Tuesday,
February 22, 2011
To all our
friends and family,
Just letting
everyone know that we are fine. We are about 300
kilometres (approx. 180 miles) from the earthquake. Our
area is on the same fault line, but we have been unaffected.
The 6.3
magnitude quake hit New Zealand’s second largest city of
Christchurch. This is the same city hit by a 7.1
magnitude on September 4th of last year. However,
because yesterday’s quake was much shallower, the destruction and
loss of life are much greater this time around. In
the first quake there was no loss of life. In the
current aftermath, 36 people are confirmed dead and that number is
expected to rise.
Today we are
feeling much the way we did on September 11, 2001. Obviously
the circumstances are different and many more died in the World Trade
Center, but we are watching the devastation unfold on our TV as I
write. Several buildings in downtown Christchurch
have collapsed. Rescuers are working frantically to
free hundreds of people trapped in the rubble. The
work is further complicated by the many aftershocks.
Our hearts are
hurting for the people God has called us to minister to. Pray for the
recovery effort. Most of all pray that the Lord
will be magnified and that many will come to Christ as a result of
this tragedy.
Thank you for
your prayers and know that we are safe,
Dale, Janet and
Micah