Treasures in the Rubble

"Praise be to God!...In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope...and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade-"
~I Peter 1:3-4

Hello Everyone~
Once again the guys are back in Chincha, and I am gladly sharing with all of you, who are laboring right along with us in prayer and giving, their journey.

Treasures in the rubble...
Tonight, I am rejoicing in a beautiful treasure that Mike, Alex, Lee and Michael found in the midst of the ugliest place they have been to yet! Earlier this afternoon when I talked to Mike, the whole group was feeling exhausted and a bit overwhelmed with the needs of the people in Chincha. They met again with a large group of Pastors from the area to discuss and organize the most efficient way to continue the distribution of supplies. There are still lots and lots of people sleeping in the streets with little to no shelter. It is very cold there at night and there is so much suffering.
Late in the afternoon, they were able to meet with a group from a church there. They met in the middle of a vacant street, as the church building was destroyed. Again, they were met with such despair and need. The people were grateful to receive the supplies and the guys were able to pray for and encourage them a bit, but they left feeling the same burden and tiredness with the gravity of the situation still there.

After this, they picked up a friend, Pastor Luis, who took them about 15 miles outside of Chincha, to the small town of Hoja Redonda. 95% of the town was built of adobe and nearly everything in the entire town was destroyed. There literally is nothing left standing. Because the town is so "far" out, they have received almost NO help at all. These guys have seen a lot of devastation, but this by far was the worst yet. What could they say to these people? Again, they were faced with the knowledge that they could not help everyone... and these people needed everything!

What they did not know however, is that the people of God, in Hoja Redonda, having nothing in this world, had a sweet, sweet gift to give to our group. JOY!
Just as before, they gathered together in the street, but this time there was something different. The people they met here were HAPPY! With absolutely total destruction in every direction, these people were filled with hope! And of course, it was contagious! Tiredness and feelings of helplessness were forgotten and a happy reunion of friends old and new took place in the midst of piles of rubble. They asked Lee to preach and everyone was encouraged by God's tender words for the night. They went tonight to meet the needs of the people in this town, and God chose to meet the needs of their hearts through this precious family of believers. I think this is a night they will remember for a long time to come!

Plans for tomorrow...
Tomorrow, the plan is to finish distributing the supplies they brought and continue to do some long term planning for rebuilding. They will be meeting with others to coordinate the work. They are also hoping to visit Hoja Redonda again tomorrow, too~
~Chenoah
"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that HOPE in the Lord."
"Therefore, the redeemed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."