On Saturday, February 27, Chile experienced an 8.8 earthquake. The epicenter was in Conception, about 150 miles south of where Jeff is in Santiago. We were anxious for news of his safety all day, until we heard that all missionaries in his mission were safe and accounted for. We hoped he would be able to contact us in person, but communication lines seemed to be interrupted all over the quake areas. Fortunately for us an email arrived around 5:00 that afternoon from Jeff, saying he was safe and unharmed, that it was very intense and that he never wanted to experience anything like that again. Even better, late the next afternoon he was able to call and tell us in person that he was ok, tired, but ok. This is the email he sent the next day, his regular p-day, describing a little of what he eperienced:
Hey,
So this last weekend was the most interesting one I've ever had in my life, ha. It's kinda hard to describe what it was like, only that I knew I was on the 16th floor and wanted to get down, ha. Running down the stairs in the dark, water falling on us was quite the experience. All the while praying out loud to Heavenly Father that we will make it alive.We made it to the 10th floor when the first big one stopped. Then we ran back up stairs, got clothes and flash lights and our wallets and phone, then went downstairs. We helped bring a baby down and held on to him until the mom came down with the dogs. Then we were waiting for like 3 hours outside in the street. A man that we reactivated, Juan, came by and checked on us. Then we went up and helped carry a disabled man down 17 flights of stairs. Then we went back up and ate a little food and went to bed again because we were exhausted. That was at 6:30. At 7:30 another pretty big quake came, and we, having slept in our clothes with our shoes, ran down the stairs in about a minute. Then we packed some things and went and stayed at the church.Then we went around visiting people all day, seeing if they were ok and if they needed help. Saturday we slept in Republica with the Elders there, they are lower to the ground then were are. We didn't sleep well, especially on a hard wooden floor. Then the next morning in the shower there was another decent quake.Church was only an hour. The church took some pretty good damage. And Sunday night we slept in our apt again. I was nervous the whole night, I thought my bed was shaking the whole time. My companion was affected worse than I was, he was a wreck for a while and harldy slept these last 2 nights.There was a lot of destrucion everywhere! The worst is in the south, but there is a lot of bad bad damage here in Santiago too. Not too much where I live, but in other parts.As far as I know at this point we will not be asisting with the cleanup, but we will see. I think it's dumb of Chile that they don't want any aid, they are a very very prideful people. The whole country is like that. But maybe they'll change their minds.There is a ton of looting going on, but not anywhere I am. I think thats mostly in the south. All the stores and stuff are still open here.And I'm in my 10th month now, not the 9th ha. So I had a spanish accent? Thats weird, to me it sounds like the way I've always talked. Maybe my english has just gotten worse thats why you couldn't understand me, ha.
Well, I don't really have anything else to say. Only that I don't ever want to do that again and hope none of you ever have to. At least there arent teremotos in MN right? Ok, well love you all and you are always in my prayers! Have a great week,
Love,Elder DeLong
Hey,
So this last weekend was the most interesting one I've ever had in my life, ha. It's kinda hard to describe what it was like, only that I knew I was on the 16th floor and wanted to get down, ha. Running down the stairs in the dark, water falling on us was quite the experience. All the while praying out loud to Heavenly Father that we will make it alive.We made it to the 10th floor when the first big one stopped. Then we ran back up stairs, got clothes and flash lights and our wallets and phone, then went downstairs. We helped bring a baby down and held on to him until the mom came down with the dogs. Then we were waiting for like 3 hours outside in the street. A man that we reactivated, Juan, came by and checked on us. Then we went up and helped carry a disabled man down 17 flights of stairs. Then we went back up and ate a little food and went to bed again because we were exhausted. That was at 6:30. At 7:30 another pretty big quake came, and we, having slept in our clothes with our shoes, ran down the stairs in about a minute. Then we packed some things and went and stayed at the church.Then we went around visiting people all day, seeing if they were ok and if they needed help. Saturday we slept in Republica with the Elders there, they are lower to the ground then were are. We didn't sleep well, especially on a hard wooden floor. Then the next morning in the shower there was another decent quake.Church was only an hour. The church took some pretty good damage. And Sunday night we slept in our apt again. I was nervous the whole night, I thought my bed was shaking the whole time. My companion was affected worse than I was, he was a wreck for a while and harldy slept these last 2 nights.There was a lot of destrucion everywhere! The worst is in the south, but there is a lot of bad bad damage here in Santiago too. Not too much where I live, but in other parts.As far as I know at this point we will not be asisting with the cleanup, but we will see. I think it's dumb of Chile that they don't want any aid, they are a very very prideful people. The whole country is like that. But maybe they'll change their minds.There is a ton of looting going on, but not anywhere I am. I think thats mostly in the south. All the stores and stuff are still open here.And I'm in my 10th month now, not the 9th ha. So I had a spanish accent? Thats weird, to me it sounds like the way I've always talked. Maybe my english has just gotten worse thats why you couldn't understand me, ha.
Well, I don't really have anything else to say. Only that I don't ever want to do that again and hope none of you ever have to. At least there arent teremotos in MN right? Ok, well love you all and you are always in my prayers! Have a great week,
Love,Elder DeLong
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