Dear partner churches and brethren in the US:

Without a doubt you are all following the developments through the media and know that in addition to the damage and loss in urban areas such as Santiago, Talca, Concepcion and Viña del Mar/Valparaiso as more remote areas are reached entire towns and villages along the coast as well as in the interior that have been devastated by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami are being found.  The death toll has spiked rapidly from 200 to almost 800 currently due to these latest ‘discoveries’ and is sure to continue to climb.  There are also an estimated 2 million people without homes.  As you may have also seen in the media, people in the most adversely affected areas are lacking basic needs such as food, water, shelter and clothing.

The Santiago team and Providencia church are formulating plans for helping people in the affected zone.  We are inquiring with the Red Cross and similar organizations if the church can serve as a collection point for donations of clothing, food and articles of hygiene in our sector of the city.  We feel this coordination is necessary as we will lack means for getting any significant quantity of donated items to the area in need any time soon due to the conditions of the highways as well as lack of access to adequate means of transport.  As well, we are making inquiries with local municipalities as to how we might help with aiding local victims here in Santiago, many of which are being overlooked due to the more urgent need to the south.  By acting locally, we can mobilize our congregation, avoid some logistical problems while meeting an immediate need in our own backyard.

Our current plan for helping first-hand the people of the southern cities is to launch a mission with Santiago church members that are able in the coming weeks (and likely over the following months as well) when things have calmed down a bit and the highways have been cleared so that we can move ourselves and materials/donations to those areas.  Where possible, we will carry out those missions in conjunction with and in the name of the local Churches of Christ of the affected communities.  (In fact, we will likely need to help those churches and their members themselves but due to total lack of communications with those areas, we can’t at this time speak to their immediate needs as we haven’t managed to contact them yet.)  While we will need to assess later exactly in what manner we will help, it is likely that in addition to deliver whatever donations we can at that time, we will offer our labor to help with clean-up and reconstruction so as to have direct and tangible impact in the lives of those affected by this disaster. 

In order to carry out these plans, the Providencia church will be in need of additional funds.  Many of you have already inquired how your church and individuals could get contributions to the Providencia church.  We have coordinated with the Saturn Road Church of Christ in Garland, Texas, which is the overseeing church for Jeff and Penne Hatcher to channel funds to us in Chile.

Saturn Road Church of Christ

ATTN: Robbie Chalk – Chile Relief Fund

3030 Saturn Rd.

Garland, Texas 75041

Any amount of financial aid offered will be appreciated and put to good use.  We will use some of the funds collected for some immediate donations through the Red Cross (or other organization with whom we coordinate) while some of the funds will be used directly by the church for its operations to assist local people in need as well as to fund our relief efforts later in the coming weeks.

We appreciate all the concern you have shown for us and the brethren in Chile.  We want to reiterate that our team and all the brethren in Chile with whom we have managed to have contact, escaped this tragic event unharmed.  Having been so blessed, we are preparing to be a blessing to those that were not as fortunate as we were. 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to send them to us.  Also feel free to forward this message to any other interested persons that you know. 

Thank you in advance for your support, both financial and spiritual.

God bless and warm regards,

Zane Perkins