What if in an instant your home was flattened? You escape the rubble, only to find a crumbled village. You have no water. No shelter. Roads are in ruin. Your children cling to your side as you search for sustenance. The aftershocks continue. Will it happen again?
This was the atmosphere following Chile’s 2010 earthquake that left nearly 2 million people homeless.
Just days following the quake, our national director, Manuel, reported from the field:
“Talcahuano is flattened. It’s under military curfew of 9:00 p.m. Fear and insecurity is what you sense and feel. Based on what I have seen, there is a desire for healing. People want to hear any message of hope. We are using it as an opportunity to share the Gospel. The physical needs are immediate, but the spiritual needs will be next.
“I traveled further to Mulchen to visit a pastor we serve in the area. The people were without water. | Pastor Joseline’s church had a private well, so they drew water buckets to share. As the members of his church aided families in the village, they also placed the Gospel of John in their hands.”
When Manuel arrived, Pastor Joseline greeted him empty-handed. His supply of God’s Word had run out. Just in time, Manuel’s replenishments answered a town’s prayers. Aftershocks continued through the night. Manuel struggled to sleep.
For survivors left to rebuild their lives, the spiritual and psychological effects of the quake will linger. With the provision of Bibles, our ministry in Chile will remain fruitful and strong.
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