Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 20)

Today was a day to finish well my responsibilities and farewell some great people!

It continues to amaze me how you can make such strong connections with like minded people in such a short period of time. To Daryl, Clive, David D, Andrea, Eric, Robbie, David S, Robert C, Vicki & SAMIS team, Alistair & crew, you are awesome people and a great team, doing a great work to contribute to the recovery of Christchurch. It has been an absolute pleasure working with you all over the past three weeks.

This has been an amazing learning experience that has made a huge impact on my life and leadership. I have appreciated the many opportunities I have had to serve, care, observe, plan and lead in an environment that presents new challenges each day. It is my hope and desire that what I have experienced and learnt from this trip will contribute into our leadership and ministry at the Noarlunga Corps. Although, we have a very different context to what is being experienced in Christchurch, we minister daily to the lost, hurting and broken in our community.

By sharing my daily thoughts with family and friends throughout this deployment, I wanted to invite you to join with me in my journey, include you in this ministry, and in turn invest into your lives also. Thank you for your kind thoughts, prayers and support throughout my time away. It has been an enormous encouragement reading your good wishes each day! Stay happy, healthy & holy!!

Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 19)

I had a relatively early night, for me, last night which made all the difference, as I have been running on fumes (Black Coffee & Red Bull) the last few days! I even woke up before my 6 am alarm this morning!!

Getting ready for my departure on Saturday is mixed with a variety of emotions. I have thoroughly enjoyed my stay and contribution to the relief effort and have worked alongside some amazing people. Yet, I look forward to returning home to reconnect with my family and reengage with our mission at Noarlunga. I am passionate about IES ministry to disaster affected countries but am also passionate about the local church and love being a Corps Officer. I enjoy being abroad, but in the words of a famous movie line, 'there is no place like home'. Working with a new team of friends in New Zealand has been personally enriching, but God has blessed us with an awesome team at Noarlunga that are empowering my life and leadership. I have seen much human suffering over the past few weeks, which only fuels my determination to respond to the very real needs in our community.

So, I gladly embrace this tension that allows me to share my affections and passions across a variety of ministry opportunities that contribute to the international mission of The Salvation Army.

Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 18)

Amidst the many stories of tragedy emerge inspirational stories of triumph from people who refuse to allow their very real loss and pain to define their future. I was deeply touched by the story of a young family I met during a home visit yesterday. They lost their own home and business during the September earthquake. Their children were traumatised during the first quake, with their 4 year old son too petrified to stay inside or sleep alone. They became very angry with the world and withdrew behind closed doors of their new rented house, refusing to engage with anybody. The February quake has now made their current house unlivable and their 8 year old daughter has withdrawn into herself and is losing control of her bodily functions. Anger subsided into depression; the husband was on the verge of a breakdown while the wife was also falling to pieces.

Within the space of a week, after receiving timely help from The Salvation Army and connecting with counselling services, the family I met yesterday were positive, objective and planning for a better future. I'll never forget the wife's comment to me in a determined voice, "I'm tired of living as a victim." The husband returned home while we were visiting from a promising job interview, and they were getting ready to go and find a new home. They had determined that it was time for them to invest into other people's lives and contribute to the recovery of their city (and I'm tipping of themselves also). After secluding themselves from the neighbourhood, they now call in on their elderly neighbour regularly and interact with street gatherings. While acknowledging their journey of pain, they have an extraordinary outlook for their future!

There are many things that happen to us in life we cannot control. However, the way we respond to our circumstances is a choice. This couple has faced circumstances completely outside of their control, yet they choose to live life!

I am reminded of the words of the prophet Habakkuk who faced his own trials:

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour." (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 17)

Today, I travelled back into an area that was being covered by our door knock teams for the first time since February 22nd. Seaside town/suburb of Sumner is situated between a beautiful coastline and the side of some spectacular rocky cliffs. What I find extraordinary about Sumner and surrounding neighbourhoods is that they are built up the side of steep slopes with many houses literally cut into the hillside. Although, these homes offer some stunning coastal views, one would have to wonder how much this view is worth in such a vicarious location where earthquakes are commonplace.

As we travelled along the coastal road, the devastation of the earthquake became immediately evident as we passed rockslides with boulders the size of cars laying on the side of the road. In several locations where the cliff face is still unstable, shipping containers filled with concrete blocks are stacked up to protect motorists from falling rocks. When I drove through this town the other day to deliver a Care Card, I only had my phone camera and got a few dodgy photos. Today, I had my Canon EOS 300D :) and was able to capture some amazing photos (this is where I live with tension between being a curious photographer and concerned humanitarian).

One particular house that is situated hard up against the base of a cliff was completely wiped out down one side. It is believed that one of the listed missing people may still be in there, but the area is too unstable to do any serious excavation. If the boulders on the side of the road weren't big enough, I saw an astonishing sight in the middle of town, with a boulder the size of a house laying alongside some clubrooms. The sound of these rocks and landslides coming down the hillside into this peaceful township must have been nothing short of terrifying!! I heard stories of rocks not just tumbling down the side of the hill but being catapulted into the streets, leaving massive craters from their initial impact. A local surfer was out on the surf when the earthquake hit and witnessed these landslides while feeling the effect of the quake out on the water.

Just when I thought I had seen the full effect of the damage in the suburbs, Sumner has redefined the devastation of this earthquake.

Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 16)

I found myself getting a little emotional this evening during the group debrief as I heard amazing stories from each team after their first day on the job. I think what struck me was the immediate impact that a new group was making and their adaptability to a very challenging situation, working alongside people they have only just met. The team spirit after one day was quite extraordinary, the creative thinking and ingenuity was impressive, the patience and grace demonstrated when things didn't quite go to plan appreciated, the genuine concern and response to human suffering moving!

I love working with teams and seeing them accomplish life changing results. These last few weeks have been a rare privilege to see this manifested in the most exaggerated of circumstances. From Pete and Jenny out in the streets, to Dale and Wendy at Linwood, to the leadership of Daryl and David, and the support of Vicky and Andrea; I have been deeply blessed to work alongside of some of the most amazing people I have ever met!! We have known each other and worked together for a couple of weeks but have accomplished things that take some teams years to achieve.

The NZ Territorial leadership should be very proud of what their people have accomplished and the leadership and ministry they have provided to the people of Christchurch. We have been reminded often of the amazing reputation The Salvation Army has earned during this disaster. I can't help but to think how this will elevate the mission of The Salvation Army in NZ for years to come. Although disaster relief is not evangelical in the moment, it provides a significant springboard for the gospel as people have come face to face with the love of Christ through His faithful servants during their time of need.

Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 15)

At the end of a busy day seeing off the weekend crew and welcoming the new teams from AUS, AUE & NZ, I stopped into McDonalds with Major David Dalberg to discuss the agenda for the morning briefing over coffee. The store was busy as usual and while we were enjoying a relaxing moment we were rocked by a 5.1 aftershock. This was by far the worst I have felt since being here and it gave the building a really decent shake. You could literally see it move from side to side and back and forth. I have never seen or experienced anything like this! Everybody in the store stopped and you could see the very real concern in people's faces. There was that awkward moment - do we stay, or do we get out of here? Strangely enough, despite the initial fear, everybody went back to business as usual when it was over.

I couldn't help but to wonder how the locals who had experienced both earthquakes in Sept and Feb were feeling in that moment. The reality is they live daily with the uncertainty and fear that it may happen again. We have encountered so many people who are not only dealing with what they have lost but are unsure whether to rebuild or relocate. For many, the impact of both quakes has taken its toll and they have abandoned Christchurch. For others, they are still navigating their way through the broken pieces of their lives. After every significant aftershock you wonder if the emotional and practical support we have provided to date is being undone by the constant threat to people's emotional and physical well-being?

Imagine the workload of the authorities who have the laborious task of inspecting damaged buildings. What was given a green sticker may now be unsafe, those given yellow may well be too dangerous to enter. It seems like an endless task. Then there is the City Council busy doing street repairs. Will their hard work be in vain? It is a massive recovery process that will run into the billions of dollars and will take years to restore this beautiful city to its former glory.

No words can capture the extraordinary effort that is being made by government and non-government groups who are working tirelessly to respond to this crisis. From my vantage point, I think the NZ people should take a lot of pride in their resilience and responsiveness to this disaster. We often get praised by the locals for coming over to help, but I want to praise the locals for not giving up and for their determination to "rise up" above their circumstances.

Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 14)

Another crew from New Zealand was briefed this morning to cover the weekend shifts. They were divided into what we are calling "Flying Squads" to follow-up the contacts made during the week. They take the referrals made by the rapid assessments of the door knock teams and spend more concentrated time with people providing financial, practical and emotional support.

I love hearing their stories during our daily debrief sessions of the impact being made, not only upon the lives of those we are assisting, but those who are providing the assistance. We come together as strangers and leave as friends with a shared experience that has changed each of our lives. Something happens deep within your spirit when you journey with people through times of suffering and survival.

Although I am feeling pretty tired after two weeks of long days pouring out physical and emotional energy, I am strangely energised by the knowledge that our presence really matters to the people of this city. I walked into McDonald's in Riccarton tonight to wind down and was greeted by the the guy serving in the cafe, "Long black mate?" (I have already filled two coffee cards LOL). When I tried to pay, he just thanked me again for serving the people of his city and politely declined my money. It goes way beyond a "Thank God for the Salvos" mentality, but extends from a heart that has embraced us as brothers and sisters in thier time of need. I've said it before, but I am humbled and honoured by the grace that is shown to us daily by everyone we meet.

We welcome another team of Aussies from both territories tomorrow. I'm looking forward to meeting them at the airport and embarking on another extraordinary week of ministry in Christchurch.

Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 13)

God Defend New Zealand (National Anthem):

E Ihowā Atua,O ngā iwi mātou rāĀta whakarangona; Me aroha noaKia hua ko te pai; Kia tau tō atawhai; Manaakitia mai Aotearoa

Ōna mano tāngataKiri whero, kiri mā, Iwi Māori, Pākehā,Rūpeke katoa, Nei ka tono ko ngā hēMāu e whakaahu kē, Kia ora mārire Aotearoa

Tōna mana kia tū!Tōna kaha kia ū;Tōna rongo hei pakūKi te ao katoaAua rawa ngā whawhaiNgā tutū e tata mai;Kia tupu nui ai Aotearoa

Waiho tona takiwāKo te ao mārama; Kia whiti tōna rāTaiāwhio noa. Ko te hae me te ngangau Meinga kia kore kau; Waiho i te rongo mau Aotearoa

Tōna pai me toitūTika rawa, pono pū; Tōna noho, tāna tū; Iwi nō Ihowā. Kaua mōna whakamā; Kia hau te ingoa; Kia tū hei tauira; Aotearoa

As we gathered in Hagley Park early this morning with the fog giving way to the warmth of the sun, which was to set the tone for a beautiful day, a young NZ Salvation Army Officer sang their national anthem in both Maori and English. In this moment we knew we were sharing in something deeply personal and sacred.

"God of Nations at Thy feet, In the bonds of love we meet, Hear our voices, we entreat, God defend our free land."

With an anticipated crowd of 110,000 people, about 150 Salvation Army and community volunteers forming the Welfare Response Team were briefed on our role to provide pastoral and emotional support throughout the service. We walked among the people offering a reassuring smile, shoulder to cry on and a listening ear. The atmosphere was calm and reflective as people from all walks of life were drawn together by shared experiences of grief.

Sarah came to me with a deep sense of anxiety, describing her life as being like a roller coaster of emotions. Mike lost his job and house and is moving his family to Brisbane to make a fresh start. Rex reflected on the experiences he had witnessed over the past couple of weeks. George, a 75 y/o West Indian who has lived in Christchurch since 1975 is writing his story about what he heard and saw on the day of the earthquake. Christine, as single mum with two young daughters, both with birthdays during the week after the 22nd February, lost her home and is living with her mum. Two cyclists had ridden from neighbouring Belfast (suburb) for the service; they were in the city when the quake hit.

Real people, with real stories and real pain turning to each other for comfort and solace. What a deep honour and privilege to become a part of their journey and story today.

Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 12)

I'm not really sure how to describe today, except it has been one of contrasts, yet connected experiences. One of the privileges of being a part of the management team is the insight I've gained into the complexities of managing a relief effort of this magnitude. The office is staffed by beautiful people who care committed as much to the recovery of Christchurch as those who are door knocking and those who are manning welfare centres. Yet, despite the passion, commitment and long hours of this amazing team we are still confronted by the reality and challenge of unmet expectations.

Amidst my responsibilities at the EQ Command Centre today I had the opportunity to deliver three Westpac Care Cards into three very different circumstances:

• 
  A request came from one of the recovery centres for a lady who was travelling to a northern NZ city for a break from the reality of her brokenness.
• I met an underground coal miner who had lost his job and his wife was a nervous wreck. They live at the base of a rockslide, and although their house experienced very little damage, they were very damaged people. To add to their pain, he had lost his mate in the mine accident last year.
• Tonight, Tracy and I visited a lady whose mother is still missing in one of the buildings in the city. It was hard not to be moved when she cried, "I just want my mum back!" She is caught in the tension of uncertainty, grief and hope.

At the debrief tonight, a team leader shared a story about a lady they gave a $500 Care Card to, who instead of using it for her own very real needs, donated it to her children's school to give all the kids who had been impacted by the earthquake a day out! One of the truck drivers testified to the generosity of a customer at the service station where they stopped to fuel up their two trucks, who offered to pay for the petrol. When you consider that petrol prices are $2.10 a litre, that is a lot of money for two trucks!

Even after 12 days, I continue to be deeply touched by the generosity and grace of these people, even amidst their own personal grief. Tomorrow we are attending the memorial service in Hagley Park to be available for pastoral care and support to the crowd of an anticipated 110,000 people...

Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 11)

Our debrief sessions at the end of the day have taken on a new format the past two days, with each team being invited to nominate a representative to share their experiences with the wider group. Listening to these stories have reinforced the difference our presence in the suburbs is making and highlighted the enormity of the physical and emotional impact of the earthquake.

One common thread in every story is the overwhelming acceptance of The Salvation Army and appreciation for the assistance we have been able to provide. Although an enormous amount of material aid has been distributed, more often than not, it is the emotional support provided at the door and centres that has made the biggest and deepest impact. For many of these people, The Salvation Army workers are the first people they have been able to open up to and share their pain and loss. Three weeks on, and it seems we are entering into a new phase where people are expressing a need to talk and are more receptive of the counselling services available.

The follow-up and on-going support will take many weeks and months as people journey through various stages of grief and deal with the realities associated with lost lives, property and employment. Enormous effort is being given to ensure as many people as possible are connected into the available services and resources to help alleviate the impact. This is where local people and networks are critical to any disaster relief effort. We will come and go, but the residents of this city are left with the long road to recovery, long after the media attention and relief work has departed.

Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 10)

We shared in a lovely time of worship this morning, led by Major Daryl Crowden. He spoke of his experience talking to a man in Rwanda who survived been hacked by a machete. Despite the horror of his experience the man read the 23rd Psalm with such power and passion as the words took on a new depth coming from someone who had experienced such pain. This was a powerful reminder that even in the darkest of circumstances we can offer assurance and hope that comes from Christ, even as Christchurch experiences their own valley of pain. We then concluded by singing "It is well with my soul" - a very appropriate start to the day.

During the time of briefing someone raised the question from a conversation the day before, where she was asked, "where is God in all this?" A difficult question in a time of extreme human suffering. The response offered was sensitive and pastorally responsive, suggesting that God is in those who are reaching out with care and love.

As I reflected on the question further, I recalled a line from a movie where a very cynical Al Pacino described God as "an absentee landlord". One may be forgiven for thinking this way amidst the aftermath of an earthquake. But when you consider the relationship between a landlord and tenant, there is an alternative way of looking at it. A landlord entrusts his/her property to a tenant to care for and live in. There are certain boundaries established and guidelines to protect this relationship and the property that is being leased. The landlord does not dictate how the tenant lives, nor is responsible for the tenants behaviour. Suppose the tenant abuses this relationship of trust and ignores the lease agreement, damages the property and then complains that it is not functioning as it ought. There is a similarity between the Creator God who provides His creation a world in which to live. He entrusts it to our care and sets boundaries and guidelines for its protection and sustainability. Over thousands of years of occupancy human beings have managed to ignore God's instructions and abuse what has been entrusted to us. Laws of nature are defied; greed and power prevails and we arrogantly live as if there are no consequences - then we blame God for the world not functioning as it ought! This is NOT to suggest for a moment that natural disasters are a punishment inflicted by God, rather cause and effect reactions of a fragile earth. There are many things that cannot be easily answered, if at all, but it stands to reason that much of the suffering we see around our world today is more about negligent tenants than an absentee landlord. Just a thought.

Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 9)

Breakfast was a hive of activity this morning with an influx of new teams from all over NZ & Aus. There are approximately 150 Salvation Army personnel on the ground continuing "Operation Wellbeing", door knocking 280,000 homes to ensure people impacted by the earthquake have access to adequate resources and support. This is a massive, coordinated effort, but one that is making a tangible difference in people's path to recovery.

Today, I was reassigned to the management team, with responsibility for the allocation and administration of a significant amount of money in various forms of vouchers. Once again, this offered another vantage point of the management of disaster relief. The people in the office are doing just as important job as those on the streets, as everything from team coordination to SAMIS (statistical) input ensures the resources are getting where they are needed most. It was great to see the same sort of creativity and resourcefulness I saw out in the field manifested in the office as a number of logistical challenges were overcome. Everything from data input, IT support and fleet management contribute to this amazing team.

One of the many things that has added to the joy of this experience has been the ability to provide immediate and meaningful assistance to people without requiring them to wade through a sea of forms or meet stringent criteria. Team leaders have been entrusted with real-time authority to distribute various forms of vouchers at the door or the relief centres where people come looking for help. I am still moved by the overwhelming sense of appreciation expressed when people realise that they don't have to jump through hoops to get the help they need. I was so blessed today to be the one to deliver a significant amount of financial assistance to a single mum with three kids who lost her home. Her genuine joy and disbelief at the level of assistance we were able to offer her makes every bit of effort worth it!

I ended the day with a 6.8 km run, which was a great unwind after another long day (I know that sounds counter-intuitive to most), followed by a long black coffee at McCafe - ahhhh.

Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 8)

Sleeping through my alarm this morning was not a good start to the day! After a mad scramble, I made it to breaky on time and got myself together for another day of adventure.

It has been great to get a different view of the relief effort over the weekend through fulfilling different roles; today was no exception, as I was assigned to the Aranui Recovery Assistance Centre. This is a one-stop shop of representatives from different services: The Salvation Army (Welfare), Red Cross (Emergency Grants), Relationship Services (Counselling), WINZ (NZ version of Centrelink), Housing NZ (Tenancy). We saw a steady flow of people dropping in off the street to seek assistance with a variety of concerns relating to the impact of the earthquake. It was terrific to see the various agencies working together to provide a complete package of care. I was stationed next to the Red Cross and on a few occasions we were able to collaborate to save the client having to repeat their story and draw on each others strengths. He was able to provide assistance to fill out the necessary forms for the emergency grant and I was able to provide immediate food and clothing assistance while the grant application is being processed. There was another family who wanted to relocate after losing their house. They asked for assistance to hire a trailor, but it fell outside the square of available funding - but I enjoy thinking outside the square. The Caltex vouchers we had are open vouchers and can be spent on anything sold at a Caltex service station. So, I found the closest Caltex that hired out trailers, organised sufficient vouchers and the client went away happy with a practical solution, rather than "that doesn't fit our criteria" response. In fact, it has been awesome to see a lot of creative and responsive assistance to ensure people get what they need to cope with this disaster!

Another group of Australians arrived this afternoon from both territories to join the crew for this coming week. After some initial briefing with the new team and tea we participated in a Trauma Counselling & Disaster Orientation Workshop. Although many of us were feeling a little weary at the end of a long day, it was an excellent introduction and insight into some basic techniques and principles in responding to disaster affected people.

Tomorrow, we have a full crew back on deck for another busy week of ensuring people in the suburbs have access to all the essential services to get them back on their feet. It has been a real privilege to work alongside NZ officers who are working tirelessly to respond to their nation's crisis. I am also really enjoying working alongside Major Daryl Crowden and observing his very calm and confident manner in coordinating this massive effort. His knowledge and experience in disaster relief has contributed enormously to the respect The Salvation Army has earned from other government and non-government agencies involved in this relief effort. He is a remarkable leader and man of God who is an absolute asset to our Territory and International Army!!

Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 7)

The Australian contingent went home early hours this morning (without me - however, I did make an early morning rescue mission to the airport with a forgotten wallet, LOL). We had a skeleton crew on the ground today doing the mop up follow-up visits from the door knocking crew this week.

We continue to meet extraordinary people dealing with extraordinary circumstances! Let me tell you about "B":

B is a 64 year old lady who owns a property on the outskirts of town. She had a chance encounter with one of our street team at McDonalds after we had finished for the day during the week. Her details were taken and I got to follow up her situation today. Although she owned a property, she hasn't lived there for years, as she is the primary carer for her elderly parents in the city and lives with family, commuting back and forth to her property regularly. Her dual occupancy house (see my photos) was literally split down the middle of the roof, leaving it vulnerable to weather. She was concerned about her belongings and didn't know how to navigate through the system to have it assessed and repaired. To add to her uncertainty, she suffers from some sort of nervous disorder (not intellectual, as she is quite intelligent) and has virtually no self-confidence to make decisions about how to deal with her house. Her family are taking financial advantage of her (2nd time of encountered this sort of thing this week), leaving her with very little disposable income. Fortunately, she has awesome neighbours who keep an eye on B and her house. He is a builder and is confident the house can be saved. We were able to give her immediate assistance with food and petrol to alleviate some of her financial stress. A quick fix to the exposed roof (tarp) is being organised for tomorrow and a referral to a local Salvation Army social worker for Monday to advocate on her behalf with the EQC authorities and to ensure she is not taken advantage of during this process. She wants to fix the place up and move into it full-time, however, feels obligated to her family and doesn't have the confidence to make this decision on her own. This is one of those situations were the parameters of disaster relief collide with the pre-existing social realities of people living in crisis. Connecting people with on-going local support is so important to ensure people like B successfully navigate through their difficult circumstances.

I also did some work at one of the Welfare Centres and assisted a Maori guy who had lost his rented flat in the earthquake and all his belongings were still under rubble on the top floor. We were able to give him the material aid he needed and even a lift home, as he couldn't carry all the assistance we gave him on his bike! He was staying at a mate's house, and I was so impressed by their improvised makeshift shelter in their front driveway. Although, it was inadequate in many ways, they had taken the initiative to use what they had to create a solution to their own crisis! We had a good laugh together and they proudly invited me to take a photo of their architectural genius.

My own accommodation was changed today, as I moved into the Riccarton Holiday Park. If the aftershocks in a concrete motel felt bad enough, imagine what they feel like in a transportable cabin!! Nevertheless, we are being so well looked after that we are living far better than many locals!

Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 6)

Today, I was assigned a new role on an ICU Team, which is a mobile team of two who follow up issues identified by the street door-knocking team (which is what I was doing the first 4 days). This can range from anything to do with emotional support through to delivering practical assistance. Some of this work is done immediately during the initial contact made by the street team, as I shared earlier in the week. However, our role today is to follow-up the concerns that require more time and attention, which allows the street teams to keep moving to ensure the entire community is covered.

We were given a car & GPS and were sent back into some of the worst hit neighbourhoods with a follow-up list. Initially, we responded to some people who were identified as needing emotional support. Some of their stories really touched our hearts as we identified with their pain and loss, but also lifted our spirits as we saw their determination and resilience:

• A middle-aged bloke, living alone, recounting the events he witnessed and the impact it had on his employment. Yet, despite his loss of work, the comradery of his work mates is what was holding him together.
• A young couple with a 5-day old baby just returned from hospital to a house that had been moderately damaged with no running water or sewerage. The effort they had gone to to clean up the place and make it safe for their new born was amazing - so was their positive attitude! I must admit that I was a bit cranky to then see their neighbour, who did have running water, watering his garden with a sprinkler!!
• Two young families living a few houses apart coming together to try and find mutual support. Two of them are teachers and are having to adapt to closed schools and suddenly increased class sizes due to the influx of displaced kids. They are also having to deal with the emotional impact of the quake manifesting through behaviour of the kids they teach as well as their own kids who are still struggling with the fear of further quakes, especially with the daily aftershocks. Then there is the question of whether to repair or leave? They want to stay in their neighbourhood, but there are unanswered questions as to whether the council will repair the damage or relocate and demolish large parts of the suburb.
• Neighbours who had rallied together after the first quake in September are now leaving after the most recent quake, leaving almost ghost towns along entire streets, with remaining residents feeling very alone and isolated.
• An 8 y/o boy woken from a nightmare by an aftershock too afraid to sleep alone and socially withdrawing from everyone around him.
• An elderly couple just returning from the funeral of a 47 y/o friend who had been crushed by a fallen wall, leaving behind a young family. While saying goodbye to this family, we met another who were just leaving for a funeral.
• We were also able to deliver food and petrol vouchers to some of these families to help alleviate some of the financial stress. Once again, many of them wouldn't ask for help because of their perception that there are many others worse off than them.

As these people allowed us to journey into their pain for a brief period of time, we were reminded once again of how much our personal contact with them really did matter and make a difference. I am deeply humbled and moved by this amazing experience!

The day was ended by an informal tour (as a group) into the CBD to view the damage for ourselves in areas that had been previously closed to the public. No matter how many piles of rubble or damaged premises I see, I'm still shocked by the extent of the impact of this quake. It was a moment of relief and reassurance as we concluded our tour by walking around the rose garden in Hagley Park. I remembered the words of an old hymn, "And though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet!" Amidst the devastation there was still evidence of the beauty of God's creation!

Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 5)

Despite starting the day feeling a little weary, I felt energised by the knowledge of the significance and value of our work for the Christchurch people. Our team finished door knocking a suburb we started yesterday that was severely impacted by the earthquake, then moved to a neighbouring suburb that had virtually no visible signs of damage! It was like this suburb was in a bubble - no broken pipes, no cracked paths, no uneven roads, no liquefaction, and houses fully intact. I struggled to understand how one side of a neighbourhood can resemble a war zone and the other side was untouched. The people in these streets had power, water and sewerage, while their nearby neighbours were using portaloos in the street.

After a dozen houses, I really wondered why we needed to be in this area and felt our efforts today were a little futile. Then I met a lady who shared with us that in the past 7 years her husband died, as did her dad, mum and best friend. She lost her savings as a result of the Global Financial Crisis and now has just lost her house in this earthquake. Underneath, what first appeared to be an unaffected surface, was deep pain and grief! Those who appeared to escape the destruction of the quake lost jobs and income due to effected areas. Then there were those who were now housing friends and families who had lost everything and were carrying the extra burden on already limited resources. One lady's household suddenly expanded with her daughter, son-in-law, three grandkids, three cats and a dog moving in! It was a real joy for us (and her) to immediately be able to give her a $100 voucher towards extra food and link her to other services. We also met a young bloke who had moved out of his rented house, due to damage and sewerage smells that was making him and his partner sick. They remarkably found another house to rent on the other side of town, but the landlord demanded three more weeks rent on this house because it wasn't "red carded" by the authorities. This was proving to be an unwinnable situation until we were able to link him up with some tenancy help at the local Recovery Assistance Centre.

Back at the CBS Arena after the nightly group debrief session, some New Zealand officers and cadets delighted us with a Haka based upon William Booth's "While women weep...I'll fight" in Maori language as a thank you for our service to their country. What a gift and blessing!!

After tea, a call was put out for some help to move three cubic metres of cut wood that had fallen out the back of an elderly lady's house. She had tripped on the wood and was concerned about going out her back door. Imagine her delight when half a dozen Salvos turned up to restack her pile of wood. It has been small gestures like this that have meant so much to people. So, what seemed to be a futile effort at the beginning of the day proved to be a fruitful day indeed!

Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 4)

Well, what a very confronting day!! It was a complete contrast to yesterday. Yesterday, people had access to all essential services and were coming to grips with the emotional impact of the earthquake. Today, we door knocked a suburb that still had no water, electricity or sewerage! Streets were lined with port-a-loos, human waste tanks and public water stations. Roads and paths were a mine field and there were broken water pipes everywhere. The closer we got to the river the more we found houses that were completely abandoned. Along the river, house after house were completed devastated by damage and it was like a ghost town. Maybe one in ten houses were occupied. You felt a sense of abandonment when talking with the few remaining residents as neighbours up and left and services were scarce (no port-a-loos along this street). We found a number of signs posted in front yards saying "people still living here". You can imagine their delight when the Salvos (or Sallies, as the NZ'ders call us) turned up on their doorstep! So, our assistance today shifted back to far more practical solutions to basic living needs - supplying bottled drinking water, food & petrol vouchers, reporting abandoned animals, organising port-a-loos for forgotten streets, starting a generator, giving lollies to kids, organising property inspections and comforting the elderly!

To provide a sense of realism to our work today and a reminder of the very real fears and uncertainties people are feeling, we experienced 5 aftershocks! Each one, although not serious (by NZ standards), left us feeling very vulnerable and unsettled. In one street, I bent over to get my camera and felt the ground shake and rumble under my feet. While visiting an elderly couple in their lounge room, the house shook and wall cabinets full of small liqueur bottles rattled in front of us. Although, these aftershocks were minor, they did raise the heart rate and left an uneasy feeling in the pit of the stomach.

The extent of damage to homes and streets were staggering and the visible signs of the earthquake were very evident. One resident was told that it could take three months for sewerage to be restored. The few houses that did get water back on had a trickle at best and those with electricity have a very limited and unreliable power supply. Power lines in one street hung a metre above our heads, as power poles were leaning at precarious angles. I can't imagine how long it will take to restore the streets to any resemblance of normality. There was a residents meeting this morning with the authorities where they were told that large sections of this suburb will be demolished. I met a lady today who lost her own home in the September 2010 quake, and now has lost the house she is renting in this quake - she has 4 young kids!

I was humbled by the people I met today and uplifted by the strength of the human spirit. Somehow in the little we have done so far, I feel I have received more than I have given. One thing is for sure, these people have made an unforgettable impact on my life!

Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 3)

Another early morning and awesome breakfast at the CBS Arena! Following our morning briefing I rejoined the NZ team from yesterday with another officer from Brisbane. We set out for a suburb called Wainoni for more door to door needs assessment. There was a very different feel and focus today, as we responded more to emotional needs than immediate practical needs. Most of this neighbourhood had electricity, water and sewerage, but were dealing with the reality of not being able to get back to work, fear of further aftershocks, uncertainty of whether to stay or not, and lack of sleep due to unresolved grief and anxiety (we seemed to be waking a lot of people up late in the morning).

Here are a few stories and situations we encountered today:

• A young women greeted us at the door in her bathrobe after being woken up. She had everything she needed practically, but indicated that she had difficulty sleeping and eating. After a brief conversation she revealed that she had witnessed 4 bodies being pulled from the rubble and was having nightmares about what she had seen. When she tried to talk about it to her boyfriend, he told her to toughen up and get over it (they are no longer together). Trying to stuff away her feelings was not working for her and she was suffering anxiety attacks. We interpreted this as signs of post-traumatic stress and called in the medical team for further assistance.
• We spoke to a woman from PNG who was trying to cope with a whole lot of fear and stress as well as her 12 y/o daughter who was too afraid to leave the house. Her husband had health issues and they found the process to access emergency grants too overwhelming and were trying to tough it out at home. We identified a number of practical and emotional needs and organised the "flying team" to come in and help out. The 10-15 minutes we spent speaking to her lifted her spirits considerably and we were thanked with a great big PNG hug! The "flying team" were able to help her and her daughter emotionally, advocated for her to get access to the grant, responded to medical concerns and took her to the Recovery Assistance Centre for further practical assistance.
• We connected with a guy up on his roof trying to repair broken and missing tiles (half the roof!!). It was his 8 y/o son's birthday on the day of the earthquake. All his presents and toys, along with most of their other stuff, were destroyed. His son was sent to relatives up north while they attended to the house. Unfortunately, attempts to get help for his son while away proved more difficult than expected. He is returning home on Thursday to some vouchers and toys we are organising for him to replace what he lost on his birthday.
• We delivered bottled water to a man who was not able to tolerate the chlorine in the water provided by the authorities due to his dialysis treatment. A small gesture meant so much to him.
• Another lady expressed difficulty with her husband having to travel every day to the hospital for radiation treatment and now not getting an income, as his school is closed down (he is a teacher). She didn't want assistance, as in her words, "there are others worse off out there", which we hear a lot! Nevertheless, we have organised petrol vouchers to help alleviate the stress.

Story after story, house after house, despite the brave faces (and not so brave), we walked away with a real sense that we are making a difference. People are immeasurably grateful even just for a listening ear. Although the damage to the streets wasn't as apparent as it was yesterday, we found quite a number of houses that were red carded (condemned, due to significant structural damage). The authorities indicated this morning that more than 10,000 homes will need to be demolished!!

After more generous NZ hospitality at tea, a couple of us went for a walk into parts of the city that are being partially opened up to see the damage firsthand. It was eerie walking down main city streets that were completely abandoned. Words cannot really capture the extent of damage, maybe my photos will give a glimpse of what we saw. We continue to be amazed by the extraordinary kindness and appreciation that people are showing us on the streets. These truly are amazing people!

Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 2)

Back at the CBS Arena at 7.00 am for breakfast, followed by an 8.00 am briefing at the Sydenham Corps. We were divided into teams of 8 and the team I was assigned to was sent out into a suburb called Avondale to do "Street Visits" - door to door contacting to assess unmet needs in the community. Two weeks on, and there were still many people who didn't have power, water or sewerage. There were those with medical needs, transportation issues, were low on food or just not sure what to do or where to go. We also encountered a number of people who were very fearful of further quakes and were showing signs of depression and anxiety. Here are some examples of stories we heard:

• A man who was on his way out for a knee operation today, had little food in the house or petrol for his car. He is insulin dependant and no power to refrigerate his medication.
• An older man who had liquefaction dust right throughout his house. He had to rip up most of his carpet and all his belongings were coated in this dust.
• An elderly couple whose wife has chrones disease and no access to a toilet.
• Numerous people digging holes in their backyard as make-shift toilets.
• Another elderly couple whose wife had just finished chemo treatment before the earthquake and had limited access to facilities or services.
• A young mum who was in need of a builder to assess sewerage smells rising up through cracks inside her house, unsure if she needed to tear out her shower recess and vanity unity to determine seriousness of damage. Three doors down the street, we found a neighbour who is a builder and was willing to come and inspect the damage.
• A neighbour expressing serious concern about an 80 year old couple staying with their son who was charging them $100 a week for the privilege and making them look after themselves with meals. They were desperate to return to their own home, but had no access to a toilet, electricity or water.
• A house with the entire front end leaning into the rest of the property with wide open cracks on all main walls and through the front garden.
• A house that had been abandoned with their security alarm blaring for the past day and a half.
• An elderly women who had a large hole in her roof. We were able to borrow a neighbours ladder and fix a tarp in place as a temporary solution to keep the rain out.

Every street was covered in liquefaction and had huge mounds pushing through the bitumen. The river running along one street had raw sewerage floating in it, underground pipes were broken with large puddles everywhere and water running into some properties. The council were working overtime trying to attend to an impossible number of street repairs.

It was a real privilege not only to assess these needs and report them to the appropriate authorities, but to be able to immediately respond to some of them. We distributed dozens of chemical toilets, food hampers and petrol vouchers; organised medical attention where required for physical and mental health issues; and gave people access to information about a number of services that were available to them in their neighbourhood. Local recreation centres were set up as a "one stop shop" with a variety of social and government services, toilets, showers and washing machines.

The reception we received at every single door was overwhelmingly positive and appreciative. On a number of occasions there was a reluctance to accept assistance for very real needs, as they felt there were people out there worse off than them. Beyond the practical assistance, people just needed someone to listen. The team I worked with were an amazing group of New Zealanders from both Nth & Sth who put their lives on hold to make a difference in the lives of their countrymen.

Christchurch Earthquake Relief Journal (Day 1)

Arrival at Christchurch airport was met by some very moving expressions of appreciation by flight crew and passengers. We travelled to CBS Arena for a briefing by Major Daryl Crowden and a very warm welcome by other New Zealand Salvationists. Tea was provided at the Arena which gave us a great opportunity to hear stories about the relief effort from team members who have been on the ground for the past few days.

Motel accommodation has been provided at the Riccarton Mall Motel, which is very close to the city centre where a quick tour gave us an insight to the extent of the damage. I went for a run around Hagley Park where I saw mounds of liquefaction, a fine acidic soil rising to the surface from the earthquake. The park also accommodated a large group of evacuees in caravans - a sort of "caravan city". It makes staying in a motel just up the road feel a little bit out of place.