Canete late Wednesday night.

Hello friends and family.

First of all, we are all ok.

There was an earthquake of 8.0 on the richter scale Wednesday night. The epicenter was a little northwest of Chincha, not far out into the ocean. It was pretty much right between San Vicente de Canete and Chincha. We live in Lima, Peru, about 2 hours north of that. Robin and the kids were at the church working with some people visiting here on a short term missions trip. I was in San Vicente de Canete (very near to the epicenter) with 12 americans from the group and Angie, Luz, Krystel, Lina, Jaime, Sylvia, and their kids (they are all peruvians). We were getting ready to leave to go to the church to have service when the earthquake began. It lasted about 7 minutes, it was really more than one right after the other. The power went out almost immediately. The house shook terribly. We all began to pray outloud all at the same time. You could hear people screaming and unidentified things falling outside. After what seemed an eternity, the shaking ended. We were amazed that everything was still standing. We waited very still and quiet. Then we sang the Peace that I feel and prayed once again. After a few minutes of stillness, we carefully went down and out of the building. Once gathered outside, there was another earthquake. We made our way to the central park to wait it out, the safest place we could think to go. We prayed again. We went and retrieved some guitars, tracts and invitations to the church and began to sing some worship in the park. Soon after that we went to try to retrieve all the bags to try and head back to Lima. There was another quake. There were 2 oficials there saying only 2 could go back in. Jaime said he could feel the stairs wavering beneath him. At the time we didn't know what had happened in Lima, if it was stronger or weaker or if they felt it at all or even knew what had happened. And all the cell phone lines were down. It was an intense night, but we all made it back to Lima eventually, safe and sound. There have, of course, been many aftershocks since then, but here in Lima they are very small. On Thursday Brian, Jaime, Angie and 2 americans went to check on those that attend the church there and evaluate how we can help the people there. Pastor Jaime is staying there to help where he can.

I have talked to many people in these last days. Even the taxi drivers are willing to tell about how it was for them. Today one told me he thought it was the end of the world. Which I saw as an open door. Two days before the quake, I happened to find a stack of invitations to the church in Lima and took them and rubberbanded them to my little pad of paper that I always keep with me as I learn new words. The morning of the quake, while traveling to Canete, I had 2 opportunities to invite someone to the church and I shared my testimony with one of them (that's what happens when you sit next to me on the 2 hour bus ride!) Sometimes opportunities abound. I know enough of the language now, that I feel secure talking to people (even to strangers that might not have as much patience with me!) We love the people here. This is our home now. And I can feel the sense of urgency. An urgency to love the people and to get to know them so that I may have an opportunity to share with them.

Hear are some photos I quickly took while walking from the church to the bus station after 4 of us went there to get a couple of things before leaving Canete for the night. The pictures are not the best, it was hard to see and there was very little light anywhere.

These people are gathered around a lady selling alcoholic beverages in a little rolling kiosk thing.

People were out everywhere, many were taking refuge in the parks or in the streets with blankets and sometimes chairs. They were preparing to stay the whole night outside. No one knew how many more earthquakes there would be or how stable any of the buildings were.

I can hardly even believe these are standing up on end.

Please pray for the people, that their hearts would be softened. Pray for the ministry in Canete, I think the adults there have been hard to reach. Pray for the believers in the midst of the crises, that they would shine the light of Jesus Christ. Pray for Jaime and his family that their house would remain sturdy and they would be safe.