I hope any members in New Zealand are fine as well as their family and friends. It is heartbreaking. My prayers are with you.
Just watching the news of the quake. This is going to be a very bad disaster. Never build with bricks.
I echo these sentiments, for our members in particular and for the all New Zealanders effected by the earthquake. Gary
More news here Deaths, destruction in Christchurch quake | Stuff.co.nz For those that don't know - NZ is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire (essentially the mountain ranges that runs through both islands is the fault-line). There has always been a bit of a perception that Wellington would be hit hard in the next big quake (the fault-line runs straight through it) but that Christchurch was always relatively safe (hence the prevalence of brick in many older buildings). Thoughts are definitely with the locals down there.
I was in Auckland for the last one and will be there again soon, I know that the community there is strong and the people will pull through. thoughts are constantly with them on what is a tragic natural disaster.
Praying for our neighbours. We'll keep up the mighty ANZAC spirit. Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
To all our members that are suffering, be it from revolutions in their countries or from natural catastrophes, all my sympathy ! Stay safe, Rafael
Sounds like a rough time down there. All the best an all the strength you need to pull through this, whether you are directly or indirectly affected. Stefan
My heart goes out to everyone in New Zealand. I apologize for missing this thread...and this terrible news until just this morning. My home page is The New York Times and I saw this: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/world/asia/23zealand.html?_r=1&hp To all of our members who live there or have friends and family there, please let us know how you are when you can. Thank you, Hikari for starting this thread.
This is awful. I lived in New Zealand for 4 years and I am also a permanent resident (who just happens to be in Canada at the moment). When I was there, you would always feel small earth tremors, but nothing major. But, you would always wonder when the big one would hit. My heart and prayers goes out to the people of Christchurch.
Earlier today, Los Angeles County Fire has airlifted 74 rescue experts complete with heavy equipment and medical supplies to Christchurch. Godspeed. Gary