FW: news from a devotee in Amritapuri

[Guest guest]

This was forwarded from the Monterey bay satsang.

 

 

------ Forwarded Message

Ramaa Devi <ramaadevi0

Wed, 29 Dec 2004 10:10:36 -0800 (PST)

macresidents <macresidents>, MAcmanage

<macmanage>, bascgroup <bascgroup>

Cc: BrDayamritaChaitanya <dayamrita, Amritapriya

[bascgroup] news from a devotee in Amritapuri

 

AUM Amriteswaryai Namah!

 

A note from another devotee visitor at Amritapuri.

 

Hi everyone - I just want to let all of you know that

I am OK, so DO NOT WORRY. It has been quite the

experience. We are all fine, only due to Amma's Grace.

I don't know alot about what is happening coz we cant

get the news, the phone lines are down, and we just

hear rumors of massive deaths and the worst earthquake

ever.

Tamil Nadu is the state just over from us, and I guess

they were hit badly.

We were affected here, but not as bad and had to

evacuate the ashram. but we are ok. I don't know about

the rest of Kerala.

It was unbelievable. I was resting in my room and I

heard a very strange noise that I couldnt identify -

got up to look out my window and there was this wall

of water, and I thought it cant' be a broken pipeline,

and it must be the SEA - for those who dont know, we

are about 1.000 feet from the ocean.

so I ran out to the front of the flats onto the

balcony and could not believe my eyes - there was a

flood of water EVERYWHERE, completely inundating

everything - they say the wave that hit us was 25 feet

high, but by the time it got to the ashram it was

disipated and spreat out and the depth was about 5

feet of water everywhere. Mother was giving Darshan,

and suddenly stood up and ran outside, took off Her

sari shawl and threw it into the water, and it stopped

flowing and started receding. Luckily darshan was in

the inner temple - Mother said if it had been in the

big hall, there would have been a stampede.

Everyone was in a huge panic as you can imagine - it

was a Devi Bhava day, and there were 15,000 visitors

here. She evacuated every one of them., and then it

was our turn. First we heard she said to come down to

the ground, coz the buildings werent safe, then we

were told to go up higher - so no one knew what the

truth was. I ventured over to the temple from the

flats to try and get water in case it ran out, and to

see what was happening, and there she was, standing in

the water in her petticoat!!|!!!!

Very calm, smiling, directing people.

then she said, all westerners get your belongings and

get in the boats and go across the backwaters, which

by then was completely flooded and full of debris,

with boats floating downstream.

We are now housed in the Engineering college and the

computer school. I feel like a refugee.

I can relate now to the people who are in disasters,

altho this is nothing compared to what others are

going thru. All the villages along the coast in this

area are completely gone, inclluding Parayakadavu, the

little village just down the alley directly on the

beach where the chai stalls are - everyone there lost

their homes, their belongings, and in many cases their

children and other family members. Many villagers were

brought to the ashram hospital and died there.

The ashram is the only place that was protected - no

casualties, no major damage.

Mother managed to get almost 20,000 people out in a

few hours. There are almost 1,000 westerners here now.

I will never forget going out to the balcony and

seeing that water. I thought was dreaming - your mind

can't conceive of what is happening.

So, somehow, we have food and a place to sleep. I am

sleeping in a room that is full of construction

materials, sawdust, open windows, cold, drafty, on top

of some pieces of styrofoam and cardboard and

sheetrock, with no blanket, just in my clothes with

thousands of people just in shock, up all night, etc -

those of you who have been here can just imagine. It

is like being on tour again!!!

The elephants were walked all the way down to the

bridge over the backwaters, and are safe, and the cows

are all in the temple!!!!!

Supposedly, we can go back to the ashram tomorrow -

the government said we have to wait 48 hours, coz

there were aftershocks expected.

We are all doing archana and bhajans as usual, and

meditating and praying.

Many of us feel that we want to help in some way, but

don't know how. The Indians are really rallying -

especially the brahmacharis and brahmacharinis -

helping those who were in the villages (no one is

allowed to go back there). We cant do much coz of the

language, etc. .....

 

so, if you sent me an email for christmas or anything,

I havent had a chance to read it yet, so I will do so

when things get back to normal.

Please pray for all the people who are suffering.We

are all safe here, and Mother is with us - she is

staying in a room at the computer school. She said

when we go back tomorrow, we are to stay in our rooms.

Many are saying that this is the beginning of the

difficulties that are expected in 2005. It is going to

be a very difficult year.

So, Merry Christmas to all of you,please dont worry.

And please remember to be grateful for what you have,

because it can be gone in a split second.

Love and kisses to all of you -

Patrice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meet the all-new My <> – Try it today!

<http://us.ard./SIG=129rmiedl/M=295196.4901138.6071305.3001176/D=groups\

/S=1705044004:HM/EXP=1104430248/A=2128215/R=0/SIG=10se96mf6/*http://companion.ya\

hoo.com>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

bascgroup/

 

bascgroup

<bascgroup?subject=Un>

 

Terms of Service

<> .

 

 

 

------ End of Forwarded Message

 

ammas_montereybay/

 

ammas_montereybay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mail - now with 250MB free storage. Learn more.