EARTHQUAKE

Hi Friends and Family

Firstly just to let you know the family is all safe and sound and we thank God for that.

It's been scary. I (Murray) was in Auckland on the way to the USA when it struck, so turned around and was able to get a flight home on Wednesday. There were several hours of no communication. Alu stuck on our hill, the children at school, but Gabriella was on a field trip on a bus in Colombo St which gave us all some concern until we learned they were ok.

Finally Alu's Dad was able to collect all the kids and we're thankful to them that we're able to stay with them until further notice. Alu managed to get to the kids thanks to our kind neighbour who rode her over on the back of my trail bike across the closed Ferrymead bridge and through Hagley Park.

Our house was less than a km from the epicenter so took a big hit. Like most in the area, there are missing bricks, broken windows, and little left standing inside. We can't live there until it's made safe and there is power and water and sewage back on. We believe damage to the house is not structural so it can be repaired.

Yesterday was spent cleaning up with 10 or so wonderful friends helping. The kitchen was a foot deep in broken crockery, spilled food, etc and had to be shoveled out. But we've made good progress.

Am aware that others in chch reading this will be worse off than us and our thoughts are with you. We feel blessed that we have everything we need and are all together. We know of several families who've lost people and many neighbours houses are simply written off. We have two families camping on the section in front of us and they have nothing.

Here's a bunch of photos. Thanks for your support and prayers.

Murray, Alu, Jakob, Gabriella, Sofia, Emilio.