- International YWAMer

India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands were one of the areas hardest hit by the 2004 tsunami. The epicenter of the 9.3-magnitude earthquake was only 100 miles away and when it hit, it completely ruptured one of the tectonic plates on which the islands rest. The result of this was that one side of the island chain actually fell vertically nearly six feet from its previous level, permanently changing the coastline and leaving land that was home to thousands of people underwater forever.

Thousands of people were killed, and many thousands more can never return home because the land where their homes once stood is now completely submerged.

Vasanti was a financially well-off widow, living with her son in a comfortable home on the coast of Nicobar Island. She had a church, many friends, and money in the bank. All that changed at 7:58am on December 26, 2004. Vasanti and her son escaped with their lives, but their home, family photos, possessions, and bank records were swept out to sea in a matter of minutes.

Banking was not computerized, so like thousands of others, her money was lost forever when the banks and all their paper records went underwater. Since home owners’ insurance is unknown in India, there was also no compensation for the destruction of her house and possessions. The government gave Vasanti 10,000 rupees – about 200 U.S. dollars.

Like many other residents of the now-uninhabitable Nicobar coast, Vasanti and her son were transported to the city of Port Blair on Andaman Island. There, a local pastor connected her with YWAM, who was building and donating houses to tsunami victims. For the past four years, Vasanti and her son have lived in one of these homes.

It’s still painful for Vasanti to talk about that day and her life since the tsunami. She tells me, “We were very healthy and wealthy and we lost everything.” She covers her face with her sari and weeps. “It’s been difficult to adjust to a new place because we don’t know anyone here.”

Living only on a widow’s pension and the little her son earns as a night watchman has also been a challenge, but she is grateful for the home YWAM provided for them. “No other agencies would help us.” She says. “Only God gave us this house; it’s miraculous”