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Natchipoorum, India

A home of your own is something important to the security and stability of families all over the world. The villagers in India were touched that "white people" came from as far away as the Pacific Northwest and worked so hard to help them. One man expressed the loss of hope after the Tsunami but felt that God had not forgotten him when help arrived.

We worked in Natchipoorum, as small fishing village of mud and thatch houses just north of Pondicherry. The Tsunami destroyed many homes there, although it came in slowly and only up to about 4 feet high. Many fishing boats were lost. Some of the homes were just washed away, others made of mud just melted with the sea water exposure.

Most of the people in this village were incredibly poor, eating tiny flat fish no bigger than a smelt or herring. Many of the children spoke English so they spent a lot of time visiting with us. Their parents helped to build the houses with us.