Letter from the Bishop of Chile: ...the Overall Situation in the Anglican Church in Chile

from Stand Firm by Sarah Hey:

[Received via email -- hat tip: LW]

Haiti has certainly gotten far more attention -- for a lesser earthquake -- than Chile, in large part because the poverty of Haiti makes the effects of the earthquake far greater.

Chile is a part of the Diocese of the Southern Cone.
Extract from a letter from Bishop Hector Zavala
Anglican Church in Chile
Victoria Subercaseaux 41 of. 301 Santiago Fono: 639 1509 obispo@iach.cl

ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE OVERALL SITUATION IN THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN CHILE


To: Parishes and Mission groups of the Anglican Church in Chile
From: The Diocesan Bishop
Date: 1 March 2010


Beloved in Christ,

May the grace, mercy and love of Christ be with each one of you.

Apart from the VIII Region, the general situation of the church is good. There has been no loss of life, although there is some structural damage to buildings which will need to be repaired during the second stage of recovery.

The little information we have received on what is happening in Concepción, hampered by the breakdown in communications and the supply of electricity, is as follows:

The city of Concepción is still isolated; electricity supply has not been established, and due to lack of transport no food, water or petrol is getting through.

Around seventy families from our church have been affected. Our brethren are sleeping in tents in three different parts of the city: Manqimavida, San Pedro de la Paz and Las Lomas.

As the families are grouped together they can share cooking pots and maximise the few provisions they have between them.

At an emergency meeting, the Diocese decided to take help to the area. We called upon our churches, both in Chile and abroad to help carry out the following plan:

It is very important for the church to unite and mobilise, to help, first of all, our brethren in the churches in Concepción, and then the other seriously affected towns in the VII Region.

We would like to support those affected in an integrated way (body, mind and spirit)

We are asking pastors and lay leaders to create and organise prayer networks in each church, so that ultimately the Lord may be glorified in this whole situation.

Churches in the metropolitan area of Santiago are asked to help with funds, non perishable goods, nappies, bottled water and blankets. Please get in touch with this office if you need help with transport.

God willing, on Tuesday 2 March I hope to take a truck of goods to Concepción. Another truck is due to leave for the coastal area of the VII Region at the same time.

On Wednesday 3 March a lorry will depart with goods for Concepción.

In Concepción itself we will need to evaluate the situation on the ground.

Finally, we remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me'.”


In the service of Christ

Rt Revd Hector Zavala
Diocesan Bishop