We finally have internet access! Hooray! We have missed not being able to keep you updated but have definitely felt your prayers and love. When I was finally able to connect to the internet, my inbox was full of good wishes and promises of prayer. We're thankful for our children and our coworkers who worked together to keep you updated with little pieces of information we passed to them in very brief phone calls here and there. Now you are able to get it "from the horse's mouth."
We are doing well and have so much to be thankful for and I want to let you know how God is answering your prayers and give you some more things to bring before God's throne. It's been interesting to follow the Lord through these days, but we are at complete peace and trusting Him.
Our EGM team here in Chile has responded to the challenges with real grace and strength. It seems that our EGM office did not sustain any structural damage, but our director has shared with me that most of what was on a flat surface is on the floor. Our meetings for tomorrow have been cancelled because of the damage to the office and because some of the team members are having difficulty with transportation. The buses are not running and bridge and road damage has resulted in road closures. Even commuter trains are not running due to power outages. The gas stations are packed with people trying to get gas so transportation is certainly in question. We will join the team at the office in the morning to assess the damage and do some initial clean up work.
As far as what is going on in the country is concerned, those of you in the United States are probably better informed than I am. Communication has been very bad within the country with cell phone systems overloaded, power outages, etc. Without internet until today, our only source of information has been word-of-mouth and watching Spanish news reports using a small Spanish-English dictionary to figure out the highlights.
I can tell you that our team and their families are safe and well and determined to keep working through all this. Though the ministry schedule changes continually, I can really see their hearts to remain faithful to the Lord in this time for the sake of the children, children's workers and churches that are looking to them for help with children's ministry. Our director, Daniel Lagos, told me today that "we MUST go forward with rescheduling the children's workers training because the churches are depending on us for help."
Our time in the church this morning was really great. The children's ministry program was cancelled because the aftershocks which still occur are causing people to keep their children at home. In addition, there was a wall in the children's classroom area that was damaged so there was no place for them to meet. The people arranged themselves in areas of the auditorium where there were no lights to fall upon them (several had fallen during the quake) and we were given evacuation instructions as the service began. We met without electricity so there were no lights or sound system, but GOD'S power was evident! I felt an unusual outpouring of God's Spirit upon me as I shared with the people from Matthew 17:1-20 that the God who can move the mountains wants to move in our lives as we serve Him reaching the lost all around us.
Some prayer needs:
- Our co-worker, Krysten Norkaitis, is still trying to get to Chile from Peru in time for our board meetings Thursday and Friday. The airport is closed at this time and the date it will be re-opened keeps moving. While she waits, she is trying to be an encouragement and help to our Peru team, but is anxious to get to Chile if God is willing.
- We still have not heard from our teammate Daniel Gonzales. When he left Vina del Mar for Santiago, he went to the place where the ground transportation could be organized and found a massive crowd of frustrated people. While he was standing there trying to decide what to do, someone drove by and said, "Do you want to go to Santiago? We will take you!" He jumped in the car and they left, but we have not heard if he arrived in Santiago. At this point, his only hope for getting home to his family in the South is by air from Santiago where the airports are closed.
- We want to be a blessing to the team here and to the family that has opened their home to us. We originally planned to be in a hotel for at least part of the time, but that is now impossible and we are so thankful for our hosts. They have been very kind.
- We are seeking God's direction for decisions regarding the ministry events that were planned. God knows.
Joe and Julie
