Gratitude Surrounds Her: Yoomia (Violinist)

In these passed two weeks, since the monumental earthquake in Christchurch, I am sure that many people have felt much like this, as if standing on the edge of a precipice, their lives in jeopardy, or entirely shattered, the deitrius lying on the rocks below....wondering how to go on. Others, are no doubt still running on adrenaline & pragmatism. Those of us not directly involved have been doing our best to find ways, anyway at all, to help. Thanks to the media & other social mediums the stories are being told, the word is being spread & the calvary has been arriving in all manner of forms: farmers with tractors, students with shovels, baking, cooking, clothing, running, counseling, offering a safe place to stay, handmade, feltaid, auctions & so much more.......... 

There is goodness shining through even in these wildly difficult times. picture Emma Florence Harrison

the hills over Eskdale way

Seemingly entirely unrelatedly, we went on with our lives up this way & last Saturday headed out to Havelock North to St Luke's Fair. I love this wonderful event & wouldn't miss it for the world. It is held in the grounds of this Church where we were married 30 years ago.

Out at the fair, I bumped in to my dear neighbour & her daughter. And at this point I spotted & admired a very nice Trelise Cooper eco shopping bag that these lovely girls had with them. Trelise designed these bags & they were released as a limited edition product through various supermarkets at $4.95 each during the last year or so...sturdy & very attractive... they are about as much Trelise as I am ever going to own. I had missed this particular edition, so thought to myself, no harm in checking in on Trade me. A few days later a very lovely collection of Trelise bags turned up on my watch list, which is all very nice, but as I read on I realized that this was no ordinary auction & that my admiration had taken me down precisely the right path for this very time.

 This is what I read:

"I am one of the lucky ones to have survived Christchurch earthquake. Higher force has protected me this time...lots of my friends and colleagues have fled and left the town, psychologically effected by daily aftershocks shaking the city...
All of my auction is going into funding music studio, I have decided to stay, to support to build the city together and set up my music studio again, which is to be demolished we believe... along with my piano, all my music, sound system, my stylish couch, my most loved possessions along with 60% off CBD buildings- thankfully a Singaporean soldier rescued his life to get into red sticker no access building to rescue my violin with me... too much to go on in this auction... see this link for more of this story. Very thankful I am still alive."
http://www.loveviolin.co.nz/blog/ 

I had just encountered the renowned violinist Yoomia Sim....her story continues from her blog:

"My heart goes out to all of family & friends of earthquake victims.... I am a violinist based in Christchurch...one of the lucky ones to have survived. 

I am offering my violin playing to the funeral services for the families who have lost loved ones. Free.

Two days before the quake, on Sunday, I was performing in the Cathedral with my pianist for the  festival of flowers. I cannot believe it was last performance in the cathedral...at least for a while...very, very lucky to be alive. I would not have survived if I played in the venue 48 hours later...few photos are from the last performance in remembrance....

"My violin was trapped in my music studio, collapsing Music centre building next to Catholic Cathedral with a red no access sticker. A Singapore soldier risked his life to go inside the building with me- 3 days after the quake- with walls coming down, climbed three stories of staircase filled with rummage, ceilings coming down. He kicked my studio door open as the lock was jammed...and my violin was rescued this way....

This is my way to say thank you to the soldier & and the universe, time to give back to the community.

Having lost my Dad when I was 17, I understand the grief & pain...however nothing compares to a sudden disaster like we are going through now.  Hopefully my playing will help to say goodbye.

love and light

Yoomia"

It is with Yoomia's blessing that I share this story & it is her hope & mine, that others might find solace & inspiration through the telling of it.

If you would like to support & encourage Yoomia in anyway you can catch up with her here  or on Facebook here. 

via deviant art

Lord may there be a continual stream of goodness & kindness & generosity & healing poured out upon Christchurch in the many months to come.

MUCH 

XOXOXO