EARTHQUAKE...

As many of you have already heard, yesterday in Yu.shu (or Jade Tree) a magnitude 7 earthquake struck. Reports of hundreds of deaths have been coming in, possibly reaching into the thousands. We have personally lost a friend that lived in Y.ushu and many of our friends have reported the deaths of family members there.

We live in X.ining and did not feel the quake. We're doing fine, as well as many other expat families here in X.ining. There was one expat family of four that recently moved out to Y.ushu, but have reported that they are fine and are headed back to X.ining as I type this.

As of this evening, the media was still not completely "up to speed" with the reality of the quake. From what we've seen online (CNN, MSNBC, BBC...etc.) the death toll was only around 75 or so. Our friends in the area are reporting much larger numbers, but perhaps they are just not completely "confirmed" by the local officials yet? We're not sure.

What can YOU do right now?

1. Pr@y Pr@y Pr@y Pr@y Pr@y.
2. Send money. We're hoping to have a fund set up through Heart of G0d that will designate specifically to the relief effort. More to come on that.
3. Pr@y some more.

What can you do in the near future?
There may be opportunities for short term medical and relief teams to come out. We'll know more in the near future, but nothing on that right now.

What will WE be doing?
1. Their is a first wave of expat folks headed out tomorrow morning that consists of fluent Ch1nese speakers and medical professionals. They will be doing an overall status report and supplying first aid / first response medical care.
2. Their is tentatively scheduled second, third, fouth...etc., waves set to go out in the following weeks. We will likely be on one of those teams to provide help wherever needed. Probably in the form of giving out food, clothes and basic first aid.

Thank you so much for your pr@yers, Keep 'em comin.
Justin and Shelli