Gambo woman volunteering in Nepal during latest earthquake
It ranks right up there as any parent's worst nightmare — your child is in an earthquake-devastated country and you're home on the other side of the world.
Melanie Wells, the daughter of Marvin and Donna Wells, has been in Nepal for the last two weeks. She is a volunteer with the Christian organization Adventures in Missions, and went to Nepal to deliver disaster relief following the quake on April 25.
That earthquake has been followed by aftershocks and second quake on May 12.
Back in Gambo, on Newfoundland's east coast, the Wells are keeping a very close eye on what's been happening in Asia.
Donna Wells spoke recently with Julia Cook of Central Morning about her daughter's plan to visit 11 countries in 11 months.
"She left Gambo on Jan. 7. She was determined and ready, eager to go, and she went through security in St. John's with a wave and a backpack on her back," she said.
"This is a dream. It's for college-aged students and young people. She's gone to Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, India, and now Nepal."
Wells said her daughter's squad of 55 recently went up to the mountain area of Nepal, where they were to spend an entire week.
While the squad was on the bus trip away from Katmandu, another quake hit.
Wells said that all of the parents of the group keep in touch through a private Facebook page, which they were all glued to in the hours after the disaster.
"There was a message there from the director of operations ... that Adventures in Mission have been in contact with the peace squad," she said.
"Everyone was fine, even though they were in an area that was significantly impacted by the earthquake. The peace squad had met up with the world food organization ... they were going to see what they can do."
Spreading the gospel in a disaster zone
In the aftermath of the earthquake, Melanie and the rest of the group did what they could to help the devastated region.
"Passing out food in the streets, and water, and because this is a Christian organization, of course spreading the gospel," said Wells.
"In Nepal, in the city where they were, one million people out of three million people have left the city. Destruction everywhere, but in some areas, where the buildings are more strongly rooted and a better base system, they're fine."
She said despite the dangers, her daughter would likely choose to stay and help if she can — a source of some anxiety for her mother.
"Knowing Melanie as I do, if they decide to keep them in Nepal to do relief work, she will stay there, and I can't see her electing to come out unless she has to," Wells said.
"As a mom I'm worried and wondering what will happen ... but this has been a dream of Melanie's, and when she decided to go on the world race, nothing was going to hold her back. But she looks happy, she's beaming ... it's where in her life she wants to be."
