Pastor Daniel's Story - El Monte

"Our family did not go untouched by the earthquake. Due to the damages sustained in the earthquake we are in the process of demolishing the house where we have lived for the past several years.

Daniel's home being cleaned out.

As we finished pulling down the last wall we had tear in our eyes as all of the emotions culminate and over flow when you see your house crumbled on the floor. When I looked around and all of our belongings were broken and overflowing the trash barrels and those items that were salvageable were covered in dust; I gathered my family, we looked to the Lord, and we prayed.

Imagine for a moment this is your home.

We are continuing to clean along with three other neighbors that experienced the same thing with their houses. Two other families from our church, suffered great damage in their houses as well, they also lived in old adobe constructed houses. We are searching for way to help them to rebuild too. Spiritually, God has given us the strength to go through these difficult times and the ability to continue to work hard in spite of our circumstances. He has encouraged us through:

Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.

The rubble that was once Daniel's home.

We have been blessed by the fact that we still have a roof over our heads, some of the families we have been working with are not so fortunate. We have been have been living in the Church as we seek to rebuild our home."

"I returned yesterday from helping finish the clean up of Pastor Daniel's house. As we were removing the debris, pastor Daniel’s wife came to serve refreshments to our team. As we took a break I began talking with her. As tears formed in her eyes she told me how difficult it was for her to see her home in the condition it was now.

Pastor Diego and the crew from Oriente

She had so many memories of their home. Yet she expressed her gratefulness for God’s protection and provision. Her family escaped without injury and they were sheltered now in the church building. She also realized that many in other areas of Chile have not been so fortunate."

As told by Pastor Diego