The tsunami that destroyed much of Sri Lanka hit close to home in many ways for Brockport United Methodist's Rev. Sinnathamby Thevanesan. Not only is Sri Lanka his native land, his wife, and two of his children, were visiting there for a wedding at the time of the destruction last December. When Rev. Thevanesan heard the news he hurried to a television to see what was going on. He was shocked by what he saw, but when he called his wife he found that they weren't even aware of what had happened. The city that they were in was spared by the tsunami. When he went to church the next day he found that members of his congregation had feared the worst. "People thought my family was dead," Rev. Thevanesan said. After they received the good news, many felt strongly that their pastor should return to his homeland to provide some help. Church members in Brockport, and in some of the other congregations he served in locally, collected enough money to send Rev. Thevanesan on a one-man mission for two weeks. "I told them that if they would back me I would surely go," he said. Rev. Thevanesan left February 15 to visit the eastern coast of Sri Lanka and serve the congregations of two churches he used to help lead. Rev. Thevanesan found a lot of work to do in the areas he visited, and decided his most important mission was to provide hope. People he talked with were feeling guilty that they couldn't have done more to save their family and friends and they were wondering how God could let this happen. Rev. Thevanesan spent much of his time counseling grieving families, assessing needs, and even providing sessions for clergy who were exhausted from the work they had done. "I told them that God doesn't let disasters happen. This was nature," the pastor said. "I told them that in the event of an unexplainable disaster, God needs our help." The experience taught the minister lessons that he has been sharing with his congregation and other people locally. He said in the horror of the tsunami a tremendous good in people was evident. It was visible in the way people in Sri Lanka helped each other and evident in how the entire world got involved to help pick up the pieces. Rev. Thevanesan said he wants people here to understand that it shouldn't take a massive wall of water to elicit acts of kindness. Rev. Thevanesan said he is urging his congregation to build bridges, open doors and continue support both locally and to all parts of the world. "People should be doing this all the time," he said. "Why should we wait for another disaster before we start working to benefit mankind?" Rev. Thevanesan is helping to initiate several efforts to benefit Sri Lanka. He is working with SUNY Brockport to help restore an orphanage. He's working with his congregation to adopt families whom they can correspond with on a regular basis, and he is working with Brockport village officials to pursue starting a Sister Cities program with Batticaloa, a city in Sri Lanka. Rev. Thevanesan said the tragedy has forever changed his life. "I've stopped asking the question, 'Why has this happened?' and I've started asking 'Now what can I do?' " He has found that there is much to do to restore hope in the people of a land once known for its tranquil beauty. I can not save the world, and I can't even save this country," he said. But if I can get the folks in Brockport to help with these projects, then I have done great work for God." |
