Letter to Friends

by Dr. Michael Renfer
Imagine it’s early evening, your sitting at your desk revising some forms, relaxing music in the background when you hear the rattling sound of the big loose glass door. A sound familiar when the dog is playing outside. We are used to small tremors here. Normally they last a couple seconds and it’s over. But this time was different. This time the floor began to move, the structure of the house started to move as well. I got up and went to the secretaries to let them know to get out. But they already were on their way. They were more worried about their family than themselves, started to cry for her mother who lives on the fifth floor of a building a half hour travel away. The desperation paralyzed the people. We needed to go all the way to the street because the movement didn’t stop. We had to pull one secretary by force because she stood still right beneath some windows who were at a point of shattering. Standing still I felt to movement of the ground, it’s waves. Very similar on riding waves surfing or snowboarding, but without snow and without moving ourselves. When we were outside we looked to the houses and the sky which was dark and with yellow and red lights, the phone cables shaking fiercely and the light post dancing from one side to the other always threatening to fall over. It all lasted an eternity of 2 minutes. I already had the feeling that the phone lines were not working anymore because I knew that everybody wanted to call in this very moment.
Slowly we got back into the house, first verifying if there were any visible cracks, which thanks to god there weren’t any. I sent the employees home and prepared a suitcase and the first aid box just to be ready. There were many strong (5.5) afterquakes during the night and until now we feel the movement of the earth.
After one day I organized myself with other chiropractors to go and offer humanitarian services in the most affected zone. In Lima all was quiet now and we just got scared. But through the news we knew that it was very different down south. I donated my winter cloth to the civil defense and went shopping for water and food. We organized a trip to Chincha the following early morning.
When we were there, we wanted to go the Pisco, the epicenter, but we couldn’t because of the violence on the highway and the road condition.
It’s very difficult to put into words what we saw, even difficult to put it onto foto. The suffering, the fear, the desperation of the people. We could help some but there were so many that it felt like a drop onto a hot stone.
I also feel very proud because I know there are a lot of people helping and supporting. I saw tons of good ready for distribution. I saw the people of Lima buying and emptying the supermarket in favor of the most affected.
I know that I’m living an unique experience, that we were very lucky here in Lima, the proudness that we feel in our heart for the help that is given, slowly but surely, and at the same time a profound sadness. I saw the road condition, the condition of the houses, or what’s left thereof, the fear of the people who prefer to sleep outside in the cold, the suffering of having lost family, of being separated, of having to evacuate, I saw the injuries of the people caused by falling roofs and walls. I saw bone fractures, heard the screams of babies and the smell of dust.
It’s very difficult to relate everything. But I’m letting you know that I’m fine, we keep working and serving. With a bit hug and a hearty greeting
Michael