The Smile of God for Marissa

The Volunteer Spear End

This morning, I came to the command headquarters of the last regiment. I heard once again about the Kemanukan landslide from my commander Qomarudin, that Kemanukan and some villages experienced a disaster similar to Banjarnegara. Many of the victims were traumatized and screams were heard throughout the evacuation room when she came there at dawn. He also said that the Word family became victims. Although the house is not as bad as the conditions of other neighbors. Her aunt's family was all buried. Only Uncle Firman, who happened to drive his mother last night to the hospital, survived.

I can't imagine the conditions that are plaguing them right now. Beautiful natural scenery in Kemanukan, beautiful and cool with a network of green mountains like a tapestry is now turned into an irregular pile of land, and, the hill, which is filled with various kinds of fruit plants that I once enjoyed during double training a month ago, may now have been torn apart. Crushed to the ground.

A few weeks ago, we also met at a barrage event. There, on the porch of a house as me and my fellow regiments held coordination planning activities at night. The house of Word that we made the post is now broken. The happiness of the big family Word when we come may not be met again in the future.

Scratch my hair, when Qomar said that Bu Darmi and Mr. Sadio, Pak guru and Bu Sati, farmers who help the Firman family to dry the cloves, which are in between his work, were, helping us cook up exercise consumption, becoming a buried victim with his family. My hair stood up when I heard that one baby had survived being stuck in a bamboo grove while my father and mother had died in the stream.

Qomar said, the cries of the residents sounded heartrending. There is nothing more precious than human life. And You O God, whatever you can do to make man take a short break from his daily activities. You keep them at home without any activity. You cover them with grief, which may soon be blurred and bring forth a bright light in the future.

"I can barely recognize the current Kemanukan. The beautiful natural conditions are gone covered in avalanches." Qomar spoke up again.

"When did Brother Qomar go to Kemanukan ?" ask slowly.

"So early morning with Santoso" he answered briefly.

I can't imagine the atmosphere in Kemanukan. Everyone was in a panic, running off the ridge to save themselves not thinking of anyone else. Ah, let alone others, their own family members might forget. The child forgets his father or even the mother and father forgets his son. Finally they gathered in the refugee camp without carrying supplies. They gathered waiting for the certainty of the fate of his brother who could be saved or even buried in his house. Panic may be everywhere. Moreover, the dark night without electric lighting adds to the gripping atmosphere. I also can't imagine how the children were crying frantically in fear and maybe the trauma started to hit because some of them lost their parents and siblings.

I can only think for myself. But God ! What do we have to do?. We are just ordinary people. We are also just ordinary students. Our condition is not as brave as they are conglomerate children who easily waste rupiah.

"Not to daydream. Right now we have to get up to lend a hand we are helping the victims of the landslide in Kemanukan, even if only with energy" said Qomar as if he knew what I was thinking.

***

The safe distance of the landslide is indeed five kilometers. However the effect can reach a radius of tens of kilometers. This is Power. The power of God, the Lord calls upon all nature. It is immeasurable, what wisdom is behind a disaster. Hopefully we won't experience the calamity that traumatized us.

I collected the appropriate clothes that had been collected at the headquarters. According to the instructions of the Chairman of BEM through Whatsapp group, all items that have been packed will be taken to the Disaster Post. All the clothes that my college friends gave me were laid out in some of the boxes I took from the warehouse.

The campus car was ready to take us to the location. Some Student Regiment personnel were busy arranging the goods and no more than half an hour later we were already driving on the highway. Together with Rofi, Jannah, Sulis and some of our BEM managers left at the earliest. The commander suggested that we spearhead the campus volunteers.

Let me look out, see the rain-soaked streets that, a week ago, have been faithfully with us, creating a bone-chilling cold. Bogowonto's abundant bubbling river flow scrambled each other to advance across its path as if challenging anyone who looked at it to fight against its current. The murky water that was required with the charge I finally ignored.

Time still shows at 09:00 am. But the atmosphere around us was very crowded. Several times we heard sirens waving, scattering small vehicles that were lined up in the same direction.

Crunchiness.

My HP reads. I slowly reached with a faithful pounding accompanied my heart since then, I opened it and I read Sisy's message.

“If I may come to Kemanukan, “ I can only be silent. Pensive to think about the answer for a moment, so as not to disappoint him. Honestly I forgot to ask him because Qomar said, there were no volunteers and help came so we were very much looking forward to coming.

“What's up ? “ Sulis looking at me and my phone alternately. There was a curiosity that he could not hide. Maybe because my face looks confused.

“Sisy told me I was coming, because of my busyness I forgot about it. “ Say slowly. Sulis smiled.

“That confused you ?” I can only nod. “Just tell him you're gone. Finished right ?” Ah, it's easy for him to talk. He doesn't know what guilt is in the depths of my heart. Although I doubt I finally pressed keys that finally formed a sentence that I make sure will make Sisy disappointed “ Sorry, Sy, I have left, I forgot that I had promised to invite you and. “ I send a message to Sisy immediately. Sisy's reply came. He said it's okay. But I still feel bad.

Half an hour later, our campus car parked itself in a crowd of people waiting in line to find its motor park. The raincoat of each rider waved, fluttering as if to feel the sorrow of the victims of the Kemanukan avalanche.

We still had to walk a kilometer to the location. Many residents want to see the incident directly go hand in hand with TNI members from several units, and community organizations that have just arrived on the spot. Many children were crying in the mother's arms and I don't know how many more people were pensive in the corner of a building not far from the landslide.

After putting down some cardboard clothes that we could afford to carry, I returned to the yard. Intentions will take other help, what power is all already transported by the citizens of the community. Finally we headed to the shelter in the village hall and rushed to the soup kitchen. Many mothers are preparing food that will be cooked to eat.

“ Risa, we go down only. To the landslide location to participate in the search for victims. “ just my hand grabbed the knife, Sulis and Rofi called me.

“Good, Sir.” I said while nodding slowly. Let's look at Vita, BEM's secretary.

“Are you also going down ?”my many.

“No Risa. We went back to the kitchen just to help the mothers prepare food.” Meta answered.

“Alright, let us down , happy duty, assalamualaikum”

“Waalaikum greetings warahmatullah.”

This is how we ended up going down a slippery path that presented an even more horrifying sight. A condition in which the location of the poranda porch settlement. The nearly 90-degree cliff wall to the east of the river collapsed and destroyed everything. Not a bare cliff like the theory of landslides in geography lessons in my elementary school.

"Subhanallah !!" Sulis shouted while covering his face.we immediately threw a glance at him, full of questions.

"What's up, Lis? " let me wonder. Sulis just shook his head.Hur tears seemed to start flowing down his cheeks while looking at the cliff that had been split. The landslide cliffs that we now face are actually dense with plants, proven to be a lot of uprooted plants closing the location, cutting off the road that connects one village with another.

One chainsaw appears to be cutting up fallen wood into small pieces that are ready to be lifted, there is no heavy equipment that can facilitate the search for victims, so volunteers had to dig the ground with makeshift equipment to find victims who he said numbered forty-five people who were all residents around the landslide.

" When I look at this condition, Ris, I can't imagine how they were doing last night" Rofi said. "They must have been freaking out."

I just nodded.I spread my eyes around. Seeing how many people were lined up to see the evacuation process.I looked for a gap to be able to enter the landslide location. With difficulty, I waved the crowd of residents followed by Sulis and Nurjanah and Rofi.

The cloud still lingered spoiled on the surface of the sky that spread wide above my head, making the bagaskara reluctant to show his prowess.

With the words bismillah we began to transport the land dug by some men before us in silence. Crowds watching the incident to the location hampered the search activity so that several times a new TNI commander came with the group to remind residents to immediately stay away from the location. Due to the limitations of the volunteers, the search point had only two places, each of which consisted of twenty people.

I took the hoe that lay on the ground.with my hand, I dug up the excavated soil to help give a wider room for volunteers to put the excavated soil from below. several times I wiped my sweaty face. sometimes I see my friends who are busy getting rid of tree trunks.

After a few minutes, my eyes saw an army of soldiers coming.they consisted of about a company of troops in green-fried uniforms, in jungle hats and immediately blend with other volunteers into two parts.

The clock hand shows at half eleven. A group of Field Artillery troops came. Then followed by my regimental friends numbering ten and regiments of other units with larger numbers. The newly arrived troops were directed to create a new army in the direction across the river to the north, so the official search point was divided into three points. Two in the west direction of the river because there are alleged many victims carried by the current and buried there and one point is to the east. Me and my two friends chose to stay in the east.

Subhanallah !!!

Our work this afternoon was very hard. But thank God, after an hour of searching a victim was found. At a depth of two and a half meters, a middle-aged woman with an already lifeless condition was found. His whole body was blue, bruised with wounds. All say Istighfar because of how difficult it is to lift a corpse. The hole that has been dug is always filled with water so that volunteers who will lift always slip down on the victim.

Adzan duhur resounding in the distance. Warning to all volunteers to stop the search, but all ignored.I see they are still busy with their activities.

I can't bear to see the condition of women who may die in a valid state. Many times I said Istighfar, and without feeling my tears that had been welling up since then flowed down my cheeks with sweat flowing profusely. Thirst begins to attack.

“God ! Forgive him, your servant who was forced to be a victim of disaster last night.” my inner. My whole joint went limp helplessly. This makes me sit down after staying away from the excavation. My hands were busy looking for maybe a handkerchief in my pocket. Nil. There was no tissue or handkerchief I had placed in my regiment's pants pocket, and this confused me.

“Wear !” Qomar the commander of my regiment thrust a blue handkerchief at me. For a moment I doubt. I immediately turned my face to realize how stupid I was. I wanted to wipe my face with that handkerchief, but I was embarrassed. It is unethical for me to use other people's belongings to clean my sweat.

“Receive !” emphatically.

“Thank you.” that's the only sentence I can say. My heart is flattered that Qomar is so attentive to me. I received a dark blue cloth that was still neat because it was newly ironed. Not seen the slightest stain, because surely the owner has not had time to use it. The sounds of people around us struggling to lift up bodies turned the attention of those around me to us.

“Mbak can ride, this place is too hard for the three of you, If you want to help, help the public kitchen. “ Field artillery force commander gives instructions. For a moment we looked at each other. Qomar the commander of my regiment looked at me and nodded his head. I understand the truth, our energy is not needed here. It's true that they say, it's too hard for us, the crybaby women, to volunteer in the field. I know Sulis and Rofi still want to be in place, but I'm sure, even by myself, I can get to the soup kitchen and help with the volunteer lunch preparation process.