Frustration...

We have not yet heard from Tim or his family.  My mother spoke to one of their supervisors in Washington, who said they heard from another team member that they were OK, but they don't know anything more.  We are relieved to know that they are alive at least, and hopefully not injured.  The only new coverage coming out of Mianyang right now shows people sleeping on the streets for fear of aftershocks and unsound structures.  We don't know the state of their apartment or what resources they have access to.  This map shows their proximity to the epicenter:  http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/pager/events/us/2008ryan/index.html

 

Tim usually calls us with Skype on his laptop.  But with communication lines down, we know he's probably not able to dial out.  China also carefully monitors all phone and communication lines, so it's possible that they will not allow those lines to be reconnected until they can effectively eavesdrop.  All day I've been trying to get through to the US Consulate in Chengdu.  At first I got a message saying the power was off.  Later a man answered the phone, but he didn't speak English (why is someone who doesn't speak English answering the US citizen emergency contact number at the American Consulate??).  A couple hours later I got another message saying the line was busy, call back later.  And my latest attempt, it just rang a couple times and then went dead.  I've tried the Embassy in Hong Kong as well, but they're having the same problems getting through as we are.   

 

Someone finally gave me the number to the Operations Center in Washington D.C.  They told me they have no reports of any Americans injured or killed, but they don't have any further information at this time.  They're taking the names of US citizens with relatives who are looking for them, and our numbers as next-of-kin in case they hear anything.  Otherwise, all we can do is keep calling and trying to get ahold of them.  It's very nerve-wracking and frustrating. 

 

Please continue to pray for the many families around the world affected by this tragedy, and for the Chinese people especially, who must pick up and go on after all this is over.