this is an errie picture....

time stood still at 2.38 pm... that is the time the quake struck.

We went to the town call Hanwang.... the earthquake zone that killed thousands in China Sichuan.





It was beyond words for me to describe when i got there... it is totally shocking. You can never imagine what its like. It is now a ghost town... the government built a wall surrounding the town and no one can enter into it. The how and dry season is near, so they are afraid of diseases as many are still buried in there....



imagine... when you come home one day and then everything is gone... your family... your house.... your friends.... neighbours.... your everything....

we should thank God that we live in a relatively safe area, protected against earthquake and tsunamis...

i hated it when people go there as tourist.... i mean what is there to see?? there are just collapsed buildings... broken families.... dead bodies.... sadness and pain.... and this people are there as tourist!!... have a heart.....

i asked myself why do we need to go there? are we going to add more pain to these people? what are we doing there? what can we do to offer anything or help to these people?

my answer: nothing

we did not go there as tourist.... but on a pilgrimage, to visit our brothers and sisters in Christ and the Catholic community there. some of them share with us their stories.... the pain...and sadness....

While there, we pray for the dead and their families and those still alive..... we also had Mass in a local Church (also totally collapsed) built in a temporary house..... they were happy that we were there to give them spiritual and moral support.... they welcome us with a band!!! and a nice lunch....

they were very strong.... their faith tested by God and they stood with God, their faith even stronger.... but we cried.... maybe our faith is not as strong as theirs....

now i know why i are there... its not about doing anything to help them... but just being there with them... pray with them... show them that there are brothers and sisters like us who are aware of them and are praying for them..... they are not alone.... we care for them and God is with them.

and i wonder.... if God were to test us with this... do we still believe in Him? do we still have the faith in God?

perhaps the trip to the quake zone of hanwang was the reason why i join this mission/pilgrimage trip.... to be more humble and faithful to God. and that everything is in God's time. He can give and He can also take them away swiftly.

another useless thought