PROVIDING EARTHQUAKE RELIEF IN CHILE
A powerful earthquake, measuring 8.8, affected the South American country of Chile on February 27, causing severe
destruction and loss of life. The following is an excerpt from a report on earthquake relief submitted by Mario Ramos,
president of the Convention of Baptist Churches of the Chilean Mission.
On Saturday, March 13, 2010, our journey began at 5:30 a.m. toward the Eighth Region in Chile, one of the most affected
areas after the earthquake on Saturday, February 27. We had committed ourselves to return after our previous trip on
Saturday, March 6.
This time more brethren accompanied us in order to be in those places, comforting our people in the churches, as well as
the many other people we were able to reach out to with what we were bringing from the Ninth Region.
Our goal was to gather among the churches in the Southern District 1,000 kilos (2,200 lbs) of flour, yet by God’s grace
and the generosity of our brothers and sisters we gathered 2,500 kilos (5,500 lbs), plus 500 kilos (1,100 lbs) from our
people in the Lakes District in the Tenth Region, which includes our churches in our convention’s Mapuche area. Besides
those 3,000 kilos (6,600 lbs) of flour, we were able to get with convention resources, salt, yeast, rice, noodles, milk, sugar,
diapers, clothing gathered in the churches, and toys for the children.
We shared what we had with a group of women. Most of them are wives of fishermen that have lost everything. One
of their most needed items was flour and hence that was what we requested from our churches which once again
responded with abundant generosity. We had committed ourselves to those women, children, and their families; we could
not fail them and thanks be to God, we delivered. Yet there is still so much more that we need to do for them and that is
what we wish to do with all of our hearts.
Coronel was very important for its coal mining, but in the 1990s almost 100 percent of the mines were shut down due to
the risk to the miners working in extremely dangerous conditions. Today the city is one of the poorest in Chile with high
alcoholism rates. Driving through the neighborhoods we saw a lot of destruction, especially the main silo in the city that is
now destroyed. Water service is just being restored and a lot of people are still in the hills fearing the sea. We left some
provisions again and talked to some of the brethren at church. They said: “Brothers and sisters, we give thanks to God
for the provisions you have given us so far. As you can see, most of us are well; the sanctuary has some minor cracks
that need evaluation to assess the severity (though at first sight it doesn’t seem severe), so this help is enough for now.
So, please concentrate on those that are most affected…” These words speak volumes of these brothers and sisters and
their hearts as children of God. We will continue to labor and assist with God’s help.
Also that day a team of brethren traveled from our country’s capital, Santiago. Those churches had gathered food,
clothes, and money to help in another very affected area of our nation, the Maule Region. This team left on the night of
Friday, March 12, led by Pastor José Marín from the Baptist Church Cóndores de Chile, joined by 10 members of our
churches. They began in Chillán to end in Curicó.
As you can see, this earthquake shook many regions in our country; in each of them there is a lot of damage. Yet, the
Seventh and Eighth Regions are the more severely affected of our long and narrow land. May God help us with wisdom
to be good stewards of the resources that will become available so that we can support each one of our brothers and
sisters and country people that has lost everything. May God bless each of you that reads these lines and will be moved
to compassion.
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills… from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and
earth,” Psalm 121:1-2.
Mario Ramos is president of the Convention of Baptist Churches of the Chilean Mission and a member of the
General Council of the BWA
PHOTOS:
Distributing earthquake relief items and supplies
An area of devastation where 200 structures were destroyed by the
powerful earthquake that affected Chile on February 27
Chile photos courtesy of Convention of Baptist Churches of the Chilean Mission