Date: 26 May 2008

Our second trip was started a bit earlier this time, at 3.00 hr on Sunday May 25^th 

It was 15 people from the start uploading goods and some building materials; such as zinc roofs and iron spikes.

Size of our team is getting bigger this time up to 45 now which was later joined us at an Exist point of Yangon township. The team includes a doctor, 2 nurses, 2 venerable monks, 3 advocates, students, and majority from our office. This is a huge diversity.

After stops along the way, we reached to Pyapone town at 09.30 hr. Taking no time, we immediately departed Pyapon for Too-Myaung village as we have several things to be done in time today.

We categorized into 3 groups at Pyapone dock for 3 boats. One carries goods which are 24 zinc roofs and 8 bars of timber log to cover primary school for its loss, 10 sacks of lime powder to shower in the two dig done well, 170 set of cooking wares, 20 galloons of diesel to run 5 generators, 170 set of blankets, a big sack of cloths, another big sack of snacks containing milk powders, biscuits, milk bread, dried cakes, soap bars, 10 boxes of building nails, fish-paste cans.

Loading off and on, from the trucks to the boat such deja vu this time was done so quickly at each docks or gates that we transferred goods. We all prayed Buddhist compassion prayers for the deaths and survivors as we set off.

Second time to Too Myaung village, we turned left when we saw the first creek from the Pyapone river. Water level was too low that we suspected if we could go on. One of the villagers and a boat man confirmed that we could.

Water way is clear passage to the village this time green field aside. The villagers from Hta Ni Pat, Myin Ka Gone and Too Myaung must have clear it all the way down. The last time they were advised that they should have done so donors and helps can come in. They got the point and they did it. I recalled it pretty well. Or the villagers now understand that they have hope and can survive for the rest of their lives. However, water was shallow we had to follow hard way to Too Myaung for a half an hour ride in. And of course, debris and fallen branches at the bottom of water popped up! One point, two villagers were waiting and standing in the creek to show the way for our boats.

The rotten smelling after 2 weeks of cyclone has been more or less wiped out by recent good rain. Breeze was quite OK this time.

We arrived to Tharyarsi Monastery which is the biggest communal shelter of cyclone refugees at 10.50 hr approximately. All awaits and welcomes. We were so glad to be here second time. Villagers came up with their faces which is different than the first time. Hopes lighten up there faces. We feel like “we are home!”

The monk greeted and discussed our plan for the day. We decided to group ourselves into five units. Group one for contribution of food stuffs and cloths, Group two along with an experienced sixty years old doctor for health care and assistance to them, checking their problems and issues, Group three goes along with carpenters in renovating and re-roofing the primary school in the village, Group four to pump out salt water from two ponds which situates in 2 different location of the village, Group five stations in monastery as an information center for us and preparing food for us as today would be a long day. 

It was a great success. As blankets and cooking wares were for a family rebuilding, we have contributed to our recorded 168 families in the village. Each who represents the family can come and collect all in one together. So it didn’t make a mess. It is not smooth as it looks like. There are 41 household out from our list. We found out finally that they were also refugees but not originally listed in the village. They are a kind of migrate people. We have extra 2 pairs of cooking wares and blanket set; the leftover 41s were informed that we would leave them at the monastery for them. And promise that we will come back with those kitchen stuffs for the remaining households has been done.

Dr. San Oo with 2 nurses, 3 helpers were so busy that they don’t know the 3 young doctors from Yangon were joined later who heard that their senior doctor was here in Too-Myaung village and they volunteered at once. The health care seemed to be a long whole day but it was quick thanks to 3 young energetic doctors.

“There is no infectious diseases break out such as diarrhea. But the most seen today in this village is peripheral neuritis”. Dr. San Oo quoted.

Yes, the villagers suffered that because of wet conditions for long hours. Their nerves were not sensible and all elder villagers told the same thing.

“I had to stand the whole night until late morning holding this little kid” said a young women pointing out her 8 month old kids. Look little boy she cradled; I saw a swelling sore in his ear from which fluids are coming out. Because of the water flows into his ear during the stormy night, there are 6 kids like that in the village.

Our team member, Ko Ye` who came along with the carpenter said the school has a hole above where it needs to replace roofs. 2 toilets have no roofs at all. And like 75 % of works is needed to have them usable again. All the pits were full! Actually the school was clean up this morning by villagers so that we could come in and see.

Two of three ponds were connected at the east and west side of village with a footpath and bridge some part so everybody used to come and fetch water for their use. The other one is a little far from village. The ponds were now filled up with salt water after the cyclone. With the help of villagers and Pyapone town man, we have got 5 generators of 18 horse power organized. We set up 3 generators in a larger pond in the west and 2 to the east. We pumped out 6 hours, cleaned up the bottom which is full of grass, mud and debris from the Wind. We finally laid lime powders beneath so that insects got killed. And villagers are wishing to have rain so the ponds store it. Everybody is happy and in fact your love shines light, dear donors.

Villagers are immediately constructed their houses in floating pieces and little palm trees. For they can invite us to see their places relating their bad days of Cyclone visit. But I still see a lot of destructed places that nobody could clear and live in. It must have been a hell. They were encouraged by our first visit and it’s amazing how fast they reacted with the hope they got.

In the monastery, there have been busy crowds in line for contribution and health checks. It seemed endless. We looked at the time, and we went up stairs of the monastery where Daw Mya Than and Daw Khin Ma Ma who are senior women in our group has been waiting for us. Foods waited in a day!! It was 15.30 hr.

Keeping things up, resettled and checked for further visits, we decided to go back when the late doctor group came up and said “it’s finished”.

Too Myaung villagers saw us off the bank, hold the boats to make it steady and let us board on. It was 16.15 hr by then and everybody in the village chased at us to say goodbye. 

The return was quicker as it is always. We en route dropped a pack of rice and snacks at Myin Ka Gone village and back to Pyapone around 17.10 hr to proceed our home for next 6 hour drive approximately.

This is a great success!! We are finally protecting a village of cyclone victims. We want to go more into it. Pray for us that we can keep going on till the village is resettled at least. 

(1) Disease treated and outdone on May 25, 2008 as follows;

(3) Roofing at the primary school has been done. 24 zinc roofs have been replaced.

(4) Major contribution lists