peru update

i've received some very good news from peru. the pastor we worked with, whose church was in chincha alta, and his family are safe. so far we have not heard from him that any of his church members have lost lives though many have lost everything else. i still haven't received word about my godson david and his family - they lived right on the coast. the campamento we worked on received some damage; we don't know the extent yet. still it sounds hopeful that so many people seem to have escaped death.

tragedies always seem to bring people together, but i have been amazed at some of my friends and some total strangers who have come together through a mass e-mail and started coordinating aid to our brothers and sisters in peru. everyone has been sharing information and plans to help. we each wait eagerly to hear the next word of news someone has received from a contact. i am hoping some of us will be able to coordinate a trip down to peru to help in any way we can. i'm certain quite a bit of money will be sent, and that is a blessing. but to me there's something about being present with people during times of disaster. we show those hurting that they are not alone and that they matter greatly to us. we show that what unites us is greater than what divides us. my good friend andrew noted the coordinated effort through e-mail and called it the work of the Holy Spirit. i think he's absolutely right. i've never believed God causes disasters, but i do believe God causes the outpouring of love that follows.

continue to pray for the people of peru, and please give as you are able.