Update on Volcano: Merapi Stars and Human Trafficking

I wanted to do a special post about this ornament on our tree -- the Merapi star.

Actually we have 5 of them!

This star = hope and employment for victims of the Merapi volcano

Many of the refugees from Mount Merapi returned to their villages a few weeks ago and are slowly rebuilding their lives, but this is not the case for all. Some villages are completely destroyed and the land will be uninhabitable for at least 3-5 years. Those villagers are still living in uncomfortable refugee camps. Others have returned to their villages to find their fields covered with ash and volcanic rock, their homes severely compromised, and water systems destroyed.

It's impossible to build houses or grow food on this land.

The people in the camps are vulnerable, without employment and becoming more desperate. Human traffickers are targeting them already, offering employment either locally or abroad. People will sign up, eager for a chance to raise money for themselves or their family, and be transported. Most will end up in forced labor or sexual exploitation. It is also not unusual here for families in desperation to "sell" a child into sexual trafficking. It breaks my heart as a mother to write those words, but it is true. They do not choose because of selfish reasons but for their families to survive. We can not judge because we will never be in this situation to understand the heart of such decision making.

These Merapi stars are one way that God's people here are providing employment and hope for Merapi refugees, enabling funding to rebuild their villages and combat human trafficking. The refugees hand-crafted these intricate star ornaments, made from recycled paper, wire and beads. They were personally paid 2500 rupiah for every star they completed. The stars were then sold for 10,000 rupiah each (about $1.10), with the additional 7500 rupiah returned to the crafter's village for rebuilding projects and continuing the new bead making business.

The first 2000 stars made sold out locally in 3 days -- raising over $2000 for the villages and for the business. Now the crafters have moved on and are learning how to make different kinds of beads from pop cans, banana leaves and other materials. They are exploring designs for jewelry and bags and other things. Hopefully this will just be the beginning of sustainable employment and safety for these people.

If this work of God moves you to want to give to it financially, a special fund is already set up for donations with 100% going toward helping the Merapi victims. Give to OC International, PO Box 36900, Colorado Springs, CO 80936. Merapi Star Account # 440030.

Update on Volcano -- Is Merapi going back to sleep now?

If you haven't noticed much in the news about our volcano here, it's because it seems to be settling down. Thank you Lord, this is what we've been asking for!

The experts have not lifted the evacuation zones yet, but many of the refugee camps are emptying out as people are heading back home to their villages. Over 200,000 people were moved into a safe zone, but I'm not sure how many actually sustained damage to their homes and land? For these people, who suffered loss of loved ones, homes, possessions, cattle, and crops -- the recovery will be long.

There is optimism, however. The farmers, who have lost their crops for THIS season, are expressing excitement over how fertile the land will be in the next season. Volcanic ash is very good for the soil.

The Christian university in the city south of here will be working with Merapi victims in the long term. I know of one worker who is looking for specialists who can help the farmers and villages figure out how to get their irrigation and water systems functional again. This university is also doing trauma counseling, I know. Can you imagine fleeing from a burning cloud of steam, or being burned by one?

And dozens, DOZENS, of burn victims are still suffering in the hospitals. Some of them will die, and many will live on with severely debilitating scars and permanent tissue injuries.

I do hope this is my last volcano update of interest. We hope Merapi goes back to sleep ...but for how long? The last eruption was in 2006 -- a mere 5 years ago.

Thank you for your prayers, and please may they continue!

Update on Volcano Eruption -- This mountain is only getting scarier!

Yes, this is an actual picture from Mount Merapi from Tuesday morning. I felt a little worried when I saw this picture.


On Wednesday afternoon, the mountain had it's biggest blast yet. Fortunately, I have not heard of any human casualties from yesterday eruption. The evacuation zone was widened from a 6 km radius to a 9 km radius, which means that almost 70,000 people are now out of their homes for safety's sake. (When we realize that our home town of Walla Walla had a population of less than 50,000 this number becomes real for us.) The main volcanologist is now saying that Merapi will likely continue to erupt for weeks.

A few days ago, we looked on the map to learn that Mount Merapi is located less than 20 miles from us, as the crow flies (although it takes MUCH longer to drive there in a car.) It's so strange that we can't see it, feel it, or hear it. We are getting a small amount of ash from time to time, but that is it. It's hard to comprehend that this amazing power source is wreaking havoc in our local area. I wonder if we should make some contingency plans for our own family? We are keeping a close eye on the news and so far no one has suggested that our area need to be concerned.

But we ARE concerned for those people who are suffering in the refugee camps. God's people around us are responding: the local Christian university in our town sent at least one aid team to the volcano area yesterday, our school is collecting items and money to make baby packets for the little ones, clothes are also being collected.



Please continue in prayer for the almost 80,000 people who had fled from their homes. God will lead you how to pray. He is the only power who can control this powerful mountain. I am glad He is in control.