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Andrew Sherrill - Chile Earthquake Update |
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Andrew Levi Sherrill
Missions Report: February, 2010
Puerto Montt, Chile
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March 9, 2010
Pleasant Valley Church of Christ
10900 Rodney Parham Rd.
Little Rock, Arkansas
Hello to all my friends and family back in the US! I am glad to be writing you all again with my monthly updates. After two and a half years of writing one of these each month, I have to admit that I was getting a bit tired of the responsibility, but now, I miss the notes that so many of you send back after this goes out. I am glad to be writing again and hope this note finds each of you well.
The church in Puerto Montt seem to have fared very well in my absence. Apart from a slight dip in attendance on Sundays, things are going about the same as before I left. Several of the men have done well in taking over the teaching and other responsibilities. I hope to leave as much in their hands as possible.
I returned to Chile mid February and was only home 10 days before the earthquake hit. What a welcome back, right? Luckily, hardly any damage came to the city of Puerto Montt. We lost electricity, internet and cell phone coverage for about a day…but nothing like what the people 9 hours north of here have had to deal with. I am sure that most of you know as much as I do about the situation in the central part of Chile. I ask that you continue to pray for those people. Let us hope that God can use this tragedy to open peoples eyes to the tenderness of life.
For me it was only a rude awakening in the middle of the night. For the most part, I am a very calm person and not easily shaken. Some of my friends may even say I am far too relaxed and need to take things like this more seriously. (I used to give my grandma heart attacks going outside to watch thunder storms.) I did realize this situation was fairly serious and made my way to the nearest doorframe. Finally, after a few minutes, the floor was still and the windows stopped shaking. So I went back to bed and slept like a baby.
The only real hardship we have had to deal with this far south was created by people’s fear. Starting the day of the earthquake, there was a run on food and gas. People were waiting 4 hours to fill up. Not only their cars, but any container they could find. The grocery stores were also packed as people bought all the non-perishables they could afford. It was definitely an over-reaction as the delivery trucks were only delayed a few days before things returned to normal. I watched from my office window as cars lined up for 3 blocks for their turn at the gas pump.
I guess it could have been bad. My gut told me it was all kind of silly, but there was a tinge of fear that wondered if they were right to prepare. I didn’t get in line for gas…I had 3/4ths of a tank. I didn’t go stock up on food…I had enough for 3 days at least and unless the restaurants closed down, I would be okay.
There is a fine line in life between being prepared for all that this world can throw at you and trusting God to protect and provide. I am not wise enough to know exactly where this line is. To err either way can be, at best foolish, at worst…catastrophic. I believe we are to live wisely and try to make the best plans as possible…and then we should follow the words of Christ. One of my favorite verses says:
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ~ Matthew 6:34
I have had to consider many big life decisions in the last month. Sometimes it seems all but overwhelming when all the possible scenarios play out in my head. I am sure I am not alone in this. We all continually face forks in the road. To choose one way is to eliminate another. But I think Christians should find peace in the words of God. He is our father after all. And what kind of father doesn’t look after his children with great care and concern? So I will pray and hope God gives me the wisdom to choose well but after I have done that, I will trust in the Good Sheppard.
I hope you too will find peace with our Lord when the earthquakes of life wake you up in the middle of the night. We must try to be prepared but never waste our time in worry. Thank you for all your prayers and for all of you who checked on me down here at the bottom of the world.
God Bless,
Andrew Levi Sherrill
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