To The People of Samoa,
My heart aches for you. Prayers and condolences to the many families affected by the tsunami. When we heard the news I didn't believe it. Many can relate state side who waited the first 2 days for news..any news..fully expecting bad news. Being from California, I knew when I heard "8.3 earthquake" that things were bad but then tsunami is a whole different thing. I was grateful to be with family...what a comfort it was to be together. I thought much of my grandma who passed 2 yrs ago wondering how many of her family she was reuniting with.
Finally yesterday we got news that at least our immediate family is OK. My dad lost 5 members of his extended family though. Most of the fatalities are the elderly and children. The pictures are just sad and awful and the reality is even worse. People who are there say there is so much devastation and that it is much worse than we could imagine. Villages are flattened and so many are still missing.
Last night we found out my mom's sister who lives in American Samoa lost her husband yesterday. Life is so unpredictable. What I know for sure...Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us. How grateful I am for forever families. How grateful I am for the gospel of Jesus Christ. What comfort that brings us in times of strife and tribulation.
My thoughts and prayers are with the people of the islands. To those who have passed..Manuia lou malaga...
