Report on Chile Earthquake by Lina, Jim Thurston

Lina Thurston, president of Aglow, Chile, and her husband Jim have spent days giving material and spiritual aid in the center of the earthquake zone. These are excerpts from their journal:

March 6, 2010

It was exactly 2:40 a.m. when a convoy of seven trucks with 30 people and 18 tons of food and aid left single file on route to the city of Concepcion (ground zero for Chile’s 8.8 earthquake).

Nine hours later at 11:45 a.m., with the required papers from the government’s Office of National Emergencies (ONEMI) in hand, we entered the conflict zone, heavily patrolled by the Chilean army. 

The entrance into the city was chaotic: helicopters flying overhead, businesses closed down, and there were an indeterminable number of lines of people waiting to get food.  Undoubtedly we experienced a tremendous amount of uncertainty because of the huge traffic jams and the deafening noise coming from the people of Concepcion tired of waiting to cross from one side to the other in order to try and get some food. 

After eating lunch at the central base for the Salvation Army, we went out to investigate the situation on the ground with some volunteers. The result was distressing: buildings demolished, supermarkets totally looted, cars smashed, stores burned down and people in shock.  It was nothing like the “reality” of the news coverage that seeks to commercialize the tragedy by only showing us a part of it.

Relief work in the disaster areas is hard.  One day after arriving, we entered Talcahuano, under strong security measures. This coastal city that was devastated by a tsunami, is a place full of horrible images, simply a scene of terror. We could see the water line where the sea had risen two meters (six feet) up the sides of the remaining buildings.

The sand from the sea that covered all of that area was the silent testimony of this tragedy.  We also saw uninhabitable buildings, boats that weighed many tons shipwrecked on top of what had been houses, and a nursery school, and debris in the main plaza of the city.  Both the army and navy were working hard to help clean up the disaster.

Outside Talcahuano at Tumbes Cove, a community located between a hill and the ocean front lived its worst daybreak as four waves drowned their properties, jobs, hopes, and peace.  We began delivery of the aid with a look, a hug, a bag of food and a few tracts of biblical inspiration. Some fishermen dared to say that the size of the waves had reached 20 to 25 meters (60 to 75 feet). 

Today we are in Dichato, a city that we had wanted to go to since the first day we had arrived but we were told that because of the human despair it was impossible “for security reasons.” The trip from Concepcion (Ground Zero) to Dichato lasted one hour and 15 minutes. 

Finally, we went down to a place that had been absolutely destroyed a few days before. The scene was frightening and the further up we went the worse it got. We were warned by the military forces to be careful with the groups of people there that could suddenly become infuriated because of the need and dissatisfaction with the lack of help. 

I have never seen anything like it!  The day of the earthquake, three tidal waves (tsunamis) hit the area: one at 4 a.m., the second at 6:15 a.m., and the third close to 10 a.m.  Coincidentally, as in Tumbes Cove, the second wave of approximately 15 meters (45 feet) devastated and destroyed everything around. If Concepcion was in chaos, I cannot describe this.

In the midst of the catastrophe, God is faithful and also wise. This morning early we again headed out towards Dichato, to repay the debt of love owed to people so vulnerable.  In this opportunity we were comprised of three teams from Santiago, Puerto Montt and Concepcion.  These teams worked in a variety of ways:  giving haircuts, distributing food, cleaning up homes, giving spiritual direction, providing entertainment, counseling and coordinating efforts with local officials. 

The coordination of efforts with local officials was the most important since it could possibly open up many doors to assist a large number of people in their emotional, physical and spiritual needs.  In Dichato there are 10 refugee camps of which Nuevo Amanecer (New Dawn) is the largest: 180 families, approximately 800 people. 

Here the Salvation Army spoke with Danitza, the leader of the community and with whom they had built trust. She has done an excellent job and this is the only camp that has organized itself. The time with her was a great opportunity to encourage her, challenge her, support her and pray for her and her people. 

The task for today is to support the camp that Danitza coordinates in the northeast sector of Dichato. We thank God that we have been able to enter with the support of her work committee. 

 Yesterday, after extended conversations we gained their confidence and it has allowed us to intervene with a simple initiative so that we can keep working with her people.  The idea is to do a count of all the families that form part of the community and organize a “common pot” which consists of preparing two special meals during the week.  

 Our Chile Aglow vice president, Rosario, has gone to the worst area, the city of Lota, and is helping out full time ministering and helping the Aglow women there.  About 70% of the Lota population is evangelical and the need is very great. We haven't gotten the reports yet, but we expect to have them soon.

-  Jim and Lena Thurston