One morning at a medical clinic held outside of Banda Aceh, the volunteer doctors examined Herman* (40 years old) and his wife Suli* (28 years old). Herman was picking coconuts about 8 years ago and was hit hard on the back of his head by a coconut. After that, he began having seizures. As he and his wife described the seizures, the doctor concluded that Herman had been experiencing 1 to 5 grand mal seizures everyday. Suli was at the end of her strength. She shared that when the earthquake came, it was hard for their family to escape because of Herman’s condition. She told me that Herman’s mother was no longer around to help her tend him with his seizures.

From there, their story unfolded: Herman’s entire family was swept away by the tsunami—father, mother, aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins. All gone. Then he began to weep and I began to weep. I told them that we grieve with them in their losses. I asked if I could pray for them. They both nodded yes.

I held my hands open and prayed in their heart language. I thanked God that He loves Herman and Suli and cares about their problems. I prayed that He would heal him, provide for them and watch over them. I asked Him to guide them to the Straight Path. I closed the prayer in the name of Isa Al Masih (Jesus).

When I’d finished, Herman, still in tears, said, “Please give me your names so I can pray for you too.”

*names have been changed. 

Pray that:

Herman, Suli and their child will be given strength to  live with such grief.  Pray that they will come to know the God of all comfort through Jesus. Pray that they would see how much He cares for the weary, the downtrodden, the hopeless.

Praise Him for the tender loving care that volunteer doctors and nurses have been giving to the people of Aceh in the name of Jesus.

Doors to serve the people of Aceh will remain open.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.