Earthquake reflections

Hi again,

It has been pouring rain here and has caused a great deal of flooding. The thunder and lightening has been very strong. Even the old people here say they have never seen rain like this before. It is unusually strong. They have had 7 meters of flooding in some areas. The tents people are living in from the earthquake are being flooded and living conditions are becoming more extreme for these poor people. The work is difficult because people cannot attend some workshops because roads are impassable, they can’t sleep at nights and they are getting sick due to such poor living conditions.

Rubble

The group we are presently working with seems to be more severely traumatized than they realize. There is still a fair amount of dissociation. They do the exercises and like them a lot because they are bringing some immediate physical relief to their bodies. They report sleeping much better and feel lighter in their bodies. But it is interesting that they do not have much realization of their life beyond their immediate physical condition. They still can’t reflect on what has happened or identify much of their emotional state. Most will tell me they do not suffer from PTSD anymore but I am very doubtful. I don’t think they will become aware of the depth of the emotional toe this experience has had on them for quite some time still. However, I am still very happy and hopeful that these exercises are bringing them some immediate physical relief and even a sense of pleasure. They often report feeling lighter, less stressed and even happy that they can do these exercises at home. They have begun to teach their spouses and children with very positive results.

Despair

It would still be great if all of you could think positive thoughts, send white light, pray for them or whatever it is you do to help people. We have to put our collective belief systems together to work as a whole family of people on the planet. The suffering here is huge. It is beyond the scope of what most of us could ever imagine. The town I am working in now had 2000 children killed in the schools. Every family is affected and the loneliness, emptiness and pain is immense and well as pervasive. Once again, I feel so amazingly blessed that I have the opportunity to live among and work with these people. Where else on this planet is life being lived at such a deep level of human suffering? A profound experience that I can only believe and hope is having profound changes in me as well. It will probably only sink in after I have left here because each day is filled with different sights, sounds, foods, smells, experiences, relationships, stories and people that I can only live in the present moment. All of my senses are so overwhelmed each day it feels as though I live a week’s lifetime in just a single day. There is so much to process at the end of each day I can’t keep up with my internal processing. I must admit, I love the experience, just as I have loved most of my international experiences but I suspect I will have a lot to process when I return.

Love to all.

Dave

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