Sunday 31 October 2010

My People Weep

At the beginning of the week, natural disasters struck my country with a painful, destructive blow. Not once, but twice, one following the other. A powerful earthquake shook the grounds of West Sumatra on 25th October that night, when many people were sound asleep in their beds. Within hours, it was followed by the Tsunami that swept the coast of Mentawai, destroying everything in its path. From this catastrophe alone, over 400 people are now pronounced dead, and more than 150 were reported missing, while almost 23,000 people have been driven away from their homes now awaiting their fates.

Less than 24 hours after the disaster, the Merapi volcano, miles away in Central Java erupted.





 Photo source: http://kompas.com

You may have watched or read about these in the news and saw with your very own eyes how nature really took course and how it was able to turn our lives with the palms of its hands. Some of you have even written and left me messages, asking about my safety and well being. For that, I can’t thank you enough. It warms my heart to think that there are friends, thousands of miles away who are concerned about me, thinking of me, even though we have never met. It makes me more certain that we can reach out to one another no matter the distance.

So I am now asking you, my friends, for your hand. To spare a little of your love and reach out to these people in need of our help.

I will be posting a series of drawings throughout this month, which will be available for purchase as a donation for the victims of these disasters. All donations will be forwarded to the Indonesian Red Cross through their public donations account at the end of November by the latest, when I will also be posting the financial details of these donations here on my blog.





Sow Your Light #1
Original drawing
Size: A4
US$25.00
( not including shipping cost)



***** SOLD to a dear friend *****


I am not noble, nor rich. Neither am I trying to justify my personal self with this. But I am just a human being with a beating heart, and if the deaths and sufferings of other human beings do not touch my heart, then what will? I’m sure you feel exactly the way I do.

Thank you for reading this. Please help me spread the words and ask your family and friends to join you here for a little helping hand. If any of you out there have the same idea and plan on or already have something going on, please contact me so we could link to each other.


With all my heart,
Amalia oxx



Note:
If you remembered, I started a Blog Anniversary giveaway a week ago and was supposed to announce the winner yesterday. However, given the grieving atmosphere surrounding us here, I’ve decided to e-mail the winner personally about it. My apologies. I hope you understand.



________________________________________________________________________________

16 comments:

  1. dear Amailia,
    It is so good to know that you are well. And yet so sad to know what is going on in your area of the world! My heart aches and I can not imagine what people are going through.

    So lovely of you to inspire donations through your lovely art!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Warmest wishes of support to everyone in your stricken country. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am so glad to see you are ok. This is a wonderful way to help out. with all of the tragedies around, I thank heaven for every day...love to you and this great endeavor. count me in - xxoo

    ReplyDelete
  4. I cried yesterday after seeing some photos from those horrific tragedies:(
    You've done something really sweet, Amal.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dearest Amalia, I'm so relieved to hear you and your family are safe. I think people all over the world are weeping over the devastation. My heart drops every time I see the death toll rise. It seems Indonesia has suffered more than its fair share of natural disasters. And the people... oh, the people.

    What a wonderful idea to bring some action toward healing and helping. Your drawing is full of sorrow, yet there is also so much beauty in her human spirit. I shall keep my eye out for your new drawings.

    Be well.
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  6. Amalia, I am so glad to know you are alright. It's terribly sad to hear of the disasters that have occured recently, but you are doing such a good thing raising money in this way. Stay well, my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh my goodness. I heard about this on a friend's blog, but these pictures make it all so much more real and terrible. I truly wish that things will get better for Indonesia. This is just too much to happen.

    It is so good to see wonderful people like you who are helping. This is truly a beautiful and heartfelt drawing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. My dear friend.
    I knew about the catastrophe that unhappily devastated your beautiful country and lament a lot for the human losses and also for all the desolation and pain that everything this will cost.
    I sincerely didn't remember that it is also your earth.. and I ask that you forgives me for that.. they are so many friends that the times confuse from where are and they live.. why also actually me leaning that we are all siblings living at a great world village in our lover plants earth.. the home that God gave us.
    I am very happy of knowing that you this safe one and I hope your family is also.
    Know that this in my prayers and that my heart this oh with you.. it counts on me for what to need.
    xoxo
    yasmin

    ReplyDelete
  9. My dear Amalia,
    Some of the last evenings I missed the news, so I didn't know the dimension of the natural cataclysm in Indonesia! When I heard about the Tsunami I was worried about you and now I'm happy to learn that you are safe! It's a horrible tragedy - for your country and for every single person that is suffering no matter the reason! Please, receive my sympathy and hope that these horrible hours will remain in the past, in the bad dreams!... I suppose it's very hard to live in unsecurity and expectation for something bad to happen again. I pray that God protects your country from further natural disasters!...
    I think you react in the best possible way, your pain and care leading you in your mission. I wish I could help,too, but for now I can give you only my moral support! DEAR Amalia!xxx

    ReplyDelete
  10. I watched some terrifying videos about the Tzunami on You Tube...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Blessings to you and your family, and to your dear country. Nature is not kind sometimes, and I will pray for healing for your people and land

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dearest Amalia,

    Been so long absent and am very sorry to hear about your poor countrymen ~ Great idea to raise money through your art. I support this effort fully, and will look forward to helping out with your fundraising soon.

    Hugs to you and all the love I can send your way!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hello ladies... I'm am deeply moved by your words. Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers. I wish I could do so much more than this, but I know every little bit counts.

    Hugs to you! oxox

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm sending my thought and prayers to your country. It's so hard to see all the images. My heart goes out to all.
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  15. oh my goodness, I have been so overwhelmed with work I haven't had on the television or anything! I am so happy that you and your family are safe! I am so sorry, what a devastating occurrence. This is a beautiful idea. You, your family and your country are in my prayers. XO

    ReplyDelete
  16. Amalia! My prayers go out to all in your country. Also prayers of thanks that you are well. Your generosity with your time and talent is inspiring. Very lovely illustrations. God bless you and all your loved ones.

    ReplyDelete

Tell me your lovely daydreams, they always make me smile! ♥