March 3, 2010
By Bob Hepokoski, serving in Chile
After the 8.8 earthquake rocked Chile on Sunday, February 28, our church in Reñaca was concerned for one of our families that had recently moved to Concepcion, the hardest-hit city. They had only been there two weeks when the catastrophe struck. Despite all efforts to learn of their condition, we knew nothing until Monday.
Alex and Rosa Maria were living in a new 15 story-high rise near the coast in Concepcion. They were asleep when the building began to shake violently. They ran to their children and were hugging five-year-old Domenica and one- year-old Alex when the building fell sideways, crashing to the ground. They were on the sixth floor of the building that has been seen in news reports around the world.
Saved!
In total darkness, Alex felt his way through a maze of broken walls and furniture, climbing and descending until he felt fresh air and discovered a rupture in the wall for their escape.
He returned to find his family and a neighboring family to lead them to escape. His help was also essential for rescue workers to locate other survivors.
“I thank God I am alive. It is a miracle of God for my family” were the words we heard from Alex on national television.
We have still not been able to contact this family and would know nothing of their miraculous escape if not for the news report.
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Ten cents of every dollar given to this project will be divided between the CAMA Advance Fund and the Great Commission Fund to cover travel, administrative, and logistical costs of ministering to the needs of those affected by this disaster. As far as possible, the expressed preference of a donor will be respected and followed. In the event that this gift is oversubscribed, any remaining funds will be used for future disaster relief efforts.