There are SO many things I want to write about right now that I don’t even know where to start. Let me just throw the words on here and see what happens.
MY DEADLINE HAS BEEN MET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As of last night I was still a little over $2,000 short of my April 1st deadline, but this morning I checked my email and was informed by AIM that there was a check from an anonymous donor for the EXACT amount I needed. We soon found out that all six of us on A-Squad who were still short of the $11,000 deadline received the same email and the exact funding we needed to continue. Someone REALLY loves A-Squad and my heart cannot contain how immensely blessed and loved and excited I feel right now. There was a lot of screaming and laughing and smiling and table-slapping and praising when I read that email. It was BEAUTIFUL!!! PRAISE THE LORD & THANK YOU SO SO MUCH, ANONYMOUS DONOR!!!!!
Oh, and I should probably let you all know that A-Squad III made it safely to Costa Rica!! We left Nicaragua early Tuesday morning and made it to San José de Costa Rica without any significant delays (thank you Jesus!). Last night we all stayed together at a small but charming hotel in the capital, and today each team left to go to its ministry site for this month. The Joy Bombs will be working alongside two teams: Agape and Dependent By Faith. We will now be known as… AGAPE FAITH BOMBS!!! Rachel takes credit for that one. We will be living in a gym in the middle of one of the most dangerous slums in San José, and we will be working in three different slums each day. We are working with an organization called Christian Light Foundation, and their aim is to go to places where Christians usually don’t go. I am beyond excited to be working in a place like that –more on ministry specifics at a later time!
On a different note, some of you might have heard that Chile once again felt like dancing a little and there was an 8.2 earthquake last night. The epicenter of the earthquake was right off the coast of my hometown, Iquique –where I lived for twelve years–, but thank The Lord all my family and friends (and family of friends) are safe and well. There was a tsunami alert and people had to be evacuated until just a few hours ago, and some 6-7ft. tidal waves did flood streets in Iquique, but people are already heading back to their homes since the danger has passed. They are still getting quite a few strong aftershocks and some houses suffered slight structural damage, but nothing major. So far there have only been six deaths reported, which for an earthquake of this scale is a miracle. Iquique has earthquakes on a regular basis (5- and 6-pointers are completely normal and barely paid attention to, and I myself was in a 7.9 back in 2005), so people are prepared and the city is structurally built to resist events like this one. The city of Iquique also holds regular tsunami drills, which pays off because yesterday everyone knew exactly what to do. Please keep the people of the north of Chile in your prayers though. There are six families who are mourning losses. There are families who have to fix their homes and cars and may not have the money to do that. There are people who have fear. There are poor fishermen who had their boats destroyed and will not be able to work for a while. There might be anger arising regarding politics and aid. There are people who need our prayers. May God cover them in peace and continue protecting them like He has always so faithfully done.
Much love,
Raquel
UPDATE: North of Chile just had a second earthquake, a 7.8, and they are evacuating everyone again because of a potential tsunami. Please pray!!!!
