In The Nick Of Time

My hana’s sister, along with her husband and two kids left for Phuket, Thailand last December 25. When they woke up, she and her husband thought of going to the beach while the kids were still asleep. They decided to go to the second floor of their hotel to have coffee instead. From there they saw the first big wave hit the shores of Phuket. Panic-stricken, they rushed to get their kids. When they came down to the lobby, it was already flooded. The walls had bloodstains (from the poor people that rammed into them when they got swept away). They saw it…they saw those poor people on the beach being eaten up by the tsunami. In a second, they were gone. The same day, they were relocated to another hotel. Up high in the mountains. Later on, they found out that the second wave wrecked their hotel, completely. There were a lot of people in the airport. Chaotic. It was like a relief center. People were crying. Many of them wounded (who got first priority on the flights out of the island). They saw an elderly man still in his swimming trunks, dazed and confused. His wife, dead. Other tourists offered him clothing. A 7 year old child walking aimlessly. His parents, gone. My hana’s brother-in-law, because of the unnerving experience, broke down and cried. How could one possibly handle such a tragedy? They’re safe and ok now in Bangkok. Still a bit shaken, but ok. Thank you, God. Thank you for putting them in the right place, at the right time. *Let us all include the people of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Somalia, Maldives, India and Sri-Lanka in our prayers.