Early this morning I awoke to my phone buzzing. (This is not abnormal, especially since we began our ongoing response to the earthquake in Haiti.) However, the inital buzz was followed by another, and then another. Quickly, I got up and went to my computer. That is when I learned of the massive early morning earthquake that struck Chile. Like many of you my heart sank. As I stared bleary eyed at my computer screen, several thoughts rushed through my mind. First, I thought of the people I met last year when I visited Chile and the new friends that I made. How could I contact them? What could I do? As the media began showing footage of the devastation, I saw places that I had been. I saw streets that I had traveled on. Was this really happening? My mind then raced to my friend Raquel. I could not even imagine how helpless she must feel. You see, my friend Raquel is the President of the Union of Baptist Churches in Chile. She is in the US for meetings. (We were going to see one another on Wednesday.) I quickly emailed her since I did not have her daughter’s phone number.
I waited for her response.
Soon she sent me a simple email with a contact phone number. As I quickly dialed the phone number, I prayed and searched for the right words to say. What do you tell a friend that is experiencing something like this? What comforting words do you share with someone whose son and immediate family are so far away? The phone rang and Raquel answered. As soon as I heard my friend’s voice, the awkwardness went away. We shared for several minutes and I made a simple, seemingly inadequate statement -“I’m here”.
Since that inital phone conversation, we have visited several times. Raquel’s family is safe. Now she is attempting to contact other Union leaders to learn of the extent of damage thoughout the country.
All I could do was pray, encourage, and offer my support. I did not have any answers.
Right now I would ask all of us to do the same. Pray and offer a word of encouragement.
Pray for our brothers and sisters in Chile. Pray for safety and strength for those who are confronting loss. The damage is widespread. Phones are working sporatically. Water and power are limited. (In addition to homes and businesses, several churches and even the Baptist Union building have sustained damage.) Reports are still coming in and it will be some time before we know the full extent of damage.
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has already begun conversations with the Baptist World Alliance and the Union of Baptist Churches of Chile. We understand that many of you will want to offer assistance. As we discover tangible, concrete ways for you and your congregation to assist, we will let you know.
If you would like to offer words of encouragement or a comment, please feel free to respond to this entry. We will see that these are passed along to Raquel and our Baptist family in Chile.
Continue to monitor the response efforts to the Haitian and Chilean earthquakes at www.thefellowship.info