Epic Center en photos

Hi again, amigos.

Today, thanks to LJ's computer and a wireless internet connection, I have the luxury of being able to post photos that help tell the story of the last few weeks. Hold on to your hearts!

A picturesque camp marker, along one of many country roads in Chile's south-central coastal region.

Packing up supplies in El Furgon. Note to self: the people here don't need potatoes (three bags of potatoes are all we have left after distrubuting everything). They have potatoes coming out of their ears.

We arrived to the coastal region at night, greeted by ominous signs of the damage, such as this sign which reads Bridge is in a bad state. Only light vehicles. El Furgon esta bastante liviano. Ha!

Yes, we get it. The earth shook very very hard here!


Each family's camp is marked with a sign like this one, and a flag, so those who are helping will know where to look, in the countryside, when bringing assistance.

This region is known for its beautiful, antique, adobe houses. Like this one, many of them were structurally compromised by the quaking earth and will have to be torn down.

This cross is still standing, but a little worse for wear. How beautiful, still.

While there is a lot of road damage, construction teams have been working very efficiently to make roads and bridges safe. We haven't been stopped yet.

Another example of the previously-beautiful adobe architecture in this region.

A lot of deconstruction and reconstruction needs to happen. It is happening.

The Chilean pride is a beautiful thing to see. It's everywhere!

"Fuerza Chile" are caravans of people from all over Chile who have joined together to help people in the areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami.

Just as we were arriving to these camps to deliver our second round of supplies (mostly plastic tarps to protect tents from the rain), the first of three helicopters swooped in from above. It was pretty amazing.

Ryan and LJ run in to help unload supplies from the helicopter.

Beautiful cooperation.

One of Chile's powerhouses, Teresa, looks on from beside her family's camp while the helicopter lands.

One of Chile's noble caballeros watches the helicopter from his family's camp. Yes, that's the ocean in the background. Que lindo!

Notice Ryan and LJ there in the lineup. Surfing muscles appreciated!!!

Young people look on from their camp, while the helicopter is being unloaded.

People, who have been camping on high ground in the countryside for a week, wave goodbye to the helicopter as it leaves, after depositing supplies.

We're inspired. Can you tell?

Someone has come through and determined which houses need to be torn down. The house behind this wall was one of the most beautiful in the whole town. We had the privilege to walk through it during deconstruction, and to imagine its glory days.

What a window into people's lives we've received.

Here, I am doing my Spanish-language best to converse with this woman, to learn something about her experience during and after the terremoto.

Tia Herminia is 78 and was alone in her adobe farm house during the terremoto. I went with her and her grand-neices to her farm to help move valuables and furniture out of her house, because it will have to be torn down. She barely even needed our help; she is a powerhouse! Still, she has had to relocate to town, and live with her nephew's family, and is very sad about it. "Que horrible!" she said. :(

Me, Ignacia, and Marcela (Herminia's grand-nieces)

We have been helping this couple, Irene and Pepe, with their home. It will have to be torn down. Their extended family, currently condensed from four to two households, has virtually adopted us. They are beautiful people. We love them!

When we arrived to help Pepe & Irene, this is what their house looked like. Our task was to move furniture and valuables out, and to salvage what could be salvaged: wood flooring, windows, corrugated tin, etc.

This is the house after some deconstruction work.

Ryan and LJ move debris before helping salvage the wood floor.

Another beautiful home that will have to go...

We have found a great balance between work and play. Here is Ryan carving one of Chile's pristine lefts.

Another beautiful wave.

When he's happy, so am I. :)

Another Furgon special feast by our favorite chef! Yes, that's sausage!

This is LJ, overseen by the saint who protects fishermen.

LJ carving it up!

We're remembering to always celebrate life.

Joyride!

Yay!

Needless to say, they are so glad to be both helping out AND getting to surf. Que increible!

There are so many stories to share, from so many beautiful people, but we'll save some of them for next time. So, that's all for now. We love you all dearly and are thinking about you every day.

With love and gratitude,

Jess, Ryan, and LJ

Epic-Center Continued...

Just a quick note to tell you all that we are well. I am biting at the bit to post photos of this amazing experience, but as I am in someone´s living room right now, it doesn´t seem appropriate to pull out the camera and go through that whole process. Suffice to say, for now, that we have been on a path of one amazing experience unfolding into the next, and then another, and then another.
A few days ago, when we were delivering plastic to some camps, our visit happened to coincide with the arrival of three Chilean helicopters that were delivering supplies. I can´t even begin to describe how beautiful it was to be a part of so many people helping so many people.
Yesterday, we helped an elderly couple here in Buchupureo salvage the wood floor and keepsakes from their adobe home, because they have to tear it down. Turns out their grandsons are two of the six local surfers, who today showed Ryan and LJ some hidden waves in the area. That young man and two friends are currently at our cabin preparing an 'asado' (BBQ).
Today, I went to the farm of a 78-year-old woman to help her remove whatever she could keep from her house, which also will be torn down. I worked with her grand-nieces (20 & 13), which was fun because we spoke spanish together and were able to laugh and play a bit. There are so many details I want to share, but I think I will wait....
We have been invited to eat lunch, which is the big meal of the day, tomorrow at the house of the family we have been helping. They want to share the corn we harvested today, and to thank us. How beautiful!
We have engagements to help lined up for tomorrow and the next day: other people who are trying to move out of houses before tearing them down. It feels so good to have time and energy to help here.
On a different note, we are thinking so much about Kimmy, who is full with baby love, and ready to burst. Stay tuned for an upcoming 'It´s a .....!`We are so excited, and are going to share that joy with our blogfans, too. Stay tuned.
Thank you to everyone who is wanting to contribute to our efforts to help down here. For now, simply understand that your supportive thoughts are fueling our desire to help. You are helping to motivate us, and we appreciate that immensely.
I will try to post a more illustrative entry when I have a slightly more private venue. Until then, know we are thriving in the Epic-Center.
Lots of love,
Jess, Ryan, and LJ

Epic-center

Hi everyone,
We have returned to Chillan to gather another load of supplies to take to the coast. Our first trip out there felt successful. We basically just loaded El Furgon with supplies that we anticipated or heard might be useful--water, milk, rice, cooking oil, cleaning supplies, carrots, onions, potatoes, matches, toilet paper, etc.--and drove around the rural areas south of the town of Cobquecura visiting camps and offering what we had.
What we found was that the homes built of brick (home-made brick) have been badly damaged, and families who lived in them have had to evacuate. Many families are tent-camping in fields or yards of family members. Each camp is marked with a flag, and most have signs that say the family name and the number of people staying there. I suppose this is to help people who are bringing aid. We have been impressed by the mobilization of Chileans to help their people. Trucks loaded with supplies are heading out to the coast all the time, but some areas & towns are definitely receiving more than others. This is one reason it felt great to help in outlying rural areas, because the small towns along the coast seem to have received more help.
What is good news is that the area we have been in was not further devastated by the tidal wave which followed the earthquake in other parts of the coast. I haven´t quite figured out the reason for this, but it is clear that the water did not reach the coastal homes. Still, it is/was at the epicenter, so there was a lot of damage from the quake itself.
The people we have encountered have been gracious--always only taking what they need, and pointing the way to another family, in another camp farther down the road who need it more than they do. They have been grateful and respectably proud. Their beauty, strength, and resiliance are evidence that they will persevere. It is inspiring.
The current concern is that there is rain in the forecast and the camps are very exposed to the elements. After this, we will head to the hardware stores looking for plastic sheeting, tarps, nails, etc. to help people build temporary shelters. This is what they are asking for, so we are trying our best to help make it happen.
I am having trouble with the photos right now, so they will have to wait.
We will be in touch next chance we get.
Thank you for all of your thoughts.
Jessica & Ryan