Seeking peace in Pakistan

Relief volunteers, including many from Lancaster County, visit the earthquake-hit country and work alongside the "remarkably resilient" residents.
By JOAN KERN, New Era Staff Writer
Reality did not match perception for some Americans and Pakistanis when they met in the earthquake-ravaged mountains of northern Pakistan.
Americans from historic peace churches -- many of whom were Lancaster County residents -- thought they were going to a dangerous country with many Muslim fundamentalists and terrorists.
Instead, they found hospitable, peace-loving people who want nothing to do with terrorists.
"(They) want peace as much or more than we do," said Jon Unger Brandt. "They were very open and warm to Christians, with no love for terrorism."
Unger Brandt, 35, of Lancaster, was among 39 volunteers on a relief mission last month organized by Salunga's Eastern Mennonite Missions, an Anabaptist global mission agency.
As for the English-speaking Pakistanis he met, "it's not their perception that American Christians are peace loving. They do not understand what we are doing in Iraq," he said, referring to the ongoing war.
The Americans worked hard, helping residents prepare to rebuild after the Oct. 8 earthquake that killed 87,000 people and left 3.5 million homeless.
But Unger Brandt said the more significant aspect of the visit was to offer the Pakistanis hope and show them that "there are American Christians who care and want to help globally.
"It was good to sit and have tea with them and share that I want peace as much as they do," he said.
Unger Brandt, EMM's communications director, is a member of Blossom Hill Mennonite Church, which helped fund his trip to the mountains of Azad (or "free") Kashmir, an independent Pakistani territory.
The volunteers, ages 17 to 74, went in two teams, one from Dec. 6 to 20; the other, Dec. 11 to 25.
They included 70-year-old Dr. Clarence Rutt of Landisville, who worked in a medical clinic in Pakistan, and two local high school seniors, Joseph Mozloom of Hempfield and Derrick Musser of Donegal.
They flew into Islamabad, followed by a four-hour drive, most of it, Unger Brandt said, between a mountain wall and the "swiftly running" Jhelum River.
The last half-hour of the drive took them on a steep climb on a road with dangerous hairpin turns. The reward was breath-taking views of an area that a travel writer once described as "paradise on earth."
EMM arranged the relief mission with an international nongovernmental organization. But four days before departure, a representative from the NGO called and said, "We're swamped. Don't come."
With some last-minute scrambling, EMM made new arrangements with two Pakistani NGOs, allowing the Americans to work directly with earthquake survivors.
"One man I worked with lost his home, some family members and his business," said Unger Brandt, who worked at a field hospital and in the nearby village of Bugna.
Others worked in Balakof, where, in the old part of the city -- on the side of a steep mountain -- every building was destroyed.
Most of the casualties in the earthquake, which occurred on a weekday morning, were students in schools that collapsed.
"Within 30 seconds a three-story building was gone," Unger Brandt said. "I saw a women's college where 200 women died, a school where 300 children died.
"People talked of seeing children still alive, buried under rubble, that they couldn't get to," he added. "I don't know quite how to comprehend that. I think of my kids and don't want to imagine that happening."
He and his wife, Lori, have an infant and a toddler.
Unger Brandt said the relief workers were overwhelmed by the enormity of the disaster.
The original assignment with the international NGO was to help build temporary shelters to replace tents, then housing the victims, because the tents will not survive heavy snowfalls
(The relief workers camped in tents, too. They went prepared for the worst weather but were blessed with two weeks of sunny, warm days, with temperatures below freezing only at night.)
The local people, who he said were "remarkably resilient," weren't anywhere near ready to rebuild. Instead, relief workers worked alongside them, removing rubble.
"They were encouraged by people willing to come so far," Unger Brandt said. "They asked why we came, who paid us. They were struck that no one was paying us."
The challenge was to know where to begin when everywhere they looked was devastation.
"Who bands together to help whom when everyone needs help?" he asked.
The Americans went where they were told, knowing behind every family they helped stood 15 more that they would not get to reach.
"We left knowing we did some good, but if we went back in six months, there would still be a lot to do," he said. "It was a little bit daunting."

Back home - what's next?

It is over a month since I returned from Pakistan. Still processing what all of this means for me, and for EMM. I have some thoughts to share about my experience and I have been slow to write them down. This has been difficult for me and I am not sure why. First off though, I want to express my gratitude.

Blossom Hill Mennonite, my home congregation, was instrumental in my support. You folks caught my vision and were totally behind my decision to go. Thank you.
Beyond BH, I also received very generous support from family, classmates, teammates, and friends. From Texas to Alaska, and some Canadian points in between, you made this trip possible. THANK YOU ALL.

The trip was powerful. I think I have dragged my feet for so long in writing this because I haven't been sure of all that it has done to me. I sat and had tea with people who I have been told are religious extremists, supporters of Al Qaeda, and generally hostile to American christians. I was welcomed, unconditionally into their homes and lives. I saw the devastation with which they live and I mourned with them the loss of their sons and daughters. They offered me peace, and I received it, knowing my country would not respect it.

We sat and discussed our faiths, our cultures, and most importantly our families. I was struck with how significant it was to them that we had left our families. One made a comment to me that our lives in the US are so busy and we are never home - that is why our women are unhappy. Interesting take.

sexual politics aside, it is obvious that family is important to Pakistanis and they valued that we had left family at home to be with them. It caused me to ponder.

I will also be uploading some recent news articles on our trip to give a couple other perspectives on the experience. I was impressed with the Lancaster New Era's reporting.

As to what is next? not sure. We will be deciding in the next week or so how to move forward with some of the relief funds donated. We didn't immediately find good uses for all of it while we were there. And I think there will be further opportunities to work in Pakistan, and perhaps another trip for me this year. Still working that out. For now, I will do what I can to assist from here and maintain contact with the friends I have made across the globe. And enjoy my family, perhaps not being quite as busy.

Again, your support for me was/is incredible, and it overwhelmed us. THANK YOU, and do not forget that winter is now here, and too many still need shelter.

Monday night in Is-bad

Greetings,

A short note today. Presently there are seven of us (Daryl Martin is not among us as he is staying to lead the second group), from the first group that are in Is-bad together at the HDF office. The other part of the first group, those in Balakot, should also be in Is-bad somewhere but I don't know if we will see them before we get to the hotel.
We are tired, somewhat hungry, and very dusty. We are grateful for God that there has been no rain or snow, but it does mean that everything is caked in dust. So be it.

Inshallah (God willing), we will be on a plane back to the US by 8 am tomorrow. We expect to arrive in Washington about 34 hours from now, at 6 pm. We are trusting that there are people waiting to take us back to Salunga at that time. Right Doreen? Doreen? :-)

We have been blessed by our time here, and will carried many fond memories back. I may have even picked up an affection for tea while here, and those that know me, may consider that a miracle.

The others back in Bugna are working at clearing out a few houses of rock (the walls), and dirt (the roof) so that the people can begin to rebuild. It is hard, dirty work but the men come back (after a 30-40 minutes walk UP the mountain) at the end of the day in high spirits. Some are also hoping to finish stairs and a latrine, including shower pad, in the next couple of days. Keep them in your prayers as many of them will be missing Christmas with family for the first time and continuing to relate in a culture that is become more comfortable, but still bewildering foriegn at times.

Allah affiz (Good bye) for now, and thank you for your prayers,

Jon UB

Well, the rest of the seven are waiting for dinner

Monday afternoon in Islamabad

Hey all,

I am sitting in front a computer running DSL, anticipating a hot shower in a couple of hours, and plan to sleep in a warm bed. Ah, luxury.
I came into Is-bad this afternoon to meet the next group of men coming. One group came from Lithuania this afternoon and another group comes from Philly tomorrow morning at 6am.

When I left Bugna, our group was just about to drag the second of four shelters into a new location. Most of today will be spent improvingthe main compound so it is usable as a hopsital/pharmacy. Within Islamic culture there is greater sensitivity regarding men and women interacting so it is necessary to create some separation so the women will feel comfortable comingto the hospital.

I expect that a number of our men will also get out into the villages today and start to asses the needs there. This has taken a little longer than we had hoped due to some political concerns. The HDF board is showing up over the next week so it is important that we be visible and thatthe site be in excellent condition. I understand these concerns but I don't want them to outweigh the other needs here also.

Still recovering from seeing Muzzarafabad yesterday. I have never seen such death and destruction and pray I never will again. Entire buildings, schools, hospitals, hotels, simply gone, with thousands forever trapped inside. During our time there we saw one site where larger construction vehicles (Ezra would have loved it) were working. And this was run by Americans. There simply isn't the capacity nor the space for such vehicles to work. Too many of the houses are not accessible by anything other than foot. So we drive by people working at the stone with hammers, and if they are lucky, pickaxes. There is an entire cottage industry being created by people willing to spend their days salvaging rebar and other building materials.

Looking down over the river one sees families collecting sand and gravel for cement. Carried up by hand, by donkey, or very rarely, tractor, these materials are mixed right by the side of the road because there is no other place to work. Driving in this country is a whole other experience, dodging landslide debris, building materials. beggars, and any number of different vehicles.

Coming down from Bugna today it took close to a half hour to getto the bottom of the first mountain. This trip, averaging 30kms/hr, consists of hairpin turns every 20 seconds, mostly 1.5 lanes, avoiding donkeys, people, and agressive bus drivers who stop for no one and then stop suddenly for a passenger, oh, and one 50m straightaway.

The rest of the trip is much calmer, with hairpins less than every two minutes and wonderful opportunities to look at the road you are suppose to be on lying 100m below in pieces. And that section wasn't because of the earthquake, simply the general landslides that happen periodically.

This is a hard country, with little natural resources that we have been able to discover. Fiercely independent, and proud of the differences between them and India, Pakistanis, and especially Kashmiris, seem to be able to make a life out of nothing. We are making fast friends with a number of boys, and then slowly their fathers. We will miss these people when we leave, most definitely.

A note on their hospitality. Earlier, I risked by declining an offer of tea from the HDF CEO. He was a little surprised but recovered well. Since then I have been asked four times, every time by someone different, if I need anything, especially tea. Each time I have assured them i am fine. Moments ago a man simply brought me a cup of tea, asking no questions. One can work alone in an office on the computer for a few hours, but one cannot go with out tea!

For those that know me, I am not a big tea drinker. Thankfully this stuff is black tea made with mix of water and milk, with plenty of sugar. Mostly palatable.

Well, i should sign off.

take care, and I thank you for the amazing support.

Jon UB

Sunday afternoon in Muzzarafabad

Asaleem alekum (forgive the spelling) or peace be with you,

This is the formal greeting here, although many rather use English with the 'americans'. We are in M-bad for the day, and have seen more devastation than I believed possible. It is set in a valley and whole sections of mountain are gone, taking houses with them as they crush the city below. We could see houses standing just 50 feet above the landslide, seemingly untouched. But as we get closer, nothing is untouched. House after house crushed, some to rubble, others merely collapsing upon themselves, killing all inside. Now people live outside, not trusting the buildings to hold (there goes a chopper - they are a constant presence, trying to carry supplies into the mountains.) while they sleep.
THere are tent villages everywhere, run by a myriad of local and foreign ngos. I don't know what will happen in a month when the snow comes, and I don't think they do either.
THere is a field hospital that encompasses a huge open air cricket stadium. Dozens of tents, dotting the fields as we travel the mountains above.
Weep for these people. There is so little that can be done and yet everyone is working madly to do something. And yet I sit in an internet cafe just off the main drag, the music playing, the computers are running, and business as usual. The only sign I can see of the earthquake is a crack in the cement wall beside me.

We are doing well - living in a small tent village of our own. We eat some meals with our hosts, enjoying wonderful Pakistani food - which they say is similar to Indian, but not as spicy. We will meet this afternoon with a village elder to determine a plan of work for the next two weeks. I think we are getting closer to some more 'productive' work. Although I hesitate to say it that way, as I believe we have done good work already. The tentative plan is to split into two groups, one staying at the NGO's compound, improving the buildings there, making the hospital more functional. Many hospitals have been destroyed and this is the only one for miles.
The othere group will head into the villages, helping to catalyze construction. We will offer some workshops on rebar and cement pier construction but most importantly we will work side by side with people whose homesare destroyed. THe destruction has to be numbing. So many listless people, losing the will to rebuild. We will attempt to offer hope.

We had a good worship service this morning - the eight of us are feeling strong and connected to each other. God is good.

I must go - time to meet the others.

Love,
Jon UB

Thursday morning in Islamabad

Well, we made it. We arrived in Is-bad about 7 am, thursday morning. Mostly uneventful trip, although John and I were given the same boarding pas in Philly, causing some difficulties. Nothing serious.

Once in Is-bad we quickly connected with Just Peace and DAve Harnish and 11 others went off with them to Balakot. I don't expect to see them until the 20th when fly back. We are in cell phone contact however.

It tokk us a little longer to connect with Human Development Foundation but after a few phone calls to Barry Hoffman in the US we mangaged to connect. Eight of us are currently relaxing at the HDF office. They fed us a wonderful meal of chapitis, eggs, and tea and we are now waiting for the CEO, Mr. Saleem.
Today has been, and will be, a day of hurrying up and waiting. There is some uncertainty what we will be doing but I expect we will decide this afternoon, at least in part. We will probably stay in Is-bad tonight and head up to Bugna (just south of Muzzarafabad) tomorrow morning. The drive is about 3-5 hours. We are learning how to be patient. All of us are do-ers and there wil be opportunity for that but not now.

The office here has about 20 employees and is bustling. HDF has about 100 people around the country working in education, medical work, economic development, and community planning. They are primarily supported by a network of Pakistani doctors in the US. They appear to being doing quite good work. I look forward to seeing some of it.

Well, take care all, and I hope to be in contact further but no guarantees. Here there is dsl but after we get to Bugna I don't expect to have internet access.

Thru London to Islamabad and beyond!!

We are currently in London, in the middle of our seven hour layover. We are rested, well-fed, and anxious to discover what we will be doing.
Currently the plan is for 12 of us to go to Balakot to work with JustPeace International, probably distributing supplies and doing some rebuilding. Eight of us will be going to Bunga (sp?) to work with the Human Development Foundation doing much of the same. They have a field hospital that we may volunteer at.
Both groups are Muslim run - although secular NGOs. This will give an excellent opportunity to build relationships across faith borders. I am excited about that.
This will be for most of us, the first time that we have had such an opportunity. I pray that we will be able to relate well, showing respect and love for the people we meet.
I am continually grateful for the prayers and thoughts of support that have been offered on my behalf. I am buoyed by them.
May God grant strength for the journey,
Jon UB

to possibilities and hope

This middle school teacher now has a place to teach again. One of the keys to recovery, particularly for children, after such a disaster is a return to rhythm. Creating classrooms empowers people to begin to rebuild lives and helps the children start to envision normalcy.

From destruction to...

Mansehra is the launching city

We will be flying into Islamabad and then travelling to Mansehra. This will be the main base of operations from where we will go into more isolated locations. Supposedly there are some restaurants and an internet cafe there. Check out Mansehra for some information about the city.

An update, some changes

There have been some significant changes in the plans to go to Pakistan. EMM has decided to organize its own teams. So instead of going to Phoenix for orientation, I will be leading a team from Pennsylvania. This allows us to take a lot more people to work. We will still be connecting with the same in-country agency, so we do not have to stress about alot of the details there.
Also, we have discovered that this will be akin to wilderness camping so there is a lot of logistical work ahead. Anyone in the area with camping equipment they are willing to lend, there will be people looking.

Children are at risk

I debated showing this picture, because I don't want to be unnecessarily emotional, but I am taken by how many children have been affected by this disaster.

To serve the people of Kashmir

Help me raise the $3500 I need to go and serve in Pakistan. I plan to leave in two weeks and will be paying for plane tickets by then.

The tentative schedule is to be in Phoenix, by noon, December 4. Leave early on the 5th for Pakistan and stay until the 17th. Finish debrief by noon, December 18 in Phoenix, at which point I would fly to Winnipeg to meet my family for Christmas. It will be a whirlwind, but a life-saving one.

Hearing a cry from Pakistan

I need to go.
Over the past couple of days the need for action has become apparent to me. I work for a mission organization and I do good work, helping people see the needs around the world. But with this crisis looming, it wasn't enough. I need to go.
As a worker in Pakistan so powerfully wrote, "Winter is Coming."
There is a drastic need for shelters from the coming winter and people to build them. At present there are over 3 million homeless with little hope for the coming months.
So with blessing of my amazing wife and Eastern Mennonite Missions, I plan to go to Pakistan to help in the building of shelters.
I believe God is calling me to do this and so I am asking for your support.

I need to raise $3500 for travel and living expenses. Unfortunately, the mountains of Kashmir are difficult to get to, so the costs are high.
Will you assist?

My church, Blossom Hill Mennonite, is accepting donations on my behalf so any cheques can be made out to them.
I have also joined Paypal, which is a convenient and secure way to donate on-line.
I am passionate about this opportunity and I hope you can help me make it happen.