The Nazarene church in Pisco, Peru.
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Nazarenes killed, multiple churches demolished in Peru
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Lima, Peru
A major earthquake and strong aftershocks struck Peru’s southern coast Wednesday, August 15, killing 540 people. More than 1,500 were injured in the quake and hundreds of homes have been destroyed in the area located approximately 100 miles southeast of Lima, the capital city.
The evening quake measured magnitude 8.0 and some of the 300 aftershocks were felt as late as Friday, August 17, including one measuring magnitude 5.9, according to the Associated Press.
To make matters worse, it is winter in Peru, and people are camping outside without tents or blankets. There is no electricity or sufficient drinking water. Some have even started looting stores and warehouses trying to survive.
The scene is desperate and the death toll increasing. Relief workers found 127 dead mourners who had been attending a funeral at a Catholic church in Pisco when the earthquake began. It is estimated that 200 were in the building when it collapsed. The number of dead and injured will surely increase as relief officials are able to reach rural communities that are still inaccessible by road due to landslides. Pisco, a city of 160,000, has no morgue, so the dead are lying on the ground in the central park while caskets can be made and sent to the town for burials.
The cities of Chincha, Cañete, and Ica also received significant damage and casualties.
The Church of the Nazarene’s newest district in Peru, the South Central District, includes both Pisco and Ica. There are only three Nazarene church buildings there, and all three are severely damaged. Nearly every Nazarene family on this new district suffered major losses.
According to the Church of the Nazarene’s South America Region (SAM), communication from the area is unstable, but improving. All early reports received by the region came directly from Field Strategy Coordinator Segundo Rimarachin.
“The Church of the Nazarene has churches in both the cities of Ica and Pisco, where the most devastation took place,” Rimarachin’s stated in his report. “In Ica, no Nazarene lives have been lost that we know of. Around the area of the church, a total of 10 people have died. The church building has completely collapsed along with the parsonage. [Wednesday] night the pastor and his family had to sleep in the street. An additional eight families from the church have lost their homes. These brothers and sisters joined their community to eat breakfast together from a common pot [Thursday] morning.
“South America Regional Director Christian Sarmiento and Missionary Mario Zani were in Lima when the earthquake took place and are doing fine.”
Nazarene missionaries Doug and Jennifer Mann were in their home in Lima when the earthquake struck. Reports state the Manns are fine and experienced minor damage to their apartment and field office.
Rimarachin and District Superintendent Jaime García traveled to the affected areas on Friday, August 17.
District Superintendent García reports: “We’re in the same place of the tragedy … Cañete, Chincha, Pisco, Ica are cities we don’t recognize anymore. Devastation can be found to all sides. The parks are full of people who cry out for aid. There is much desperation among the people. There is no electricity. There is no water. There are no markets open, nor the banks. To get to Pisco by land is difficult because the highway and bridges are full of cracks.
“Our brothers in Nuevo Ayacucho do not have a church building. Their humble houses are totally destroyed. In Pisco, two Nazarenes died [when their homes collapsed]. The city is a total disaster.
“As a church, this is our moment to make a difference, not only to help our brothers, but to help all those people who are crying out for aid. We need non-perishable food, blankets, water, clothes and money to mobilize the donations.”
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries reports the Church of the Nazarene in South America is indeed responding to help meet these immediate needs. Congregations in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay have collected money to send their brothers and sisters in Peru. Those in the Church of the Nazarene in less affected parts of Peru have collected resources such as clothing and food to transport to Ica and Pisco. Church members in Pisco are supporting each other by making meals together each day in a park.
World Mission Director Louie E. Bustle told NCM, “In the midst of tragedies such as these, it is comforting to know that God’s love and faithfulness are unchanging. Let’s all pray for our brothers and sisters in Peru and work together to share Christ’s love and compassion to those who have been affected by this tragedy.”
Persons and churches wishing to make a donation through NCM can mark their checks “Peru Earthquake Relief -- ACM 1596” and mail them to Global Treasury Services, 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131. In Canada, checks should be made payable and sent to the Church of the Nazarene Canada, 20 Regan Road, Unit 9, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3. Online donations may be made at ncm.org.
Note: For photos, see “View Slideshow” beneath the picture at the top-right of the page. (Photos courtesy of NCM)
--NCN News-SAM, NCM
The evening quake measured magnitude 8.0 and some of the 300 aftershocks were felt as late as Friday, August 17, including one measuring magnitude 5.9, according to the Associated Press.
To make matters worse, it is winter in Peru, and people are camping outside without tents or blankets. There is no electricity or sufficient drinking water. Some have even started looting stores and warehouses trying to survive.
The scene is desperate and the death toll increasing. Relief workers found 127 dead mourners who had been attending a funeral at a Catholic church in Pisco when the earthquake began. It is estimated that 200 were in the building when it collapsed. The number of dead and injured will surely increase as relief officials are able to reach rural communities that are still inaccessible by road due to landslides. Pisco, a city of 160,000, has no morgue, so the dead are lying on the ground in the central park while caskets can be made and sent to the town for burials.
The cities of Chincha, Cañete, and Ica also received significant damage and casualties.
The Church of the Nazarene’s newest district in Peru, the South Central District, includes both Pisco and Ica. There are only three Nazarene church buildings there, and all three are severely damaged. Nearly every Nazarene family on this new district suffered major losses.
According to the Church of the Nazarene’s South America Region (SAM), communication from the area is unstable, but improving. All early reports received by the region came directly from Field Strategy Coordinator Segundo Rimarachin.
“The Church of the Nazarene has churches in both the cities of Ica and Pisco, where the most devastation took place,” Rimarachin’s stated in his report. “In Ica, no Nazarene lives have been lost that we know of. Around the area of the church, a total of 10 people have died. The church building has completely collapsed along with the parsonage. [Wednesday] night the pastor and his family had to sleep in the street. An additional eight families from the church have lost their homes. These brothers and sisters joined their community to eat breakfast together from a common pot [Thursday] morning.
“South America Regional Director Christian Sarmiento and Missionary Mario Zani were in Lima when the earthquake took place and are doing fine.”
Nazarene missionaries Doug and Jennifer Mann were in their home in Lima when the earthquake struck. Reports state the Manns are fine and experienced minor damage to their apartment and field office.
Rimarachin and District Superintendent Jaime García traveled to the affected areas on Friday, August 17.
District Superintendent García reports: “We’re in the same place of the tragedy … Cañete, Chincha, Pisco, Ica are cities we don’t recognize anymore. Devastation can be found to all sides. The parks are full of people who cry out for aid. There is much desperation among the people. There is no electricity. There is no water. There are no markets open, nor the banks. To get to Pisco by land is difficult because the highway and bridges are full of cracks.
“Our brothers in Nuevo Ayacucho do not have a church building. Their humble houses are totally destroyed. In Pisco, two Nazarenes died [when their homes collapsed]. The city is a total disaster.
“As a church, this is our moment to make a difference, not only to help our brothers, but to help all those people who are crying out for aid. We need non-perishable food, blankets, water, clothes and money to mobilize the donations.”
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries reports the Church of the Nazarene in South America is indeed responding to help meet these immediate needs. Congregations in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay have collected money to send their brothers and sisters in Peru. Those in the Church of the Nazarene in less affected parts of Peru have collected resources such as clothing and food to transport to Ica and Pisco. Church members in Pisco are supporting each other by making meals together each day in a park.
World Mission Director Louie E. Bustle told NCM, “In the midst of tragedies such as these, it is comforting to know that God’s love and faithfulness are unchanging. Let’s all pray for our brothers and sisters in Peru and work together to share Christ’s love and compassion to those who have been affected by this tragedy.”
Persons and churches wishing to make a donation through NCM can mark their checks “Peru Earthquake Relief -- ACM 1596” and mail them to Global Treasury Services, 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131. In Canada, checks should be made payable and sent to the Church of the Nazarene Canada, 20 Regan Road, Unit 9, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3. Online donations may be made at ncm.org.
Note: For photos, see “View Slideshow” beneath the picture at the top-right of the page. (Photos courtesy of NCM)
--NCN News-SAM, NCM
