skip to main |
skip to sidebar
We are safe at home, Praise the Lord.
The EGM Chile office was successfully moved and after all our US moving experiences, it was amazing to see how it is done in Chile. A couple of young men did most of the really heavy lifting but we were also able to make a significant contribution to the process. Working alongside our Chilean teammates through this crisis has given us a new love and appreciation for each one. There's too much to tell but our hearts are full.
Our departure from the Santiago airport was fascinating. They have come up with a very creative and relatively efficient way of taking care of thousands of passengers and are using only a small portion of the building to do it. Check in was in large tents outdoors with giant fans (it was hot!) and we waited in chairs set up under carports where rental cars were normally parked. There was lots of waiting in long lines (we arrived nearly 5 hours before our flight) but our flight was very close to being ontime.
As our airplane took off, we were looking forward to heading home but at the same time had the overwhelming sense that God had accomplished His purposes on the trip and we wouldn't have changed a thing. Even the earthquake itself was a big spiritual blessing to us as we experienced the power of God in a new way and felt His loving arms around us.
You, our praying family, have been a big way God has expressed His presence to us. "Thank you" falls so far short of the feelings in our hearts.
Joe and Julie
Hi, Praying Team:
Thanks for your continued prayers. Reports in yesterday's evening news were that since the big earhquake, there have been 203 aftershocks over 4.9. One was 6.3! We have felt many of them, and some have caused us to get in doorways, but it has seemed relatively calm today. We haven't gotten the news yet today, due to meetings, but things seem to be slowing down in the earthquake department.
We have been meeting with the board the last 2 days. Yesterday, I was able to share from the Word and give an update on our ministry around the world to inspire the team here. Today, I shared again from the Word. The team seemed to respond well to the messages and I was thankful to be able to share with them. It was a great moment for us when the board chairman shared with the group how much it had meant to them when we made no move to leave immediately after the earthquake. He said most visitors were headed for the airport as soon as it was possible to get the first flight out, but we had stayed and that willingness to stay and work through things with them had encouraged them so much.
Several of the board members were not able to attend. Nathy, from the North could not get transportation to the meeting. Margarita from Vina del Mar was told by the government that her apartment building is no longer safe to live in and she was moving today. Another of the board members who lives near the epicenter is a physician and has been working night and day in the hospital. Another (a pastor) was unavailable because a member of his church died and he was providing the funeral today. However, those who WERE able to attend, did the best they could and had a productive meeting organizing the upcoming office move and planning for the future of the ministry.
Tomorrow, we will have our rescheduled children's workers conference simultaneously with the Pastor's meeting. No one knows how many we will have but we will do our best to minister to those who come. Some of the original speakers will not be able to attend so we are doing double duty. The team is ready for anything! Sunday, I will preach twice at two different churches. Pray for God's message to come through, whatever and however He wants to do that.
We have heard that all flights out of Santiago have resumed so we are not anticipating a delay in our return to the US. We are weary but praising God and looking forward to finishing well on this amazing adventure. Thanks for coming with us through prayer. Your emails have meant a great deal to us.
Joe
Dear Praying Friends,
Hello again. I hope I'm not jamming up your inbox too much. For some, a little info is plenty and for others, no amount is enough! Thanks for praying either way!
Our teammate, Krysten Norkaitis, arrived today in Santiago from Lima, Peru. We had been told the airport would not be open but they surprised us and she arrived safely today. She took her luggage plane-side and dragged it all the way to immigration, which was also outdoors, on the sidewalk, as the building is damaged and unsafe. We are glad she's here!! Also, an open airport means we will most likely be able to return on time to the States. Please keep this in your prayers, especially as our departure date gets closer.
Our coworker, Daniel Gonzalez, who was trying to get to his family in the South of Chile called a few minutes ago to let us know that he has a ticket for the morning to Santiago. He found some friends in Santiago who opened their home to him while he waited. He is fatigued but relieved. We are happy for him. We told him how many were praying and he was so very thankful for each prayer offered on his behalf.
We have just been told that we will have no running water for the next two days. Water supplies are being shut off in three major cities (including the area where we are) so that repairs can be completed. It is strange to us but to everyone else around us, it seems to be an acceptable way to proceed.
I had shared in an early email that the EGM office here had survived the earthquake without harm, but we went to the office after that and found things to be very different. The officials have ruled the highrise building where the EGM office is located to be unsafe. Though the building was taped off with caution tape, we were given a full tour and even had a meeting for a few hours in the building. The aftershocks continue and it was interesting to be on othe sixth floor of an unsafe building during a strong aftershock!
The EGM ministry was in the process of moving to a new facility but had been held up with government red tape. Now, rules are being bent everywhere and it appears that they may be able to move right into their new building and we may be able to help with the move the day before we depart. God is so faithful. Please pray everything will work out. They are temporarily officing in a Sunday school classroom in one of the local churches, but it is VERY temporary.
Julie had a wonderful meeting with a big group of women today and her message of hope was so very well received. The leaders told us afterward that everyone was buzzing about her talk and that it had really touched hearts. We also met with the team that is working on the EGM Chile curriculum project and we were so encouraged with their willing hearts and determined spirits. The ministry here in Chile will not be stopped....Praise God!!
Bless you for standing with us in prayer!!
Joe
Dear Praying Friends,
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:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. We are seeking God's direction for decisions regarding the ministry events that were planned. God knows.
At a time like this, we are counting on your prayers more than ever before. As we have more news, we will update you.
Joe and Julie
