On Tuesday (March 2), more army forces came to the city but we still felt necessary to stay in the outside of our houses ready to fight. Martial law was decreed in the region and we heard the tanks and machine guns through the night.
On Wednesday, still there was no water or food available to purchase. We managed to go to a nearby river to get some and the fire fighters came with their cars bringing water for the people. Long lines of people with bottles and buckets were the usual sight on the streets. That day, the water truck stationed by the city cemetery and we all went there with our buckets. One wall full of niches with dead people in their caskets had collapsed during the big earthquake and left all the bodies completely exposed covering the street. The stench was horrible while the wife and I had to climb over the caskets and bodies to get to the place where the water was being distributed. We had to cross this place again on our way back with our buckets full of water.
The lack of communication was a real problem. I had the chance to see the believers of the local church and two other churches. They were fine and struggling just like we were in their own neighborhoods.
Only on Wednesday (March 3) afternoon we received the news that the believers in Talca and Constitucion were fine and were helping the people in the town of Cobquecura that was almost wiped out from the map.
Just like the Bible says, the food and water have not been absent from our tables. He has provided for us and we still have food for a couple of days. We are waiting for some help from the government tomorrow. Indeed, praying and thanking the Lord for the daily meals has taken a whole new meaning for all of us too. This experience has certainly changed our lives and we can praise the Lord for His mercy for sparing all of us. As far as I know, no believer was harmed in this great earthquake.
On Thursday (March 4) there was still no fuel available at the pump stations so the trips to get some water, food or see relatives and how they were had to be short and quick. Also, the government set a curfew from six in the afternoon till midday the next day. This helped a little to feel more secure at night, however, the military presence is scarce and we still have to stay outside our houses to guard them from vandals.
Friday March 5, started with fear and nervousness again. In the morning there were six aftershocks in the span of two hours. The weakest was 4.7 and the strongest was 6.8. Every event brought back the memories of that terrible Saturday morning, a week ago.
The so much awaited help of food and supplies that the government has been announcing since last Monday has not arrived yet. There is still no water service and the telephone lines are dead. The first cell phones started working today.
On Saturday evening, March 6, the first bags with food and supplies from the government arrived to the different villages and towns around the Concepcion area. The convoys were guarded by armed military forces to avoid any disturbances. This has been a great help for all the families around here and has stretched the number of days with supplies. We thank the Lord for this.
The news informed of one mega earthquake with a tsunami event and 210 serious aftershocks in the past 7 days. It is only by the Lord Jesus and His help that we have been able to go through all this.
“Some through the waters, some through the flood, some through deep trials, but all through the Blood”.