April 15, 2010 – Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico…[Libna Stevens/IAD]
The Seventh-dayAdventist Church and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) inMexico have already aided hundreds of families affected by the powerfulearthquake which hit northwestern Mexico on April 5. The quake, which measured7.2 on the Richter scale, killed two people, injured hundreds, and damagedabout 5,000 homes in the region. In all, 25,000 lives were disrupted.
No deaths or missingpeople were reported among the Seventh-day Adventist Church membership,although five Adventist families lost their homes and many more are living inshelters, according to Pastor Osvaldo Arrieta, executive secretary for thechurch in North Mexico.
Five Adventistchurches in the region sustained damage, including two, Zaragoza and SanMarcos, which suffered extensive damage, says Pastor Adan Dyck, president ofthe church in the Baja California region. All five buildings remain closeduntil the state government office clears the structures for occupation.
According to PastorEdgar Sanchez, local ADRA coordinator in the Baja California region, worshipservices are being held in small group settings until the churches are deemedsafe to enter. Local pastors and elders continue to minister to the needs ofmembers who are living in tents in the surrounding parks and open fields.
“People are afraid togo inside their homes because there are dozens of aftershocks, from the largefault that runs in that area,” says Sanchez. According to reports, as many as30 aftershocks occurred in just a few days following the earthquake.
But this has notstopped relief efforts.
“Two days after thequake, we distributed some 30 tents,” says Sanchez, who also leads out inSabbath School and personal ministries in the area. “Our church members fromseveral districts donated blankets, water and other needed items and helpeddistribute these as well.”
“We were able todistribute over 1,000 food baskets, 500 from ADRA and 500 from churches whichsent support to families,” said Rafael Garcia, ADRA Mexico director. “Over 100volunteers including master guides and pathfinders from eight neighboringchurch districts prepared ADRA food baskets and distributed them to theaffected families in the Valley of Mexicali.”
According to Sanchez,ADRA and the church will distribute more food packets containing corn flour,rice, beans, oil, salt and sugar today and tomorrow.
There are nearly2,000 Seventh-day Adventist in Mexicali.
View more photos ofthe response in Mexicali at http://www.flickr.com/photos/interamerica/?saved=1
