GKI-Humanitarian in Serui and Wasior
Flood in Wasior...
As the growing district capital of Wondama Bay, the town of Wasior actually has a significant role in the evangelical movement in Papua (the land of Cendrawasih). It was here that the father of Papuan civilisation, Rev. Izaac Samuel Kijne built the zending school and laid the cornerstone of the Papuan civilisation. Will the flood shatter their faith?
The grieving atmosphere is looming over Papua. After the devastating earthquake in the district of Yapen and Waropen on June 16th 2010, another 7,4 on the Richter scale earthquake shocked Kaimana on September the 30th. Four days later, a flash flood struck Wasior, the district capital of Wondama Bay. The flood that devastated numerous hamlets coincides with the passing of Rev. Wim Rumsarwir, the former synod leader of GKI in Papua.
Stone of Civilisation
Wasior started to gain its fame when Rev Izaac Samuel Kijne founded the Zending school in Wonadama in 1925. He moved from Marsiman, the first foothold of the evangelical movement in Papua in the February 5th 1855. in the year 1857 Ottow and Geissler opened the evangelical school for children and adults that teaches about the bible and the life ethics of a Christian. The heart of it lays on the Zending and the Church.
The most famous landmark in Wondama is the Stone of Civilization erected by Rev. I.S. Kijne with the message: “On this stone I put the cornerstone of Papuan civilisation. Even when people have a high degree of intellect, understanding and knowledge but cannot lead this nation, the nation will rose and lead it self” (Wasior, October 25th 1925). The religious message from Kijne as the founding father of Papuan civilization signifies that the people of Papua will be the masters of their own land. Other than the Stone of Civilisation in Miei there’s also the Stone of Inspiration. According to the local believe, should one stand atop of the stone and view the beautiful scenery of Wondama, one will be given inspiration to bring changes.
After the flood, David Wompere climb onto the Stone of Civilisation. “I wrote there about a silent song sung to give a new inspiration about how God’s grace will be forever present there. I admit that God will never abandon His children is the foundation of many testimonies given by many missionaries that has rooted until today.” David said in the Manokwari refugee camp.
The Cornerstone
The flood that killed more than 150 people, hundreds more missing, and displaced many people left a deep wound in the hearts of the people. Will they be able to return to Wasior? The million questions from the thousands of refugees have no answer for now. The flood ripped the faith and took away almost everything. But one that cannot be lost is hope. For that we all need to return to our source of hope, Christ as the cornerstone
Serve those who are Served
In order to reach the disaster struck Wasior, the team have to go though a tedious journey. The news about the flood was received by the GKI team after the team returns from giving medical services to the people of Urato, East Waropen (4/10). After the GKI team communicated with the Chairman in Jakarta via cellular phone, the team decided to dispatch an evacuation team to join with the local team in October 5th 2010, due to the needs to give medical services to the medically deprived people of Waropen because of the scarcity of medical practitioners (only 1 civil servant doctor for the entire district of Waropen), coincides with the bad weather, The medical unit of GKI-Humanitarian can finally leave Waropen on Thursday morning to Serui. It was planned that the team would fly to Nabire to give medical services to the refugees, but the flight was cancelled due to bad weather. Finally, on Saturday night the team sailed with KM Nggapulu. After 6 hours of sailing, on Sunday at 05.00 WIT the ship arrived in Nabire. With few considerations, the team decided to continue the journey to Wasior after stocking supplies in Nabire. In their Journey to Wasior the team did some medical services to the victims who wanted to return to Wasior, even though the team’s health conditions were not in their prime.
On Sunday afternoon at 15.00 WIT, October 10th 2010, thousands of refugees packed the wharf of Kuri Pasai, Wasior, while waiting for the motor boat (KM) Nggapulu to dock. The continuous drizzle didn’t seem to make them leave the wharf. From afar the team can see waves of refugees coming with debris of houses and timber as the background.
While waiting for the boat to dock, from the left side of the hull of deck 6 of KM Nggapulu, the Gerakan Kemanusiaan Indonesia Team (TGKI) conducted coordination and task distribution. The coordination results are “Nelles, Irwan, dr. Johanes, dr. Martin and dr. Welly will asses the situation. Mrs. Ade and Mrs. Ratna will collect data. Sugianto, Rev. Resly, Rev. Chris, and Rev. Oropa will go to the GKI command post.” After the boat docked in Wasior, the team directly gather information and took the necessary actions. Visited the GKI command post in Papua and met with the synod leader of Papua Rev. Jemima Krey, S.Th and the secretary of the deacon department Rev. Simon Wospakrik.
Seeing the present situation, which is most citizens of Wasior had fled their homes, there wasn’t many things that can be done in Wasior. Meanwhile, thousands of refugees evicted with KM Nggapulu was in a dire condition and requires immediate treatment. Eventually the team decided to give medical services onboard the KM Nggapulu. With the permission of the ship’s captain, the team scoured the deck in order to give the refugees onboard some medical services. TGKI started the service from deck 6 to deck 4 as the place of the Wasior refugees. Aside from that, there are several refugees that required further medical treatment, therefore TGKI borrowed the ship’s clinic in deck 7 in order to give the necessary treatment.
Refugees
Around 23.30 WIT, the ship docked in the Manokwari harbour and all TGKI’s public health team debarked with the refugees. After 3 hours, TGKI found a place to rest for a while.
The morning of 11 October 2010 reenergized the team’s spirit to meet the refugees in Manokwari. After coordinating with the Task Force Commander of the Army’s Special Forces (KOPASSUS) - who happens to be a former school mate of one of the TGKI volunteer – and a business man – who befriended of one the TGKI volunteer when the business man was in Jakarta – then the team visits the refugees housed in the Army’s district base (KODIM) in Manokwari. When the team arrived in the compound, the Health Department of Manokwari District has given medical services. After a brief discussion with the officer from the healthcare department, TGKI was asked to distribute mosquito net and converse with the refugees. Because according to the healthcare officers – whom mostly are not members of the church, while the refugees are mostly church members – there are several communication problems. While distributing the mosquito net and through conversations with the refugees, there were lots of sad stories. The services given were supposedly routinely given by the local church because the refugees are living like there is no hope. They desperately need some trauma healing.
The Next Services Given By GKI-Humanitarian
The emergency state given by the government ended in November 1st 2010 and there is a possibility of extension, considering at the moment (October 17th 2010) the floods are returning to Wasior.
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