I survived the 8.8 Quake!

3-1-2010. 4:00am
  Hello everyone. so sorry I couldn't get a hold of you earlier. it's Monday morning, and we just got power back last night. but I'm fine, no problems here. so don't worry. In a bit I'll be writing the big letter with more details, but for now, just know that I'm fine! Love you all!
Elder Ryan Mayberry

3-1-2010. 8:30am
  Hello everyone! Thanks for all your concern and emails and worries and prayers. They are very much appreciated. But as you know, I am fine here in Talca. So I assume I'll be spending the majority of this message writing the events of the earthquake. SO if you haven't heard, but I'm sure you have, an 8.8 earthquake hit Chile, close to where I am. Yeah, so I guess I'll start from the beginning.

  So, Friday night. So we went to bed at 11 like normal. So at 3:28am, I was awaken by the earthquake. So I was basically just startled and ran outside, without shoes and all. A couple seconds after me came Elder Viana. But the other 2 were slower, so we yelled at them to get out. SO there we were, us 4 standing outside of the house. SO the strong, violent shaking lasted for at least a minute and a half or 2 minutes, no joke. So looking back, I now realize how strong the earthquake really was (I think I was still a bit sleepy). Super strong, seriously. It's hard to explain how it was, but it was a lot stronger than anything I've felt before. The noise was so loud, I had to yell to communicate with the other Elders. Not too much happened to our house, other than things fell and got moved around. And from then started the time without electricity and water. So yeah, it finally stopped, we put on some shoes and went to a members house closeby. Then we were outside until about 6 in the morning, then we decided to head back to the house to sleep for a bit. Then like good missionaries we woke up at 7. Soon after that was a strong aftershock, I heard it was like 6.9. But it wasn't very long, but still it was strong. So all the houses and stuff by our house were very slightly damaged. So we really didn't know the extent of how bad it was until later. So then we headed to the church to go see where help was needed.
  On the way to the church is when we realized that a lot more damage was done than we originally thought. Because then we were getting closer to the part where it's downtown, where a lot of buildings are hundreds of years old and made of adobe. Then we started to see the damage. There were houses and buildings here and there completely destroyed. So we arrived at the church, and not too much help was needed there. The church nothing happned to it. So then we went back to the house, got a couple things and then headed off to see the members and investigators to see how they were. SO that's what we did for that whole day. One members wall fell over, we helped with that. Another the 2nd floor wall fell over and crushed their car, but they're all fine. So that's what we did yesterday.
  So then we headed to the house and met with the other missionaries. We then headed over to a new converts house to spend the night in tents over there. A lot of the people here have been sleeping in tents in open areas, because we don't know exactly if there will be another quake that does a lot of damage. So that was an experience. Oh yeah, something that happened there. So one of the people offered us some what they thought was red soda. I was pretty thristy and took like 2 quick drinks before realizing it wasn't actually  soda. SO elder Christenson and I just looked at each other wondering what it was (he also drank some). They then informed us that we shoudn't drink it, it was actually some red floor cleaner they had put in a soda bottle. So yeah, soon after I was throwing it up. But other than that, I slept alright, I only woke up a couple times because of tremors. So the tremors, up until this point, still haven't stopped. Every so often there's a tremor. It still makes me nervous when it happens.
  Anyways, so we wake up, and head home. Oh by the way it was Elder Vianas birthday that Sunday. What a birthday present, am I right? Anyways, then we changed into shirts and ties and headed to the chapel, where a small sacrament meeting was held. Only like 40 people came. So after that we did more of the same, checked to see if people needed help, taught a couple lessons, then headed home for the night. That day they put a curfew for the city, we had to be in the house at 9. I guess there's been a lot of robbing going on. During the day we were continually hearing about what was going on, and the severity of it all. The only source of info we had was by radio, so we only learned when we were close to a radio. So I assume most of you know more about the sevrity of it all. I'm just seeing it today. Yeah, so then we were in the house at 9. And we finally got electricity and water back on. During the past days the members have been very kind, giving us water, food when we needed it. But then we finally had electricity and water. (and we finally got to bathe). The bishop came over and brought us some food, that was really kind. So then we went to bed. I slept ok, I woke up a few times in the night because of tremors.
  Then this morning basically we came to a members house to see how everythings going. So we finally got to see on the TV how things are. And I finally got to talk to you guys. So we still haven't been to the downtown part of Talca where it's all destroyed. But lots of the coast are gone because of the earthquake and tsunamis. We had visited Constitucion in like December, and now I can't imagine how it is. So were basically finding out how things are.
  So yeah, thats my account of the earthquake and what we've done since. I've left out lots of small details, but the main thing is that were fine. So I can offically say I've experienced a natural disaster, and I wouldn't reccommend it to anyone. I really didn't like the feeling of not knowing what the heck was going on for 2 days. But now things are better, we've got light and water, the telephones are working better but not fully. Now we just gotta wait for the super markets to open up again. So yeah, our zone leaders just called us, and were meeting up in the stake center at 2. I think we're gonna go help all the people in the downtown area, or we're going to Constitucion to help there.
   So I love you all, I'm fine, don't worry too much about me. If I forgot anything, or want to know anything else just write me. Thank you for all your concerns, and I'll be writing you next week!

Lots of love,
Elder Ryan Mayberry