News from Elena Huegel, GM Missionary in Chile
March 2, 2010 at 11 PM
(E-mail from David Huegel, Elena’s brother)
Dear Ones,
Earlier this evening I was able to have a long conversation with Elena. I asked her to tell me everything that had happened in her life since the earthquake at 3:30 AM on Saturday evening. She was able to talk with me for a good while because in the midst of her very busy life she had returned to the home base in Talca to begin putting her office in order. We spoke via Skype videophone, and althought the image was very poor, she was able to show me the disaster area that was her office. Although there was no damage to the building, every book, every CD, every paper had fallen on the floor, along with her computer, scanner, and printer. Our skype call was proof that the computer was not seriously damaged (we tried to speak again just now, but her computer keeps cutting off, so maybe I spoke too soon), and she continued working at picking up everything even as she told me about all of the events. She then asked me to put together a general e-mail to send not only to our extended family and family friends, but also to her friends and associates. I ask you to be indulgent of the fact that this is being told to you by someone who doesn’t understand the context as well as some of you and who may be muddled at some points.
I begin by telling some things that happened before the quake. A few weeks ago, Dr. Beverly Prestwood-Taylor came to the Shalom Center to lead a certification workshop for 9 people (Elena included) in the Seminar for Trauma Awareness and Resilience developed by Eastern Mennonite University for use in natural disasters and situations of abuse. How timely this was, you can imagine and will see proof of presently.
On Monday the last delegation from the States was sent off at the airport and the camping season at the Shalom Center was concluded. For a year the Shalom Center board had planned a work camp for their volunteer staff at which they would stage a simulated emergency (sort of a fire drill as I understand it), to make sure that they could evacuate the cabin in less than three minutes. The camp nurse was to direct this simulation. The simulation and retreat would conclude on Saturday evening with a large barbecue and celebration of the completion of the Shalom Center’s tenth year of operation. Due to an emergency in her home church, however, the nurse had to cancel her participation, so based on her preparatory work Elena stayed up most of the night on Thursday night preparing herself to take over the direction of the event.
On Friday during the day the chair of the Shalom Center board in answer to the prayers of many of us over the past few years was able to close the sale of Elena’s home base in the town of Talca, which will become the Administrative Headquarters for the Shalom Center (it’s not possible to have HQ at the camp because of limited communications and extreme weather in the winter). After the earthquake Elena thought, “Horrors, we just bought the building and it probably doesn’t exist anymore.” It turns out to have been like Jeremiah buying a field in the midst of the Babylonian invasion. In this case God chose to protect His own investment (it was now His building, after all) for the service it would provide beginning immediately.
Friday evening, Elena and her staff reviewed all of the emergencies and incidents that they had had during the camping season and took suggestions for improving their procedures. When the earthquake hit at 3:30 AM, Elena was the only one sleeping in a tent. She says she awoke before the earthquake actually began to be felt—she says a noise precedes the quakes usually. She was sleeping on an air matress and was fully clothed (as camp director she sleeps that way with her glasses within easy reach because she has to be ready to respond when needed). She was out of the tent quickly and ready to raise the alarm. But all of the volunteers were already evacuating the cabin in perfect order. They counted noses and all were present. It was a scary moment because they could hear the boulders crashing down from the enormous sheer rock cliff on the other side of the river/ravine. No one, and not even the cabin (which is wooden and therefore somewhat flexible) was hurt. They sang a couple of songs, prayed, and, once the first aftershocks were over, set out on foot to check on the two neighbors that they have (one of which has a cabin perched on the edge of the ravine). Everyone was OK, but also very glad to see the Shalom Center staff.
They turned on their two-way radio and were surprised to hear . . . nothing. No police, no national park, no radio chatter at all. The next morning they walked to the nearest village and found that the dirt road to there was still passable. They knew that the families of the volunteers would all be worried, and they had already had their drill. So the immediate order of business was to get everyone back to HQ, contact their families, and then onto buses to their hometowns. There were several mercies in this. They waited for the second bus of the morning from the village to Talca (where HQ is), in order to be sure that the buses were indeed getting through. Elena and her assistant Jorge stayed behind to close up the camp and pack up all the food in ice for distribution back in town. Elena was able to get down off the mountain by 3 PM, and only as they left the mountain and turned on the truck’s AM radio did they begin to get an idea of the size of the disaster. As they drove along, most of the buildings and homes made of adobe had been flattened. Downtown Talca (about a six block radius) was in ruins. Arriving back at HQ, however, they found several other mercies. Miraculously, the land telephone line was working and somehow they had been able to contact almost all of the families. By the end of the day, almost everyone was on a bus for home.
Three of the volunteers who had not been able to come to the work camp remained incommunicated for several days. The very last one to report in did so this evening while I was on the phone with Elena—it was the camp nurse whose home church is close to the center of the disaster area. She is OK, but very busy.
Elena is a missionary of the Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ. In Chile, however, she serves under the covering and as a member of the Pentecostal Church of Chile. This denomination, headed by Bishop Ulises Hernandez and his cabinet, has a great number of churches, many if not most of which are located throughout the most severely affected areas. The denomination has its mother church in the town of Curicó (where all the Chilean grapes you buy come from). This town’s center was also demolished by the quake. But since it is a little farther away from the epicenter, the army has not had enough troops to enforce a curfew there (Talca does have a curfew). Elena says that yesterday Curicó saw looting and violence, and one person was killed. By Saturday night she had driven to Curicó and the next morning was available to drive the Bishop around as he assessed the damage and began to visit his flock. She asks us to pray for Bishop Ulises, because this has been extremely stressful for him, and he feels he must be strong for everyone else. There are at least two church buildings that collapses completely, though the mother church and the bishop’s house were miraculously spared.
It became apparent early on that there was going to be a pressing need for water and for temporary shelter. But where could these be got? Elena could only think of the artesian well up at the camp and the tents that the Shalom Center owns. At two AM on Monday morning she and Jorge were back up at the camp pulling down the tents, filling up every available jug of water, and siphoning off what diesel remained in the camp generator for the Camp’s truck that Elena was using. She told me “I knew that we would never get the tents back once we loan them out, and there was no one to consult about using them. But given the circumstances I felt justified in making an executive decision.”
The next day she spoke with Richard (the bishop’s son) and said, “the need is so huge that we can’t address it all. Pick the place that was hit the hardest, and let’s go spend our time there.” They picked the mission church at Tutuquén (is that right, Beverly?) Bajo where Richard supervises the work. Here one of the families was crushed by their own house, and only one daughter survives in serious condition. Five more families lost their homes. Elena made another executive decision and took along the health kits that the women of the churches had put together to send to Africa. When they arrived at the place, Richard began distributing water and Elena gathered all the children. She says that the symptoms of trauma were obvious. She spent three hours with them, using paper and crayons to help them express themselves, playing games that taught them how to brush their teeth and clean themselves with just half a cup of water, speaking about the importance of cleanliness at this time, etc.
This morning (Tuesday) Elena met with the Bishop and such of his cabinet as they were able to gather. They had to make decisions regarding addressing the needs of the people in the churches. There are two pressing needs that will not immediately be addressed by the government or Non Government agencies: 1. The need for Post Trauma care 2. The need for adequate housing. They have a month before the autumn (their autumn is our spring, remember) rains and the cold set in. Elena, newly certified in Trauma Awareness and Resilience, is supposed to come up with a plan by March 9 that will mobilize all of the Christian Educators (Sunday School teachers, and such) of the churches to offer the post trauma care. Pray for her in this regard as she prepares materials and decides how best to train those who haven’t been trained. There is an architect who is a member of the Curicó church who has been commissioned to develop very specific plans and cost estimates for a one-room efficiency house that can be prefabricated. The plan is to turn the open-air but roofed gym of the Curicó church into a factory staffed by volunteers from the men of the church. They will begin constructing the frames of these houses. The affected families will be given instructions on preparing the foundations and piers (due to flooding, the houses have to be up off the ground) for the houses to be set up on once they are ready. The church cabinet estimates that from among the church people there is an immediate need for 200 of these houses in the Seventh region alone. No estimates are yet available for the sixth and eighth regions (these numbered regions are like states in the US).
There are a number of dangers present, and although Elena is well, I would ask that you pray for her safety: 1. as she drives roads that have been damaged 2. as she welcomes refugees into her home (one of the pastors who lost his home is bringing his family) 3. as she is potentially exposed to illness 4. as she is tempted to stretch herself too thin and not rest adequately.
Finally, although it is still early in the recovery, some of you have asked about helping out financially. The best way to do it is to send your check to Elena’s supervising missionary agency: Global Ministries P.O. Box 1986 Indianapolis, IN 46206. I have been assured that 100% of funds designated to “Chile earthquake relief” will be sent to Chile through the partner ministries there.
Thank you all for your interest and prayers. I hope that I have not tired you out with this exhaustive report.
May God bless you all.
For Elena, David J. Huegel.
Mis muy apreciados,
Hace varias horas pude tener una conversación larga con Elena. Le pedí que me contara todo lo que había sucedido en su vida desde que sucedió el terremoto a las 3:30 AM el Sábado en la mañana. Pudo ella hablar conmigo un buen rato porque en medio de su vida muy ocupada había regresado a su hogar y cuartel en Talca para comenzar a poner su oficina en orden. Hablamos por medio del video teléfono de Skype y a pesar de que la imagen era muy pobre, ella me pudo mostrar el desastre que era su oficina. No hubieron daños mayores al edificio, techo o paredes, pero cada libro, cada disco compacto, cada papel estaba regado por el pido, junto con su equipo de computación. Al hablar tuvimos problemas con su computadora, ¡Ay, ay, ay! Mientras hablábamos ella recogía cosas a la vez que me platicaba lo sucedido. Ella me pidió que yo preparara un correo electrónico general para enviar no solamente a nuestra familia extendida sino tambien a sus amistades y hermanos en la fe. Espero que ustedes tengan en cuenta de que yo no entiendo a fondo el contexto del cual les estoy hablando y que mi relato puede estar confundido en algunos puntos.
Comienzo contándoles acerca de algunas cosas que sucedieron antes que el cismo. Hace varias semanas la Dra. Beverly Prestwood-Taylor vino al Centro Shalom para dirigir un taller de certificación para nueve personas, Elena inclusive, dándoles un seminario de Concientización acerca de los efectos de una experiencia traumática. Esta certificación, desarrollada por la Universidad Menonita del Este es para ayudar a formar consejeros que ayuden a las personas quienes hayan pasado por un desastre natural or quienes hayan experimentado abuso o algún otro trauma emocional. Se imaginarán cuán relevante este entrenamiento es en el contexto chileno ahora.
El Lunes pasado la última delegación Estadounidense partió por el aereopuerto en Santiago y así concluía la temporada de campamentos en el Centro Salóm. La junta del Centro Shalom tenía un año de planificar un campamento de trabajo para su personal voluntario durante el cual harían un simulacro de una emergencia, fuera un incendio o un terremoto, para asegurar que pudiérase evacuar los dormitorios en menos de tres minutos. La enfermera del Centro Shalom, quien estaba ayudando con la planificación del evento, tuvo una urgencia médica en su iglesia de orígen y no pudo asistir al evento. El simulacro y campamento de trabajo concluirían con una carne asada y celebración de décimo aniversario de la existencia del Centro Shalom.
El viernes durante el día el administrador de la junta del Centro Shalom, en respuesta a muchas oraciones durante los últimos años, pudo finalizar la compra de lo que ha sido casa para Elena, y oficinas generales del Centro Shalom en Talca—esto porque no es posible con la comunicación limitada y el clima extremo en el invierno tener el Cuartel Administrativo en el mismo campamento. Tras del terremoto Elena pensó “¡Qué horror! Acabamos de comprar la casa y ahora se nos cayó seguramente.” Resulta que fue como cuando Jeremías compró un terreno justo durante la invasión de los Babilónicos. Dios protegió lo que se le había encomendado por el servició inmediato que este plantel comenzaría a rendir.
El viernes en la noche, Elena y sus compañeros de trabajo en el campamento repasaron todas las pequeñas emergencias e incidentes que habían sucedido durante la temporada de campamentos e hicieron sugerencias para mejorar sus procedimientos. Cuando el terremoto estalló a las 3:30 AM, Elena era la única que estaba durmiendo en una tienda de campaña. Ella dice que de hecho despertó antes de que comenzaran a sentirse los temblores—dice que normalmente hay un ruido que predede al terremoto. Ella estaba durmiendo en un colchón de aire que comenzó a brincar, junto con todos los árboles. Puesto que ella como directora del campamento siempre tiene que estar lista para un imprevisto, ella duerme con la ropa puesta y los lentes a la mano. Rápidamente salió de la carpa para sonar la alarma, pero ya los voluntarios estaban evacuando el dormitorio en perfecto órden, conforme al plan. Hicieron un recuento y todos estaban presentes, buenos y sanos. Fue un momento para tener miedo ya que podían escuchar como caían las piedras enormes que se desprendían del peñasco que le eleva al otro lado del arroyo dentro de la barranca a un lado del campamento. Cantaron una alabanza, oraron y una vez que los temblores menguaron revisaron los edificios sin encontrar daños. Se dispusieron a revisar los edificios del campamento que, por ser de madera y tener cierta flexibilidad, no presentaron ningún daño. También visitaron a las dos casas vecinas al campamento para cerciorarse de que todo mundo estaba bien, una atención que fué gratamente recibida.
Encendieron su radio transmisor y se sorprendieron al escuchar . . . nada. Ni carabineros (policía federal), ni servicio forestal, ni agencias de atención a urgencias. No había nadie quien pudiera comunicarse por radio. Ya de mañana caminaron al pueblo de Vilches y encontraron que el camino de tierra estaba transitable. Sabían que las familias de los voluntarios todas estarían preocupadas y no había necesidad de continuar con un simulacro, ya que habían tenido una emergencia de de veras. Por lo tanto, cancelaron el resto del campamento de trabajo y se dispusieron a trasladar a todo mundo a la casa de Elena en Talca. Hubieron varias misericordias divinas para ellos en la mañana. Esperaron al segundo camión que partió de Vilches a Talca para estar seguros de que los camiones efectivamente estaban pudiendo transitar. Elena y su asistente Jorge se quedaron atrás para cerrar el campamento, empacar toda la comida con hielo para distribuir en Talca y en Curicó. Elena pudo bajar de la montaña para las 3 PM, y sólamente despues encontrar una señal en la radio AM de la camioneta comenzó ella a tener alguna idea del tamaño de la catástrofe. Al ellos dirigirse hacia Talca encontraron de camino que la mayoría de las casas y los edificios construídos de adobe habían sido derribados, junto con casi todo el centro histórico de talca. Al llegar a su casa/oficina, encontraron que el Señor les había otorgado otras misericordias. De milagro la línea telefónica de la oficina seguía en funcionamiento y de alguna forma habían podido contactar a casi todas las familias. Para cuando entró la noche casi todo mundo ya estaba rumbo a sus casas en los autobuses de transporte colectivo.
Tres de los voluntarios que no habían podido venir al campamento de trabajo permanecieron sin poderse reportar a la base en Talca por varios días. La última en reportarse llamó justo cuando yo estaba en el teléfono con Elena—la enfermera del campamento cuya iglesia y hogar estaban muy cerca del centro de la zona del desastre. Está bien pero muy ocupada y habiendo experimentado cosas difíciles.
Elena es misionera de Ministerios Globales de la Iglesia Cristiana (Discípulos de Cristo) y la Iglesia Unida de Cristo. En Chile, sin embargo, ella sirve como miembro y bajo la cobertura de la Iglesia Pentecostal de Chile. Esta denominación, lidereada por el Obispo Ulíses Muñoz y su gabinete, tiene un número grande de iglesias, muchas de las cuales están localizadas en las zonas más damnificadas. La iglesia matriz de la denominación está en el pueblo de Curicó (de donde vienen las uvas que compramos aquí en Estados Unidos). El centro de este pueblo también fue demolido por el cismo. Empero, ya que el pueblo se encuentra un poco más lejos del epicentro y el ejército chileno no tiene los elementos para cubrir toda la necesidad, no han podido dar toque de queda en Curicó (la situación de seguridad en Talca ha sido mejor). Por esta razón ayer (Lunes) hubo brotes de violencia y robo a establecimientos comerciales. Una persona perdió la vida. Para el Sábado en la noche ella se había trasladado a Curicó para ponerse a la disposición del Obispo y servirle de chofer en la mañana al él comenzar a salir a inspeccionar daños y a acompañar a su rebaño. Ella pide que oremos por el Obispo Ulíses ya que esta ha sido una experiencia difícil y estresante y él siente que tiene que darle fuerza y apoyo a los demás. Dos de los santuarios de la Iglesia Pentecostal se derrumbaron por completo, aunque la iglesia matriz y la casa episcopal milagrosamente escaparon ilesos.
Muy pronto fue aparente que la necesidad apremiante era de agua y de techo. ¿Pero dónde podía conseguirse? Elena solo pudo pensar en la noria que tiene el Centro Shalom en la montaña y las tiendas de campaña le pertenecen al campamento. A las 2 AM del domingo ella y Jorge estaban de vuelta en la montaña, desmontando y empacando tiendas, llenándo todos los recipientes disponibles con agua, y transfiriéndo la última gota de diesel del generador del campamento a la camioneta que Elena estaba usando. Ella me dijo, “Yo sabía que si usábamos las tiendas, estás nunca regresarían al campamento. No había con quien pudiera yo consultar, pero dadas las circunstancias sentí justificada en tomar una decisión ejecutiva de que el Centro Shalom iba a donar estos artículos.”
El próximo dia ella habló con Richard (el hijo del obispo) y le dijo, “hay tanta necesidad que simplemente vamos a tener que escoger un solo lugar e ir a ayudarles a ellos. Escoge tú dónde crees que debamos ir.” Escogieron la misión en Tutuquen Bajo, un lugar donde Richard atiende la obra. Aquí una de las familias de la iglesia quedaron bajo los escombros de su casa. Solamente una hija pudieron sacar con vida y ella está en condición seria. Otras cinco familias de la iglesia perdieron sus casas. Elena tomó otra decisión ejecutiva y llevó consigo unos estuches de salud personal (con artículos de limpieza e higiene) que las mismas hermanas de las iglesias habían preparado para enviar a Burma. Cuando llegaron al lugar, Richard comenzó la distribución del agua mientras que Elena reunió a los niños. Ella dice que las señas de trauma eran evidentes. Ella estuvo con ellos unas tres horas, usando papel y colores para que pudieran expresarse, jugando juegos con ellos para enseñarles como cepillarse los dientes y hacer su limpieza personal con una media taza de agua, explicándoles la importancia de mantener su higiene en este momento, etc.
Esta mañana (Martes) Elena se reunió con el obispo y algunos miembros de su gabinete. Tomaron decisiones en torno a la respuesta de la denominación frente a las necesidades de sus propios miembros. Hay dos necesidades apremiantes que no podrán ser inmediatamente suplidas por el gobierno ni las agencias caritativas, especialmente en las pequeñas comunidades rurales: 1. La necesidad de cuidado y apoyo emocional pos-trauma 2. La necesidad de casas adecuadas. Hay un escasamente un mes antes de que comienzen las lluvias y el frío del otoño.
Elena, recién certificada en consejería en situaciones de trauma tiene a su cargo desarrollar un plan antes del 9 de Marzo para mobilizar y entrenar a todos los educadores cristianos de la iglesia (maestros de escuela dominical y otros) para ofrecer el apoyo emocional necesario. Por favor oren por ella al preparar los materiales y tomar decisiones de como mejor entrenar a aquellos quienes aún no han sido entrenados.
Hay un arquitecto quien es miembro de la iglesia en Curicó quien ha recibido la comisión de dibujar los planes y presupuestar los gastos para una casa de un solo cuarto (llamada “casa de media agua” en Chile) la cual pueda ser prefabricada en cantidad. El plan es convertir la cancha techada de la iglesia de Curicó en una fábrica con varones voluntarios como constructores. Ellos armarán las paredes y los techos de las casas, mientras que las familias a beneficiarse preparen los fundamentos y los postes de apoyo (ya que hay inundaciones, las casas tienen que quedar por encima del suelo). Así las casas pueden llevarse a los poblados y simplemente se conectarán las paredes y los techos con el fundamento. Se calcula que hay necesidad de 200 de estas casas solamente en la séptima región. Aún no se sabe cuál será la necesidad en las regiones sexta y octava.
Elena y nuestros hermanos corren varios riezgos. Aunque ella está bien en este momento, yo les pediría que oraran por protección divina en estos aspectos: 1. al ella movilizarse por carreteras que han sufrido daños, 2. al ella recibir refugiados dentro de su propia casa (uno de las familias pastorales quienes perdieron su casa se van a recoger con Elena) 3. al ella potencialmente ser expuesta a enfermedades contagiosas 4. al ella sobreextenderse y no descansar lo suficiente.
Finalmente, aunque el proceso aún está en su infancia, algunos de ustedes han pedido cómo pueden ayudar económicamente. La mejor forma de hacerlo es enviar sus cheques directamente a la agencia misionera responsable por Elena: Global Ministries P.O. Box 1986 Indianapolis, IN 46206. Marque su cheque con estas palabras “Earthquake relief and recovery, Pentecostal Church of Chile.” Se me ha asegurado que el 100% de estos fondos se enviarán a Chile para el uso de la Iglesia Pentecostal en los dos proyectos que les he descrito.
Gracias a todos por su interés y sus oracions. Espero no haberles cansado con este reporte tan extenso.
Qué Dios les bendiga a todos.
Para Elena, David J. Huegel.
March 1, 2010 at 4:30am
This is just a quick note a 4:30 in the morning. I know you all are worried, but I hope that you all have received the message now that I am ok. You all probably have more news on what is happening than we do…. We have little internal communication – slowly we are getting cell service, phone service, electricity and water.
For a quick update on what I know about people:
Bishop Ulises and family are fine.
The three people from the Shalom Center staff I know nothing about are Alejandra Benitez, Silvana, and Lorena. Everyone else was either with me at the Shalom Center when the earthquake hit or they have reported in. Everyones’ families seem to be fine. The family I am most worried about right now is Jorge’s wife who was at her parents at the coast. Jorge was able to talk to Paola on the cell and they made it away from the tsunami, but they are up in the hills without food or water…..
Jorge and I just arrived back from the Shalom Center for a second time. Jorge and I went back because there is no water or electricity in most of the seventh region. But at the Shalom Center we have a full supply of tents, blankets, water, gas, candles, air matresses…. all the camping stuff is useful… The houses that were most destroyed were the adobe ones. Talca and Curicó will never be the same. Tutuquen where Richard is guide is in trouble so we are headed there at first light after the curfew is lifted. The house in Talca is fine as well as all the buildings at the Shalom Center (¡Yea to all the volunteers who have worked on the Welcome house!) The Bishops house and the church in Curicó are ok…
We are still trying to find out how people and churches are. We know of at least two churches that were flattened. I went to the first funerals this morning – a young family from Tutuquen.
Right now I am coordinating with Julia things for the kids particularly of the families who lost their homes besides helping to get essentials to as many people as possible.
Since I am on my way to Curicó (almost every bridge on the panamerican is damaged… but passable…. some bridges gone) I may not have e-mail contact again for some time. I may not be able to come back to Talca because of the fuel shortage. I am using up the fuel transporting essentials back and forth. (Jorge and I even syphoned off the little bit of diesel left in the generator at the Shalom Center….we have been inspired with creative ideas… 🙂
I am taking care of myself as well as reminding others to care for themselves too…. I drove the Bishop some around today so he wouldn’t be driving….
I have to run… I love you all and thanks for your prayers.
Shalom,
Elena