Earthquake Anniversary

Today is the one-year anniversary of the earthquake that rocked Peru on August 15, 2007, at 6:40 P.M. The quake registered a devastating 8.0 on the Richter Scale. Over 500 people were killed. 85,000 were left homeless.

I was in our 5th-floor apartment in Lima, about a 5-hour drive from the epicenter, when the earthquake struck. The whole apartment began to shake, pictures fell off the wall, and books toppled out of bookshelves. Apocalyptic white lights flooded the black evening skies. I could hear people yelling and screaming and crying in the streets below. The earthquake went on for an eternity-like 3 minutes - a marathon for an earthquake - before it finally ended.

The worst damage was 5 hours south of Lima in cities such as Pisco, Chincha, and Ica. All the houses there were made of adobe brick, which crumbled into a fine powder when the earthquake struck. 6 days after the killer quake, we travelled to Chincha with one ton of earthquake relief supplies donated by members of Flamingo Road Church in Lima. Using a battered police station as our headquarters, we gave out non-perishable food, bottled water, clothing, diapers, medicine, tents, blankets, flashlights, and other earthquake relief supplies to thousands of people in and around Chincha. We also served at a local soup kitchen, serving lunch to over 1,500 people left homeless by the earthquake. Every hour or so there would be another tremor, registering 4.0-5.0 on the Richter Scale, and everyone would start screaming and running around again, fearing that another killer quake was about to strike.

Perhaps the most important lesson that we learned from last year's devastating earthquake in Peru was that immediate involvement in disaster areas is one of the most effective ways of being Jesus Christ and showing His love to others. It's all about having your deeds match your faith (James 2:14-26). Many times the most important lesson you will ever teach to others will consist of nothing more than handing them a hot meal and a blanket after disaster strikes. It's like what St. Francis of Assisi supposedly once said: "Preach the Word of God at all times. If necessary, use words."