Traveling Mercies

I arrived in Italy on April 21, 2009 to visit the earthquake victims in Abruzzo, Italy to offer assistance to the community. First, I would have to try to understand what happened by creating a relationship with the people and slowly being invited into their experience.

I first noticed that we place controls upon the tragedy so as to protect the innocent victims of yesterday and possibly of even more today. Within the controls, we even restrict the flow of the common good will by strangers who come to assist the wounded in spirit and in physical presence. However, in gratitude there are many here helping: police, civil agencies, fire companies, doctors, psychologists, and many volunteers. There is also shelter, food, and toys for the children being provided in abundance. I came alone, but with the help and Prayers of others, as an individual, I have slowly become accepted into the now changed world of Onna.

It was very difficult at first to enter the restricted areas but as I always say in my travels “that with good intentions from the heart to help others eventually the spirit of love will open doors through the people you meet along the way.” In this case, I met wonderful people and friends, each guided me beyond the barriers into the village of Onna.

The people of the village of Onna remain in shock today, but hopeful because of the support they are receiving and their strong inherited nature. Italians are united, and so strong together in the struggles and hardships of life. The very strong earthquake occurred in the early morning hours of April 6, 2009, as the village of Onna slept peacefully tucked within the beauty of the Appenine Mountains. As destruction rippled through the village the homes crumbled instantly, and reality changed the lives of the 300 inhabitants, as 40 of them died that night. Many were injured, and some remain in the hospital, while others walk in the now tent village of Onna, bandaged and bruised. Their new reality seems to be one of fear, sadness, and disbelief, but also gratefulness for their life and having survived the earthquake.

A man named Franco Popola walks around with two broken arms in casts and his face is marked with large purple wounds. A married couple in their mid-fifties, Pasquale and Tisiana Pezzapane, lost their 21-year-old daughter and 26-year-old son the night of the earthquake. They were very courageous speaking to me, but soon the emotions filled them and the very, very deep pain began to rise soon expressed uncontrollably in the tears that flowed from their hearts. There are so many stories of lives changed by the earthquake, and they are so full of life’s emotions that small blue tents cannot contain them for very long. Within each story, there are enough emotions to fill the largest of villas in the hills of Italia.

The community here formed a committee of five citizens to represent them. Franco is president, and wears openly the wounds of yesterday, but speaks the words of hope for tomorrow. Marco Carpinis is the secretary and though mature and wise, he is so deeply saddened by all the losses, while leading with confidence and calmness. Others such as Vincenzo and Gianfranco are also terrific leaders, coordinating and offering stability to the people. The community, to represent their interests with the government and other outside organizations, has formed an organization. Presently, all matters are being assessed, but no definite plans exist. Questions remain large as to how the reconstruction will be done, when, and where.

Today I have been able to become familiar and connected to many here and have offered the help of Traveling Mercies and its friends. We will construct a specific project as part of the overall reconstruction and/or assist the most needy families. Presently, we have made a contribution of over $3,000.00 to begin the fund raising.

This village of Onna, as all the other villages of Italia, is truly in need of your friendship, Prayers and financial help. They are truly suffering a hardship of life, while we’re blessed and spared at this time. They have great dignity and the utmost humility in this difficult unexpected experience in their lives.

I returned to Abruzzo Italy on June 12-2009. Upon re-entering the village of Onna, I was amazed to see the calmness and feel the silence. Since my last visit, six weeks ago, it appears that many of the emergency activities have ceased and many people that were providing support are gone. After a dramatic experience in our life, or after a violent storm has passed, there is a quiet calmness and a sense of silence. I walked around slowly and even reverently. The powerful stories of the earthquake could be heard more loudly within the silence.

The people are still living in their tent homes and I noticed that many of them are walking around in deep thought. I took note that a new large tent had been erected as a school for some of the children, and I am told that many others are attending schools in local communities. They tell me the children are doing well and are lovingly cared for by their families and community. The village leaders remain committed, patient and cautiously optimistic. Franco’s wounds have healed, and with his casts removed from both arms he welcomes me with a strong embrace. The community feels that they are being well cared for by the government and the volunteers meeting their basic needs.

The tents are becoming quite hot now as the summer weather has begun making daily life even more stressful. They believe that the next step will be for the government to supply 90 to 100 pre-fabricated wooden houses on these grounds. This will shelter them sufficiently in the soon to be cold weather because the re-construction of the village will take a number of years. The inhabitants of Onna are very resilient and retain the pride and dignity of their Italian heritage. Still, their destroyed village remains in the same condition, for the most part, as no one is permitted to enter the area because of security and safety reasons. Final plans to rebuild the village are in the process and being coordinated by the Italian government. The German government is offering major support as a way of reparations for the destruction they inflicted on Onna during WW 11

The community has received many thousands of dollars in contributions to assist them, mostly from Italy, but also some from the US. Traveling Mercies was able to contribute over $10,000 to Onna and other earthquake victims. This money was raised through the efforts of Traveling Mercies, as well as the dedicated hard work of Amici Della Lingua Italiana and others. Every dollar contributed was donated 100 per cent to the community, and all my expenses were paid personally and thru the generous support of Champion Fasteners.

Monies are being used only to help special cases of the poorest and most needy families and for the reconstruction or new construction of a specific piece of the village. They are most appreciative of your donation, prayers and your sincere concern for them. They were especially touched that I was able to deliver your gifts to them in person and express your kindness in words. They said that this was a special gift, as no other Italian-American actually came to see them, and that our contribution was possibly the largest from a US source at the time.

On Sunday evening I attended a musical concert in the tent church in Onna. “Concerto per Onna”   by: Soprano, Maria Gabriella Ferroni. Tenor, Giuseppe Venegiano.    Pianist, Salvo Sgro. They performed music for the inhabitants and friends of Onna composed by:   Mozart, Puccini, Verdi and others. It was so beautiful, soulful and passionate that it touched the hearts of everyone. I feel and believe that the souls of those spirits living in the stories of the earthquake survivors were present.

Today progress continues slowly. I am told that the people are well cared for, and encouraged that they will be in adequate, temporary housing before winter. I plan to stay in contact to support them in the near future in the projects we discussed; repairing specific buildings (school, Church, and others), building a new Center Square, a Piazza in memory of the earthquake victims.