As you’ve probably heard, there was a massive earthquake in the heart of China yesterday. It hit a pretty densely-populated part of Sichuan Province, collapsing tons of buildings, burying tens of thousands, and leaving at least 12,000 people dead (that number is steadily rising). From what I hear, many of the roads going into these towns are wiped out … and evacuation/aid efforts by helicopters have failed because of extreme weather. Thousands of people are buried … and the 50,000+ troops that have been deployed have had a lot of trouble just getting there.

Here’s where the earthquake was is in relation to Loudi, my home last year:

I have a couple of friends who are teaching, studying, or living in Sichuan. And I traveled there a couple of times last year, one time specifically to Wenchuan (it was described by our guide as the “Hong Kong for the Aba area”, the most prosperous county around). And when I read articles like this, I can’t help but think of my students in Loudi, packed into poorly-constructed six-story concrete buildings like sardines.

Last night I went to an emergency prayer meeting at the Cincinnati Chinese Church … several of the people there have family members in the affected area who they cannot yet contact. It was quite powerful for me … because I couldn’t understand the Mandarin they were using to lift their cares and concerns to the Lord, their emotions were totally amplified in my heart. So sobering.

Please pray for these people, both inside and outside of China, as they physically toil to rescue victims, as they struggle to reconnect with family members, and as they turn their hearts to Something Bigger. Pray for strength and wisdom for Melody, a Chinese friend in an underground house church in the area, and for Rick, a close friend who’s studying in Chengdu.