CHILE RELIEF PROJECT

On February 27, an 8.8 earthquake (the 5^th largest in recorded world history) hit off the coast of Chile destroying structures and creating tsunamis that swept away entire villages. Second and third quakes measuring 6.7 and 6.0 hit only minutes later. Over the next month and even now aftershocks continue to rattle lives and threaten buildings. The death toll is just under 800, yet nearly 80% of the countries population has been affected, and hundreds of thousands remain homeless as the Southern Hemisphere’s winter approaches.

Chile’s central regions were hardest hit, including Claudia’s hometown of Rancagua. We have been in contact with the leadership (Pastor Juan, Pastor Roberto and others) of Renuevo, our church in Rancagua, monitoring their progress and considering ways to assist them as they seek to assist those in the surrounding communities and rural areas that have yet to receive aid.

As the weather gets colder and rain arrives the most urgent needs are:

• Prefabricated Emergency Homes: In the 6^th region alone there is an urgent need for 20,000 emergency homes which allows a homeless family to remain near work, property and their support systems as opposed abandoning all they have to seek winter shelter. Each of these insulated, heated, emergency homes has a cost of $1000.00. Renuevo hopes to purchase a minimum of 10 for immediate delivery and construction.
• Emergency Food: With the destruction of homes and businesses, thousands have lost the means to support themselves. Renuevo is distributing boxes of non-perishable food costing $5.00 per box. They hope to provide between 100 to 200 units immediately and then assess further need in the outlying areas.
• Blankets: Basic, cheap ($5.00 each) and easy means to provide immediate warmth and comfort from the cold. They hope to distribute 200 immediately and then assess further need.

Latin America Mission is partnering with Renuevo in order to meet these immediate needs. Over the years many of friends and supporters have traveled to Chile in order to work alongside Renuevo or receive from their amazing hospitality. Please consider assisting this church in caring for the immediate needs around them and communicating Christ’s love in both word and deed.

If you would like more information on this project don’t hesitate to contact us at Latin America Mission (1800-275-8410) or via e-mail.

To make an online donation toward the Chile relief project please visit the LAM donations page, enter the amount you desire to give in the “LAM General Fund” section and indicate “Chile Relief Project” in the notes section. Your donation will be credited to the proper account and you will receive a tax deductible receipt.

If you prefer to mail in a donation please make checks payable to “Latin America Mission” and indicate “Chile Relief Project” on a separate piece of paper (not in the memo section) in order to have it properly credited. Mail your donation to:

Latin America Mission - Chile Relief

PO Box 52-7900

Miami, Fl 33152-7900

You will receive a tax deductible receipt.

Chile Quake updates

I just got off the phone with "Obispo Sanchez" of the Free Methodist Church in Chile. He reported to me on many of their buildings having been destroyed and "entire costal towns swept away" by the resulting tidal waves from Saturday's Earth Quake. Despite the suffering he did aproach this with a faith filled humor in telling me: "We have been raising funds to rebuild one of our churches and were about half way to our goal before the quake. But the Lord must want us to do it faster, because He decided to tear the old building down ahead of our schedule!".

I also received an very brief e-mail from our home church in Rancagua, Renuevo. They report that "various families have lost their homes" but thankfully they did not report any loss of life. Please keep Chile, the pastors and the churches in your prayers. Pray for faith and strength for the pastors as they care for their congregations and pray for that same faith and strength for the congregations as they seek to express the Lord's love to the surrounding community.

Sunami Story & Photo Montage

Sunami washes away surifing resort in Pichilemu (Where Claudia and I served and have many friends).

Chile Update

Again, thank you to all who have been calling, e-mailing and praying. Claudia's family is well. We managed to talk to Cristy on Sunday and Barbara today and Claudia got to web chat with Chabe a little while ago. We haven't been able to talk with her parents yet but know they are fine. We are also trying to get news from Reneuvo, our church in Rancagua. The YWAM base in Pichilemu is fine although we have reports that the waves caused by the quake devistated the lower lying areas. Please continue to pray for the needs in Chile, but do not forget the needs in Haiti. Although the quake was 500 times the strength of Haitis, the Chilean death toll is under 800 thus far. We grieve for those who have lost loved ones but thank the Lord for his mercy in sparing life. More soon.

For some of the pictures of the damage in Chile see CNN's site.

Earthquake in Chile

First we want to thank every one of you who have called and written over the past few days. We managed to comunicate with Claudia's family yesterday and they are all well. We'll try to post more tomorrow. God bless!