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 ...