February 17, 2001

Family, Friends,

This will be brief. We just wanted you to know that we are fine. We just experienced the third major quake of these two months of suffering in El Salvador. The radio reports more deaths, roads closed, etc. Since arriving here Thursday from six weeks of itineration work in the U.S., we have felt three aftershocks of the second quake. Many people sleep outdoors, as structures are weakened—400,000 more or less are homeless, and perhaps a million more are staying away from their homes Everyone is on edge, doing her or his best to help however possible. Very inspiring.

Our weeks in the U.S. were incredible. I (Bob) was able to say good-bye to Dad and speak words of comfort to him as he faced the decision to let go and join Mom and our boy Aaron and others ready to greet him and walk with him on a new and glorious path. I assured him that those left on this plane were fine with moving on, that we loved him profoundly. The celebration in his honor was full of good memories, Scottish jokes, a bagpiper in full regalia, two sons and a grandson also in kilts and, as he requested, words of love shared by his best friends in Honesdale.

Then Julie’s dad passed away, and we flew to Oregon to accompany Mary in a celebration with 400 people who came to honor him. The celebration was filled with his favorite songs, sayings, a video I shot last year of him, and slides of photographs of the span of his life. The words shared brought tears to all. Tears of joy and gratitude to have been blessed by his presence and powerful love of life, of God.

We managed to fit in one hernia operation for myself, which was very successful I am very glad to say, and visit some ten churches during our home assignment. We pray that the second phase of our home assignment be a little bit more restful and that El Salvador be spared further suffering in the days and years ahead.

ALFALIT has become one of the relief centers in the capital. The staff has had one day off in two months, and that was when the second quake hit. They’re involved in distribution of plastic tarps, food, mattresses, wheelbarrows, shovels. We are expecting a workgroup to arrive tonight from the United Church of Christ of Swampscott, Massachusetts —if their flight from Houston is not cancelled.

Thanks for prayers and support.

Love,

Bob and Julie Dunsmore

The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 240