Situation Report: American Samoa. Day 2.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
by Tim Serban
Situation Report: American Samoa
American Red Cross volunteer Tim Serban was deployed to American Samoa Friday, October 2 as member of the National Red Cross Response Team. Tim is the Director of Mission Integration and Spiritual Care with Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, WA and has been a volunteer with Red Cross since 1999. His first volunteer training with the Red Cross was in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing. Tim is thumb-typing these reports and sending them home using his iPod mobile device--when connections are available.
Thanks to Tim's home Chapter in Washington State for sharing these reports with us here in Arizona.
Notes From: Tim Serban American Red Cross Spiritual Care Response Team (SRT) Lead Disaster Relief Operation (DRO) 560-Am. Samoa
DAY 2: Sunday 10/4/09
Following a local invitation to attend Mass at Christ the King parish it was truly moving as it was the community's first Sunday service since the earthquake & tsunami.
Action items of the day. After teaming up with local Mental Health resources in the community I went on to an area of Leone, A. Samoa. Being male support people, we we're tasked with the job to attempt to reach out to key men in the local community who have faced the greatest loss ever, their children.
How, as a father would you face the grief of losing your children fleeing their school to try to make it home? How would you handle the deep grief of not only losing your home but also facing the reality that you could have lost your entire family and how do you celebrate the fact that all survived except your little angel, your only daughter who was just six years old? These were just some of the realities we walked into today.
I can say one thing that really connects with kids is the fist bump and blow-up. If you don't know what it is, ask your kids or grandkids. We met with a teacher of preschoolers who is facing the reality of school starting tomorrow and what to say or do to help them process the grief of who doesn't end up showing up for school and the fear that those who didn't show may not be ever coming back.
That will be our call tomorrow, as we have been requested by local leaders to begin to meet with teachers and helping them address their grief just before stepping into the classroom.
Then there are us men. Two of us, another Northwest area Red Cross volunteer and myself, the epitome of a grandfather and "younger" father who have found a team approach in supporting men in grief and helping them know it's "for their kids sake" and their own that they get help.
We are considering ways to connect leaders in the communities with those who are in shock and trying to survive. Coming by this Friday will be the work of two families to have the funerals of their children, which means digging their own child's grave, all of which are in the front yard of the family home. Then bringing family together and hosting them in what would have been your home, but is now uninhabitable and there are not many options for alternatives, tradition, culture, honor, and history mandate that, for one to have honor that they would do these things.
Call it part of the grief work, families with loss often are working tremendously hard and they do have the love and support of amazing community family commitment. All will surround them; the prayer of this community is a constant source of strength. They welcome every bit of support and advice for caring for their kids their children and themselves. The little we provide is much when you have limited access to such support.
Today? One of those once in a lifetime over the top days that change your life because you walk with people in places of loss and when we leave we see a bit of hope and a child who with silent smiles wishing you Tofa! (goodbye) with a fist bump-blow-up!
Tim Serban, ARC SRT lead DRO 560 Samoa
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