Landslide Update

We thought we'd give an update on the landslide that happened at the beginning of January.
On the first Sunday in January, over 140 people (mostly men) from the villages that Wilf frequently hikes to were making their way through this mountain range to catch some busses that would take them to the coast to pick coffee. At that exact moment, the whole side of the mountain gave way, sending most of them to their deaths.

That Sunday evening, several people from one of the villages came to our home and asked if we could help them find 3 of their family members whom they knew had likely been caught up in the landslide.

At three the next morning, Nico, Ken, and Wilf left to make the drive out to the landslide area, arriving there at dawn. Many other people were also beginning to arrive, anxiously looking for their loved ones. The army had the area blocked off, as sections of the mountain continued to fall. As bodies were found, we were told that they would be brought out to us. Eventually we were told that bodies would be brought either to a hospital morgue, or to the local cemetery. We did a lot of running around, looking through survivor lists (which were mostly wrong), and searching through hospitals and morgues.

Eventually, we were able to identify two bodies of the three missing relatives. We brought the bodies back with us. (Getting back home about 24 hours after we left!) The third body was never found.

This week Wilf had the opportunity to go back to one of the villages that was affected by the landslide. Twelve men from the community had set out. Only one young man returned. He was (and continues to be) badly injured, because he was buried chest deep as rocks and debris continued to fall. Wilf had the opportunity to meet with him and his extended family. It was a good visit, but sad in many ways. The young man's father suffered from polio as a child, and both of his legs are quite affected. Two of the young man's sisters lost their husbands in the landslide. He himself has two little children. Wilf was thankful for the opportunity to pray with this family, read scripture with them, and share the hope that we have in Christ...that no matter if our bodies give out at a young age, or an old age, our souls are eternal, and that we can be sure of our eternal destiny because of the life and death of Jesus. The truth of the Hope of the gospel is even more precious when explained in such difficult circumstances.

Pray for this family, and for all affected by this tragedy, that Christ would use this sad event to bring many to Him.

It has also been a real reminder for us of how quickly this life is over...and of our need to use every opportunity for God's kingdom.