When The Ground Shakes

This past month has been insane. School started up; we were understaffed. Summer missions faded into fall-time work; we waited for the arrival of new missionaries. Things started to fall into a routine; the ground shook.

Two weeks ago, Mexico was hit with the largest earthquake in 100 years. 8.1. My mom and I were sitting in my apartment late at night, preparing for our Youth Group Retreat leaving the next day. The windows started to rattle, and we hesitated for a moment before rushing to the street and to safety. I have never experienced anything like those eternal two minutes. The three-story apartments were swaying back and forth like one of those little balloon guys you see waving at a gas station. The truck parked on the street was jumping up and down. And it went on and on. My family and most of us here in the city were ok, but we soon got news from the coastal villages (the earthquake was off the coast) that thousands had lost their homes and over 90 were dead. Places where flooding had already been a problem due to hurricane season, were especially vulnerable. The school and my church immediately began raising funds to send aid to these villages. And we continued living our lives. It’s a strange thing to go to camp, sing silly songs, worry about homework, etc. when the knowledge of a bigger more pressing matter looms over us. But camp was a success! The MKs were able to bond and have fun, and we were able to pour into them.

Then this past week the ground shook again, this time to the north of us. We were in school, so my students all scrambled under their desks. One student began to pray out loud for the people who might be affected by yet another quake. Afterwards, the entire school gathered together to pray. A major benefit of working at OCS is the ability to stop our day and pray. We began to hear reports of damage in Puebla and Mexico city. Over 250 dead. Kids trapped in a crumbled school. My family sat together in the living room watching the news feeling helpless and overwhelmed. September is the month we celebrate independence in Mexico. The community, gathering together to show support (our phone service business has provided free messaging and calls for a week, taxis and cops worked for free, so many volunteers showed up to help that they were turned away), has given that cry of “Viva Mexico!” a new and closer meaning.

The thing about earthquakes is that you can’t escape them. There’s really no running or hiding. You just sit and wait it out, a surreal loss of control as the very ground you stand on moves and shifts. That’s the point, though, of our faith, isn’t it? We aren’t in control. As a control freak, this upsets me, and it’s probably why I am so deeply terrified of earthquakes. But having faith means having the absolute and total confidence and trust in God, no matter what. The whole situation has made me so incredibly aware of how small I am. He’s got the whole world in His hands. I’m in awe.

Since those earthquakes, we’ve suffered from thousands of aftershocks. I’ve personally run out into the street in my pajamas twice this week. There is no explaining the feeling of waking up in a panic because the whole room is moving. And I cannot image the terror people living in destroyed villages and cities feel. A major problem right now is that people are too afraid to go back into their homes. They are sleeping on the streets and in tents due to fear.

Some people have asked how they can help, and I’ve been at a loss. I live here and am so close to the situation, and I feel helpless. But we’ve come up with some ideas:

-We will be writing a small booklet on trauma to hand out to pastors and teachers and basically anyone who wants to help or needs help in affected towns. The booklet will have information on how to handle a panic attack, how to begin to heal when we’re afraid and hurt, and other hopefully helpful information (it’s in the beginning stages yet). A team will be heading out next week to send aid and distribute the booklets. You can help by sending financial aid for the books, for food and supplies, and for the trip itself.

-We will be looking at buildings that will need to be rebuilt this coming year. We have no idea yet what that will look like, but we will need to raise funds to make any rebuilding happen.

-We need prayer and encouragement right now! It’s hard to go about daily life when there is such sadness surrounding us.

If you would like to donate funds for any of these projects, you can send a check to

The Ridge Church

6540 E. 2nd St. Suite B

Prescott Valley, AZ 86314

On the memo line, write: Ruth Perez Missions- Earthquake relief

Or you can email me at ruthpmissions@gmail.com with questions or for more info!

Thank you and God Bless,

-Ruth