Earthquake Update (eMail of March 1, 2010)

I´m doing well just so you all know. Attached are a couple pictures of the damage. There is more but this is what I have. The earthquake hit about 3:15 in the morning here. I had just woken up for nothing and was laying there when it started. My first thoughts were "here it is". About two weeks before the mission received info on earthquakes and what we should do just in case. We joked around saying that the Church was predicting a quake. But it really happened. The building started moving like crazy to the point that I wasn´t able to stand up. I just stayed where I was being a little bit away from everything. It lasted for a minute and a half and everything was moving like crazy. The building was moving several feet, probably up to 6 or 8 feet. As it was slowing down we heard a few crashes and the plaster ceiling outside our door fell down, with some other stuff. The building was still moving for several minutes afterward and several feet. During the whole thing we saw a bunch of transformers blow up as well.

In the end there wasn´t any serious damage but we were still told to leave at least until the aftershocks are all over. The plate moved a lot. We still feel some tremors every now and then.

As for investigators and converts everyone is okay. There wasn´t too much damage in other parts. In fact yesterday went great. Sebastian and Hortenzia came with the three children which hasn´t happened before. Another two investigatores came and half the people at the baptism weren´t members. Camila Díaz of nine years was baptized. From the baptism several people were left with more desires to listen and we have some good futures now. I am really hoping that everything continues to go well. Right now we have all we need.

There are possibilities that the wate[r may be contaminated.] I am grateful to be here and even more so to have the protection of the Lord with me. I know He loves us. Today we have a mission Family Home Evening so I think we´re going to learn some more today about everything. I just want you all to know that I am safe, that we are doing well and having success. Thank you for your prayers and support and don´t worry. The Lord is God.
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Elder David Skiles