Earthquake Relief: Friday Update

We’re very thankful for those of you who have been praying for us, and for so many believers who are trying to reach out during this time. We are thankful that things aren’t a lot worse for us.

Of course, we are directly affected in some ways. We won’t be getting our visas this week, probably not for a couple of weeks. We’re not sure where we’ll be meeting on Sunday – we’re waiting for the building to be inspected for possible structural damage. I was happy to be able to buy clean drinking water – it was a little hard to come by for a while there.

You may have been seeing on the news some of what I’ve been hearing – I’m not sure. From what I’ve heard yesterday and today, there are some towns that have been destroyed for the most part, with very little help up until now. So we continue to try to focus our efforts on areas with the most need.

Through a contact with Operation Blessing, Rod and some people from our church went this morning to a municipality in the state of Puebla (just outside of our state). I haven’t heard a report from them yet, but from what our contact said the situation is pretty bad there.

Tomorrow I will likely be going with a group to the state of Morelos, where we will be giving out supplies and fresh food, as well as sharing the hope of Christ.

We’re taking it day by day here – or maybe hour by hour. We’ll have a better idea by the end of the day tomorrow what needs there are in these areas. We’re also trying to look ahead at the long term needs.

I’ve been in communication with other groups from the city. Some are trying to organize to go out next week. Some have been active in clearing rubble and getting supplies out on a daily basis.

It is difficult to enter some of these areas, so you can pray that we will be able to get in and will know how to do it. That’s one reason why there hasn’t been more aid to these areas.

One pastor from the city who went to Morelos reported today (translated and edited for brevity):

We are in a place 70km from the epicentre. We arrived yesterday with the idea of providing some food provisions and a nursing station, and in our inexperience to help remove debris. We are in a small town where food has come but not the manpower.

There are many damaged homes, people homeless and in poverty. The communication towers are down. We are overwhelmed, but God is with us.

Many families slept on the street last night outside their adobe houses because they are damaged – and then there was a rain storm. We were going last night to help a man who had broken his arm, and whose home had collapsed – but it was impossible. The roads were rivers…

He went on to say that they have seen almost no other help coming to this area.

We’re trying to get supplies – food, medicine, etc. to these areas. We’re also thinking about tents or something similar to help provide shelter. Any help you can provide is appreciated.

Again, pray for peace and strength and health for those who are helping with the relief effort. Check back here at the blog – I will try to post when I can but as you may imagine we have a lot to do and think about at the moment.