At 6:58 p.m. on April 16, as thousands of people were doing
what they normally do on a Saturday night and as tourists ready for dinner filled
restaurants in towns along Ecuador’s Pacific coast, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake
struck, changing thousands of lives forever.
Buildings collapsed, highways buckled, overpasses fell on to
roads. At this writing more than 650 deaths have been confirmed; estimates are
that 12,000 to 16,000 are injured; many are missing. Over 700 aftershocks have been recorded.
Ecuadorians, of course, are suffering the most. However, in recent
years Ecuador has become a popular retirement destination for American and
Canadian expats in search of a lower cost of living and a more temperate
climate. Now, many of those attracted to the coastal region find that their
plans, like their condos, are in ruins.
When such disasters come, the first order of business is to do
what we can to give aid and bring relief, but such times also bring a great
opportunity to examine where our security is found. Sooner or later, we will
all be shaken...by something. Our daily routine will be shockingly interrupted
by the unexpected.
The psalmist gives us words to prepare us for such times:
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:1-2)
Those who seek first the Kingdom of God will find that what they
need will be added to them and that includes sustaining power in times of
trouble.
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You
can contribute to HOPE worldwide’s relief efforts in Ecuador and Japan by clicking here.
Colleen, who lived in Japan for many years, wrote this: Thanks Tom. And the Foreshock and Earthquake that happened just prior in Kumamoto (Kyushu) Japan is also still having aftershocks and 60,000 remain in shelters or without homes.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Colleen. The link I included for donations will help both those in Ecuador and in Japan.
This is so true. We all have our shocks and after shocks. It so good we can go to God's word and find peace and comfort. My heart and prays goes out to all the ones suffering in Ecuador and Japan...I am saying a pray right now for the people effect by these disaster.
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