One World of Love

In the Wake of Indonesia’s Disaster, A Spirit of International Fellowship Is Built

By Yogyakarta News Groups, Indonesia (Originally in Indonesian)

On May 27, Indonesia was hit by a devastating earthquake of magnitude 6.3 on the Richter scale. The quake’s epicenter was near the southern coast of Java, 20 kilometers south of the ancient city of Yogakarta. The Bantul district, located between the epicenter and Yogakarta, was severely affected. Sixteen of its 26 health centers were destroyed. Consequently, health services were most urgently needed in the quake’s immediate aftermath. 1

International response to the earthquake was swift and effective, with over 20 nations contributing to the effort. Notably, the United States military provided medical relief in the form of state-of-the-art equipment, experienced personnel and much-needed supplies. Air Force units from Guam ♥♥♥♥ together with Navy teams from the USNS Mercy ♥♥♥♥ and the USS Essex ♥♥♥♥ and the Third Marine Expeditionary Force from Okinawa ♥♥♥♥ worked together to serve the people of Indonesia. The USNS Mercy team came to Indonesia from the hospital ship’s location in the Philippines, where it was still providing medical aid and helping rebuild the Jolo area, which had been devastated by a landslide in February. 2

The American medical relief effort in Indonesia is based in Stadium Pacar, a Bantul district football stadium. The Third Marine Expeditionary Force, with a team of over 100 members, has set up a mobile hospital there. Facilities include a trauma center, a laboratory and a mobile operating theatre. In the few days since their arrival, Marine Corps doctors have treated hundreds of people, saving countless lives.

On June 5, local initiates from the Yogyakarta C enter visited the mobile hospital. They were greeted by First Lieutenant Eric Tausch, spokesman for the US Marine Corps medical team. Lieutenant Tausch explained that his team had served in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand after the tsunami of 2004, and in Pakistan after the earthquake of 2005. “When you help people, you become friends,” Tausch said. A spirit of international fellowship pervaded the hospital where the medical team, comprised of Indonesians, Filipinos, Australians and Americans, worked side by side with the local Army to accomplish their common goal of providing the best service to the victims. 3

In addition to the Stadium Pacar hospital, there was also a mobile medical group. Its members were tasked with finding people who had injuries or illnesses and bringing them to the stadium for treatment. Family members were allowed to stay at a camp site in the stadium while patients received treatment. Lt. Tausch gave the local initiates a brief tour of the facilities. Inside the surgery tents, they were impressed by the loving care with which doctors treated severely injured patients.

At the end of the tour, Lt. Tausch shared some of his experiences with the initiates. He was almost in tears when describing how a father had sacrificed his life to save his children from their burning, collapsed house. Lt. Tausch was impressed with the resilience of the Indonesian people, remarking how in the midst of their sufferings they remained polite and patient—even managing to smile when receiving medical treatment.

Initiates sincerely thanked Lt. Tausch and his medical team for their loving efforts to help the earthquake victims. He replied with touching humility that he was honored to have the opportunity to serve the victims of the earthquake. As a token of their appreciation, practitioners gave Lt. Tausch a small photo of Supreme Master Ching Hai, which he received with gratitude.