Paul Heussenstamm
Sorry this is so long, but going to Banda Aceh was important for many
of us interested in helping.
Thank you to all of you who helped contribute generously to our
trip. Everything went extremely well, considering, and together we
made a significant difference in people's lives. We will also be
sending more water purifiers, so let us know if you want to help. The
following is my experiences and insights of this difficult journey to
Banda Aceh.
Amana and I were planning a trip to Bali, Indonesia and of course
with the nature of events surrounding the tsunami our plans were
altered forever. Since Amana speaks Indonesian, we decided to send a
call out to all of our friends and make a personal contribution to
the people of Indonesia. Almost magically, about $10,000 was
immediately contributed. We collected a large suitcase full of
medical supplies (lots of antibiotics) and purchased eight of the
finest Swiss-made Katadyn water purifiers on the market. Within days
we were off to Bali where there was little time for rest.
After a quick survey of the local Poskos (places collecting
contributions) and speaking with several people coordinating efforts,
we went to Geruda Airlines travel agents, the airline of Indonesia.
We made several requests about our soon-to-be mission and they simply
picked up the phone and called Jakarta. We were then told that the
airport just opened this day and there was only one flight per day.
We could leave from Jakarta early the next morning and the rest of
the flights were already fully booked. So we bought a tent, food and
flashlights as there wasn't any other places to stay.
After crossing Java and spending a brief night in airport hotel,
we were up a 4 a.m. and on our way across Sumatra, one of the larger
islands in Indonesia. We briefly stopped in Medan, where all the
foreign supplies were coming in, and then took-off toward the most
northern tip to Banda Aceh. The airlines didn't charge extra although
we were way overloaded, and "doors" started opening for us almost as
if there was a force guiding and protecting us. On the plane that
morning were troops of social workers from all over the world, such
as the UN, Unesco, Unicef, Doctors without Walls, Oxfam, U.S. Aid,
Merlin (medical emergency relief) and many others.
An Indonesian man sitting next to us on the flight was on his way
to take over the air traffic control position as the current one had
lost his whole family.
The airport was overwhelmed and 10 flights a day had become 100
