Written by Albert Deby S., Yohanes Baskoro and Victor Dimas B. Putra (Karina-KAS’ volunteers for Caritas Joint Response).

Rosidin, 55 years, smiled when asked how life is. "Come to my home," he said. At first glance, it seems the back of the house is no longer there; without a roof, walls are crumbling, and bricks scattered in several places.

The 30 September 2009 earthquake that caused a lot of damage in Padang Pariaman damaged Rosidin’s house. The rear of the house was destroyed. It cannot be used again. Every corner of the house is cracked. The structure is damaged. The house is no longer a safe place to live.

Rosidin is one of several thousand residents of Padang Pariaman that became victims of the earthquake. "Luckily we were safe. Properties can be rebuilt. The important thing is that we are still healthy, able to work, and able to enjoy food ", he said.

The government has given them IDR 30.000 to buy some food during the emergency situation. But it only lasted for a week. There is still food aid from the government and Rosidin (55) some institutions. Caritas provides non-food items in the area like tents, mats, blankets, cleaning tools, jerry cans, etc.

Last week, Rosidin was taken to the hospital. He fell from a chair while fixing the leaking roof. The wounds on his leg and head still look new. "My head cracked in here", he said, showing scars on top of his head.

With his wife, Rosidin occupied his grandfather's house since they married in the 60s. He cannot expect much help from his children. Some of them migrated to the other islands, the others followed their husbands.

Since the earthquake, he and his wife no longer dare to stay in the bedroom. Every night, they sleep in the living room with plastic mat and blanket. The living room windows have no glass and because the walls closing the rear end of the house have collapsed, the wind blows directly through the living room. They just covered the rear side of the house last week. It was hard to imagine, especially in the rainy season.

Disaster destroys everything, without exception. For Rosidin, the loss of properties is not the cause of their sadness. The story of life stored in the house is more valuable than the building. History is priceless. The damage house is a symbol of the collapse of experiences and memories carved in it. To build a house is not merely a matter of material reconstruction. A new house also builds a new hope for better life.

"Well, I just want to reconstruct my house immediately. Tear down the old one and build the new one. But that will happen in one condition: if I have enough money. For now, everything is just okay,” Rosidin said followed with a smile is on his face.