Shaken Foundations (Ecuador Earthquake 2016)

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
    Tell me, if you have understanding.
 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
    Or who stretched the line upon it?
 On what were its bases sunk,
    or who laid its cornerstone,
 when the morning stars sang together
    and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"

- God speaking to Job in Job 38:4-7 



Saturday night, the tiny country of Ecuador was shaken by a highly destructive earthquake. With a 7.8 magnitude, the quake hit the coast, destroying towns and roads. Over 100 miles away in Quito, where I live, people felt their homes shake. This, however, is not an uncommon occurrence.
"Did you feel the earthquake?" a server asked my friends and I, as we sat down to eat at a restaurant. We, in fact, hadn't felt it at all: walking outside, we had been oblivious to the quake. Unless you're right on top of the quake, most earthquakes aren't like in the movies, where the ground visibly trembles. They are most noticeable indoors, where picture frames rattle and light fixtures swing and you experience a moment of vertigo. We shrugged and ordered our meal. A few minutes later all the lights flickered from an aftershock, but again, this is simply part of life in Ecuador, a country with fault lines and volcanoes galore.

That night, I looked up photos of the destruction, quickly grasping that this was not an ordinary tremor. Friends had started sending me concerned messages, so I replied that I was fine, Quito had not experienced much damage, though the death toll at the coast was 28. 

Waking up the next morning, Sunday, I was shocked to see that the death count had soared overnight to 233. Since that time, it seems that every time I refresh the news page, the count grows of lives lost and people injured and still missing. New tremors have caused further destruction. Landslides (another fairly common occurrence which blocks the winding mountain roads) are plentiful, making it difficult for aid workers to reach people in need. This morning, The New York Times listed the death count at 350. 


It's going to be a long road of rebuilding for Ecuador. One of my sisters emailed me to say how glad she was that I am safe, how frightening it can be to have a family member so far away, especially when something like this happens. It reminded me of how privileged I am, because if this country were ever in serious trouble, I could buy a plane ticket and leave. I have a way out, a family and home to return to, unlike the people on the coast who lost everything in one fell swoop and have no choice but to try and rebuild. Yet ... many of the structures were built with cement which had too much sand mixed in, making the material stretch further yet also making it weaker, more prone to utter destruction. Will buildings be more carefully constructed this time? Not if they can't afford it. The cycle of poverty goes around and around.

Many organizations are stepping forward with relief efforts. Locally, there is Extreme Response and Cruz Roja. From the States, Samaritan's Purse and others are responding. An Ecuadorian friend of mine has family living on the coast who have lost everything: the missions community I am a part of are gathering food and clothes to help them, and seeing how we can partner with the local outreaches to provide aid.

This morning, I was reminded of the story of Job, the man who lost everything yet refused to curse God's name. In the end, God came to Job and reminded the man of His might, omnipotence, and glory. Here and now we are reminded that though we have been physically shaken, we know who laid the foundation of the earth. We put our trust in God alone, having faith that He is sovereign and loving in all circumstances. Pray for the people of Ecuador, please. Pray they can rebuild in a better way. Pray for the people who are still missing, for the rescue workers trying to find them, and for everyone who has lost loved ones and homes. Pray for hope and peace to be given to those whose sense of safety has been lost.
Juntos, amigos, oremos. (Together, friends, let us pray)