Major Earthquake Hits Peru

On Wednesday evening, August 15, a major earthquake hit Peru. The epicenter was south of Lima and was 7 on the Richter scale and 7.9 on another scale. News reports to this date have estimated as many as 440 fatalities. We here in Arequipa felt it as did Father Ron and some US friends who were visiting Padre Alejandro in Cabanaconde. We all are fine. The only major highway connecting the southern part of Peru to the capital was badly damaged in at least 2 locations. This has effectively cut off land transportation on this commercial life-line. Our Lima churches and congregants are okay and immediately joined in the rescue and relief efforts.

While we in the South are cut off from the Lima area, we do have access to Pisco, a town severely affected. In response to local appeals, both Cristo Redentor and San Lucas are collecting food items to send to Pisco. There has been a huge flat-bed truck on the Plaza-de- Armas square receiving items for the affected area. And, yesterday evening the central police station had dozens of cadets boarding buses about to leave town to help in the devastated areas. You may keep up with our Anglican efforts by visiting Bishop Godfrey's special blog at : http://anglicanbishopperu.blogspot.com/ .

Please pray for families, businesses, the economy of Peru , and especially the poor who seem to always suffer the most in this time of crisis.

Romans 8:37-40

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.