International Project Director for Convoy of Hope Ernie Peacock writes:
Dear Friends:
I am writing you from Chincha, Peru. For the past two days we have visited several cities and communities that were hit by the recent 8.0 earthquake. The only words to describe what I have seen everywhere we’ve been is DEVASTATION and DESPAIR. Even though the government is working in a very coordinated effort with other agencies to clear debris, restore power, and finish up their rescue efforts, there is too much devastation and too few resources to meet the need.
Yesterday, we were in the cities of Pisco and Ica. Pisco, with a population of about 50,000, was completely destroyed. The surrounding community had 90% devastation. Over 500 people lost their lives when the Catholic Church collapsed during a service and an 8-story hotel collapsed on 50 guests staying there.
People are desperate. They need our help! I am leaving right now to visit some of the outlying areas that have yet to receive assistance. Convoy of Hope is taking food and water. Please pray!
You can visit our website and make an online donation to assist us in this effort.
Missionary Doug Corbett writes:
We spent last night in a hotel in the city of Chincha, Peru, one of the four hardest hit cities by the quake. Got up this morning and left for Pisco and Ica. Soon found out that Pisco was REALLY devastated.
Here are a couple of stories that might be of interest to you.
(1) Our contact missionary in Lima, Rich Ferguson, shared with us on the trip down to Pisco that the quake hit the area at 6:41 p.m. on Wednesday, August 15th. Rich was cooking supper for his family in their 3rd floor apartment in Lima at the time. As soon as it started, Rich's wife, Wanda, took their little girl and headed outside. Their little boy was in the bathtub. Rich said the quake lasted about 2 minutes. There were about 4-inch waves in the bathtub. Rich grabbed his little son, toweled him off, quickly put him in a sweat suit and ran outside to the others. The children have gotten to where they are able to sleep the whole night through.
(2) As we traveled on the damaged Pan American Highway south to Pisco, we found that at the town of San Clemente the traffic started to back up. The north bound bridge was completely gone and only one vehicle at a time was allowed to cross the south bound bridge. The reason, we were told, was because the bridge supports were gone.
(3) After seeing the terrible devastation in Pisco we headed to Ica. On the way out of the city we picked up a 22-year-old Peru firefighter. He began to tell us that a 5-story (4 star rated) tourist hotel called "The Hotel Embassy" had completely collapsed. They had already pulled 40 dead bodies out of the rubble and were not even halfway through searching. Some of the bodies were completely crushed. The irony is that this was one of the newer constructed buildings in downtown Pisco.
(4) Late this afternoon, we visited with the A/G pastor who lost two of his church members in the quake. One lady was 62 years old and the other was 32. They were next door neighbors and were out on the sidewalk in front of their houses selling sandwiches when the quake started. They both backed up against the wall, thinking that would protect them, when the wall collapsed on them and killed them both. Both ladies lived alone; the 62-year-old's children were already grown and the 32-year-old had never been married. The older woman had been a Christian for only about 2 years. The younger woman had attended the church since she was a little girl. The pastor said the church has helped the surviving family members and bought 2 coffins.
(5) Also, today we visited one the A/G churches where the building was completely destroyed. (So far, there are at least 18 A/G churches in the area that have been completely destroyed or damaged beyond repair.) Many of the people were begging us for blankets. Supplies are very hard to find and expensive because of the great demand. Convoy of Hope purchased 60 blankets and several days' supply of milk and water for 60 families.
Hope some of this helps you all to pray for effectively.
