could use some food, water, and tarps. The people were in good spirits and we played with some of the children.

En route to the second village. In the background is a bulldozer. We saw much heavy machinery during our time there that was being used at this point to clear debris.

Us delivering supplies at the second village.

The third village we visited was located outside the town of Mianzhu (30-40 Kilometers southeast of the epicenter). A group had been there a day earlier and had reported some possible needs to be met. The doctors saw a couple of patients and together we surveyed the damage. One of the most helpful things we were able to do for people was just to look and listen (and understand as best we could!). Telling their story to an outsider so that we could see and feel their pain was powerful. In the aftermath of a disaster, it is easy to underestimate the power of presence.

The final village we visited was within 2 kilometers of the third village. These folks were also eager to talk. The doctors treated some minor injuries and again surveyed the damage, which was devastating. Unfortunately, it was here we made our first mistake. Rather than consulting with the village leader to head up the distribution of supplies (decide who needed what), we went ahead and unloaded all the supplies on the ground at once. This created a situation that was emotionally charged and was embarrassing both for the villagers and the volunteers. The leader promptly asked us to leave after the incident.

One of our doctors treating a villager.

With no accommodations nearby and no clear reason to stay out that night, we decided to head back to Chengdu, which was about a three hour ride! On the way back, we reflected on our day. It’s hard to explain how devastation affects you. In some ways, you don’t feel different at all. To sensitize yourself, you try to imagine what it must be like to be one of the victims, but the truth is: You can’t, because you’re not. And it’s hard to push away just a twinge of guilt that you are not one of the victims. Why them, and not you?

We smiled sheepishly as we checked in again at the hotel that night. Sometimes extreme acts of self-denial aren’t necessary when so many others are doing their part to help. It’s disappointing to realize that you’re probably not going to be someone’s hero, but satisfying to know that you are part of a bigger picture. Our contributions may vary, but we are all contributing.

Sichuan Trip: Day One

While attending a birthday party in the morning, we learned that our trip was a go. We didn’t know exactly how we would help or how long we would be there, but our flight left at 2:00 PM for Chengdu in Sichuan Province, China.

We would arrive seven days after the disastrous 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit, killing 80,000 people and leaving 5 million homeless. I packed in less than an hour and headed to the airport where I would meet the rest of our group. My stomach was heavy and my mind racing. I thought, “In the face of such overwhelming destruction, how can one person make a difference?” I was also uncertain about the amount of danger we would encounter.

After a minor passport hiccup, we went through security (where I lost a bottle of contact lenses solution, a bottle of sunscreen, and had my football deflated) and then boarded the plane. From the Chengdu airport, we took a taxi to the distribution center of Heart to Heart International, a non-profit group based out of Olathe, KS. They told us to come back in the morning and they would arrange transportation and an interpreter for us, as well as give us our marching orders.
We had brought backpacks and hiking shoes, and so we fully expected that that first night in the hotel would be our last.

After checking in, a few of us followed a rumor of a Papa John’s Pizza in the area. To our delight, Chengdu has not only a Papa John’s but a Dairy Queen as well. Though the pizza was not quite the same (only the garlic-butter sauce was an exact match), it was fun and momentarily took our minds off of the grim task ahead.


At the airport, preparing to depart ...

After arriving in Chengdu, loading into a taxi ...

Heart to Heart International Distribution center (picture top center, is of the founder of H2H and Chinese Premier Wen Jiaobao) ...