News at ABWE
Earthquake in Peru
September 24, 2007
Building temporary wood shelters
Visit the ABWE Peru website to read about the specific damages and plans to restore homes, churches, and ministries. Please consider whether God could use your generosity to help build a small house or rebuild a church building.
Learn how to give to this project by scrolling to the bottom of this page.
For further information contact Donna Knight:
(717) 909-2362
donna@abwe.org
September 5, 2007
Andy Pace, the ABWE Peru Coordinator for the earthquake relief and director of La Molina Christian Schools in Lima, Peru, provided the following update:
“The number of those who lost their lives in Peru’s earthquake has reached just over 500 while over 1800 were injured. Though our hearts go out to those families, we also are grateful to God for His mercy—the last major earthquake took over 67,000 lives in 1970. We believe that God has spared lives that we might have another chance to share the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“On the other hand, material losses are overwhelming. I had the privilege of going to a town about 60 miles north of the epicenter and personally saw that at least 75 percent of the adobe homes were no longer safe and should be leveled so the families can begin again. The government has promised financial aide for those who have lost homes. However, the task is so massive and extensive, it is difficult to believe that that money will last very long or will be released very soon.
“It is important to note that the response of the Peruvian churches has been overwhelming. Truckloads of relief goods have poured into the region. However, reconstruction is a whole new area that calls for much prayer and preparation. If not done correctly, greater tragedies lie in wait.”
Andy also reports on the progress of the relief stages the team is implementing. Within 72 hours of the earthquake, they provided food, water, and shelter to as many as possible. They are now working on getting blankets and vitamins into the country. Next, the team participated with churches and Christian schools in shipping three truck loads of goods to the affected area. “Two church teams (from at least three Lima churches and two Christian schools) went to a district north of the epicenter and with the guidance of Peruvian missionaries in the area, a police escort and the district governor gave out relief packets (food, clothes, water, blankets and plastic) to over 1100 homes. This took place in a very well-organized manner with each group of ten people having an official census list and a guide. As far as can be measured, over 3500 heard the gospel, and many made a personal decision for Christ just in the district of San Luis in Cañete.”
“Our goal for the reconstruction stage concerning homes is to show Christ's love by providing new, earthquake-resistant modular homes for Christians who lost theirs in the earthquake. We believe that meeting some of these material needs will provide a platform for evangelism in the communities and church edification.
“A team of builders from the US arrives on Friday, September 7th to begin the first stage of reconstruction which involves building small, wooden shelters for those Christian families whom we have determined need immediate shelter. At this point, we will be building 17 shelters with the possibility of more depending on funds. As God leads, the next stages would move on to the earthquake-resistant modular homes made of steel-reinforced concrete and brick. God has already provided a reputable, Christian architect and engineering firms to design these homes at no cost.
“Parallel to the reconstruction of family’s homes, there is a great need to rebuild several of our churches in the area as well as parts of the Chaco camp. This will take place in an orderly manner in order to insure that the new structures are also earthquake resistant.”
Read what the ABWE missionaries in Peru have further posted regarding damages from the earthquake and relief and reconstruction efforts: www.abweperu.org/earthquake
August 21, 2007
Initial reports from missionary David Stone’s survey trip to Ica indicate that the most urgent needs for the camp are a security wall to protect from thieves, a generator, and a water pump. Water is available only for two hours a day, and there is no electricity yet. Water must be pumped into a storage tank each day in order to have water both for personal hygiene and for beginning the huge task of cleaning the entire camp grounds. Though it was reported earlier that the camp was completely destroyed, a more accurate statement would be that it is a disaster area. After the major earthquake, a tsunami of about a meter high hit the camp property with tremendous force. Much seaweed and ocean debris was deposited on the camp property, both inside and outside the buildings. The property walls were completely destroyed; some are still standing but all are damaged enough to require replacement. The buildings were all damaged but can be repaired.
Among the people of the Chaco church which meets at camp, Rigoberto Rolín (the camp guard and pastor of the church) and his family are the only ones who lost everything.
In the surrounding area, between one and ten families per church have lost their homes. Their most urgent need is a roof over their heads. Lights and water have been restored to most areas. The entire church building and pastor’s house of Subtanjalla, all buildings of the Vida Abundante mission work of la Tinguiña, an educational wing of the Tinguiña church, and San Joaquin Sunday School facilities and pastor’s home will need to be rebuilt. Other than Subtanjalla and Vida Abundante mission, all the Baptist churches that the Stone family has worked with sustained only minor, repairable damage.
Pastor Juan Pablo Osario (the president of the camp board) traveled to Chaco and Ica Monday with a truckload of provisions. David, Evelyn, and Jonathan thank God for His protection and guidance, and will report more soon.
August 20, 2007
Andy Pace, the ABWE Peru Coordinator for the “Peru Earthquake” has already set into motion relief efforts. Four ABWE missionaries left early Saturday morning to take blankets, water, flashlights, basic food supplies and some medicines to the affected area. We have many churches in that area as well as a camp. The missionaries will bring us a report on how many more of our churches and families have needs.
ABWE missionary Jonathan Stone has provided a number of photos from their trip to Pisco and Ica. Click the link above to view the slideshow.
August 16, 2007
A powerful earthquake, now listed at 8.0 in magnitude, shook Peru on Wednesday night. The death toll keeps rising and is now totaling 450 people with 1,500 more reported as injured. Bob Trout, ABWE Administrator for Spanish Speaking South America, has been in constant contact with our Peru missionaries beginning on Wednesday evening, 9:40 pm. We praise God that all ABWE missionaries are safe as well as our Peruvian partners in Lima. However, several churches and ministries have been greatly affected by the earthquake.
The epicenter area, Ica, Peru, to the south of Lima, was the hardest hit. Ica was the center for ABWE leadership training in the south. The Ica Camp sustained heavy damage from a tidal wave. The caretaker of the camp, Pastor Rigoberto Rolin, and his family fled to the sand dunes for safety, and the ABWE Lima team is sending funds to the family to assist in their immediate needs. We know of two churches so far that were affected by the quake. One has been completely devastated and the other has significant cracks that will need repair. The current difficulty is that the roads to the epicenter area are damaged, therefore relief efforts have been hindered. ABWE missionaries in Peru are making plans to travel to Ica and the surrounding area to properly assess the needs that our churches face.
We praise God that all of our missionaries have been protected. The experience for all was not an easy one to move through. Six after shocks have been reported. We request prayer for those who are facing crisis situations today.
ABWE will be assisting our Peruvian partners as they recover from the Camp destruction and other earthquake damages we may yet learn about. If you or your church would like to help with a gift or offering, donations may be designated for “Peru Earthquake,” either online or by mail. Thank you for your prayers, and please consider helping our partner churches in their time of need.
US Donors
To send your tax-deductible gift by mail, please print this form and mail it along with your gift to:
ABWE Donor Services
PO Box 8585
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8585
Canadian Donors
For online gifts click the "Donate Now" button on the ABWE Canada home page, then choose Peru Earthquake Relief from the drop-down list.
To send your tax-deductible gift by mail, please print this form and mail it along with your gift to:
ABWE Canada
34-980 Adelaide Street South
London, ON N6E 1R3
For further information please contact Donna Knight or Bob Trout:
Donna Knight
Administrative Assistant for South America
(717) 909-2362
donna@abwe.org
Bob Trout
Executive Administrator
Spanish Speaking South America
(717) 214-6843
btrout@abwe.org