From the novitiate in Rengo, Chile - about 150 northwest of the epicenter

We are all well and that's already good news. When you see the pain and suffering of so many people who have lost everything, family, work, material possessions, the scare we had was nothing.

When the earthquake struck at 3:34 AM, we all ran out of our rooms and out of the house. Once we were all together, we took a look at the house, an old colonial adobe residence.  Fortunately there was little damage apart from a corridor ceiling which fell, cracks in the exterior walls, overturned furniture, and various items (books, dishes, etc.) thrown to the ground 

Afterwards, we  make our way over to our parish to see how Fathers Raúl and Olivier were doing. They were both OK. The church sustained some damage, especially cracks in the wall.

The hardest part of all is getting used to the continual aftershocks and just not feeling safe. At night we have been sleeping outside. We still have no electricity or water, but, as I said, this is not much in comparison to the trails so many others are facing elsewhere.
  
Aldo Gajardo

Novice-master

Tuesday, March 2, 2010