Peru (Flight Delays, Earthquakes & Illnesses)

It was 6:40pm and we were halfway to the airport when our car started shaking. I thought someone was pushing on the back of the taxi. The furthest thing from my mind was an earthquake. I was so in shock it never occurred to me to be fearful. It went on and on. People on the sidewalks began running and weeping. We realized later that this earthquake was probably much worse near the epicenter. It was. More than 380 died! Our host was in contact with one pastor whose church had completely crumbled to the ground. A nearby prison also had collapsed and 600 prisoners were loose compounding the problems of looting. People had to stay near their damaged properties armed with guns.           The couple traveling with me (Bob & Kelly Parr) had flight delays from Miami, hence our trip to the airport here in Lima. Their rescheduled flight was delayed 10 minutes in landing which without would have landed them right during the earthquake with possible catastrophic results.           A few days later on Sunday I got food poisoning and had to miss the morning service. Luckily Bob could cover for me at the last minute (I let him know that morning). Then Bob had a sore throat for several days and our missionary host had stomach problems. We really got under some health attacks on this  trip!           Despite all this warfare, all three of our conferences went very well. People’s hearts seemed to have been shaken open. One person noted how soft and open even the men were. God is good!