Source: HCJB Global (written by Ralph Kurtenbach)

The people of Chile are putting their lives back together after an 8.8-strength earthquake struck near Concepción early Saturday, Feb. 27.

From the capital city of Santiago, Radio Armonía program host María Soledad is helping many Chileans to do so as the HCJB Global radio partner broadcasts via 35 affiliates across Chile.

Throughout the week María Soledad kept listeners up-to-date, encouraging them from the Scriptures. “In some sectors electricity is being restored—in cities like Concepción, Talcahuano, San Pedro de la Paz. Today I was asked about [the sector of] Michaigue,” she said on a program monitored in Ecuador.

A caller named Marina, her faith intact but emotions edgy, was overcome with emotion upon reaching Soledad. “How long have you been listening?” the program host asked as the two friends chatted on-air. “Just since this morning, we’ve been here without electricity, listening to the radio.”

Another caller, Pastor Alejandro Cabezas, experienced a few difficulties with highway travel to Concepción, but said the highway is generally clear and the weather is good. Moved by the enormity of the situation, his voice broke as he described the difficulties of people. “Some people are quite desperate,” he said.

Chileans continue experiencing dozens of aftershocks each day, keeping many in a state of uncertainty. Even as the tremors continue rattling people’s emotions, Radio Armonía is promoting an aid campaign launched by the Salvation Army. The “Embracing Chile” campaign solicits cash, nonperishable foods, milk and disposable diapers from the radio network’s listeners.

Since 1931, HCJB Global’s passion has been to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Using mass media, healthcare and education, and working with partners around the world, HCJB Global has ministries in more than 100 countries. Together with local partners, the ministry airs the gospel in more than 120 languages and dialects. Thousands of listeners and healthcare patients are meeting Jesus. Local believers are being trained as missionaries, pastors, broadcasters and healthcare providers.

I invite you to join me via the airwaves as I take the Get Up & Go Show to West Africa with Eastern Mennonite Missions April 13-20, 2010.  I’m excited to bring you pictures, interviews, & videos of the groundbreaking work EMM is doing in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.

In 2005, EMM began work in West Africa, where numerous fellowship groups of believers are emerging in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. In this mission-to-world context, EMM workers are involved in evangelism, discipling, church planting, leadership development, and community development that has economic, educational, and medical aspects.

One of the EMM projects in Catel, Guinea-Bissau is construction of an elementary school building.  There are at least 300 elementary age school children in the village of Catel.  Many of them do not attend school and almost none of them are literate.  The lack of education for the children further reinforces the low self-esteem and poverty mentality of the villagers. This project is an important step in village development.

At present the school campus includes two structures.

One is made of palm fronds and needs to be rebuilt every year after the rainy season.

The other building is two rooms made of mud bricks and plastered with cement and it has a corrugated tin roof.  The villagers themselves have built this building but to this point construction has not been completed.  Part of the reason why the school functions at a very inefficient level is because of the lack of a permanent building.

WJTL & EMM will be looking for your help in raising money to erect a 4-room classroom school including a small school office room.   This is an exciting opportunity to reach out to the people of Catel, Guinea-Bissau and I can’t wait to tell you more!

While I am broadcasting from Guinea-Bissau EMM will also be unveiling the African artwork of Liz Hess.   Lancaster artist Liz Hess has created African images that tell the story of the Israelites as slaves in Egypt, on a journey, finally arriving  in the promised land.  Guinea-Bissau is a story sharing culture that will finally-thanks to EMM and Lancaster artist Liz Hess- be able to better comprehend the biblical stories by viewing pictures of people who look like them.  We will bring you coverage of the local Lancaster unveiling of Liz’s artwork as well as the unveiling in Africa.

Samaritan’s Purse has emergency workers and supplies on the way to southern Chile, where a massive earthquake struck before dawn Saturday and triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific Ocean as far away as Hawaii.

Our disaster response team based in neighboring Bolivia is bringing truckloads of food and blankets. We are working with evangelical church partners in the affected areas to assess the needs and determine the locations where we can help.

The earthquake was measured at a magnitude of 8.8 and centered just off the coast near Concepcion, the second largest city in Chile. Major damage was reported 200 miles away in the capital city of Santiago. It hit at 3:34 a.m. local time Saturday, February 27 (1:34 a.m. Eastern Time), while many people were asleep in their homes.

Chile has a history of devastating earthquakes, including the most powerful one ever measured, a 1960 quake that measured 9.5 and killed several thousand people. (By comparison, the earthquake that killed over 230,000 people in Haiti Jan. 12 measured 7.0. Each increase of one point represents 32 times more intensity.)

Please pray for the people of Chile and our local church partners.

This just in from our friends at Esbenshades….

More Than 8,030 Harrisburg Teens Go Hungry To Help Haiti Quake Survivors Through World Vision’s 30-Hour Famine

Hundreds of Thousands Participate Nationwide

30-Hour Famine Funds go to Haiti Quake Relief and Long Term Needs

WHO:         More than 350 youth groups in the Harrisburg area will participate in World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine – getting a real taste of hunger to help feed and care for children living in extreme poverty around the world.  The Harrisburg groups hope to raise $529,500 and join nearly half a million teens nationwide aiming to donate $12 million to fight world hunger this year.

WHAT:        During the 30 hours, teens fast “on an empty stomach” – the theme for this year’s Famine —  by going without food (consuming only liquids) for 30 hours to experience what the poorest children and families face every day. The Harrisburg youth will also perform hands-on community service projects during the Famine weekend in order to make a difference in their own community. Teens participate in groups through churches, schools, youth groups and civic organizations.

Now in its 19th year, World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine raises awareness and money to fight hunger both overseas and in the United States. This year a portion of the proceeds will go to Haiti to help with long-term recovery needs such as food for children, mothers and  HIV+ adults, planting of fruit trees, small-scale drip irrigation, construction of  8 new clinics (serving 55,000) as well as a new pharmacy.  Additional funds go to similar projects in 9 other countries with crises that make children vulnerable.

WHEN:     Friday, February 26 and Saturday, February 27, 2010

WHERE:   For group and service project information please contact Lauren Wilkie at 708-434-5006 or lauren@wilkspr.com.  Additional information about the 30 Hour Famine can be found online at www.30hourfamine.org

Fred spoke with Gwenn Mangine of Joy in Hope once again this morning. You can hear the interview by clicking here.

Terry Esbenshade talks about the “hoop home” temporary housing structures being sent to Haiti.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSgiLEMjaIQ]

When the ground first shook on January 12, 2010, the actual event was over in a matter of a minute.  The effects of this tragedy, however, are lingering and will continue to linger for years and decades to come. The Joy in Hope staff on the ground has been honored to serve the community in various (and unusual) capacities as first responders, but we also acknowledge that as major relief organizations/government organizations have and continue to be mobilized in Jacmel, our role will again morph.  After much discussion amongst our team, we’ve come to agree that our main role in the restoration of Jacmel will likely be in a supporting role to these larger, better-resourced, more highly-focused organizations.  Because of the long term relationships/connections we have in Jacmel, we find ourselves in a place where we’re uniquely positioned to offer logistical support such as housing, transport, supplies, connections, and access to a steady stream of available workers.

This has already come to pass in many regards with the opening of our team housing as a guest house and with our involvement in the WFP distirbution, aiding specific NGO’s and the Canadian military.  Joy in Hope is becoming increasingly known and trusted in our community.

To be a little more specific, here’s some info about what we did yesterday which I think is a good example of a typical day here:

• Yesterday were given the opportunity to be in charge of distribution of food for ALL of Cay Jacmel and surround areas (12,500 people.) We had to make a quick choice, and because of the systems we have in place already, were able to say yes.  Nick was able to rent a Dihatsu and take 4 truckloads of food into our warehouse.  Just for the record that’s 12 TONS of food—or 30,000 meals.  Just GIVEN to us to distribute.  We had to supply the truck and manpower (which is actually a bit more complicated than it sounds) but they got it done.  And funny story—the Dihatsu we rented for $200 was pretty sketchy.  It didn’t have lights so we had to return it by 6PM.  The driver broke our gate when he hit it and the truck actually broke down and had to be push-started.
• Yesterday we also began hosting a team of 8 doctors who are literally saving lives.   I brought a tiny, very sick baby to them yesterday… a baby I believe was on the brink of death, and they were able to help.  Nick and Mikey were able to get 8 beds brought over to Rue Petion to continue expanding the capacity of the guest house.
• Also yesterday, Nick delivered $500 worth of phone cards to the Canadian military who have provided hundreds of soldiers who are working all day long to restore Jacmel.  They are doing largescale rubble removal with heavy machinery and small scale with teams of soldiers. (And just FYI–they paid the bill on that one, but we were able to acquire the phone cards when they were not.)
• Yesterday we distributed donated diapers in the local refugee camp.  Not a ton of them, but given the current situation with heavy rains and mud combined with a widespread outbreak of diarrhea, I have to believe it helped at least a little.
• Yesterday we also brought 300 meals to the hospital that our staff and children prepared.  300 patients and their caregivers were able to eat a hot meal.
• On top of all that, we have 2 orphanages that are running well.

I am sure today will be an equally exciting and opportunity-filled day.  And it’s so awesome to be involved in something so much bigger than ourselves.  It’s amazing to see the way God has given us favor as we’ve tried to make ourselves available to serve our community.  And I do believe we can continue to serve our community in a similar fashion for weeks and months to come.  It’s a good fit for the way we’re each personally wired and a good fit for our organization too

It’s exciting to live here in this time.  We’re thankful God has chosen us.  Please pray that he would give us the strength daily to walk in it.

Today Nick and I drove over the mountains to Leogane.  It’s been the first time we’ve been over the mountains since the quake.  We’d heard Leogane was bad. Wow.  Didn’t quite expect HOW bad it was.  You see, I have heard in Jacmel that around 50% of homes were destroyed.  But that’s kind of a deceiving statistic as much of the major damage was in a few pockets.  In these pockets, nearly EVERY house is destroyed but outside of those pockets, it’s not nearly as bad.  Estimates for Leogane say that there is somewhere between 80-90% of homes are destroyed.  Seeing what I saw today I would say that is VERY possible.  The WHOLE city is in shambles. It’s not just in pockets.  Downtown, uptown, in town, outskirts of town.  It’s a MESS.  All of it.

Even so, the people of Leogane continue to march on.  There is a lot of aid we could see on the ground and things seemed to be running very smoothly.  The streets were all cleared and swept.  There were even women spreading water over the roads nearly continuously to keep the dust down.  The main refugee camp was well organized.  There were no tents—it was all makeshift, semi-permanent structures organized into sections.  It’s still not great.  I mean come on, it’s a refugee camp. People have lost everything.  They still have many needs that are not being met.  But they continue with their lives with a tenacity I just can’t explain.

We’d love continued prayers for the situation in Haiti.  It’s out of the front pages now, but the need will continue for months and years, possibly decades, to come. Pray for continued provision.  Pray for our families as we adjust to our new normal.  But most of all, please pray that we would daily turn our hearts towards God—the giver of all good things.