Hafalan Shalat Delisa 2011

Delisa from Lhok Nga, a small coastal village in Aceh, is the youngest daughter of Abi Usman, who works on a tanker ship for an international oil company. She lives with her mother, whom she calls Ummi, and her three sisters; Fatima and twins Aisyah and Zahra. On 26 December 2004, while at school practicing for a prayer exam, a powerful earthquake triggers a tsunami that floods their village and carries Delisa away. She is rescued several days later by Smith, a U.S. Army soldier who had volunteered to help. Her right leg is later amputated due to the severity of her injuries, and her suffering draws the compassion of many. Smith considers adopting her before Abi Usman reunites with Delisa. She learns that her three sisters died in the tsunami, while Ummi’s fate remains unknown.

Delisa rises amid the grief and loss that affected Abi Usman and the Acehnese people, yet she and those around her still find moments of laughter at gatherings. The weight of sorrow is heavy, but she is reminded that grief can be a force that keeps someone afloat. Even as tears continue to fall, she strives to understand what sincerity means and moves forward by doing what she can, without waiting for an immediate reply.