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Indonesia Christians Remember Deadly Tsunami

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

MEDAN, INDONESIA (Worthy News) – Christians gathered in Indonesia on Thursday to pray for survivors and families of victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami 20 years ago that killed some 230,000 people and left deep scarves in the lives of those who were there.

“We pray today for them as we will never forget,” said Victoria, an organizer of a regular prayer service and home church in a heavily Muslim area of Medan, the capital and largest city of Indonesia’s North Sumatra province.

Victoria, who only uses that name for security reasons, told Worthy News that she remembers the “earth-shaking” on that fateful December 26. “While Medan was further away, even our city shook due to the tsunami and related earthquake.”

Many churches were also impacted, including Aceh, the hard-hit Indonesian province. Christians told Worthy News that many Churches were destroyed.

“And many people from Aceh rushed to Medan, about 12 hours drive from there,” recalled Victoria. “Many are also near us,” she said, adding that she and other church workers are trying to “reach out” to people still suffering from Aceh.

Experts say the tsunami on December 26, 2004, was triggered by a 9.1-magnitude quake off the coast of Indonesia’s Aceh province.

HIGH WAVES

It sent waves as high as 17.4 meters (57 feet) crashing into the coastlines of Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, and nine other countries.

In Indonesia, which accounted for more than half the total death toll, hundreds of survivors and family members of the victims visited a mass grave in the Ulee Lheue village, reporters saw.

There were scattered flower petals on the stones marking the graves. Many were crying and hugging their family members. Some people weren’t sure if their loved ones were there, as many were buried unidentified, they explained.

A memorial was also held in the front yard of Aceh’s Grand Baiturrahman Mosque, where hundreds sat in silence for three minutes before praying together.

Sri Lanka marked the day with two minutes of silence at the Peraliya Tsunami Memorial Statue in the town of Galle, the country’s disaster management center said in a short statement.

In India’s Tamil Nadu, the worst-hit Indian state, residents lit candles and conducted prayers for those killed two decades ago.

MARKING ANNIVERSARY

Thailand marked the anniversary near Ban Nam Khem village in southern Phang Nga province by holding religious rites for those who died.

Hundreds of people visited the Tsunami Wall, a memorial site next to where the rituals were held, to pay their respects to lost loved ones.

“I felt that the waves took my daughter away; I was so mad at it,” said 62-year-old resident Urai Sirisuk, who lost her 4-year-old daughter.

Urai said she would not go near the sea, just about 50 meters (yards) away.

“I cannot bring myself near it, not even my feet in the sand. I wouldn’t come around here if not necessary, never. The sea took my daughter from me,” she added.

For Victoria and other Christians in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim nation, these are moments to pray for “Christ’s peace and wisdom.”