Things are Improving

Each day is getting better. Today the schools opened up, but most of my friends and I kept our children home again. With such big aftershocks and electrical problems yesterday it just didn't seem worth the hassle and worry. We made it a fun day by inviting some friends over for lunch & to play. I have been trying to figure out what we can do to help the people who have lost so much. After talking with the mission office we learned that the Mission President and some others were planning on going up to Tocopilla to take a lot of food and supplies and assess the damage. My friend, Ruth and I started making cookies, cupcakes and rice krispie treats to send with them and the children wrote letters and drew pictures for the missionaries serving there (there are 4) and the church members as well. We we were about 1/3 of the way done when the power went out (again!). The stove is gas, but the oven is electric. We found a friend close by (actually another gringa) that has a gas oven so we went to her house to finish up. They had been waiting on us to bring the goodies before they left, but unfortunately with the added time it took to pack up all of the food, cards and 5 kids, they needed to leave before we arrived. But we were able to give the goodies to some missionaries who will be in Tocopilla in a couple of days so they will take it with them then. It will be interesting to hear more personal experiences soon and learn more about the damage and what help is needed further north in the next few days. Oh, the power came on as we took the last batch of cupcakes out of the oven;)

As far as aftershocks today... we still had some, but the largest was 5.4 so that is good news. The most noticeable was 5.0 and 20 miles away in the peninsula across the bay from us. And the hotel that fell on some cars was cleaned up today... amazing- I drove by it this morning and they were just starting to lift the large pieces and take them away, and by tonight it was completely cleaned up.