The Kemps in Mexico

So yesterday (Easter Sunday) was quite an exciting day for us. At 3:40pm we experienced a fairly extended, 7.2 Earthquake. At first i just thought the table was wobbling, but then realized everything else was moving as well. We immediately evacuated the campus.
With our Base director being away, Tym took the lead in executing the evacuation and connecting with the authorities for the all clear to go back. During the rest of the day, there were a few minor Aftershocks, one was even strong enough to wake us up at 630 this morning.
With the Tsunami warning a few weeks back, and now this... Its shaping up to be an eventful year!!!

With the continued aftershocks going on after the earthquake in Chile, we currently have a team there, accessing  our response, and how a Homes of Hope program would work in the situation there.

In Haiti, we continue to have a team there, working with the YWAM campus, as they continue to be a lead player in helping restore the country.

Thanks for all your emails and messages, we are all OK

Join us for a LIve Update from from Terry Snow. Director of YWAM Haiti. Broadcast Live HERE and at www.linkupamericas.org
Terry will be broadcasting at 1pm (PST) thats 9pm (GMT)

It is hard for anyone in the World not to feel some sympathy for the people of Haiti, and all that has gone in on over the past 2 weeks on that small island.

YWAM Ensenada currently has members of staff in Haiti helping YWAM Haiti with the relief efforts.

The small Caribbean nation of Haiti has gone from poverty to total devastation after a 7.3 earthquake hit on January 12th this year. The desperation of the Haitian people is seen on the news each night and it is easy to respond with a feeling of despair, as it seems like very little aid is getting to those who need it most.   Youth With A Mission has operated in Haiti for almost two decades.  With operating locations in four cities, they have been caring for the people of Haiti through ministries including schools, health care programs, agricultural development, micro-enterprise and Christian training.  They were involved in responding to the victims of the 2008 hurricanes which destroyed much of the island and continue to partner with other YWAM centres in rebuilding homes lost in that disaster.   YWAM’s national office in St. Marc is more than 60 miles from Port au Prince but as over 500,000 people have fled the devastated capital city they have taken a lead in coordinating the aid effort alongside local churches and other agencies in their province.   Hundreds of survivors are arriving daily, seeking food and medical care.  YWAM teams have created supply centres and camps to provide for 8000+ refugees, many of whom are badly wounded.  For one pound a day, they can feed and accommodate victims in a three week program which allows them to recover, receive medical attention and then earn some money to go home and rebuild their lives.   Though the situation is desperate and the tasks daunting, Terry Snow says his staff sees the opportunity to help the Haitian people as they build from the ground up – literally and spiritually rebuilding on a firm foundation.   In the face of staggering need, YWAM teams are motivated by God’s love to help the Haitian people. It will be a very long road to restore communities in this devastated nation, but Snow and his staff are relying on supernatural strength.  “When I am weak He is strong!” says Snow. “If we help others within our ability we have done an awesome thing, but when we help others beyond our ability that is an act of faith that causes men to glorify God!”

Hurricane Jimena made landfall on 3rd September 2009 on the coast of Baja California in Mexico as a category two hurricane. The storm lasted for 80 hours over the area, causing major damages to homes and businesses located in the small cities along the coastline. The rain and heavy winds damaged rooftops while water levels of the Mulege River rose by 10 meters sweeping up everything in its way. Forty five per cent of the homes in Cuidad Constitucion, Puerto Lopez Mateos, Magadalena and Puerto Alcatraz, amongst other cities sustained roof top damages.

Hurricane Jimena generated 711 ml of rain in Guaymas and 360 ml in Empalme, both cities in the state of Sonora. The main road located between San Jose del Cabo and Tijuana is affected due to several creeks that overflowed. The airports in los Cabos, La Paz and Loreto which were temporarily closed are now functioning normally and did not sustain damages. Several ports were also temporarily closed and are currently operating.

The major sectors affected by Jimena were the electric and water systems, especially in Santa Rosalia, which remains without safe drinking water. The municipal government has supplied portable water units, but these are insufficient for the entire population. 70 per cent of the electricity network between the cities of Constitución and Santa Rosalia was affected due to damaged power lines and conduction towers. There are still electricity shortages at night. Preliminary reports indicate that Jimena caused over USD 37,544,866 in damages.

YWAM San Diego/Baja has a long history of providing shelter for needy families in the northern Baja region. Our passion is to help families that would not normally be able to help themselves, but also to partner with the local Church to help make a lasting difference.

Our recent scouting trip to the devastated areas has identified two projects that we are seeking support:

Project Mulege:
The town of Mulege, was by far the most devastated by the hurricane. A large portion of the town was devastated by the flood waters. Rain from the hurricane was channeled through the normally gentle river and dry creek beds, surged through the town carrying with it anything in its path. The clear need we heard from families and from a local pastor were for mattresses and bedding to replace those ruined by the flood waters.
For $5,250 we can purchase and deliver mattresses, pillows, sheets and blankets to 30 families ($175 per family).

Project Cuidad Constitution:
This town was hit hardest by the hurricane force winds with power lines down everywhere and bits of tin roof blown off many of the commercial buildings and factories. A large number of old wood and cardboard shacks were blown away. Working with Pastor Jesus Salinas Barraza we wish to send a team of staff builders to one of the poorer neighborhoods and help rebuild as many homes as we can, but also to rebuild the Church that was also destroyed.
For $6,000 we can rebuild a home.
For $10,000 we can rebuild the Church

To make a donation to our Hurricane Jimena Relief Project please click here and in the description write:
Hurricane – Bedding
Hurricane – House
Hurricane – Church

For more information please contact:
Malcolm Taylor     – malcolm.taylor@ywamsdb.org – (619) 495-8600
Jim Walker – jim.walker@ywamsdb.org – (619) 213-8451