Cheers to 10 Years!
An Amazing Beginning to an Unfinished Ending
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake triggered a series of devastating tsunamis along the coasts of most landmasses bordering the Indian Ocean, killing over 230,000 people in fourteen countries with waves up to 100 ft. high. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.
Jamaliah, pictured left, had lost hope in finding her two children that were tragically lost during the Tsunami.
The father of both children recalls the terrifying event: “I was holding Raudhatul and ran with Arif when suddenly a huge tsunami wave engulfed us…I found a plank of wood and put her and Arif on it, but minutes later another wave hit and I lost them.” The family assumed both children were killed.
However, some fisherman along Banayak Islands found the daughter and took her home to care for her as if she was family. Everyone assumed her family got killed.
Ten years later, in August this year, the missing daughter found her biological family and was reunited with her mother and father! Her brother, however, was still missing.
Until, just several days later, the family found him as well. He was living on the streets of a West Sumatra Province. When shown a picture of Jamaliah they boy now, 17, said, “That’s Mother!”
This story will hopefully brighten your day, and bring warmth to your heart. And let us all have continued prayers for this family starts a new beginning together.
Photo Credits and Cited Article: ACHWA NUSSA/EPA AFP photo and article (3) Citations