This is a long blog so....a pre-warning! (smile)
What a time it has been after this devastating earthquake of 8.8 that shook Chile on Feb. 27th!!! Thank you all soooo much for the prayers, the e-mails, and even contacting the embassy or other JUCUM bases to find out if I was ok.….thank you for your love and concern!
It was 10 nights ago that we were all shaken up (literally), and it’s a night I will never forget! It all happened so fast of course..I awoke & found myself trying to grab the wood of my bunkbed for something to hold onto.....unable to even get out of the bed…. the windows and roof were making so much noise that I thought we were in the middle of a huge hail storm…(it was 3:39 on my watch when it was over)…When the ground stopped moving and nothing else was falling or breaking, I made my way to the window and looked out... …. the night was clear and the stars were out….almost a full moon. It took awhile for my mind to register what had just happened. All of us here spent the next 2 nights sleeping outside until things settled a bit, then by the 3rd night the majority of us returned to sleeping back inside. We had many strong after shocks, and still continue to have them which has made getting good sleeping difficult.
This mission base where I am living is built in what is considered the safety zone of this city. Praise God! It is up on a hill and the highest point is about ¾ mile above us…. The night of the quake there were families swarming to climb to the highest point in hopes of safety. We aren’t close enough to the sea to have worried about a tsunami, and we didn't know the destruction the water was going on there, but this is why there was such a mass exodus in the dark of people, and also bumper to bumper cars heading out of the town…..Other than the moon, all was pitch dark except for these headlights and the campfires people started to help keep warm. We had intermittant information on a radio about what was happening. We also praise God that we always had water and enough food, and also had many from the community "camp out" here with us. We were without any light or power from Sat. until Thursday, and then we had electricity back intermittantly. I have had just short periods of writing this blog but am determined to get it sent out today to let you all know about what is going on for me.
The above pics are some from the damage here in Pichilemu the day after the quake when a couple teams of us went to help people here locally near the water. We were in the severe zone, about 90 miles north of the epicenter but this town was amazingly blessed to not have really received much destruction. Last weekend I was part of a group of about 28 of us who travelled to an area about 1 hr. from where we are to help some of the people clean up the destruction from the earthquake. We helped stabilize homes that are just made of mud bricks, and helped clear some of the damage. Its still very dangerous and walls/roofs continue to fall with the aftershocks. There are many homes made just of mud bricks in this in this rural "mountain" community--- the damage was devastating, and many died.
I'd like to share a passage from the Bible with you:
Psalms 46: 1-3 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way,
and the mountains fall in to the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
and the mountains quake with their surging.
In an event like this, you realize how truely small and powerless you are. I am so thankful for His protection and His peace. You also realize face to face the immenseness and awesome power of God.... His faithfulness, His amazing love and His character that NEVER changes despite the circumstances we may have in this life....(earthquakes, cancer, loss of jobs or family etc).....God is the only one who can brings peace, restoration, comfort, and hope in times like this, and He uses other people to do this. I am privledged to be part of God's desire to bring help, love, and the message of salvation through Jesus for people who have never heard, or want to know more because they don't understand.....
I can't keep quiet about the BEST thing there is in life..The ONLY thing that truely matters and is of eternity so I'm going to share it right now. Many people have just died here in Chile, and undoubtedly many died without a relationship with Jesus, or the knowledge of who He really is...a Savior, best friend and sooo much more that goes along with that. I'm not talking about religion. Religion has destroyed and misled so many! I'm talking about a relationship & its a very different thing! Many people live feeling a void in their life that their work, pleasures, or material things haven't filled..... something is still missing and they don't know what it is. If this is also you, I want to tell you that the void in your life is Jesus. Not religion, but a personal relationship...a friendship with the one who thought of you before you were born, created you. He desires a friendship with you, and has the power and desire to bring you truth, transform your life, and give you purpose beyond what you know if you ask and allow this....to become a Christian and let Him guide your life....(I promise its anything but boring or about rules!!!) At least give Him a chance.....find a Bible based church (First Presbyterian Church, or Flatirons Church in the Boulder area)....and seek a pastor or someone to talk with......
Back to my time here:
I am in my last week of Discipleship Training School, and will be leaving in 8 days on a team for our outreach.
I will write more just before I leave but may not be able to send any blog for 3 months depending on what happens, and where we are....but I will try!
Thanks again for your friendships, prayers, and love.
In Him....Holly
