Everything is good on our side; however, we have had a strong earthquake, recently. I’ve never seen such an earthquake before in Tyva. It used to be up to 5 points maximum, but now it’s been 7, for several times. Thank God there was no destruction. Of course, it’s a miracle. The Moscow Ministry of Emergency Situations sent their planes, for they thought that damages were huge. To my shame, I also thought that everything was ruined in the Southern district, which is mostly a bedroom district. However, the Lord showed mercy to us. Maybe, the earth was frozen 3 meters down and that made everything stand like concrete. Maybe, the pushes were 10 km down in the earth and, therefore, everything stayed at its place. However, I know for sure that everything is in the hands of our Lord.
The panic was big among the people. Everyone ran outside in the clothes in which they were dressed. It was -35 C that night. People were afraid to go inside the many-storied buildings. There was no telephone, mobile, or Internet connection. The first calls were possible one hour and a half after the situation was taken under control. Emergency posts were opened in the schools and kindergartens, where people could take cup of hot tea and warm clothes.
We were at home getting ready to sleep. It was 11:30 p.m. First we heard noise. I even thought, “Heavy machinery is on the streets. Tanks?” Then we heard trembling; the dishes started clanging; the noise became louder. The trembling grew into vibrations. The walls began cracking and the wallpaper clicking. The books and the dishes started falling down from the bookshelves; everything that could fall was falling down. Then the quake was so big that the floor began to dance and the doors moved from side to side.
It was later that I started to analyze what has happened, but at the time the earthquake took place there was no time for joking. That night the friends of my son Matthew were staying overnight; this was a great responsibility and we had to make the right decisions. After my command, everyone took place at the apertures of the doors and windows, for those are the safest places. We were holding the posts so as not to fall down. After it calmed down, everyone, who was at home gathered in the living room and prayed. There was no panic; though, we worried about the kids. I calmed them down, by saying, “God is reminding all the people that He is here. Don’t be afraid, for it is written that even a hair won’t fall from your head without His will; therefore, calm down and get to sleep”. Of course, kids worried, but in an hour they were asleep.
That night, about 20 people gathered in the building of our church. There were people from the upper floors of the five-storied buildings, church members and their friends. The church has become shelter for these people, and this is how the Lord brought some of them to the place. Before, they were afraid of “sectarians”, but now they had to get together with them. How surprised they were, when the church kneeled down and began to pray for them.
In the morning, as we watched TV, we heard that the earthquake was very strong: 7 points in Kyzyl and 8 in Saryg-Sep (the settlement 100 km away from town). After breakfast, I went around our building and saw some cracks above our windows. The nearby building had its brick joints cracked in such a way that one could put his palm in them. The foundation of the 5-storied building of municipal communications sunk 15 cm down into the earth. People say that it’s not the end, and that the spring will show the rest, when the ice will melt and soil will become soft.
God is merciful to us, sinners, for there are no human victims in the town. Though, I heard from some people of Saryg-Sep that one old woman died as she got worried, went outside and froze on a bench.
Recently, I’ve been watching the film “The Earthquake of Tianshan” over again. I watched it in a quite different light now. Our life is a vapor that appears for a little while, and no one knows his/her end. It’s only God, Who gives confidence in eternal life, and that we won’t be left alone. It’s not for us to know the times and epochs. The Lord wants us to keep on being faithful to Him and be alert. Last Sunday I was preaching on Matthew 24:3-14. People were very attentive, when it touched them. Many came up to me after the worship service, asked questions, and asked for advice. I see that God used even this situation for good, as it says in the Bible, “And others save with fear”. People became more open to the Gospel that I preached. They realize that God in the world.
This Sunday we are going to Ak-Dovurak. We agreed with the authorities of the cinema to rent their place for a Christmas program and presentation of the Bible in the Tyvinian language. So, please pray for this event. The locals say about this Bible, “If famous Tyvinian writers took part in its translation, the Book is good, indeed”. May God help, that even through this “human” attitude, the name of our Lord will be glorified! We hope that through this fear and pain, God will bring many people to repentance. I hope that this message will also make you see the merciful hand of God and will help many people to discover Christ.
May God bless you abundantly!
Your brother,
Victor.
