Monday: Spent the day finishing up the care package project. A little more shopping, some more packing, tying up the boxes, and then loading up the truck with 300 bags of flour and 300 care packages.
Tuesday: Early in the morning, Anders, David, and 2 Chilean friends took off with the loaded truck for the north, to the community of Arauco. The truck was indeed a blessing, but very slow! It's putt-puttin' caused the driving time to double. Once in Arauco, they headed for the local Baptist church to unload the truck. The government officials, the police force, and the church have all been working together and made a list of homes in greatest need. We left the care packages with them, and they distributed the boxes on their own. On the way home, the crew was able to stop and stretch their legs and enjoy a beautiful view.
Wednesday: More shopping, and back to the warehouse to fill 500 boxes. We had the help of some youth from a local Baptist church. They have been a huge help, and have provided lots of needed energy. We also began our project of constructing our first "temporary shelter". Once food is no longer an issue in these hard-hit communities, housing will remain an issue. Our hope is to begin a sort of assembly line production in making these temporary shelters.
Thursday: This was a day that reminded us that we are still in an earthquake zone, and things are not over yet. In the early afternoon, just south of Santiago, a large aftershock occurred measuring at a 7.2. About 15 minutes later there was another large aftershock measuring at a 6.9. Simultaneous to this event, Chile's presidential power was trading hands. The new president was giving his inauguration speech, with many other world leaders present for the occasion. The powerful quake hit, a new tsunami alert was posted, and the presidential crowd headed for the hills because the occasion was taking place on the coast. At the same time our first volunteer team, coming in from Texas, was in the Santiago airport at the time of these large aftershocks. They said everyone ran in different directions looking for cover, so they thought they should do the same. They were stuck in the Santiago airport for 6 hours waiting for their flight to Temuco, and counting the numerous rumbles that followed. They arrived in Temuco around 8 p.m. After a spaghetti dinner we began making plans for what to do next. This team is a part of Baptist Global Response and their specialty is setting up a large outdoor "soup kitchen" that can feed thousands of people in one day.
Friday: Trent, David, and 2 of the BGR team members drove up north to find the best location for the soup kitchen as well as work out details with community officials. Anders, a couple of our national partners, and the other 2 BGR team members go shopping for their kitchen equipment. This was an all day event. But to finish off the day, they were back at the warehouse to load the 500 boxes into a Micro bus. Whew!
Saturday (today): Anders, and a car full of youth, are following the Micro bus up north to deliver the 500 care packages. They will drop some off in Canete, and they will hand deliver some to homes located out in the country that have not received assistance. The rest of our team and the BGR team are putting together the menu for the soup kitchen and will then begin another shopping trip. Our hope is that by Monday we will have the kitchen set up and running and ready to feed 3,000 people a day.
* You're prayers are a crucial part of this relief effort! God has been abundantly pouring his grace upon us as well as opening doors and working in the little details of this effort. We ask your continued prayers for God's supernatural strength and stamina. Thank you all for your prayers and support!
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