Missionary to the Solomon Islands Rev Koshy David describes being caught up in the 2 April earthquake and how it has affected his family and the school where he works.

"I wanted to make a telephone call early in the morning. While I was talking on the phone, the earth began to shake. I tried to run to the house, but the earth was moving so much, I could not really run. I saw my younger son on the steps of the house," he said.

"Now my house is uninhabitable. The pillars holding the house above ground are damaged."

Now Rev David and his family live during the day in a small leaf kitchen that was built before the earthquake outside the main house.

At night time, they go to the Goldie College dining hall to sleep, along with most of the other staff, who also lost their homes during the earthquake.

The children are still coming to terms with the earthquake and some are receiving additional counselling.

"The children are not yet free from the mental trauma of the earthquake, so we need to take care of them. One student got wild and started destroying school property. He is now under medical treatment now," he said.

"We console and counsel those ones who are affected. It is a very hard experience for all of us. Children break into tears when they think of their homes and dear ones. Sometimes we feel empty within ourselves having no word to console them."

Moderator of the neighbouring United Church in Papua New Guinea Rev Samson Lowa was scheduled to make a visit to the earthquake-affected areas of the Solomon Islands during May to assess how CWM can best support the church.




[Source: Council for World Mission]