So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb.He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head.The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside.He saw and believed. (John 20:3-8)

On Monday, January 17, the administration of Kodaikanal International School made the decision to move up by two weeks the planned work trip to take part in the Tsunami Relief efforts on the coast of Tamil Nadu.They had made contact with leaders of World Vision who had just begun a project of constructing temporary houses for displaced victims in the town of Nagapattnam, and they needed help immediately.We could take only 30 people, so the list of 150 students and staff who had expressed interest had to be narrowed down.By 4:30 that afternoon we met as a group to discuss the plans, lay down the expectations, and get our tetanus shots.I was the health care provider for our group, and Anna, our 12th grade daughter, was one of the students.

Just before sunset on Tuesday, after a 9-hour drive, we arrived into the town of Vellankanni, a couple miles down the coast from Nagapattnam.We dropped off our bags and tools at the wedding hall where they had arranged for our group to sleep and immediately went down to the beach.Vellankanni is well known in India for the Shrine Basilica, a destination for pilgrims.In the late 1500s Portuguese sailors came ashore at that spot in a storm.A young lad with them, the ‘butter-milk boy', had a vision while they took shelter, of a large cathedral built on that spot.In the late 1600s Portuguese sailors returned again with materials to build the chapel.There are now several smaller chapels for confession, adoration and prayer that surround the main cathedral, as well as a large cafeteria building and residences for priests and pilgrims. The statuette of Mary above the main altar is revered as Our Lady of Good Health, and most pilgrims come seeking healing of some kind.Christmas is one of the favorite pilgrimage times.The Basilica, and the coastal and beach area in front of it, is one of the areas of India that experienced the most damage and greatest loss of life due to the December 26 tsunami.Our group stepped into one of the hallways and paused for a time of silence in front of the boards holding pictures of unidentified bodies.The images stunned and shocked – faces of infants, young children cut and swollen, lifeless men and women.We continued in silence down to the beach where it felt as though we stood in a graveyard, just the sound of the sea pounding the shore.My heart wanted to cry out in prayer; the only words that I could find: "Lord, have mercy.Christ, have mercy.Lord, have mercy."

As we slowly made our way back to the waiting bus, walking up a residential street, several local people stopped us and wanted to share their story.There was the Basilica's generator man, needing to tell again to any who would listen, his story of fear and panic, of being trapped in the generator shed, escaping through the roof as it was being torn off, of struggling with the sea and finally finding footing after being washed more than a half-mile down shore. There was the principal of a ladies' college who shared how many of her students will not return to their dorm which had been surrounded by water and cannot concentrate in class due to fear.We listened to Eddy, one of our own school carpenters who had also come with us, recount his tale of horror that ended his family's visit to Vellankanni on the 26th.The first tsunami came ashore while his daughter and grandsons were getting breakfast at the cafeteria.He had fought his way through water into the Basilica and there he cried and prayed, thinking they were lost.After some time, he looked up and found next to him, the rest of his family.Together, they moved up to the third floor of the building just in time to be above the rush of the second wave of water.A short time later some people urged that they should run for their lives as a third wave was coming.Fearing that they might get separated again, Eddy made the decision that they would stay together, even if that meant dying together.A third wave came and they were untouched.Later, as the water receded, the family fearfully made their way inland for over a mile through water that ranged from the level of their knees to their shoulders to get to the main road, to find a bus and begin the journey home.In gratitude to God for the survival and safety of his family, Eddy had just had his head shaved as a thank offering.We had seen both death and life that day.

The next two days our group spent at the World Vision work site.They had been given a grant of land by the government and were constructing 1000 temporary houses for the homeless and displaced.Our group was assigned to a 20-unit structure where the brick and cement floor was laid, and the plastic, corrugated roof was on.Eight units had been completed with wooden supports and thin sheets of drywall to create walls.We started in to finish the remaining twelve units.None of the students had ever done anything like this before; many had never even held a hammer.Our work was awkward at first, but slowly improved.The heat and humidity wore at us and I spent much time mixing up liters of electrolyte solution and urging the kids to keep drinking.After a few hours we began interacting more with the other construction workers.Some of us carried bricks to help the masons who were laying the floor of the structure next to ours.A couple of their carpenters came over to give the kids a few tips on how to hammer a nail straight or create a joint in the wood supports.During their lunch break many of the workers gathered around to watch one student use a jigsaw to cut the drywall.We shared water, smiles and hard work.The second day we were assigned a structure with only the floor and roof complete.We were asked to try to finish 14 units.With the previous day's experience under our belts we worked much more efficiently and competently.By 3 pm we extended our goal to 16 units.At 5 pm, with 16 units done and knowing our workday could be over, the students gathered together and discussed what they should do.Some had overheard the construction foreman emotionally telling our staff that it was a miracle we had showed up to help.Families were to move in the next day and many units were not complete.Our help had not only gotten a few more houses done, but had also inspired his crew to work harder.Other kids had met a woman and her 2 young daughters who were going to be getting one of the houses.They had listened to their story of a fisherman father who was lost in the tsunami and felt touched to share with them some Skittles, caps and hugs.They had also given them a straw mat, for the family had lost everything and had nothing to sleep on.Our students decided to keep going till all the 20 units of the structure were complete.They went back at it with a feverish pace, sensing a oneness of effort and cooperative spirit – when one reached out for a nail there was someone holding it out, those carrying drywall made sure the ones hanging it always had another sheet nearby.Just before 7 pm the last nails were driven in by the light of a flashlight.We gathered in a circle, joining hands, and gave a cheer.Then we opened the circle and let in some of the construction workers and local children who wanted to join in our group photo time.

That night, after enjoying a good meal and bucket baths, our group gathered on the roof of the building where we stayed to enjoy the night breeze and a time of sharing and of devotions.Each shared their own significant moments or feelings of accomplishment and joy.We gave thanks.Just as Peter and John, we had traveled toward the tomb – a place of death, where there lay bits of cloth that had once been on a person.But also like the disciples, we found life.We found children who laughed and smiled.We found families seeking to rebuild their lives.We found people grateful for a mat and a drink of water and a piece of candy.We found in ourselves love and compassion and a desire to serve.

Together we sang the chorus,

"This is our God, the Servant-King.

He calls us now to follow Him.

To bring our lives as a daily offering,

Of worship to our Servant-King."

The next morning before heading back to Kodaikanal, we returned to the beach in front of the Shrine Basilica.The wind whipped around us as a light drizzle fell.We stood in a group and prayed.We had come to a tomb, but had finally found life.

We saw and believed.

Betsy Perkins