Some of you have asked regarding how you can help the pastors who lost their homes and church buildings in the earthquake. If you are interested in sending a donation, we will be sure the money reaches them, either as a love offering or in the way of food and supplies. If you prefer your donation be used to distribute food and supplies to others who may be in need, we can take care of that too.

  

Donations can be sent to our financial clearing house (check memo: David Thompson - Chile Earthquake)

  

Central Missionary Clearinghouse

P.O. Box 219228

Dear friends,

   

The earthquake that rocked Chile last weekend was so powerful that even at 400 miles of distance from the epicenter, people felt like it had originated under the very ground they were standing on. It shook us and our house really well, but we seem to have been spared from most of the damaging effects of the earthquake. For that we are grateful. Yet, at the same time we are concerned for the well-being of our many brothers and sisters in Christ who live in or near the cities that took the worst hits, particularly Constitucion, Talca, and Concepcion. We've heard bits and pieces from all of them by now and know that they are safe, though still very affected by the quake.

   

Pastor Gary Yanten and his family are faithful servants of the Lord Almighty and have ministered to the people of Constitucion for many years. When the massive earthquake hit, they grabbed what little they could, piled into their car and fled to higher ground, as Constitucion is a coastal city. Those on the hills could hear the screams of horror from people who were being swept away by the first big wave. A while later, another wave hit. The third wave came as dawn approached, around 6:30 in the morning. By then they could make out the 30-foot wave as it covered a big part of the city. Aproximately 200 people who lived on a peninsula and who didn't have enough time to escape were gone. Gary and his family were fortunate to be alive, no doubt spared by God in order to serve the people of Constitucion in their time of most need. Their church building survived the quake, but their house and belongings were damaged beyond repair. They didn't have enough gas in their vehicle to go very far, so they had to stay put. For three days they camped out in a tent, along with some other survivors, until a pastor from a nearby city was able to come to their aid with food, water and gas (see pictures below).

   

 

 

 

   

   

Talca is a city that is very dear to us, as we had the opportunity to live there while our parents, Doug and Debby Thompson, were involved in starting a church there. Pastor Kike Quilodran and his family now minister to the believers there. The church building and the house next to it, where we lived and where we formed many wonderful memories as teenagers, were destroyed in the quake. The adobe walls (thick though they were), simply could not resist such violent movements and they all came down. Many souls came to know the Lord in that place, so it served its purpose well, but now the church is without a building. That will have to be taken care of later, though, because Talca is still without water and electricity. Some phone lines are back up, but a greater portion of the city is in total ruins. There are shortages everywhere, and many are spending the nights huddling in small groups and burning coal to stay warm at night.

   

The Chilean government is doing a great job trying to meet the need, but the need is so great and though help is coming, it isn't coming fast enough. Already several of the churches we fellowship with here have either sent truckloads of help or are taking up offerings to send on to the pastors (friends of ours) who are nearby and who are using those funds to purchase food, water, blankets, and diapers to pass around to those who are in need. We were able to help some with some ministry funds that we had saved up for another purpose, and our church will be taking up a special offering this coming weekend for these two pastors and the congregations they minister to. If you have a roof over your head, and food in your fridge, you have more than what a million chileans do right now. Please help us show Christ's love to our brothers and sisters in Christ and to the hundreds and thousands of chileans who may find Christ as a result of this event. May it be instead of a tragedy, a great victory - and may it all be for the honor and glory of His Majesty, who sits on heaven's throne. 

   

We appreciate your prayers for us and for Chile.

   

In Christ's love,

David & Hanzi

     

    

Things for us are for the most part back to normal. We finally got our internet working again this afternoon. Still waiting on water, but we're told it should come back on by tomorrow. When the electricity came back on, we plugged our tv in to the outlet to see if it had survived the fall, but the sparks and smoke coming from the motherboard weren't very encouraging...

Our situation however, pales in comparison to what's taking place in other parts of the country.

  

    

We decided to go to Santiago yesterday (Monday) to stock up on groceries, as our cupboard and fridge were getting quite bare. There's been talk about stores running out of goods in the coming weeks, so we decided to stock up while we still can. No bread, no flour, no bottled water, but everything else was available. Looting started taking place in Concepcion (Chile's 2nd largest city) the day after the quake and crooks and depraved people in other cities have caught on and are doing the same all over the areas affected by the earthquake. Plasma tvs, refrigerators, washers, carts full of liquor - you name it, (even though there is no electricity, food, or water in many of these areas). Department stores were being stripped down to nothing and then lit on fire. Military personnel were dispatched and have now received orders to shoot looters on sight. In Concepcion, the orders came too late, as most stores have little to nothing left. I talked to a friend in Chillan this afternoon and he told me people are out and about now invading people's homes, taking whatever they want, and threatening to hurt anyone who tries to stop them. To make matters worse, either pranksters, or crooks who want to throw the police off, have been calling nonstop reporting bogus crimes.

   

Cell phone service is starting to come back to most areas. To our great relief, we've heard from the pastors in Talca, Concepcion and Constitucion. They are alive and well, though some of them have suffered tremendous losses. In Constitucion, Pastor Gary Yanten lost his house and the temple when the tsunami hit. He fled in his vehicle and is now living in a tent with his family. Gasoline, where he is, is unavailable, so he had to stay put. Two pastors in neighboring cities were able to come to his aid this afternoon, as he was down to his last bit of food and water.

    

The church building in Talca was hit hard (adobe construction). The house next to it (where I lived as a teenager for two years - also adobe) is from what I am told, damaged beyond repair.

    

The church building in Concepcion is being used as a safehouse, but they are without food, water and electricity, and many need additional clothing. Mothers are in dire need of diapers for their little ones, but none are to be had, not even in nearby cities. One of the churches in Santiago has gathered up a few carloads of these things and are headed to some of these cities to bring aid to our brothers and sisters in these churches. Be praying for their safety, as many vehicles that have brought aid have been attacked and looted. Our church in Algarrobo will be taking up a special offering for these other hard-hit churches and will be sending it to a pastor friend who is right in the middle of the hardest-hit cities and who will be able to distribute the much needed aid.

    

There are immediate needs for sure, but people are going to need help in the coming weeks too, so if you would like to help, any additional funds we receive will be distributed accordingly to these areas in need.

   

Once again, we want to thank you for your prayers on our behalf. Please pray for God's hand of protection and provision for those who may not be faring so well in these damaged cities.

  

In Christ's never-ending love,

David & Hanzi

   

Cell phone - (56) 9 039 0576

Skype name - davidandhanzi