Earthquake? What Earthquake?

As far as I know, I'm one of the only people around who missed the earthquake on Monday. I didn't feel it. You see, I was riding my new bike for the first time in China. I was already a little nervous. I set out on my bike probably around 2:20ish. As I turned the corner through the main intersection of my neighborhood, I saw all these people coming outside and staring up at the buildings. I was distracted by them, but I was so focused on not crashing and burning on my first bike ride that I tried to stop wobbling and keep going. I thought I was just wobbling really badly for a moment, but maybe some of that was the ground moving. In my province, Henan, people here felt the buildings swaying. It was frightening, but no one really freaked out that much. So, I'm fine and everyone I know is fine. I want to say thank you to those who have contacted me concerned and asked if I was ok. Thanks.

It's a different story for the people of Sichuan Province, especially in Wenchuan County. When I got to where I was going and my friends told me that there was an earthquake, I first thought, "I hope no one died." When I was told that the epicenter was in Sichuan, two provinces southwest of mine, I felt terrible. I knew lots of people were gone if my province was swaying a bit. I've heard the death toll is 10,000 right now. That's definitely a low number for China right now. There are definitely more people who are no longer with us. The number is not really important right now though. The main thing is getting help and supplies to the people that need it.

I'm confident that China will be able to send in the majority of the military and aid teams to Sichuan and get things cleaned up as quickly as possible. I'm really honored to be in a country that can send loads of people to help others in times of extreme need. China has people power.

The thing that I'm personally struggling with is the same thing that President Bush mentioned--the effect on so many students. As a teacher in China, whenever I hear that a student dies, my heart breaks. When I thought about the schools full of students at 2:30 in the afternoon and how the buildings surely fell... It's a tragedy. I'm contemplating going down there to help the relief effort, but for now, I'm talking with friends and comforting those that are really shaken up about it.

Mother Nature is a wild and free woman. It's just one of those natural disasters just like the cyclone in Myanmar recently. Questions about why it has happened aren't helpful. Speculation is not helpful, especially right now. I take comfort in knowing that everything really will be ok and things will get cleaned up in the next couple of months. If you are so inclined, please pray for China. If you're not so inclined, I'd ask that you keep China in your thoughts. Everyone should stay aware of what's happening because our Chinese friends could use some help.