Click here to read about Doug’s experience of traveling down to the areas effected by the August Earthquake.

It is now confirmed that five members of the Church of the Nazarene lost their lives. A couple from the Pisco church left behind two young children

There are four Nazarene NCM Kitchens that have been set up with relief funds (1 in Nuevo Ayacucho and 2 in Pisco and 1 in Ica). These kitchens are feeding and ministering to around 500 people per day from their surrounding communities.

The Nuevo Ayacucho church has already been rebuilt with wood with the community kitchen at the back. They now have a small outhouse and water tank that they have constructed separate to the main building. The Nazarene Church is the ONLY church in this young community of 500 people.

The small new congregation of Pisco did not have a church building yet, however a neighbors fishing boat fell off it’s stand into the parsonage completely destroying the building. The pastor is now living with a church family in Pisco. Pastor Segundo will remain there until a new house is built, preferably in a location that can also accommodate the Church building. The land for the second NCM Kitchen was donated by a member of the Pisco church.

In Ica the church building and the majority of the parsonage fell. Pastor Severino, his wife, and 11 month old baby were in one of the only two rooms in the house that are still standing when the earthquake hit. They are now living in these two rooms as well as accommodating an NCM kitchen at the property that largely serves the people living in tents in the park across the street.

A new Jesus Film set has been taken down to Ica so that Pastro Severino can show the film in the evenings. The area is still without electricity and water, so this will provide entertainment and hope to the people of Ica. The Jesus Film will also be shown in Pisco by Pastor Segundo and his team with an existing set of equipment.

There is great need throughout the area. Basic supplies are still needed as people live in tents surrounded by rubble with no electricity and water. The kitchens need continued resources as they minister to peoples basic needs. Our church buildings, parsonages and members houses need to be rebuilt… and rebuilt to last! Anyone out there interested in a Work & Witness team?

Personally, our lives have been affected even more through the trip that Doug took yesterday than they were when we experienced the earthquake. We saw ourselves reflected in Pastor Severino, his wife and baby and asked ourselves would we be able to live like that? Our hearts are heavy especially for this family and we are now thinking about what we can do help them personally and encourage them as they use what little energy and resources that they have to reach out to their community with the love and hope of Jesus.