Skip to main content

The Earth Quakes Again

On Tuesday at 12:19 pm, while most of our family was in the living room, our apartment started rocking. We've experienced aftershocks from the quake in March for months now. But the one on Tuesday lasted longer and gained strength until it ended. The only feeling I can compare it to is like turbulence on an airplane. The obvious difference is that you don't expect the floor beneath you to move when you're in your own house. Some of our cupboards opened and spilled their contents. Thankfully, that was the extent of the physical damage in our apartment. None of us were hurt.

We would soon learn though that we were on the outskirts of a much stronger quake than the one in March. Several towns and villages about an hours drive from us experienced the full brunt of the earthquake measured 6.2 on the Richter scale. As of this writing seven people have died and many more are injured. 


Photo courtesy of Josip Škof


Though there is damage in Zagreb, it's not nearly as severe as what the capital of Croatia sustained in March. All eyes have instead focused on Petrinja, Glina and Sisak, the larger towns near the epicenter. There has been an incredible response from citizens all over the country, many coming immediately to help search for those trapped under rubble, clean up, lend a helping hand or even build makeship roofs to cover residents who refuse to leave their land. 

Photo courtesy of Josip Škof

The response has been so strong, in fact, that authorities have told people to stop coming so that emergency aid can arrive unhindered. Humanitarian organizations and churches have gathered and sent whatever food and other necessities. Hotels have offered to house those who are displaced, Hospitals throughout the country have opened space for patients having to be moved from Petrinja. Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and Italy have all offered to help in any way they can. There has been an overwhelming response by people all around us. 


Photo courtesy of Josip Škof

So we would ask you to pray for those who have been affected. Pray for those grieving, and for those who are in need. There are several small Baptist churches in the area who are receiving and distributing aid. Pray that the Lord would shine through their words and efforts. 

We'd ask you also to pray specifically for our family. With the ground shaking so frequently, it's constantly on our minds. It's an added layer of stress on top of the pandemic and now being at home constantly throughout the holiday break. 

On the other hand, we are reminded of all we have to be thankful for: health throughout the year, all we need and more. 

Thank you to all who have checked in with us. We're so thankful that you are thinking of us and praying for us. 

Here are some related links if you're interested:

Video of the mayor of Petrinja giving an interview when Tuesday's earthquake struck. 

Photos taken by Croatian photographer Josip Škof just hours after the earthquake. 

News coverage of the quake from Croatia in English.

Video of mobile homes arriving from Austria.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Keep It Going

I flew into Buffalo, NY late Saturday night and drove with my parents to a skilled nursing facility where my grandparents live. I had come to the States for one reason - to join the celebration of my grandparents' 70th anniversary. It had been a last-minute decision, so it came as a surprise to my grandparents. As I sat with my grandmother while the others were preparing for the party, I asked her if she had any advice for those of us with less experience. "Keep it going," she said simply. Then a few minutes later I overheard a conversation my grandfather was having with one of the guests. Upon learning that they were celebrating their 40th anniversary on the same day, he said "Keep it going." Hearing the same words from the two people who have kept it going for 70 years made an impression on me. In fact, the more I thought about the message I realised there were two very important implications. First was the obvious one: commitment. In our 10 years of...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Time to Sow and a Time to Reap

Seasons like this confirm God’s sovereignty in our lives and ministry! This fall has brought along completely unexpected opportunities that we are excited to share with you! During the week Croatian students were heading back to school, we received a phone call inviting us to come to the high-school in Orahovica and be guest English teachers. They asked us to teach 2 classes a month for each of the eight high-school classes –making a total of 16 hours each month until Christmas. If you remember, two years ago we were in the same high-school offering after- school English workshops for those who wanted to stay and practice their English. Though it has been nearly two years, they remembered what we had done and wanted us to supplement the current English program with the same sort of English activities we did back then. Having more experience now, in addition to already knowing several of the students through baseball has opened more doors than we imagined. In many ways we feel l...
Post a Comment
Read more

Update: Camp Season in Full Force

In the middle of her other duties,  Petra joined our Royal Ranger fire breathing workshop We're right in the middle of our first camp season as the official hosts and organizers. Because of her 20 years of experience, the brunt of the logistical details fall on Petra's shoulders. It has certainly been a challenge but the fit is perfect; no one else has the combination of experience, skill and knowledge she has, and she immensely enjoys the job.  This picture seems like an appropriate symbol for the numerous and diverse roles she has at camp.  Here's a quick look back at the first three weeks of camp.  2 weeks of kids camps - Evangelism  One of the highlights of this years' kids camps is that we saw an increased number of non-churched children. Some of them come from abusive situations. For many of them, this is the first time they've been in a supportive atmosphere. The Good News they hear is very attractive because its accompanied by friendly face...
1 comment
Read more