Aceh Tsunami Kids VIII

Aceh Tsunami Kids VII

We found these two kids wandering the ruins. They said they were staying with their cousin. Their parents had left for coffee and never came back.

I am off to Italy for two weeks. I have two more photos from Aceh that I would like to post. After that, I will take a break from blogging for a week or so until I get back from Italy. I don't have a laptop computer (need to get one), so don't have any way to download and edit photos when I am traveling...so, instead of posting two weeks in advance of photos you have already seen, I will just wait till I get back....please don't leave me, though....I will be back!

Aceh Tsunami Kids VI

You can only imagine the horror kids must have felt when they went back to school to find most of the students in their class had been killed in the Tsunami. Only five boys survived from one class we visited (pictured below). I took their photo in front of their destroyed school...I am sure these five boys will be bonded for life after what they lived through.

Aceh Tsunami Kids V

The little girl on the right is probably the most amazing little girl I have ever met. She is reading letters written by students at Jakarta International School who wrote her back after reading her letter she wrote. Jakarta International School published a book called Letters from Aceh that included this little girl's story. She lost her entire family. On the day of the book launch, we invited her to Jakarta to come speak. There was not a dry eye in the entire room when she told her story so eloquently...

Let me know if you want me to continue this series of photos...I have a few more I would love to share...

Aceh Tsunami Kids IV

So, here is a continuation of my Aceh Tsunami Kid's series. I didn't get this little girl's story. She was in a small camp that was set up near the water. Her face seems to tell some story, but I don't know what it is. I do wonder where and what she is doing today...

By the way, HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!

Aceh Tsunami Kids III

This little girl was one of the lucky ones. Her entire family survived the tsunami, but they lost their home. Her father was building them a new house when we walked by...and she happily posed for a photo like an experienced model...

Aceh Tsunami Kids II

We found this little girl wandering around some rubble in what used to be her house. She said she had 6 brothers and sisters...all were killed except one brother and her Mom. Her brother saved her when they both climbed a tree...

A Rough Life

I was going through my old photos I took in Aceh, 5 months after the devastating tsunami that hit Aceh in 2004. It is hard to believe that was over 6 years ago. I was assigned to take photos of the children in Aceh. It was a very emotional trip. I met kids that lost their entire families, homes, everything. I was so impressed with the way they handled their losses. Not once was I greeted without a smile and a warm welcome. They continued with their lives despite their terrible circumstances. I wonder what these kids are doing today...??

I am off to Central Java tomorrow, so I thought I would feature some photos I took of the kids in Aceh the next couple of days. I am making scheduled posts now since I won't be able to post while in Central Java.

So, this is the first in a series of photos. I don't know this boy's name. We stopped to talk to him, but he was busy collecting bottles and other things he could find to sell. He said both his parents were washed away in the tsunami, and only he and his little brother were left. They had no home and slept under a bridge, and ate whatever they could find...and during the day, they would collect bottles...where is he today?