TANMAYA PROVINCE - Resilience amidst the floodwaters

Vikravandi, a small town in the State of Tamil Nadu (Southern India), bore the brunt of nature’s fury of cyclone named Fengal on the first and second of December. The community, along with the school where the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery live and carry out their mission, was under water. The aftermath has been devastating, leaving the sisters grappling with unprecedented challenges.

Cyclone Fengal, originated as a low-pressure system in the eastern Indian Ocean. It gradually developed into a tropical storm and made landfall along the Tamil Nadu Coast. Fengal’s wind speeds reached up to 120 km/h, and it brought massive rainfall, exacerbating the flooding situation.

On December 1st, the four of us, Sisters Jessy, Arpana, Sanju, and Jayarakkini, woke up to find our school and convent building surrounded by 5 to 6 feet of water. We had no choice but to place our trust in the providential care of Almighty God and cling to the first floor, helplessly watching the surge of floodwaters. Unwelcome creatures invaded the space, snakes crawled through the wet rooms, lizards clung to the walls, while rats, cockroaches, and frogs floated alongside the debris. The stagnant water, combined with these uninvited guests, made survival incredibly difficult.

The convent building, standing firm amidst the sluggish water, reminded me of Noah's Ark. The classrooms, with their furniture and all equipment, including books and records, were all drenched by the fury of Fengal. The entire town was submerged in a single massive body of water. In other parts of the town, residents assisted one another by sharing resources and ensuring safety. Local authorities and volunteers worked tirelessly, organizing relief operations. As the water receded, the greatest challenge that lay ahead was cleaning the homes and surroundings to make them hygienic to live in once more. This was not so easy. Along with the physical damage, Fengal left behind a significant mental trauma experienced by human souls.  

We, the sisters, were fortunate to have good Samaritans to assist us. The CSST sisters, especially Sr. Sarguna, the provincial, and Sr. Mellita, the Principal of St. Mary’s School, along with their band of helpers and our sisters from the Villupuram community, came forward to clean up the marshy classrooms. They also provided food for all of us. Fr. Messiah and our contractor - Mr. Puviyarasan provided us with power banks and snacks as we struggled for nine days without electricity. Fengal had destroyed almost everything. The consoling words of Sr. Philo and the prayers of our sisters in the province were the greatest pillar of support. It was a heart-touching experience to receive the help from these good Samaritans in our greatest need and to witness the resilience of my sisters in the community.

Here I am reminded Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” We are not alone in our struggles and challenges. With faith and trust in God, we can overcome obstacles that comes our way. 

Sr. Jessy, Vikravandi Community/Tanmaya

Barbara

Praying for each of you? God's protection n courage

Barbara

Praying for each of you? God's protection n courage