Amsterdam Airport Schiphol  
 

 

News from the Chaplain

Volcano ash causes delays.
   
At present the volcano in Iceland seems to be at rest again after a few weeks of causing enormous amounts of dust in the atmosphere over Europe. The dust stopped a great deal of the air traffic. All air traffic to and fro Schiphol was cancelled. As a result many people got stuck at the airport and had to stay for a couple of days (some of them stayed 6 days). At a certain stage approximately 2000 people were given food and clothes. The airport provided, with the help of the Red Cross stretchers. KLM offered thousands of meals.
It was good to see so many people wanted to care. Many employees at the airport, whose task is usually to control the flow of cars outside the building, now were handing out sandwiches and drinks. Others were providing blankets, clothes to those who – against their will - were our guests. It was also good to see that many passengers provided help among each other. Even friendships were built.
In the meantime officials at the airport tried to answer many questions that weren’t answerable. When can we fly back home? How long will this go on?
The passengers valued all the help offered to them. However they still were hit by feelings of being lonely and powerless. Lonely, because people were away from home, away from family and friends. Luckily many people carry a mobile phone nowadays. That gives an opportunity to get in touch with home. A great relief for many. But feelings of being powerless, being out of control, remained, because they weren’t able to change the circumstances, and indeed nobody seemed to be able to get the planes flying soon. That is what everybody wanted really.
The airport ministry and the team of chaplains and many volunteers ‘walked the terminal’. Walking the terminal stands for getting in touch with as many people as necessary to offer a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on. And so we did. We were in touch with people from all over the globe. Passengers came to our church services for prayer and to participate in the Eucharist.
The air is clear again. The people are back home. Hopefully they carry good memories despite the experience of being caught at an airport

In Christ

Rev. Joop Albers