An earthquake of 6.2 on the Richter scale occurred in Costa Rica on 8 January at 1:21 pm local time. The epicenter was localized at 10 km east of the Poás volcano, at a depth of 6 km according to reports from the auxiliary committees of the Red Cross and the Volcanic and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI). 23 people were reported dead, 91 injured and 7 missing. About 1087 houses, 5 roads and 5 bridges were destroyed spread over an area of 550km2. The earthquake caused landslides, mudslides and low water levels in rivers near the epicenter. An estimated total of 2,266 people still remain in shelters. The earthquake was strongly felt across the country. More than 2,000 aftershocks followed and caused further damage. The government issued a number of alerts and the Costa Rican Red Cross had to mobilize more than 159 rescuers to rescue people injured, trapped or cut-off.
The Youth With A Mission (YWAM) center in San Jose, has partnered with the local Church to help assist the rebuilding work in the community of Fraijanes. For the last month 65 families, 260 people, have been living in the local community center which overnight had turned into a rescue center.
YWAM San Diego/Baja and the Homes of Hope program has a wealth of experienced staff builders who for ten days pioneered the first YWAM construction team to work in the Fraijanes community. Living in a converted 40’ trailer, each day we would go out to serve the local Church. Our first two days were spent assisting the rescue center with cleaning, painting and being willing to help where ever it was needed. This included assembling some prefab concrete houses that will be a new home for some of the many families displaced by the earthquake.
Our main project was to help rebuild the house of Marvin, Edith and their six children. Living on the side of a steep hill in a poorly constructed concrete block house the earthquake struck. Marvin was at work at the local coffee factory, but the tremors of the earthquake caused the walls to collapse burying some of the family. Thankfully they all escaped without injury, but their home was destroyed. Marvin rapidly constructed a shelter out of the tin roof to re-house his family, but had little hope of rebuilding their home.
Over the next week we framed a new timber frame over the remains of the concrete block house, reinstalled the windows and started to install the siding over the frame. By the time we left we had given this family hope and a home that they could easily finish. Standing in the circle with the family by the door, we dedicated this home to God and for his protection over this precious family. With the father unable to speak through tears as we prayed and anointed this family as they restart their lives following the devastating earthquake.
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