Update on Volcano -- Refugees and helping them

Merapi remains a concern. As many of you may have read, a large eruption on Friday blasted a village 10 km from the summit with a hot ash cloud, killing dozens. The evacuation zone is now extended to 20 km (9 miles).

Although there have been no major eruptions since Friday, as you can see from the photo below, the output from this mountain continues to amaze. President Obama is having a short visit to this country today. I just read he may have to leave early because of concerns the ash clouds might interfere with the airplane.

The volcanologist says he doesn't think the mountain has had it's climax yet. A large city is 25 km (15 miles) from the mountain. Most of the refugees have been seeking shelter there, but it is getting more and more ash and may be in danger if there is a larger eruption.

At church on Sunday, we prayed for God's mercy and help. Indeed, natural events like this remind us how frail we are even with our technology and "great" knowledge. Only God can control this mountain, and we hope that He will. It was heartening to also hear how many of our friends and local churches are helping the victims of the mountain:

• One church friend is involved with a ministry at a refugee camp distributing food and encouragement.
• Another church family has been donating large amount of grass for feeding cattle left on the mountain's slopes. Yes, these people care deeply about their cattle, and this is an especially meaningful service to them.
  
• Another organization is helping with refugee camps
• A friend is collecting towels for refugees
• The local Christian university and seminary have been sending in teams to help with the refugees.
• The Christian university and seminary in the large city south of the mountain have stopped operations and are serving refugees full time, housing almost a thousand on their campus.
  

As the situation continues to evolve, we are prayerfully considering how God would lead us to help also. School is still in session for us, so our first obligation is there. We are pitching in where we can with donations and offerings.

We are also making some careful and appropriate preparations in case disaster could come our direction, which is unlikely: extra food, extra water, extra batteries, a packed bag, stuff like that. Although we are 14 miles from the mountain, we cannot see it, hear it or feel it from our housse. We did have a little ash fall on Saturday, but none since.

Some of you may be wondering why so many people would choose to live on an active volcano? They know it has erupted less than 10 years in the past, and they will likely have to run when it happens again. This island has a population density of 900 people per square kilometer. It's natural that people will spread out when it's so crowded, especially on mountain land that is so fertile for growing food and cattle.

Please keep praying!

Making Progress! Jonathan walking

So Jonathan's walking skills improve every day! It's so amazing to behold! A week ago he could only take 2-3 steps and then fall. He has since gone to talking 5-8 steps, learned how to walk from point a to point b without falling, and even to decelerate and stop at a stand. Today he is practicing how to stand up from the floor and walk (instead of having to pull up on something). Here is a video of his progress over the last few days!

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.

Walking isn't easy!

There is more happening in our lives than just an erupting volcano! Jonathan is just learning to walk!

Update on Volcano Eruption -- It Ain't Over Yet!

The lava on Mount Merapi is not flowing the way it should be, and so the pressure inside the mountain continues to build and be released in explosive bursts of hot air and gas. Sunday afternoon brought at least 5 eruptions over 2 hours. The main volcanologist monitoring the mountain says "We don't know what Merapi wants. Anything could happen."

For the first time, these clouds went high into the air (about 3 km) and blew to the east -- which means that we got a little at our house. No big deal -- Jonathan's diapers, which were drying outside on the line, got dirty with ash and had to be rewashed. Not a big deal, but Merapi refugees are very concerned about their homes and farms. Also the news reported yesterday that some are experiencing a shortage of fresh water. Please continue to pray for these needy people. The evacuation area is being enlarged every day, so more people are moving into the camps.

Update on volcano eruption

The region is now breathing a sign of relief because Mount Merapi has finally produced magma and is creating a new lava dome. Apparently this is a sign that the mountain is again becoming stable and returning to normal. The pictures (from Thursday evening) are amazing, though!

I wonder how long the process will take for the mountain to become dormant again? The ash cloud eruption pictured below was labeled a "cough" and occured Friday morning.



There are no more lives lost reported in the news. Thankfully, people are staying off of the mountain like they should.

Please continue to pray for this country. I know many people are suffering from severe burn wounds in the hospitals here. Burn care anywhere is never easy, and especially painful and debilitating here.

In the western part of the country, hit by the tsunami, rescuers are still searching for survivors. 2 babies were miraculously found alive yesterday. Please continue your prayers.

Update on Volcano Eruption

The above photo is from 2006, the last eruption of Mount Merapi which lasted 7 minutes and killed 2 people. I haven't been able to find any photos of this Monday's actual eruption, perhaps because it happened as night was falling? I'm not sure. The eruption on Monday was a series of 3 eruptions over about 90 minutes, expulsions of hot air and ash. It was considered to be much more powerful than the 2006 event. Volcanologists are expecting more activity from the mountain soon, as no magma or lava has yet been released.

To date, the news estimates that about 30 people died in Monday's eruption.

A spiritual battle is also at play here. Mount Merapi is a spiritual focal point in this region. A spirit or spirits are said to live in the mountain. The mountain's spiritual gatekeeper, Mr. Maridjan (pictured below) died at his home less than 4 km from the top of the volcano on Monday. He was responsible for interceding with the mountain's spirits and for fulling the cermonials (including blood sacrifice). His death is one of the biggest stories in the local news. He chose not to leave the mountain as eruption neared, and was found burned to death with his body bowed in an attitude of prayer. People are concerned about who is successor will be, and who will help protect them from the mountain spirits.


Some of you are wondering about the safety of our family. We've received e-mails from you expressing concern, and our hearts are encouraged! We are fine. This volcano is kind of in our backyard, but Merapi is erupting to the south in the opposite direction from us. In addition, we are protected in large part by another dormant volcano, Mount Merbabu. (In the photo below, Merapi is on the left and Merbabu is on the right.) If Merapi were to erupt in our direction, it is likely that Merbabu would protect us from any lava flows and most of the heat from ash. None of our local friends and neighbors are at all concerned.



While Mount Merapi has claimed 30 lives this week, the tsunami on the west part of this country has killed many more. A small, remote group of islands was severely attacked by the 10 foot waves and over 300 people are confirmed dead with hundreds more missing. Aid ships and planes are arriving now and providing help.

Please pray for this country. Natural disasters abound and the spiritual needs are great.