In the first few days, thank God, we were able to help a paramedic, two rescue teams, and a family of 12 who had lost everything. They needed medication for high blood pressure and diabetes, pet food, and transportation to another city so they could start their lives over.

 

Over the following days, we tried to identify the most urgent and specific needs of the people we were able to reach. We realized they needed prepared meals, personal hygiene items, medication for chronic illnesses, and tools and protective equipment for the volunteers working to rescue both survivors and those who had sadly lost their lives.

 

We also had the opportunity to send a shipment of clothing from Málaga to Caracas thanks to a special relief campaign for this area. We took advantage of this opportunity to send clothes and items for the children. Thank you to our friends and close family members who donated these things.

 

We are incredibly grateful to St. Andrew's Church for trusting me and supporting me throughout this effort.These thoughts are a bit of everything, but I wanted to share them with you.

 

The work of emotional and spiritual healing is still ongoing, and there is a huge amount of work ahead to rebuild the region. Two devastating earthquakes struck the area, and even a month later, around 20,000 people are still missing. At this point, there is sadly no hope of finding survivors.

There is so much pain.

 

My cousin María Isabel, who lives in the Caracolito area of La Guaira, interviewed a Sunday school teacher from the community. She sent us a video explaining the situation. There are around 60 children from families who have not wanted to—or simply have not been able to—leave the area. Not all of them belong to the church, but the church is there doing everything it can to bring hope to these families. This is ground zero, where it is especially difficult for aid and volunteers to reach. The people of Caracas have been the most successful in getting there, using motorcycles as their main form of transportation.

 

On the day of the interview, the children who were present received personal hygiene kits, including bath towels.My cousin has stayed in close contact with the community and with a social worker she already knew through her community work. Thanks to her, we've been able to understand the community's most urgent needs much better.

 

We also had the chance to help one of my uncles, my mother's brother. He is only 50 years old, but he is suffering from severe anxiety, high blood pressure, and heart problems that have worsened because of everything happening in the country. He needs medication and specialist medical care, but unfortunately healthcare is not free, and the cost is far beyond what an average person can afford. It would take several months' worth of wages to pay for it.

 

The main thing people have shared with us is their deep gratitude. Overall, people's spirits are very low, even among Venezuelans who were not directly affected by the earthquakes. There is so much grief over what happened, and on top of that, soaring inflation is making everyday life incredibly difficult.

 

I am so thankful that my two cousins, Jenny Da Silva and María Isabel Campos, and I were able to do our small part. Thank you for giving us that opportunity. The three of us were emotionally devastated by everything that happened. We cried for at least two weeks because of the situation, and being able to help, even in a small way, truly lifted our spirits.We believe God placed you in our path and allowed us to be instruments of His help.

 

We are also deeply grateful to all the Christian communities from different denominations that have supported Venezuela. We have seen videos and heard testimonies of everything being done, and it gives hope to those of us watching from afar to see so many people contributing their own small acts of kindness to such an enormous task.

 

Once again, thank you a thousand times over.