Shining God's Love with a Smile!
Bette Vander Giessen (a.ka. as the team's 'social convenor') was blessed to join one of the fall 2006 teams to help build homes and hope in Indonesia, as part of CRWRC's tsuanami relief efforts. She reports here how God used her gifts of a sense of humour and a contagious smile to shine His love to others.
The devastation of the December 26, 2004 tsunami is still very obvious in many parts of the province of Aceh. Riding on fragmented roads, driving past acres of damaged villages, standing on hills of broken bricks and seeing thousands of temporary housing shelters, all helped me understand that nature can be both beautiful and very destructive. Seeing the progress which has been made by the many local and international Relief agencies was humbling for our entire Service Link team. However, two years later, many projects still need to be completed in the restructuring process of this beautiful country. I feel very blessed to have been able to participate in the work of the CRWRC in Indonesia. I had the opportunity to live in a home built by GenAssist, which is the name of the local agency, in Banda Aceh, through which the CRWRC work is directed. Being part of the lives of families who were directly traumatized by this disaster and hearing their stories of survival made me realize that the efforts of all the aid agencies is only part of the solution in the rebuilding process in Indonesia. The simple homes and stark furnishings contrasted strongly with the extent of happiness expressed by the Indonesian people in their daily lives. Witnessing their resiliency to be able to re-start their lives could only be possible through their inner, personal strength and the value each person is to their community. I had the opportunity of attending community meetings where both the elders and the local residents participated. Through the interpreting skills of members from the GenAssist team, I heard the locals express their overflowing gratitude for the work of CRWRC and their volunteers. It amazed them that we would come from so far away, at our own expense, to be part of their village. They appreciated our work and the donated supplies but more touching, I felt that their frequent ‘thank you’s were for our genuine interest in their lives. My personal journey started many months before meeting my host ‘family’ in Putin, a tiny village in the Lhong area. It began when I was accepted as a volunteer with Service Link. God was very real to me through each step. From having the Burlington’s Service Link staff steer me through the ‘paper work’, to getting my flight connections with my AirMiles, to feeling the encouragement and emotional support from my family and friends and finally, but most of all, feeling peace in my heart … these were all signs that God was guiding me and saying “yes, this call is for YOU”. My heart was overflowing with happiness and thankfulness that I could be part of this important project. My ‘journey’ continued in Indonesia; about three days after I had started working and living in this tropical climate, my faith and physical strength were put to the test. I wondered out loud if I had misinterpreted God’s voice. I struggled with the possibly of being a hindrance to the ‘team effort’ due to my reduced speed of production. It is here where again I clearly saw God’s hand. Each member of the team encouraged and supported me. They brought out my other strengths of humour, sociability and friendship. Being part of a Christian team was amazing! Seeing how our team worked, its flexibility, resiliency and actions in love were the best parts of my time in the remote part of the world. God gave me the gift of smiling and He allowed me to share this with others. I praise God for His love for me, and how he uses me, even here, to bring love and kindness to others. God uses mysterious ways to make His love shine. I witnessed this through the efforts of the various international relief agencies, the work of interfaith agencies, in the faces of the survivors in Indonesia and through the bonding of members in a Christian team. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to see how love is much superior to earthly treasures.
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