This is a blog from the Cooleys in Peru.
EARTHQUAKE REPORT—Becky, Kelsey and I have just returned from an all-day trip to Chincha,
one of the three cities most affected by Peru’s recent earthquake.
There were two primary reasons for going: 1.) to connect with some pastors who we have
partnered with on past mission projects and to bring them some emergency
supplies (water, food, fuel, batteries, blankets and clothes); 2.) to assess
first hand how Adventures In Missions can be most helpful in arranging
emergency relief projects.
I’ll let these photos do
most of the communicating about the situation there, but I will add a few
personal impressions. I would estimate
that perhaps 60% of the buildings in Chincha have incurred serious damage. Many are completely destroyed. Given that almost no one has property
insurance in Peru, this level of destruction is devastating to many thousands of
households. I have read estimates that
well over 100,000 persons have been seriously affected by this quake.
A new building that will clearly need to be
torn down
The death toll now stands
about midway between 500 and 600 persons.
While we did not make it to Pisco today (we’re hoping to do that soon),
we heard from folks in Chincha that much of Pisco stinks with the smell of
human dead. They are estimating that the
remains of more than 100 persons have yet to be recovered in Pisco alone. It seems clear at this point that the final
death toll will exceed 600 persons. It
could have been worse—in 1970 there was a quake that killed over 70,000
persons. One entire city (Yungay) in the
highlands was destroyed by a landslide.
They didn’t even attempt recovery.
They simply covered it over and built a monument on top of it.
Today we spoke with families
who lost their homes in this quake. We
spoke with random individuals in the city center who were compelled to share
with us how great the need is. I will
admit to having a sense of helplessness in the face of such compelling and overwhelming
need.
Family members
surveying the rubble
of their former home
One of the churches we
visited in Chincha had most of their buildings destroyed—including the pastor’s
home and almost all of their classrooms.
Pastor Desiderio told us that a few days ago he was ready to simply give
up. It was through his quiet times and
worship that his call to lead his church of about 80 adults was reaffirmed and
he was encouraged to begin the process of rebuilding all they have lost. It is likely that AIM will initially focus its
efforts helping Pastor Desi in Chincha.
We have worked with him previously.
Let me mention to you all
that AIM presently is offering four 10-day emergency relief trips to Peru in September and October on their website (www.adventures.org). These trips
are open to individuals as well as locally-assembled groups. We will arrange the logistics for these trips
and I (Robert) will most likely serve as Project leader on one or more of these
trips. Whether the trips happen or not
will depend on the response. We are praying
that even though the time of year isn’t great and the notice is short, that
many persons will respond and that we can make a very tangible difference for
the victims of this catastrophe.
A section of city street blocked off so that
the residents of badly damaged homes
might pitch tents where they can guard their remaining possessions.
For those of you who might
be led to help financially, we have spoken to AIM about setting-up a special account
for earthquake relief funds. We are hoping they will agree to do so and that the
account will be operative very soon. The
need is pressing.
In closing, I would ask you
to pray. Specifically, you can pray for
the many who have lost loved-ones and the much larger number of those who have
had their homes destroyed or badly damaged.
I believe there is a huge Kingdom opportunity included in these awful
circumstances. Pray that it is not
missed. Pray that God’s people will
respond with compassion and generosity.
And finally, I encourage you to ask God what He would have you do
personally.
We will keep you apprised.
In Him and for Him,
Robert, Becky and Kelsey
P.S. More
photos (with extended captions) follow…
Here, at about 8:00 a.m. (having driven for
almost three This
is what we saw as we drove into Chincha we are about 15 minutes outside of
Chincha. You can see the temporary repairs in the road. Most of the traffic en route was large trucks hauling
supplies.
When we got into town we stopped for
breakfast. We sat by a
large group of relief workers from World Vision.
Behind them, outside, you can see a long
line of people waiting for government assistance.
Government troops stand guard over a truck
delivering relief
provisions. Earlier,
relief trucks
had been besieged by desperate victims of the
earthquake.
Delivering emergency supplies
to our ministry partner, P
astor Desiderio in Chincha.
Three shots taken inside the now
uninhabitable home of Pastor Desiderio
and family. Their personal belongings are presently
inside the sanctuary of the Church. They
have
been sharing guard duties through the nights to protect against
looters. When a
wall collapsed during
the earthquake, over
6
00 prisoners escaped
from a prison in Chincha located
less than 40 minutes from the church.
Very few of those prisoners have been apprehended to date
Pastor Desiderio and his wife. They have four children (three boys and one
girl). Their oldest son is married and living in the
north of
Peru
. The other three live at home.
Because her school was destroyed, their
daughter is planning on going to live with her uncle in
Lima
so that she can complete her
senior year.
The pastor and his wife recounting
the many
ways
A Christian school building that will
likely need to be God was
faithful to them and the members of their torn down.
School can not reconvene until the
congregation the evening of the quake structure has been inspected by government
officials.
The earthquake destroyed the home of
another pastor we visited. The photo on the left shows what is left of their
bathroom and the family’s clothes stacked on a table.
The photo on the right shows the sanctuary of
that same pastor’s church. One exterior
wall collapsed causing one end of the roof to fall to the ground.
