Churchgoers believe tsunami was a warning from God
Pastor Dale Morgan
Churchgoers believe tsunami was a warning from God*
Monday April 09, 2007
Barefoot parishioners filed into churches for Easter services in the
tsunami-hit town of Gizo in the Solomon Islands yesterday, many
believing last Monday's disaster was a warning message from God.
Hundreds of families lost houses and belongings in the 8.1 magnitude
earthquake and tsunami which wiped out many villages on islands across
the region.
The death toll is still unclear but official figures indicate at least
28 people were killed, while aid agency World Vision said yesterday the
toll had risen to 39 and was likely to climb sharply in the next few days.
At St Luke's Anglican church in Gizo, the walls were decorated with
coconut palm fronds and the barefoot congregation knelt on the concrete
floor to hear prayers for those who suffered.
Father John Pihavaka said the service was to bring a "message of Easter
joy in this time of the disaster".
"You and me believe God is trying to tell us he is the source of our
security."
Father Pihavaka called on his parishioners not to just sit and wait for
relief supplies to come but to get out and work to rebuild and renew
their lives.
After the service he said some people believed the disaster was God's
punishment for wrongdoing.
"At times people will say this is a time of testing of our faith. The
message today is that it's a time not only to rebuild but to renew our
lives and commitment."
Parish chairman Moffat Fugui lost his house in the tsunami, but said his
faith was still strong.
"We have to say thank you to the Lord for his protection during this
disaster."
Easter services were also held in the makeshift hilltop camps for people
displaced by the tsunami.
In one camp above Gizo town, fisherman Amon Tauman from Babanga Island
said most people in his community believed the tsunami was a warning
message from God.
"Some preachers say that God is sending the tsunami because people are
turning away from him."
Mr Tauman said the adults and children in his camp were healthy enough
now but a real concern was an outbreak of diarrhoea because of a lack of
toilet facilities.
At the tent hospital, Dr James Auto said around 30 patients were under
tarpaulins, including mothers with newborn babies, people with
lacerations and malaria.
Seven babies had been born at the tent hospital since the tsunami, he said.
Dr Auto said the camp doctors had recommended that the relief effort
urgently addressed the issue by ensuring clean water and proper latrines
in the camps.
A World Vision-supervised operation to dig pit toilets has reached most
camps on Gizo and is now heading to outlying islands.
An Australian Defence Force medical team has started daily helicopter
flights from Gizo to outer islands to provide medical care for affected
villagers.
- AAP