Pastor Yogesh Mudalige lived with his wife in a small rented annex on the beach at Randobe-Ambalangoda and used a tiny space for his small flock of faithful amid an overwhelming Buddhist community.
On December 24 he held a midnight prayer service and left Randobe along with his wife to be with his mother residing in Kandana.
The waves washed away his annex along with his belongings and even the prayer room was not spared as the roaring waves crashed in. On hearing the tragic news Pastor Yogesh immediately motored back to Randobe on his motorcycle accompanied by his wife to be with his parishioners. Amid the tragedy there also came a silver lining for Pastor Yogesh and his followers that numbered less than 20.
A group of American missionaries who were also qualified doctors and counsellors arrived in Randobe on a mercy mission.
The group brought with them medicinal drugs and equipment and together with Pastor Yogesh held several clinics for those affected by the tragedy. They stayed in the country for at least three weeks during which time they attended to hundreds of patients across the religious and ethnic divide in the area.
And then the big surprise of all.
Prior to their departure from the country they purchased a huge house for Pastor Yogesh and his family that is currently used as a church and for the parishioners who have now swelled in large numbers since the tsunami waves 17 years ago.
In addition to that the group also constructed an IT centre for the underprivileged children of the area many of whom had been affected by the tragedy.
“I expected nothing for my work, but good fortune came my way amid the tragedy,” Pastor Yogesh once told me.