World Missions Updates Earthquake Situation in Ecuador
In a report from Church of God World Missions, Director Dr. Timothy Hill is deeply moved by the disastrous situations existing around the world involving the Church of God constituency. Every effort is being made on the part of World Missions to supply funds and aid as quickly as possible.
As reports continue to arrive in World Missions, more information has become available regarding our Church of God brothers and sisters in Ecuador, South America, who suffered a 7.8 earthquake over the weekend. To date, 480 deaths have been attributed to this disaster with still hundreds missing.
The Church of God regional supervising pastor in the area visited all the Church of God pastors affected by the earthquake. Although they are safe, they are living in desperate situations. Many lost their homes, churches were severely damaged, and many have lost loved ones.
Food and water sources are depleted, and people are unable to find supplies. Understandably, they sleep beside machetes, because individuals have taken to robbing, mostly out of desperation, but some out of greed. Digging through the rubble with their bare hands, they are attempting to stabilize the remaining shelters they have. One fails to realize that people are also enduring the stench of decaying bodies, because cadavers are still trapped within the debris. Others are becoming sick due to the inability to find the medications they need. Several church families walked up to 40 miles to find help.
Government and other agencies are assisting, but the areas of need are too expansive. Bands of thieves have organized along the highways, attempting to rob vehicles carrying supplies to ground zero. Please keep the Church of God teams in your prayers since they, too, are traveling these roads in an attempt to reach the pastors.
The teams are transporting first aid workers and supplies, water filtration systems, food, blankets, and other items. Water tanks will be installed at each church in order to serve the community.
The people in the earthquake zone of Ecuador have a long road ahead as they deal with the immediate crisis of survival and then the process of rebuilding.
Project #765-0036-024
Various other disasters are awaiting relief, as well. Our Global Crisis Fund—##020-0803 stands ready at all times, which includes the Brussels, Belgium, and Pakistan bombing crises; coinciding with Ecuador was the Japan earthquake—#765-0046 and the Uruguay tornado—##765-0036-023; and more recently there has been a flooding situation in Chile, South America.
(Source: Church of God World Missions)
